2023 Award Recipients
Congratulations to this year's winners of the Leadership Awards! Click each student photo below to read their full bio.
Ijeoma Idika-Chima
Ijeoma Idika-Chima
Edwin L. Kennedy Leadership Award for Outstanding Community Service & Outstanding Graduate Student Leader, Masters-Level
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
Participatory communication is the key to my ability to connect with Bobcats from diverse backgrounds as well as the people of Athens.
Hannah Louck
Hannah Louck
Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn/Donald A. Achievement Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
From a young age, I realized that sometimes it just takes one person to strive for something to be better. It is my ability to dream big and my drive to achieve new heights that make me a good leader.
Demi Ward
Demi Ward
Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn/Donald A. Achievement Award & George Floyd Memorial Scholarship
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
Not only do I know what it feels like to be a leader, but I also know what it feels like not to be a leader. As a first year, I was really shy and nervous about getting active in the community, and now I am involved in many major leadership roles.
Sheyenne Grainger
Sheyenne Grainger
Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn/Donald A. Scholarship & George Floyd Memorial Scholarship
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
The importance of transparency and respectful communication is something I try to both display and stress to others in every multicultural space I encounter.
Aanya Datta
Aanya Datta
Charles J. Ping International Leadership Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
In all my efforts to be an extraordinary leader, I work to uphold the principles of inclusivity.
Yosri Slama
Yosri Slama
Kerrigan Family Scholarship & Outstanding Senior Leader Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I seek opportunities to lead and make a difference, drawing on my unique perspective and ability to connect with others.
Kasylvi Acuna
Kasylvi Acuna
Latinx Heritage Achievement Award & Rita LaValley Recreation Employee Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I believe that by creating a safe space for the Latinx community, we are cultivating self-confidence and reassurance.
Esmeralda Miranda
Esmeralda Miranda
Latinx Heritage Achievement Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
To be selfless to others makes a huge difference, and it has helped me to realize that kindness and a helping hand go a long way.
Maribel Antunez-Uriostegui
Maribel Antunez-Uriostegui
Outstanding Senior Leader Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I always aim to do anything I can to support the individuals around me, whether that means being someone’s personal cheerleader to being the go-to person when things go wrong.
Maire-Rose Conlan
Maire-Rose Conlan
Outstanding Senior Leader Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
My main passion within higher education is the implementation of new policies for organizations to create safer and more inclusive spaces for students of all backgrounds and statuses.
Nathan Graves
Nathan Graves
Student Affairs Employee Academic Achievement Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
My leadership experience has been centered on finding roles and communities that share my passion for serving others and building community.
Emily Zeiler
Emily Zeiler
Student Affairs Employee Excellence in the Workplace Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
During my time at OHIO, I have been a positive force to help enact change and to mentor others.
Lynden Caldwell
Lynden Caldwell
The LGBT Center Student Hart Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I have connected people, provided resources, and offered opportunities for others who have felt voiceless to share their own experiences and come together to make a difference.
Alyssa Daniella Cruz
Alyssa Daniella Cruz
Latinx Heritage Achievement Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
As a minority, I always look for an opportunity to break a glass ceiling and be the best I can be.
Jamie Miller
Jamie Miller
Rudy Leadership Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I work to give back to the beautiful community that gave me hope for a brighter future.
Cydney Granger
Cydney Granger
Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn and Donald A. Spencer Scholarship & Outstanding Senior Leader Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I want marginalized populations to feel empowered and included in all campus spaces.
Desmond Owusu
Desmond Owusu
Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn and Donald A. Spencer Scholarship & Eyes of Freedom Scholarship – Undergraduate Student Non-Veteran
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I have made it one of my missions to help shape the OHIO community into a place where people from different cultures can come and thrive.
Nana Oduro
Nana Oduro
George Floyd Memorial Scholarship
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I always aim to empower the students I lead by encouraging them to take advantage of the many opportunities in college.
Christian Roberts
Christian Roberts
Eyes of Freedom Scholarship – Student Veteran
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I have volunteered for many events to help the Athens community—for both the general public and our military and veteran community.
