Student Leadership and PAS Awards

Every year the Student Leadership Office and the Physical Activities and Self-Care (PAS) Office co-host an awards ceremony open to all AUP students to celebrate and recognize the outstanding contributions of student leaders throughout the academic year. The event takes place at the end of the spring semester and honors those who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, initiative, and impact within the AUP community. Award recipients are presented with a commemorative plaque in recognition of their achievements.

Award Nomination and Selection Process

The awards nomination process begins with an open call for nominations during the last week of March. Students are invited to submit nominations for student leaders who have made a meaningful impact on campus based on the award categories listed below. The nomination window is open for two weeks.

In parallel, student organization leaders receive separate calls for nominations to recognize outstanding student organization advisors. This call is sent out in mid-March and remains open for two weeks.

Once the nomination period closes, the Student Leadership Office and the PAS Office review all submissions. Together, they deliberate on the nominations to determine the final award recipients. Nominations are publicly announced one week before the awards ceremony, where the recipients are formally recognized and presented with their plaque in front of their peers.

 

Annual Award Categories

Student Leadership Office Award Categories
  • Community Impact Award
  • Outstanding Multicultural Initiative
  • Heart of AUP (x2)
  • Keystone Award
  • Excellence in Peer Support
  • Emerging Student Leader
  • Program of the Year
  • Student Organization of the Year
  • RISE Award (For a Student Organization Advisor)
Physical Activities and Self-Care (PAS) Award Categories
  • Leadership in Wellness
  • Outstanding Commitment to Movement
  • Most Innovative Physical Activity
  • Dedication to Lifelong Activity
  • Excellence in Team Sports
  • Commitment to Leadership in Sports
  • Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy
  • The PAS Thrive Award

2024/2025 AWARD RECIPIENTS

Student Leadership Office Awards
  • Community Impact Award: AUP Music and Performance
  • Outstanding Multicultural Initiative: Hispanic Heritage Month (Club Latinoamérica)
  • Heart of AUP (x2): Jacob Shropshire (Graduate Student) & Leah Nagpal (Undergraduate Student)
  • Keystone Award: Lucie Reed
  • Excellence in Peer Support: Kundai Mwareya
  • Emerging Student Leader: Matlyn Drucker
  • Program of the Year: AUP Think Tank's Breakfast Talk with the UNESCO American Ambassador
  • Student Organization of the Year: Wine Society
  • RISE Award (For a Student Organization Advisor): Professor Ziad Majed
PAS Office Awards
  • Leadership in Wellness: Comfort Club
  • Outstanding Commitment to Movement: Boxing
  • Most Innovative Physical Activity: AUP Dance Company
  • Dedication to Lifelong Activity: Jenna Farra (Running Club)
  • Excellence in Team Sports: Futsal
  • Commitment to Leadership in Sports: Nicole Hummell
  • Excellence in Mental Health Advocacy: Johanna Sletten Larsson 
  • The PAS Thrive Award: Kiki Nwankwo (Futsal) and Evan Romano (Basketball)

Previous Winners

2022-2023 Student Leadership and PAS Awards

Student Leadership Awards

MOST EXECUTIVE EXEC

Sarah Salama

MODEL STUDENT GOVERNMENT OFFICER

T’Anna Johnson

Lilly Mildenberger

MOST INVOLVED

Caroline Sjerven

SERVICE AWARD

Fatimata Djibrine

MODEL STUDENT ORGANIZATION

AUP Green (Sarah Glavan)

MODEL STUDENT ADVISOR

Marouane Noman

Chandler Sumpter-Gillyard

MODEL EDITOR

Jacob Shropshire

MOST IMPACTFUL VISITING STUDENT

Abigail Smart

Joy Amessoudji

EMERGING STUDENT LEADER

Rona Phi

Kendall West

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AWARD

Nicolas Colucci

Eleanora Marcone

MOST IMPACTFUL PROJECT OR EVENT

Vivre Performing Arts Season

MOST OUTSTANDING MENTOR (MOM Award)

Luca Monti

 

Graduating Student Leader Special Recognition Award

Rachel Avila

Sara Bashiti

Mallory Boyd

Arabella Lytton Gay

Savie Newton

Morgan Smith

Dominic Spada

Thalia Weissman

PAS Awards

P.A.L. (PHYSICAL ACTIVITY LEADER) Grant

Hera Soysal

F.A.S.T (The Financial Assistance for Student with Tenacity Grant)

