DIANE BONDAREFF

The annual Leadership and Excellence Awards recognize exceptional students from Columbia College and Columbia Engineering for the impact they have had on and their involvement in the campus community. At this year’s ceremony, held on April 30 in Faculty House, more than 90 students received honors ranging from named awards for academic excellence and community service to senior marshal recognition.

For many graduating students, these awards reflect the dedication and work they’ve put in over the last four years to be passionate, strong leaders on campus. Here, six College seniors discuss their journeys and what these honors mean to them as they prepare for life after their undergraduate years.

EMMA ASHER

As captain of the women’s tennis team, Strugnell has become a leader both on and off the court. Hailing from Greensboro, N.C., she arrived on campus excited to live in a big city and experience all that New York had to offer. Now, as she prepares for her next chapter, Strugnell says she’s excited to step into another “big pond.”

“I think the key to being in those big ponds is to make your own small ponds within them,” she says.

Strugnell’s “small ponds” have contained multiple advocacy groups for athletes, including Columbia’s Voice in Sport chapter, the Make a Play Foundation and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. In all of these roles, she’s worked to ensure that student-athletes have a voice in administrative decisions, as well as the support they need to succeed as students and post-graduate professionals. She’s also been dominant on the tennis court, earning second team all-Ivy honors in doubles play this season.

“Seeing my journey from my first year where I was sometimes barely making the lineup to now being a senior and having a big leadership role as captain has been really special,” she says.

Strugnell says she is excited to continue using the leadership skills she developed as an athlete and student advocate as she enters post-graduate life at Deloitte.

EMMA ASHER

During her time at the College, Kim felt drawn to opportunities that would make a difference in the lives of others on campus. The eldest of twins, she says she takes on the qualities of an older sister, especially when it comes to helping others.

“I was an international student when I arrived, so I was a bit lost at first because I didn’t really know how to navigate the system,” Kim says. “But I received a lot of guidance, so I was inspired to find similar mentorship roles.

As a TA and peer tutor in science classes, she’s found joy in helping students one-on-one, but also knows how to create fun experiences that foster campus community. Inspired by her Korean heritage, Kim has helped plan and execute events with the Korean Students Association, including the annual cultural show. Her passion for helping others also extends beyond campus, where she volunteers with the nonprofits Dance to Unite and Radio Lollipop.

“I told my mom during Convocation that I would be happy to have just my name on an organization’s website or be in a leadership role,” Kim says. “I’m so happy to have been in more than one role like that and am grateful to have been given these opportunities.”

EMMA ASHER

Hoskins’ four years at the College have been shaped by the mission of the Columbia Policy Institute –– a student-run, non-partisan progressive think tank that tackles issues on campus and beyond through comprehensive policy solutions. Previously a director of CPI’s Human Rights and Democratic Access centers, and now president of the institute, Hoskins helped rebuild the group after the Covid-19 pandemic and is committed to being a resource for the students continuing his work.

“I have really tried to create a space where people can talk to me, so I’m hoping the next board will come to me with its questions about how to run and navigate things,” he says.

In addition to his leadership role, Hoskins has contributed to policy research, particularly on the history of trans activism at Columbia. He produced a report on his findings, creating a documented history of the efficacy of organizing efforts for LGBTQ+ advocacy. Hoskins says the most fascinating part of his research was discovering how much of the effort for LGBTQ+ inclusion on campus has been driven and led by students through the years.

“Gender-neutral bathrooms and housing are things that I’ve kind of taken for granted in my time here,” he says. “But 10 to 20 years ago, trans students really had to push for change at Columbia. It was cool to see the results of the efforts made by people here before me.”

EMMA ASHER

As a first-year, Davenport knew she wanted to be a campus leader. Now, about to graduate, she has left her mark, bringing her passion for civil rights and social justice to every facet of her College experience.

“I’m so glad that I can say I feel confident with where I am right now,” she says. “Seeing my accomplishments and the people I’ve touched –– that really makes me happy.”

While a student, Davenport interned at the NAACP’s Thurgood Marshall Institute and at the law firm Kirkland & Ellis. She developed a passion for public interest law, learning how civil rights have been defended through the legal system and seeing the effects of these cases firsthand. Her advocacy extends beyond her professional interests, as she has incorporated causes she cares about into her leadership roles, including the Caribbean Students Association and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Davenport has developed programs for civic and political engagement in both groups, bringing her passion and expertise into spaces where she has helped others grow into more informed and engaged citizens.

“I’ve always been very passionate about social justice,” she says. “Bringing those issues directly to my communities has been very important to me.”

EMMA ASHER

The recurring theme throughout Alloo’s College experience has been a dedication to teaching and learning. From serving as a peer tutor to teaching Qur’an recitation to students on campus, he’s been motivated to give back during his four years.

“I enjoy teaching because it tests your knowledge of the material and challenges you to break it down into easily digestible concepts and tailor them based on the student’s background,” he says.

A neuroscience and Arabic linguistics and literature major, Alloo has been reciting the Qur’an since he was a child, winning international competitions along the way. When he got to the College, he found a welcoming community in the Muslim Students Association and has honed his teaching skills through tutoring others, both on and off campus, in Qur’an recitation.

“The MSA created a really warm, welcoming space. When I entered our mosque in Earl Hall for the first time, all the students shook my hand and asked my name,” Alloo says. “And now I’ve been able to give back by teaching recitation.”

As a peer tutor and TA for science classes, he’s continued to contribute to the campus community by helping others understand difficult material. With aspirations of becoming a physician-scientist, Alloo is eager to use the skills he’s developed through teaching and learning every day in practice.

EMMA ASHER

Gerson’s love of learning has been a guiding light in his College journey. His desire to try new things and meet new people has led to trips to 20 countries, a thesis focused on global sustainability, a three-year stay at the Intercultural House and a newfound love for dance.

“You could put me in any class and I would love it,” he says. “I took astrophysics, African dance and French linguistic history; I loved all of my classes at Columbia.”

In Gerson’s learning experiences, though, he says he’s always conscious of the impact he has on the planet and on other people, and has sought ways to effect positive change in his communities. He co-founded the Student Union for Sustainable Development and wrote his thesis on the environmental impact of university international hubs, including Columbia’s Global Centers, and how to advance their sustainable development goals. Gerson has hosted Shabbat dinners at the Intercultural House for students with a diverse range of perspectives and political views, creating spaces for conversation and connection.

“The Intercultural House is a real center for social justice, and I’m honored to be part of that history,” he says. “I’m so proud of my community for welcoming these events.