Daisha Hogan
Daisha Hogan
Martha Jane Hunley Blackburn and Donald A. Spencer Achievement Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
Although I am in leadership roles, I am also a student and am continuously learning. Being open to new ideas from an organization or team is one of the most successful things I can do as a leader.
Gianna Petrella
Gianna Petrella
Edwin L. Kennedy Leadership Award for Outstanding Community Service
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I started a learn-to-swim program in Athens for children and adults with multiple disabilities, and I plan to continue my extensive work in community service and leadership at Ohio University.
Reaija Grice
Reaija Grice
Francine Childs Diversity Leadership Award & Outstanding Senior Leader Award John Newton Templeton Designation
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I have a passion for student-centered experiences, uplifting marginalized communities,and providing equitable experiences for all.
Kristen Cox
Kristen Cox
The Arnold Student Allyship Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I take pride in the work I put out, the relationships I make, and the ability to positively impact those I work with.
Marguerite Augier
Marguerite Augier
Outstanding Senior Leader Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I have been able to create an environment that encourages creativity and innovation while promoting a sense of community and belonging.
Luvina Cooley
Luvina Cooley
Dr. Patti McSteen Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
Listening to others has made me approachable and is the most effective way to create both immediate and long-lasting change.
Megan Handle
Megan Handle
Women's Issues Leadership Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
There is never a time when I am not working to advance solutions to the issues women face on campus or talking to my peers about where they want to see change and progress.
Shauna Torrington
Shauna Torrington
Charles J. Ping International Leadership Award & Outstanding Graduate Student Leader, Doctoral Level
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I always try to improve whatever environment I am in and to speak up for myself and the people that will walk the path after me.
Nicole Adams
Nicole Adams
Edwin L. Kennedy Leadership Award for Outstanding Community Service
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I have impacted the OHIO community by bringing true acceptance and optimism, andnot backing down when those ideals are challenged.
Alexis Thomas
Alexis Thomas
Rudy Leadership Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I am a voice for the inexperienced but also an advocate to help them understand that there's a leader in everyone.
Jonah Heintzleman
Jonah Heintzleman
Stonewall Student Leadership Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I have been called to work in Student Affairs to repair as much of the harm done to the queer and trans community as I can.
Roshni Ashiq
Roshni Ashiq
Charles J. Ping International Leadership Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I believe a leader is not always one with a big name; one can be a true leader like me who silently creates an everlasting impact in the lives of people we meet across our journeys.
Jalen Tolbert
Jalen Tolbert
George Floyd Memorial Scholarship
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
Being a leader is not only about having titles, and it is for that reason that I pride myself on being someone who leads in all tasks.
Maya Meade
Maya Meade
Outstanding Senior Leader Award & Rita LaValley Recreation Employee Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
The issues that I focus on the most are accessibility and racial diversity through education and awareness.
Mia Walsh
Mia Walsh
Stonewall Student Leadership Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
My purpose is to be as kind as possible to as many people as possible. This mission has me leading with kindness in all that I say and do.
Iman Ikram
Iman Ikram
Women's Issues Leadership Award
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
My service has amplified my knowledge of foundational concepts such as diversity, inclusion, and healthcare disparities.
Ryan Evans
Ryan Evans
Outstanding Senior Leader
What is your approach to leadership at OHIO?
I engage in leadership across many domains and I seek out opportunities to hone my leadership abilities in a variety of settings and populations, both in practice and in professional development.
Ebony Minds: 50 Shades of Brown: Melanin Magic
Ebony Minds: 50 Shades of Brown: Melanin Magic
Outstanding Programming Fall
International Student Union: International Street Fair
International Student Union: International Street Fair
Outstanding Programming Spring
F-Word Performers
F-Word Performers
The Arnold Allyship Student Group Award
Lavender Menace
Lavender Menace
Stonewall Student Group Leadership Award
Lost Flamingo Theater Company
Lost Flamingo Theater Company
Edwin L. Kennedy Leadership Award for Community Service