Student Life Honors 2026 Award Recipients

The persistent pursuit of excellence extends beyond the classroom at Purdue. We would like to congratulate the Student Life Honors Awards recipients who were recognized on April 19, 2026, for demonstrating commitment to leadership and the Purdue community through their involvement in student activities, student employment, community service and learning. These students and staff represent what it means to be a Boilermaker.

See the full list of the 2026 Student Life Honors award recipients below to see all of this year's winners.

Student Activities and Organizations

Outstanding Program Award

Presented to the student organizations that have implemented the most outstanding campus programs during the academic year. The winners receive a plaque.

Society of Women Engineers
Purdue University Dance Marathon

Innovative Program Award

Presented to the student organizations that have implemented the most creative campus programs during the academic year.

Purdue Student Government
Boilers in Action

Rising Boilermaker Award

Presented to individuals who have demonstrated knowledge of and interest in campus activities and organizations. Recipients display enthusiasm, motivation, communication and organizational skills. The award recognizes a member who has stepped up and contributed to an organization.

Advitiya Srinivasan, Mechanical Engineering, Ashburn, Virginia.
Kasey Riha, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Lafayette, Indiana
Hannah Prickett, Pharmacy, Avon, Indiana
Johanna Keller, Chemical Engineering, Cincinnati, Ohio
Om Janamanchi, Computer Science, Indianapolis, Indiana
Ella Correia, Mechanical Engineering, Osceola, Indiana
Eileen Chao, Hospitality and Tourism Management, Fremont, California
Quincy Bourell, First-Year Engineering, Sylvania, Ohio
Kate Anderson, Civil Engineering, Aurora, Colorado

Community Engagement Award

Presented to the student organization providing outstanding service to other people, organizations or places. Organizations recognize the importance of serving the community and have gained an understanding of social issues facing their communities.

Special Olympics College at Purdue

Co-Sponsorship/Collaboration of the Year

Presented to the organization that provided the most outstanding co-sponsored program or program series for the betterment of campus, students and Purdue University. The winning organization showcases the importance of collaboration, takes initiative to begin tasks related to positive change, displays an understanding of campus needs and shows successful interactions between multiple campus organizations, all with a demonstrably successful program. The winning organization receives a plaque.

Computer Science Club (Indianapolis)

Boilermaker Pride Award

Presented to an organization which displays outstanding sportsmanship at all competitions, competes against a Big 10 opponent in an annual competition that has taken place in the last three years and has active participation by all members at most competitions. The winning organization receives a plaque.

Boilermaker Rube Goldberg Team

Student Organization of the Year Excellence Award

Considered a “lifetime achievement award” for student organizations that demonstrate continued excellence in its programs, leadership and service. The winning programs show long-term excellence in affecting positive change on campus, demonstrating collaboration between campus and community, implementing ongoing programs and encouraging organizational participation, teamwork and leadership development in all of its members. The winning organization receives a plaque.

Society of Women Engineers
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating & Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)

Dean Betty Nelson Student Organization Service Award

Recognizes one student organization and one student affiliated with a student organization, both of which excel in community service in the Greater Lafayette area. The student winner receives a monetary award.

Purdue Muslim Student Association
Shalom Ablavi Kpetsu, French and Francophone Studies, Kumasi, Ghana

Outstanding Advisor of the Year Award

Given to an advisor who demonstrated initiative in working with student organization members, effectively facilitated the organization’s efforts to accomplish its mission, provided dedicated support to the development of student learning and served as a role model for organization members.

Beth Holloway, Senior Assistant Dean for Student Access and Success; Leah H. Jamieson Director of the Women In Engineering Program, College of Engineering; Professor of Engineering Practice

Fraternity, Sorority and Cooperative Life:

National Pan-Hellenic Council Member of the Year

Recognizes an individual who has contributed to the Purdue fraternal movement in significant ways. The individual seeks to maintain high standards in their academic, social and service pursuits while leading the FSCL community at Purdue.

Kayode Olaoye, Law and Society, Hammond, Indiana

Multicultural Greek Council Member of the Year

Adiel Plascencia, Elementary Education, East Chicago, Illinois

Interfraternity Council John Wooden Leader of the Year

Presented to a fraternity member who models the way for others in his words, actions and deeds. The honoree serves as an inspiration to others and encourages them to rise above the status quo.

Reid Schrock, Finance, Indianapolis, Indiana

Lafayette Alumni Panhellenic Woman of the Year

Honors an accomplished sorority woman who has offered outstanding service to her campus, community and chapter.