Dan Dougherty

MVP VOLLEYBALL

Alexandra Wittmeier

MIP VOLLEYBALL

Stephanie Bergon

DEDICATION VOLLEYBALL

Emma Martinez

MVP BASKETBALL

Zwa Inyoni

MIP BASKETBALL

Paul Mathew

DEDICATION BASKETBALL

Paul Mathew

MVP FUTSAL

Zion Drake

MIP FUTSAL

Gabriella Zadoyan

DEDICATION FUTSAL

Sheel Vallam

MVP CONTEMPORARY DANCE

Gisele Luiz

MIP CONTEMPORARY DANCE

Genaro Ng

DEDICATION DANCE

Ani Gonzalez Ward

OFF-CAMPUS ACHIEVEMENT

Sophie Adams

ON-CAMPUS ACHIEVEMENT

Gisele Luiz

PAS ALL-ROUNDER AWARD

Gabby Bashizi

PAS NEWCOMER

Hip Hop Club - Alexandra Shao

PAS PERSEVERANCE AWARD

AUP Basketball - Zwa Inyoni

2021-2022 Student Leadership Awards
Athletic Awards 2021-22

AUP Dance

  • Dedication: Annika Zoetmulder and Gisele Luiz
  • Courage and Perseverance: Ethan Nguyen
  • Improvement: Allie Dvorchak

Futsal

  • Most Valuable Player: Avery Sharp
  • Most Improved: Zion Drake
  • Most Dedicated: Gabby Bashizi

Other PAS Awards

  • Newcomer Award: Yoga Club, led by Alyssa Gauk
  • Perseverance Award: Cameron Waggett and Jonathan Moniz
  • Off-Campus Achievement: Allen Blackwell
  • Most Versatile Participant: Carolin Melz

 

Golden Plume Awards 2021-2022
  • Peacock Magazine: “Hypocrisy, islamophobia and the future of immigration” – written by Christina Alvarez-Correa
  • Peacock Plume: “Do you know Fumo?” – written by Oscar Padula
  • AUP Radio: “The Nightly Negroni” – produced By Giulia Oddone and Caleb Stangl
  • Best PodPlay Contribution: Love & Rejection
  • Most Creative Contributor: Sofia Rose

 

Leadership Awards 2021-2022
  • Model Student Advisor: Lynn Elhadjali 

  • Model Editor: Abigail Wright

  • Model Student Government Officer: Carolin Melz

  • Most Executive Exec: Andrew Callaghan

  • Model Student Organization: Black and Abroad

  • Most Impactful Visiting Student: Madeline Lankarini

  • Most Impactful Project: Ukraine Fundraiser

  • Best Event: World’s Fair

  • Service Award: Ria Phi

  • Emerging Student Leader: Angelina Zagaynova

  • Most Involved: Hera Soysal

  • M.O.M. Award (Most Outstanding Mentor): Sandra Lefaure

  • Most Dedicated Faculty/Staff Advisor: Charlotte Vernier

  • Dean’s Leadership Award: Jennifer Edwards

2019-2020 Student Leadership Awards
Athletic Awards 2019-2020

Futsal Men:

  • Most Valuable Player: Andrew Callaghan
  • Dedication Award: Ashton Forichon
  • Most Improved: Avery Sharp

Volleyball Women:

  • Most Valuable Player: Catherine Taylor
  • Most Improved: Stephanie Bergon

Dance Team:

  • Most Valuable Player: Sarah Bentov-Lagman
  • Most Improved: Alexandra Dvorchak

 

Golden Plume Awards 2019-2020

Best Fashion Piece:

  • "2020 is Nostalgia The New Black? by Abdel Benakki
  • "Androgyny: Menswear for All Bodies, Or Truly Gender Fluid" by Linnea Wingerup

Best Scripts for travel Piece:

  • “A Mindful Trip to London”* by Isala Gray

Best Freelance Piece:

  • "A Breath of Fresh Air for Jane Austen's Iconic Satire" by Abigail Wright

Best Online News Piece:

  • “Corona Diaries: T-Minus 36 Hours” by Maddi Carpenter-Crawford

Best Video Production:

  • Skin in the Game: Tattoos at AUP (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McccZw5gLYw) by Sofia Rose

Best Magazine Piece:

  • "Meme en Franglais: A Look Into Internet Connectivity and Humor" by Linnea Wingerup

 

Leadership Awards 2019-2020

Best Club: This award recognizes a club that established a strong and memorable presence on campus through their events, weekly meetings, and impact on campus.

  • Black and Abroad – founded and led by A’mari Bing-Way

Best Event: This award goes to the most memorable student event of the year!

  • Halloween – organized by Olivia Jenkins (SGA) and Sabrina Aguirre (ASM)

Emerging Student Leader: This award goes to a young student leader who has been a driving force of change and productivity in the AUP community, despite having recently arrived at AUP.

  • Treraphat (T.) Chainarongrit

Exceptional Club Leader: This award recognizes a student organization leader's outstanding leadership.

  • Leonardo Tow (AUP for Consent)

Model Student Advisor: This award recognizes a student advisor who has gone above and beyond the call of duty and made an impact on the AUP community.

