BIPOC Unity Center Senior Leadership Awards

The BIPOC Unity Center Senior Leadership Awards

Recognizing the Commencement of select students who exemplify leadership in programs with the BIPOC Unity Center or other programs across campus.

Announcing the 2024 BIPOC Unity Center Senior Leadership Award Recipients

We are thrilled to announce the winners of the 2024 BIPOC Unity Center Senior Leadership Awards. Each year during commencement weekend, we honor graduating students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, academic excellence, service and promote social change. This year, with the merging of offices, we are also proud to present the First Generation Awards. Congratulations to all the exceptional students who have made significant contributions to our campus and community.

The Dubois/Mandela Award for Scholarship, Leadership & Service: Presented to students for their significant scholarly achievements (cumulative 3.5 GPA or above) coupled with exemplary contributions to the campus and local community through service and continued civic engagement.

Recipients: Mikayla Tolliver, Melanie Perez, Alexa Rahman, Jadyn Davis, Adriana Ramirez, Fabiha Khan, Amirah Torrence, and Utkarsh Maini

The Chung/Thorpe Leadership Award: Presented to students who have increased the profile of the community of color through continued participation in leadership roles throughout their Ithaca College experience.

Recipients: Aminatta Imrana Jallow, Anesha Sandiford, Viviana Morales, Jaevon Williams, and Nour Elshikh

The Chawla/Ochoa Academic Achievement Award: Presented to students who have shown a commitment to enhancing their educational experience through research, conference presentations, and published works, while maintaining a high level of academic achievement (cumulative 3.3 GPA or higher).

Recipients: Ranjini Iyengar, Sarake Dembele, Quinn Tufino, and Guadalupe Fanelli

The Chávez/Lorde Social Justice Award: Presented to students who have demonstrated a strong dedication to social change for the Ithaca College and local community through various platforms, projects, or initiatives.

Recipients: Manuella Asare, Olivia Celenza, Ashanti Ford, and Angela Russell

Dr. Gloria L. Hobbs Inspiration Award: Presented to students who have shown empathy, helpfulness, and a willingness to go above and beyond in support of their peers throughout their undergraduate experience.

Recipients: Inbaayini Anbarasan, Nathalie Molina, Vanivy Delaney, Pearl Hettich, Heaven Cuevas, Desoni Cooper, Anissa Borno, Liguori Flanagan, and Lisandra Espiritusanto Marte

The First Generation Dedication Award: Presented to an Ithaca College Staff Member who has routinely promoted the goals and supported the first generation community.

Recipients: Sam Elebiary & Cliff-Simon Vital

The First Generation Guardian Award: Presented to an Ithaca College Faculty Member who has routinely promoted the goals and supported the first generation community.

Recipients: Carlos Figueroa

The First Generation Senior Impact Award: Presented to first-generation graduating seniors who have proven to be dedicated members of the community through their mentorship to other first-gen students.

Recipients: Sarake Dembele, Ashanti Ford, Nathalie Molina

The First Generation Senior Leadership Award: Presented to first-generation graduating seniors who exemplify leadership qualities, strength of character, and serve as role models in their community throughout their time at Ithaca College.

Recipients: Anissa Borno, Adriana Ramirez, Nicole De La Mota, Jania Robinson, Melanie Perez, Skyler Cepek, Porter Lopata, Lisandra Espiritusanto Marte, Katelyn Matthews, and Jaime Kister

We extend our heartfelt congratulations to all our award recipients. Your hard work, dedication, and leadership have made a lasting impact on our community. We are immensely proud of your achievements and look forward to celebrating your success at the upcoming awards ceremony.

The Awards

An older woman is sitting and looking slightly off to the side of the camera with a faint smile on her face. She is wearing a white suit jacket against a white background. Her hair ends at her ears and is salt and pepper grey.

The Gloria L. Hobbs Award

Cultivating empathy, helpfulness, and a willingness to go above and beyond.

The Du Bois/Mandela Award

Pursuing scholarly achievements, service, and civic engagement.

A split image of two photos. The first is of Mary Chung Hayashi. She is a middle aged woman smiling into the camera. She wears a pearl necklace, pear earrings, and a dark suit jacket. Her hair is golden brown and ends right before her shoulders. It is parted to one side. The second image is of Jim Thorpe. It is a black and white photo of him as a young man starting off into the distance. His brow is furrowed and his eyes are squinted as if looking into a bright light.

The Chung/Thorpe Award

Leadership and involvement in IC communities of color.

A split screen with two images. The first is of Dr. Chawla. She is a woman wearing an orange astronaut suit smiling at the camera. Her hair is dark and straight and parted down the center. The second is of Dr. Ochoa. It is sepia colored. He is an older man sitting to the side in a white lab coat. His hairline is receding and his hair is greying. He is looking at the camera but is not smiling.

The Chawla/Ochoa Award

Contributing to research and knowledge creation.

A split image of two photos. The first is a black and white photo of Cesar Chavez as an older man. He is standing with is arms crossed, smiling at the camera. His salt and pepper hair is short and blowing in the wind. He wears a dark crew cut sweater. The second is a black and white photo of Audre Lorde. She is wearing a short afro, and a heavily patterned sweater. She is leaning toward the camera at an angle and has a closed lipped smile on her face.

The Chávez/Lorde Award

Social change for the Ithaca College and local community.

Kente Cloth Graduation Stole

The Gloria L. Hobbs Stole

Blue - The color of loyalty, inspiration, and imagination. Nsaa Symbol- for excellence and genuineness.

The Du Bois/ Mandela Stole

Red-the color of passion, energy, longevity, and sacrifice. Mframadan Symbol-for fortitude and preparedness.

students with their stoles smiling for the photo

The Chung/Thorpe Stole

Blue-the color of trust, healing, love, and joy. Adin Krahene Symbol-for greatness and leadership.

The Chawla/Ochoa Stole

Purple-the color of loyalty, dignity, wisdom, and ambition. Nkyimkyim Symbol-for initiative, dynamism, and versatility.

The Chávez/Lorde Stole

Black-the color of strength, provocativeness, fierceness, and maturity. Epa Symbol-for law and justice.