Emma Hoffman, Elementary Education, Crown Point, Indiana

Purdue Cooperative Council Mark Donahue Award

Awarded in honor of Mark Donahue, a member of Circle Pines, and recognizes a member of the cooperative system who embodies his leadership style as a visionary, big - picture thinker who is able to serve through adversity.

Jessa Caffee, Media and Mass Communication, Goshen, Indiana

Roger C. Stewart Leadership and Professional Development Department

Charles O. McGaughey Leadership Award

Recognizes students who demonstrate leadership abilities and an appreciation of basic American values as evidenced by a record of achievement through community service and service to Purdue University. The honorees receive a crystal paperweight and a cash award.

Elizabeth Possin, Industrial Engineering, St. Charles, Illinois.
Kevin Liu, Business Analytics and Information Management, Monmouth Junction, New Jersey
Dylan Garagiola, Professional Flight Technology, and Aviation Management, Jackson, New Jersey
Christine Zheng, Natural Resources and Environmental Science, and Political Science, Arcadia, California
Emma Parsons, Public Health, and Professional Writing, Mishawaka, Indiana
Ashlyn Larson, Kinesiology, San Diego, California
Aarushi Gupta, Biomedical Health Sciences, and Law and Society, West Lafayette, Indiana
Rebecca Siener, Neurobiology and Physiology, Cincinnati, Ohio
Philip Salvador, Political Science, and Anthropology, Elgin, Illinois
Mallory Kempf, Communication, Mount Vernon, Indiana

Dean Betty Nelson Leadership Legacy Award

Awarded to students who utilize their personal strengths to leave their mark on Purdue and the community. The award is made possible by the Emily Mauzy Vogel Endowment, set up by a generous gift from the late Mr. And Mrs. Robert Mauzy, and in honor of Dean of Students Emerita Betty Nelson. The winner receives a monetary award.

Nicholas Neuman, Agricultural Economics and Political Science, Rushville, Indiana
Brianna Arinze, Doctor of Pharmacy, St. Louis, Missouri
Rocco Bartolini, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Oak Lawn, Illinois.
Suzanne Elia, Political Science, and Law and Society, Terre Haute, Indiana
Aveena Rawal, Mechanical Engineering, Erie, Colorado

Class of 1937 Scholarship

The Class of 1937 Scholarship recognizes undergraduate students who have significant involvement on campus and have exhibited outstanding leadership ability. Each honoree receives a certificate and scholarship award.

Clarice Ndangam, English Literature, Middletown, Delaware
Jade Larrison, Agribusiness Grand Haven, Michigan
Jake Zegger, Electrical Engineering Itasca, Illinois
Alyssa Collins, Neurobiology and Physiology, and Creative Writing Indianapolis, Indiana
Saahil Aneja, Computer Science, Lake Oswego, Oregon
Wesley Lin, Finance, Fountain Valley, California

University Residences (UR) & Dining & Culinary Awards

Lanny C. Wilson Scholarship

The Lanny C. Wilson Scholarship was established to recognize the contributions of Lanny Wilson, former director of administration for University Residences, for his many years of service to students at Purdue University. The scholarship is awarded annually to a student in University Residences who has achieved distinction in leadership while also employed in a student staff position.

Jackson Beier, Agricultural Education, Huntingburg, Indiana

William I. Bennett Courtier Achievement Scholarship

Established to preserve the spirit of the Courtiers of Fowler Courts and to recognize William I. Bennett for his years of service of Fowler Courts. This scholarship is awarded to the individual who has excelled in academics, exemplified their hall spirit and contributed to their residence hall community. The winner receives a scholarship award.

Ava Budak, Nutrition and Dietetics, Angola, Indiana

Elizabeth Hartley Conductor of the Year

The Elizabeth Hartley Conductor of the Year award is presented to a student employed in the University Residences Alumni and Guest Center who does an excellent job passing on the Boilermaker spirit. UR Tour Guides are students who help introduce parents, prospective students and guests to the University Residences community. The winner receives a cash award.

Lillian Stoelb, Law and Society, Crown Point, Indiana

Sarah Johnson Outstanding Student Employee of the Year

Selected based on reliability, quality of work, initiative, teamwork and contributions to Purdue Dining & Culinary. The award recognizes the many contributions of Sarah Johnson, former director of residential dining for University Residences, who dedicated more than 37 years of service to students at Purdue University and the National Association for Colleges & University Food Services. The winner receives a monetary award.