  • Sandra Lefaure

Model Student Government Executive: This award recognizes excellence from a member of your Undergraduate or Graduate Student Council.

  • Nike Hartmann

Most Impactful Project: This award goes to the team or individual who initiated and carried out a project that benefited the AUP community by pushing for lasting, positive change.

  • The Corona Diaries – produced by Lydia Wiernik Partenio & Anita Maksymchuk (ASM)

Model Student Government Officer: This award recognizes outstanding leadership from a senator (class or department representative) or SGA committee member.

  • Michael Bowers

Most Involved Graduate Student: This award goes to a graduate student who demonstrated exceptional devotion, motivation, and commitment to their activities on campus.

  • Renée Walton

Most Involved Undergraduate Student: This award goes to an undergraduate student who demonstrated exceptional devotion, motivation, and commitment to their activities on campus.

  • Anita Maksymchuk

Service above self: This award recognizes a student that was willing to put in the time and energy required to truly serve the student body, oftentimes putting the AUP community's needs before their own.

  • Alfio Lococo

Dean's Leadership Award: This award from the Dean of Student Development recognizes outstanding leadership from an undergraduate or graduate student.

  • Bileh Dougsiyeh
2018-2019 Student Leadership Awards
Athletic Awards 2018-2019

Futsal Men:

  • Most Valuable Player: Andrew Callaghan
  • Most Improved: Cameron Bartlett
  • Dedication Award: Shutaro Hasumi

Volleyball Women:

  • Most Valuable Player: Patricia Molinos Ruperez
  • Most Improved: Tifani Ciotti-Kamph
  • Dedication Award: Angelica Elise Powers

Danse Team:

  • Most Valuable Player: Sarah Bentov-Lagman
  • Most Improved: Thorin Erb
  • Dedication Award: Gisele Chu

Student Athlete of the Year:

  • Sarah Bentov-Lagman & Thor Hartwick

 

Golden Plume Awards 2018-2019

Peacock Plume Best Human Interest Piece:

  • “A Parent’s Last Resort” by Claire Sharp

Peacock Plume Best News Piece:

  • “Paris is Burning” by Katerina McGrath and Fernanda Sapiña

Peacock Magazine Best Human Interest Piece:

  • “Should You Know Your Love Languages?”  by Olivia Cowden

Peacock Magazine Best Visual:

  • “Chez Moi” by Tatum McDonald

Peacock Play Best Human Interest Piece:

  • “Conformity at AUP” by Anita Maksymchuk and team

Peacock Play Breakout Piece:

  • “Conformity at AUP” by Anita Maksymchuk and team

Scripts for Travel Best Human Interest Piece:

  • “Homage to Humanity” by Cinthya Franco

Scripts for Travel Best Travel Piece:

  • “Tracing Family Roots to Northern Greece” by Anna Demmas

Fashion Best Human Interest Piece:

  • “Error 404: Model Not Found” by Jacqueline Wegworth

Fashion Best Visuals:

  • “Vogue Runway #ad #sponsored” by Maddie Czarnik

Best Journalistic Freelance Piece:

  • “The Sea from Suomenlinna” by Caleb Lemke

 

Leadership Awards 2018-2019

Graduate Student Leader:

  • Madelaine Vanderheyden

Undergraduate Student Leader:

  • Diana Hickox

Most Outstanding Mentor:

  • Emily Ide

Exceptional Student Government Executive of the Year:

  • Chiara Amor

Outstanding Student Government Official:

  • Caelin Peterson

Outstanding Editor or Producer:

  • Sage Theiss Sakata

Most Valuable ASM Board Member (MVB award):

  • Sophia Foerster

Service Above Self Award:

  • Chiara Amor

Emerging Student Leader:

  • Chris Turner

Student Club of the Year:

  • AUP for Consent (these students make up the board of the club: Frances Eby, Leonardo Tow, Jamie Nyqvist, Sam Proteau, Abigail Wright, Reagan Espino)

Exceptional Student Leader:

  • Frances Eby

Propeller of Change Award:

  • Dhouha Djerbi

Model Student Advisor:

  • Leona Caanen & Malick Rupert

Most Involved:

  • Sophia Foerster

Event of the Year:

  • Multimedia Fundraising Gala (award goes to the event organizer, Lauren Domagas)
2017-2018 Student Leadership Awards
Athletic Awards 2017-2018

Futsal Men:

  • Most Valuable Player: Tommaso Mangano
  • Most Improved: Marly Phillips Nicol
  • Dedication Award: Daniel Kullolli

Volleyball Women:

  • Most Valuable Player: Sarah  Keough
  • Most Improved: Alessandra   Campbell
  • Dedication Award: Alexandra Acero

Basketball Men:

  • Most Valuable Player: Jie Yi Xu
  • Most Improved: Johnson Yoder
  • Dedication Award: Michael Bowers

