Students honored at 2018 Leadership and Excellence Awards Ceremony

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

On April 23, students were honored for their leadership and involvement on campus at the 2018 Leadership and Excellence Awards Ceremony in the Rotunda of Low Memorial Library.

CC senior marshals

Photo credit: Lifetouch

The annual awards recognize the significant contributions of Columbia College and Columbia Engineering students to the Columbia community. Awards presented included the King's Crown Leadership Excellence Awards were presented to individuals in eight categories: civic responsibility, innovation and enhancement, inclusion and advocacy, Columbia spirit, health and wellness, community building, indelible mark and principled action. Up to 10 individuals may be recognized within each category. In addition, Senior Marshals were recognized.

The 2018 Columbia College honorees are:

King's Crown Leadership Excellence Awards

Civic Responsibility

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

Oten Iban CC’18
Danny Li CC’18
Vicente Martinez CC’18
Tulsi Patel CC’19
Omnia Saed CC’18

Innovation and Enhancement

Honorees in this category have created, improved, or enhanced a service, program, or process, thus contributing positively to the Columbia campus and its diverse stakeholders.

Iqra Bawany CC’19
Serina Chang CC’19
Silas Grossberndt CC’18
Larissa Geovann Guimaraes CC’18
Jacqueline Kong CC’18
Rachel Mikofsky CC’18
Ewoma Ogbaudu CC’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 Ateig CC’18
Clara Beccaro CC’19
Anna Chen CC’18
Alejandro Desince CC’18
Lorenzo Orozco CC’18
Santiago Tobar Potes CC’20
Felix Rozenberg CC’18

Columbia Spirit

Recipients of this award capture and display the best of Columbia spirit. This includes the essence of school spirit and pride as a dedicated member of our 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 Castro CC’19
William Connell CC’19
Madison Gott CC’18
Anders Hill CC’18
Maya Ho CC’18
Akua Obeng-Akrofi CC’18
Sofia Schembari CC’19
Maria Sun CC’18

Health and Wellness

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

Natalie Ambrose CC’18
Jason Avigan CC’18
Mamfatou Baldeh CC’18
CJ Brown CC’18
Brandon Chin CC’18
Nicole Felmus CC’18
Alixandra Prybyla CC’18
Julien Reiman CC’18
Alangoya Tezel CC’18

Community Building

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

Charlotte Buck CC’18
Yasmin Butt CC’19
Braxton Gunter CC’18
Amsal Lakhani CC’18
Emily Lavine CC’18
Zoha Shahabuddin CC’18
Mallory Shingle CC’19
Crystal Song CC’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 CC’18
Aaron Fisher CC’18
John Hao CC’18
Omar Khan CC’18
Maggie Mallernee CC’18
Maria Fernanda Martinez CC’18
Erin Melly CC’18
Nathan Rosin CC’18
David Sierra CC’18

Principled Action

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

Nicole Allicock CC’18
Madeline Lee CC’18
Matt Malone CC’18
Kara Schechtman CC’19

Additional and Named Awards

Van Am Prize

Awarded to select members of the Columbia College sophomore class who are most distinguished for public service, ethical decision making, and/or actively building positive relationships within the Columbia community. A cash award is presented to the student activity of each winner’s choice. Established by the Class of 1898 on the occasion of its twenty-fifth anniversary.

Santiago Tobar Potes CC’20

Charles H. Bjorkwall Prize

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

David Sierra CC’18

Edward S. Brainard Memorial 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 Fernanda Martinez CC’18

Campbell Award

This award, named for Bill Campbell ’62, who was Chair Emeritus of the University’s Board of Trustees, celebrates a student leader at each school who exemplifies exceptional leadership and builds Columbia spirit.

Akua Obeng-Akrofi CC’18

Stanley I. Fishel / Zeta Beta Tau Prize

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

Lorenzo Orozco CC’18

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 some nonathletic activities and must be one who combines intelligence with a kindly interest in his or her fellows.

Nathan Rosin CC’18

Robert Shellow Gerdy Prize

This prize is awarded to a Columbia College senior who, throughout his or her 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 Guimaraes CC’18

Robert Harron Award

Awarded to a member of the junior class who has demonstrated qualities of compassion, generosity and dignity while serving to celebrate and enhance life at Columbia. Established by his friends 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.

Mallory Shingle CC’19

Milch Prize

Awarded annually to the member of the Columbia College junior class who, in demonstrating ethical and principled leadership in co-curricular as well as scholastic activities, has done the most to enhance the reputation and prominence of Columbia College. The prize was established by Dr. and Mrs. Henry Milch.

William Connell CC’19

Leonard A. Pullman Memorial Prize

Awarded to a Columbia College senior who displays those qualities of outstanding scholarship and significant service to the College exemplified in the life of Leonard Pullman, Class of 1962. The recipient must occupy a position of responsibility in a non-athletic Columbia College activity.

Omar Khan CC’18

Scholar Athlete Award

This award is presented by the Offices of the Deans for Columbia College and Columbia Engineering to a graduating student who has distinguished himself or herself as a varsity athlete and scholar.

Anders Hill CC’18

Senior Marshals

Senior Marshals are outstanding students who have a record of contributing to their class, their school and/or their community and represent what it means to be a Columbian. Senior Marshals lead their class into Class Day ceremonies and are distinguished by a gold aiguillette that adorns their robe. Senior Marshal honorees have been nominated to represent their class by a member of the Columbia University community.

Class of 2018 Columbia College Senior Marshals

John Philippe Avendano*
Mamfatou Baldeh
Bindu Bansinath
Brandon Scott Chin
Dylan Cooper
Chiara Meakalia Ferrari-Wong
Madison Gott
Braxton Gunter

Anders Hill
Maya Ho
Omar Khan
Amsal Lakhani

Madeline Lee
Vincente Martinez
Theresa Mensah
Rachel Melanie Mikofsky
Nathan Daniel Rosin
David Sierra
Crystal Song
Amy Tong

Click here to see a full list of honorees.