Student Life Awards

At the end of each academic year, Columbia College students are recognized with awards and honors for leadership, cocurricular accomplishments and noteworthy contributions to the Columbia community.

Leadership Excellence Awards

Columbia College students are recognized for their leadership and their contributions to the Columbia community in eight categories through the Leadership Excellence Awards.

Civic Responsibility

Recipients best promote civic engagement, responsible citizenship and global citizenship. This includes both on-campus and off-campus activities, initiatives and service.

  • Maia E. Berlow ’18
  • Joshua M. Burton ’18
  • Anish Gawande ’18
  • Oten A. Iban ’18
  • Danny Li ’18
  • Vicente M. Martinez ’18
  • Tulsi Patel ’19
  • Omnia A. Saed ’18

Columbia Spirit

Recipients capture and display the best of Columbia spirit. This includes the essence of “school spirit” and pride as a dedicated member of the Columbia community as well as leaders and groups that contribute to local, regional and national recognition for sports, performance, cultural and arts activities, and academic competition.

  • Sara J. Castro ’19
  • William M. Connell ’19
  • Madison R. Gott ’18
  • Anders R. Hill ’18
  • Maya Ho ’18
  • Akua Obeng-Akrofi ’18
  • Sofia M. Schembari ’19
  • Maria J. Sun ’18

Community Building

Recipients have worked to create, establish or strengthen a particular community at Columbia. This could be accomplished through, but not limited to, relationship building, programming, shared goals or purpose, or creating a vision for the future.

  • Charlotte Q. Buck ’18
  • Yasmin Butt ’19
  • Braxton E. Gunter ’18
  • Amsal Lakhani ’18
  • Emily H. Lavine ’18
  • Zoha A. Shahabuddin ’18
  • Mallory L. Shingle ’19
  • Crystal Song ’18

Health and Wellness

Recipients best exemplify the spirit of caring for and about the members of Columbia’s vast and diverse community. A special focus is placed on the individual/group’s ability to establish an example for a healthy balance of responsibilities, duties and activities through their leadership.

  • Natalie V. Ambrose ’18
  • Jason I. Avigan ’18
  • Mamfatou Baldeh ’18
  • CJ Brown ’18
  • Brandon Chin ’18
  • Nicole L. Felmus ’18
  • Alixandra N. Prybyla ’18
  • Julien S. Reiman ’18
  • Alangoya Tezel ’18

Inclusion and Advocacy

This award recognizes students who have promoted social justice and/or fostered understanding between diverse constituencies through valuing diversity and appreciating multiple identities.

  • Zuwaina I. Ateig ’18
  • Clara Beccaro ’19
  • Anna Chen ’18
  • Alejandro P. Desince ’18
  • Lorenzo Orozco ’18
  • Santiago T. Potes ’20
  • Felix D. Rozenberg ’18

Indelible Mark

This award recognizes the accomplishments of students and groups in implementing sustainable change for the benefit of our community and/or in leaving a lasting impression on the campus community.

  • Arthur Bosua ’18
  • Aaron Fisher ’18
  • John W. Hao ’18
  • David L. Henninger ’18
  • Omar S. Khan ’18
  • Maggie Mallernee ’18
  • Maria F. Martinez ’18
  • Erin Melly ’18
  • Nathan D. Rosin ’18

Innovation and Enhancement

Recipients of this award have created, improved or enhanced a service, program or process thus contributing positively to the Columbia campus and its diverse stakeholders.

  • Iqra A. Bawany ’19
  • Serina Y. Chang ’19
  • Silas K. Grossberndt ’18
  • Larissa Geovann M. Guimaraes ’18
  • Jacqueline E. Kong ’18
  • Rachel M. Mikofsky ’18
  • Ewoma Ogbaudu ’18

Principled Action

This award recognizes students who have demonstrated ethical decision making and sound moral judgment, as well as fostered and encouraged similar actions from others.