Student Athlete of the Year:

  • Alessandra Campbell

 

Golden Plume Awards 2017-2018

Plume Online Best Content:

  • "Drawing the line: sexual assault on campus" by Ali Benzerara

Peacock Magazine Best Content:

  • "The Metro's Got Talent" by Chanet Smith

Play Video Best Content:

  • March for Our Lives

Grad Opinion Best Content:

  • "Ode to the Reticent Traveler" by Beth Grannis

Scripts for Travel Best Content:

  • "Paris Through its Protest" by Alice Preat

Fashion Journalism Best Content:

  • "Ethical Fashion: From Paris to New York" by Dorothea Mursch-Edlmayr

Board Member Awards: Outstanding Editing Achievement:

  • Ali Nielsen

Board Member Awards: Best Team Player:

  • Alex Bilodeau
  • Jackie Wegwerth
  • Malick Rupert

Board Member Awards: Outstanding Leadership:

  • Talia Lliteras 

 

Leadership Awards 2017-2018

Exceptional SGA Executive Team Member:

  • Jasmine Paul

Exceptional SGA Senator:

  • Maria Rodriguez

Exceptional SGA Committee Member:

  • Rokhaya Wade

Undergraduate Student-Life Leader:

  • Jasmine Paul

Graduate Student-Life Leader:

  • Anna Chapman

Emerging Student Leader:

  • Alfio Lococo

Service above Self Award:

  • Nebi Dzhabrailova

Exceptional Club Leader:

  • Gloria Atanga

Club of the Year:

  • Inspire Africa (Rokhaya Wade & Gloria Atanga)

Senator MVP:

  • Jasmine Paul
2016-2017 Student Leadership Awards
Athletic Awards 2016-2017

Futsal Men:

  • Most Valuable Player: Saji Thiam
  • Most Improved: Thor Hartwick
  • Dedication Award: Stefan Kaufmann

Volleyball Women:

  • Most Valuable Player: Sarah  Keough
  • Most Improved: Maryam Benjelloun
  • Dedication Award: Ekaterina Vorobyeva

Equestrian:

  • Most Valuable Player: Chiara Amor
  • Most Improved: Nebi Dzhabrailova 
  • Dedication Award: Katherine Sutliff

Student Athlete of the Year:

  • Margarita Valldejuly

 

Golden Plume Awards 2016-2017

Best Original Photography:

  • Rebecca Simor

Funniest Article:

  • Lillian Wagner

Most Memorable Voice:

  • Lillian Wagenr

Best Interview Piece:

  • Safian  Ado-Ibrahim

Most Original Article:

  • Hedvig Werner

 

Leadership Awards 2016-2017

Club of the Year (Baytna à Vous):

  • Anne Vallot-Basker       

Exceptional Club Leader:

  • Anne Vallot-Basker       

Service above Self Award:

  • Jasmine Paul

Emerging Student Leader:

  • Cameron Gattinger

Undergraduate Leadership:

  • Maria Rodriguez

Graduate Leadership:

  • Kristal Kramer

Exceptional Executive Student Leader:

  • Maria Rodriguez

Senator MVP:

  • Danica Cortez

Senator MVP:

  • Adrien  Lee
2015-2016 Student Leadership Awards

Graduate Life Leadership Award:

  • Habiba Belguedj

Undergraduate Life Leadership Award:

  • Savannah Jenkins   

Exceptional SGA Executive Student Leader:

  • Savannah Jenkins        

Outstanding Student Media Executive:

  • Ariana  Mosofari

Emerging Student Leader:

  • Amelia Harvey

Service above Self Award:

  • Habiba Belguedj

Exceptional Club Leader:

  • Eleanor Dickinson        

Club of the Year :

  • Baytna à Vous (Anne Vallot-Basker)
2014-2015 Student Leadership Awards
Athletic Awards 2014-2015

Student Female Athlete of the Year:

  • Dasha  Goncharova

Student Male Athlete of the Year:

  • Kyle Keenan

 

Leadership Awards 2014-2015

USC Executive Member of the Year:

  • Natalie Jenkins

GSC Executive Member of the Year:

  • Ayla Nejad

Outstanding GSC Student Senator of the Year:

  • Ayla Nejad

Outstanding USC Student Senator of the Year:

  • Claudia Galtes

Emerging Student Leader:

  • Alexandra Elz
  • Amanda Skaar

Service above Self Award:

  • Evon Pervan-Keller
  • Natalie Jenkins

Student Club Leader of the Year:

  • Daniel  Umstaedter
  • Marina Ceccarelli

Student Committee Leader of the Year:

  • Amanda Elz

Student Club of the Year:

  • AUP Cares (Alexandra Elz)

Best Student Media Member of the Year:

  • Gabriel Hedengren