Nicolas Puente, Nutrition and Dietetics, Exercise Science, and Master of Public Health, Tampa, Florida

William “Bill” Rumple Residential Dining Head Captain Award

Established in recognition of William and Tim Rumple, both of whom provided outstanding service to University Residences Dining Services as former head waiters at Fowler Court and Cary Quadrangle. This award is given annually to a student manager or student coordinator in residential dining services who has achieved distinction in leadership while employed in dining services. The winner receives a monetary award.

Jordan Mitchell, Electrical Engineering Technology, Indianapolis, Indiana

Student Employment Awards

Hall of Music Productions Outstanding Guest Services Technician Award

Awarded annually to a student employee within the department who provides leadership and skill in support of the department’s mission.

Katie Cluck, Neurobiology and Physiology, Dyer, Indiana

Hall of Music Productions Outstanding Student Technician Award

Awarded to a student employee within the tech department of Hall of Music Productions who provides leadership and skill in support of the department’s mission.

Emily Morelli, Multidisciplinary Engineering, Buffalo, New York

Recreation & Wellness Student Spotlight

Recognizes student employees who demonstrate outstanding work ethic, professionalism and responsibility while making a meaningful impact on their team through their positive attitude, leadership and contributions to a supportive and motivating work environment.

Vale Byrne, Marketing, Lima, Peru
Justin Logar, Kinesiology, Glen Gardner, New Jersey
Santiago Ochoa, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Caracas, Venezuela
Lauren Brant, Nursing, Valparaiso, Indiana
Hanna Nguyen, Actuarial Science, Collegeville, Pennsylvania
Gracie Arner, Applied Statistics, Stinking Spring, Pennsylvania

Healthy Student Organization Award

Recognizes an outstanding organization that promoted well-being among its members.

Alpha Omicron Pi

Student Life Outstanding New Student Employee

Recognizes performance excellence throughout the semester by new employees.

Jason Lyu, Computer Science, Zionsville, Indiana
Myla Cantrell, African American Studies, and English Literature, Fishers, Indiana

Student Life Student Employee of the Year

Recognizes excellence while employed in a Student Life department throughout the academic year.

Nicolas Puente, Nutrition and Dietetics, Exercise Science, and Master of Public Health, Tampa, Florida
Emily Morelli, Multidisciplinary Engineering, Buffalo, New York

Flora Roberts Award

Presented to an outstanding graduating student who has shown a commitment to scholarship, leadership and service and displays outstanding character. The honoree will have their name engraved on the MSEE obelisk and will receive an engraved medallion and monetary award.

Nicholas Neuman, Agricultural Economics and Political Science, Rushville, Indiana

G.A. Ross Award

Abigail Frank, Aeronautical and Astronautical Engineering, Portland, Oregon

Student Life Impact Awards

The Student Life Impact Awards were established by the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Life in order to honor, recognize and engage exceptionally accomplished alumni and friends of Student Life at Purdue.

Student Life Young Alumni Award

Given to a Purdue alumnus 35 or younger who has shown outstanding career development through traditional channels or innovative practices.

Chelsea C. Hayes, CEO, The Coaching Factory

Student Life Award for Outstanding Leadership

Given to alumni who have exceptional careers and shown long-term leadership within their chosen profession, as well as noteworthy professional accomplishments that reflect favorably on their profession, Purdue University and society.

Rodney Glass, Director, People, eXperience & Technology, Amazon
Rodrick Glass, Executive Vice President of Sales and Business Development, Creative Realties

Student Life Service Award

Given to a Purdue alumnus who has demonstrated a commitment to their community through the development of, or significant contributions to private or public programs that improve or enhance quality of life.

Bev Mentzer, Industrial Career Coach and Mentor, Purdue University
Ray Mentzer, Professor of Engineering Practice; Executive Director of the Purdue Process Safety & Assurance Center, Davidson School of Chemical Engineering

Bob L. and Joyce Beery Miles Student Life Mentor Award

The Bob L. and Joyce Beery Miles Student Life Mentor Award honors and promotes the considerable efforts and accomplishments of individuals who consistently serve as effective mentors for students in areas within the Division of Student Life.

Heather Dykes, Associate Director of Student Services/Director of Student Success Student Services, College of Health and Human Sciences

Student Life Exceptional Staff Award

This award is presented to currently employed staff members in Student Life for their exceptional student support throughout the year. A student committee reviews the applications and selects the winner of this award.

Margie Jones, Senior Associate Director of Student Involvement, Purdue Student Activities and Organizations