  • Nicole R. Allicock ’18
  • Madeline J. Lee ’18
  • Matthew E. Malone ’18
  • Kara W. Schechtman ’19

Senior Marshals

Students who demonstrate achievement in their academics and extracurricular activities are honored as Senior Marshals. The lead marshal is denoted with an asterisk.

  • John P. Avendano ’18*
  • Mamfatou Baldeh ’18
  • Bindu Bansinath ’18
  • Brandon Chin ’18
  • Dylan J. Cooper ’18
  • Chiara M. Ferrari-Wong ’18
  • Madison R. Gott ’18
  • Braxton E. Gunter ’18
  • David L. Henninger ’18
  • Anders R. Hill ’18
  • Maya Ho ’18
  • Omar S. Khan ’18
  • Amsal Lakhani ’18
  • Madeline J. Lee ’18
  • Maria F. Martinez ’18
  • Vicente M. Martinez ’18
  • Theresa Mensah ’18
  • Rachel M. Mikofsky ’18
  • Nathan D. Rosin ’18
  • Crystal Song ’18
  • Amy Tong ’18

Named and Class Day Awards

Named and Class Day Awards are given to members of the senior class in recognition of their outstanding contributions to Columbia College.

Albert Asher Green Memorial Prize

Established by Mr. and Mrs. Asher Green in memory of their son, Albert Asher Green, Class of 1914, this prize is awarded to the senior who has been a student in good standing in the College for at least three years and who has made the best record of scholarship.

  • Jia Wan ’18

Alumni Association Achievement Award

The award is presented annually to the member of the Columbia College senior class who is judged to be most outstanding for qualities of mind, character and service to the College.

  • Danny Li ’18

Alumni Prize

This prize is awarded by the Columbia College Alumni Association to the Columbia College senior judged by classmates to be the most faithful and deserving.

  • Nicole R. Allicock ’18

Campbell Award

This award, named for Bill Campbell ‘62, TC‘64, who was chair emeritus of the University’s Board of Trustees, celebrate a student leader at each school who exemplifies exceptional leadership and builds Columbia spirit.

  • Akua Obeng-Akrofi ’18

Charles H. Bjorkwall Prize

Established by Ottle Emma Bjorkwall in memory of her brother Dr. Charles H. Bjorkwall, this prize is awarded annually to a member of the Columbia College graduating class for unselfish service to the College community.

  • David L. Henninger ’18

Charles M. Rolker Prize

This prize is awarded to the member of the Columbia College graduating class who is judged by classmates to be most worthy of special distinction because of scholarship, participation in student activities or any combination thereof.

  • Nicole R. Allicock ’18

Columbia College Scholar Athlete Award

This award is presented from time to time by the Office of the Dean to the graduating Columbia College student who has distinguished himself or herself as a varsity athlete and scholar.

  • Anders R. Hill ’18

David B. Truman Alumni Award

Established in 1970 in honor of David B. Truman, former dean of the College, this award is presented to the Columbia College student who has made the most distinguished contribution to the academic affairs of the College.

  • Adam J. Elkhadem ’18

Edward S. Brainard Prize

This prize is awarded to the member of the Columbia College graduating class who is judged by classmates to be most worthy of distinction for qualities of mind and character.

  • Maria F. Martinez ’18

James Christopher Caraley Memorial Prize

Established in memory of James Christopher Caraley ’81, this prize is awarded to a Columbia College junior who has demonstrated the greatest commitment to the value of the preservation of the natural environment or of world peace and order.

  • James Christopher Caraley Memorial Prize

Leonard A. Pullman Memorial Prize

This prize is awarded to a Columbia College senior who displays those qualities of outstanding scholarship and significant service to the College exemplified by the life of Leonard Pullman ’62.

  • Omar S. Khan ’18

Milch Prize

Established by Dr. and Mrs. Henry Milch, this prize is awarded to a Columbia College junior who, by leadership in extracurricular as well as scholastic activities, has, in the judgment of instructors and classmates, done the most to enhance the reputation of Columbia College.

  • William M. Connell ’19

Richard H. Fox Memorial Prize

This prize is awarded to a Columbia College senior who has shown for the College the greatest interest and helpfulness. The student must have participated in non-athletic activities and must combine intelligence with a kindly interest in his or her fellows.

