Students Honored at 2023 Leadership and Excellence Awards Ceremony

Friday, May 5, 2023
Senior Marshals with Dean Josef Sorett at the Leadership and Excellence Award Ceremony

Senior Marshals pose with Dean Josef Sorett at the Leadership and Excellence Award Ceremony

April Renae

On May 1, nearly 100 students were honored for their leadership and involvement on campus at the 2023 Leadership and Excellence Awards ceremony in Low Rotunda.

The annual awards recognize Columbia College and Columbia Engineering students’ significant contributions to the Columbia community. Awards were presented across eight categories: Community Building, Civic Responsibility, Inclusion and Advocacy, Columbia Spirit, Indelible Mark, Health and Wellness, Principled Action, and Innovation and Enhancement. In addition, students were recognized with Senior Marshal and Named Awards.

The 2023 Leadership and Excellence Awards Honorees:

Community Building

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

Sina Ahdoot CC’23
Erik Larsson CC’23
Jae Joon Lee CC’23
Aiman Walid Najah SEAS’23
Sophia Naqvi CC’23
Athena Pagon SEAS’23
Alex Seo CC’25
Malcolm Toleno CC’23
Bryan Uceda-Alvarez CC’23
Camila V. Vicioso CC’23

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.

Juan Jose Amaya Amador CC’23
Karen Copeland SEAS’23
Hannah Jimenez CC’24
Al Qaim Lalani CC’23
Christopher Byungchul Lee CC’23
Yunzhe (Matthew) Nie CC’23
Aida Razavilar CC’23
Vidhima Shetty CC’23

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.

Mommina Ashaque CC’23
Kwamena Tosan Awotwi CC’23
Cody Ares Baynori CC’23
Teddy Brodsky CC’23
Christopher "Liam" Brown CC’23
Kath Carraway CC’23
Daniel Alfonso Garcia SEAS’23
Katy Haden CC’23
Rachel Noelle Ramenda CC’23
Tal Zussman SEAS’23

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.

Elliot Blake CC’23
Olivia Choi CC’23
Karina Feng CC’23
Daniel Juarez CC’24
Euni Elisabeth Lee CC’23
Benjamine Mo CC’23
Katherine O'Reilly SEAS’23
Chiamaka Okonkwo CC’23
Mrinalini Sisodia Wadhwa CC’24

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/group’s ability to establish an example for a healthy balance of responsibilities, duties, and activities through their own leadership.

Sarah Boyd CC’23
Levin Guerra CC’23
Sophie Aminololama López CC’23
Lori Luo SEAS’23
Katherinne Rabanal CC’23
Alyssa Cassandra Navarro Sales CC’23
Trinity Sazo SEAS’23
Anne Marie Walsh CC’24

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.

Micaela Cacho-Negrete CC’23
Kaya Dorogi SEAS’24
Kailin Huang CC’23
Rachel Marsh CC’23
Marcus Ortiz CC’23
Aaron Ouyang CC’23
Madeline Park SEAS’24
Emily Sun CC’23
Sajjad Zafar CC’23

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.

Elvin Canseco SEAS’23
Stephanie Heggli-Nonay SEAS’25
Gabriel Herrera CC’23
Emily Kohn CC’23
Emily Milian SEAS’23
Zaid Rami Sahawneh CC’25
Olivia Sieler CC’24
Thomas Thibault CC’23
Kennedi Alexis Wade SEAS’23
Charlie Wallace CC’23

Civic Responsibility

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

Claire Choi CC’23
Crystal Foretia CC’23
Nicolas Lama CC’24
Astrid Liden CC’23
Wadzanayi Mayiseni CC’23
Priya Sagar CC’23
Marilyn Santo CC’23
Shruti Verma SEAS’23
Jennifer Zhang CC’23

Additional and Named Awards

View award descriptions.

Maia Castro-Santos CC’25: Van Am Prize
Olivia Choi CC’23: Robert Shellow Gerdy Prize
Karina Feng CC’23: Andrew C. Heinrich Prize
Noelle Foster CC’23: Columbia College Scholar Athlete Award
Katy Haden CC’23: Leonard A. Pullman Memorial Prize
Lilian Kennedy CC’23: Columbia College Campbell Award
Al Qaim Lalani CC’23: Charles H. Bjorkwall Prize
Nicolas Lama CC’24: James Christopher Caraley Memorial Prize
Euni Elisabeth Lee CC’23: Richard H. Fox Memorial Prize
Jae Joon Lee CC’23: Charles M. Rolker Prize
Carlos Mendonca CC’24: Milch Prize
Benjamine Mo CC’23: Edward S. Brainard Memorial Prize
Aaron Ouyang CC’23: Alumni Association Achievement Award
Sumya Rashid CC’23: Alumni Prize
Alex Seo CC’25: Van Am Prize
Bryan Uceda-Alvarez CC’23: Robert Lincoln Carey Memorial Prize
Anne Marie Walsh CC’24: Robert Harron Award
Kenny Zhu CC’25: Van Am Prize

Class of 2023 Columbia College Senior Marshals

Senior Marshals are outstanding students who have a record of contributing to their class, school, and/or community and best 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.

Sina Ahdoot CC’23
Kwamena Tosan Awotwi CC’23
Elliot Blake CC’23
Olivia Choi CC’23
Claire Choi CC’23
Karina Feng CC’23
Crystal Foretia CC’23
Katy Haden CC’23
Yilun Hua CC’23
Al Qaim Lalani CC’23
Christopher Byungchul Lee CC’23
Jae Joon Lee CC’23
Natalie Minarik CC’23
Benjamine Mo CC’23
Joy Mobley CC’23
Sophia Naqvi CC’23
Aida Razavilar CC’23
Jonathan Michael Tanaka CC’23
Adrys Turbi Hidalgo CC’23
Camila V. Vicioso CC’23
Charlie Wallace CC’23
Jane Walsh CC’23
Tasnima Zaman CC’23
Jennifer Zhang CC’23

View the full list of honorees.