  • Nathan D. Rosin ’18

Robert Harron Award

This award was established in memory of Robert Harron, who, in the course of his 30 years of service at Columbia, served as assistant to the president and director of University Public Relations. It is presented annually to a member of the junior class for qualities of grace and generosity.

  • Mallory L. Shingle ’19

Robert Lincoln Carey Memorial Prize

The prize is awarded annually by the Columbia College Alumni Association to the Columbia College senior who, through a combination of leadership qualities as exercised in the non-athletic extracurricular program of the College and outstanding achievement in the academic program of the College, best exemplifies the ideals that Robert Lincoln Carey sought to engender in the students of Columbia College.

  • Emily H. Lavine ’18

Robert Shellow Gerdy Prize

This prize is awarded to a Columbia College senior who throughout the undergraduate years has made a significant contribution as a member of the staff on one or more College student publications, especially Jester, Columbia Review and Spectator.

  • Larissa Geovann M. Guimaraes ’18

Stanley I. Fishel/Zeta Beta Tau Prize

This prize is awarded to a Columbia College fraternity member who has demonstrated leadership, academic achievement and participation in athletics or other campus activities.

  • Lorenzo Orozco ’18

Van Am Prize

Established by the Class of 1898 in honor of its 25th anniversary, this prize is awarded to a Columbia College sophomore most distinguished for service, character and courtesy in relations with faculty members, fellow students and visitors.

  • Santiago T. Potes ’20

Multicultural Affairs

Graduation Cord Recipients

Graduation Cords are presented by Multicultural Affairs to seniors who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to diversity, social justice and multiculturalism, campus leadership, community involvement, academic endeavors and/or personal dedication.

  • Yasmeen Abdel Majeed ’18
  • Sasha Abelard ’18
  • Nicole R. Allicock ’18
  • John E. Anukem ’18
  • Kasie M. Apo Takayama ’18
  • Rebecca A. Arteaga ’18
  • Zuwaina I. Ateig ’18
  • Masih A Babagoli ’18
  • Mamfatou Baldeh ’18
  • Maia E. Berlow ’18
  • Alexander M. Birkel ’18
  • China N. Braekman ’18
  • Bianca V. Brooks ’18
  • Cj Brown ’18
  • Anvita Budhraja ’18
  • Leslie Chavez Hernandez ’18
  • Anna Chen ’18
  • Brandon Chin ’18
  • Daphne J. Chow ’18
  • Pieter K. Clerger ’18
  • Maia I. Collins ’18
  • Dylan J. Cooper ’18
  • Ethan Cooper ’18
  • James P. Davis ’18
  • Alexa Delgado ’18
  • Alejandro P. Desince ’18
  • Reniya S. Dinkins ’18
  • Nikhil S. Dominic ’18
  • Rowa El-Tohami ’18
  • Obianuju Enworom ’18
  • Crystal Espinoza-Martinez ’18
  • Chiara M. Ferrari-Wong ’18
  • Jalen A. Fuller ’18
  • Anish Gawande ’18
  • Eden Takele Geressu ’18
  • Kristen S. Gonzalez ’18
  • Kaatje S. Greenberg ’18
  • Larissa Geovann M. Guimaraes ’18
  • Elizabeth Gunawan ’18
  • Braxton E. Gunter ’18
  • Ellen X. Guo ’18
  • David L. Henninger ’18
  • Maya Ho ’18
  • Tyler J. Holmes ’18
  • Jess Hui ’18
  • Adil Hussain ’18
  • Oten A. Iban ’18
  • Sanchit Jain ’18
  • Isaac Jiffar ’18
  • Rachel E. Jimenez ’18
  • Lubna S. Kabir ’18
  • Lana Khamash ’18
  • Omar S. Khan ’18
  • Jennifer Kim ’18
  • Deven R. Kirschenbaum ’18
  • Claire D. Klinger ’18
  • Janine Ko ’18
  • Jacqueline E. Kong ’18
  • Amsal Lakhani ’18
  • Alexia K. Le ’18
  • Madeline J. Lee ’18
  • Nathan Lee ’18
  • Yvonne Y. Lei ’18
  • Jenny Li ’18
  • Alan Lin ’18
  • Ashaki Q. Lloyd ’18
  • Gloriana López ’18
  • Karen B. Lopez ’18
  • Maria F. Martinez ’18
  • Vicente M. Martinez ’18
  • Marco T. Matos ’18
  • Chloe A. Matthews ’18
  • Donna G. Medel ’18
  • Theresa Mensah ’18
  • Chelsea P. Miller ’18
  • Julia Angelica M. Muhsen ’18
  • Maleen J. Nishigaki ’18
  • Akua Obeng-Akrofi ’18
  • Amber K. Officer-Narvasa ’18
  • Ohemaa Ofori-Atta ’18
  • Ewoma Ogbaudu ’18
  • Oluwayemisi O. Olorunwunmi ’18
  • Lorenzo Orozco ’18
  • Kathy Persaud ’18
  • Sydney A. Pickens ’18
  • Eliana S. Pipes ’18
  • Siddhartha K. Puri ’18
  • Gabriel T. Raab ’18
  • Carolina Rabinowicz ’18
  • Karen M. Reyes ’18
  • Karina Robles ’18
  • Michel Rozenberg Zelazny ’18
  • Felix D. Rozenberg ’18
  • Omnia A. Saed ’18
  • Anurak Saelaow ’18
  • Daniel Salgado ’18
  • Abhinav Seetharaman ’18
  • Jill Shah ’18
  • Zoha A. Shahabuddin ’18
  • Sebastien R. Siclait ’18
  • Srishti Sinha ’18
  • Samantha Siu ’18
  • Keenan T. Smith ’18
  • Simeon M. Spencer ’18
  • Maria J. Sun ’18
  • Racceb T. Taddesse ’18
  • Alangoya Tezel ’18
  • Amy Tong ’18
  • Gurnoor S. Tucker ’18
  • Violet I. Victoria ’18
  • Ruth A. Waddington ’18
  • Amy Wang ’17
  • Maegan Wang ’18
  • Denise M. Whye ’18
  • Hailey L. Winstead ’18
  • Cansu Yavascaoglu ’18
  • Richard Y. Yee ’18
  • Sandra Yin ’18
  • Gelila G. Yitsege ’18
  • Cristian Zaharia ’18
  • Ben Zhang ’18
  • Joshua E. Zoeller ’18

LGBTQIAwards

The LGBTQIAwards recognize outstanding students, staff, faculty and alumni who have taken on significant leadership in the areas of LGBTQ and ally advocacy, education, community building and mentorship.

  • Anish Gawande ’18
  • Sabina Tyler Monica Jones ’20
  • Mason Oliver Murray ’20
  • David Oliveros ’19
  • Samantha Siu ’18

National Residence Hall Honorary

This national honor society recognizes leadership in the advancement of college and university residential communities. The King's Crown Chapter at Columbia University works to recognize excellence in residential life and to render the world a better place through community service.

Executive Board Member of the Year

  • Maryse A. Suppiger ’20

Executive Board Member of the Month

  • Maryse A. Suppiger ’20

First-Year Student of the Year

  • Matthew R. Esche ’21

First-Year Student of the Month

  • Matthew Broughton ’20
  • Alla Issa ’21
  • Jenny Lee ’20

Resident Adviser of the Month

  • Regina L. Kuhia ’19

Resident Adviser of the Year

  • Elizabeth Gunawan ’18

Student of the Month

  • Jason I. Avigan ’18
  • Maxwell C. Hu ’18
  • Ibrahim N. Khan ’20
  • Jack Ruiz ’19

Student of the Year

  • Jason I. Avigan ’18

Adviser of the Month

  • Justin Snider, Assistant Dean in the Berick Center for Student Advising

University Faculty or Staff of the Month

  • Shelby Wardlaw, Instructor in Undergraduate Writing