2026 Awards
The Annual University Awards program recognizes and celebrates the outstanding achievements of our student leaders and scholars. Through this program, we aim to acknowledge the exceptional academic performances and contributions to the University of Maryland community and surrounding neighborhoods made by our students.
Congratulations to all of the 2025-2026 award recipients and finalists!
View photos from our Awards Banquet here
Members of the Maryland Medallion Society and Model Citizenship Prizes/Elkins Finalists:
View recipient and finalist bios here.
University of Maryland Graduate Student Distinguished Service Award Finalists:
View recipient and finalist bios here.
Omicron Delta Kappa Awards:
View recipient and finalist bios here.
University Awards:
Adele H. Stamp Memorial Award Recipient:
ROHITA KRISHNAKUMAR
Rohita is an International Business major with a minor in Nonprofit Leadership at the University of Maryland. Through leadership roles with Student Entertainment Events (SEE) and the Student Organization Resource Center (SORC), she has worked to foster student connection, engagement, and belonging across campus through large-scale programming and student advocacy initiatives.
Camille K. Rajpat Memorial Award for Outstanding Member of the University Student Judiciary Recipient:
Shulamit Frenkel
Shulamit Frenkel is a senior studying Criminology and Criminal Justice, with minors in Demography and Global Poverty. She is a student leader involved in advisory boards, honor societies, cultural organizations, academic initiatives, and student governance. After graduation, Shulamit plans to attend law school and pursue a career in child advocacy.
Christopher Carey Customer Service Award Recipient:
Daylin Morales Zabaleta
Daylin is a Biology major who serves as a lab assistant and student manager with the UMD Catering team, where she has been a dedicated leader for the past four years. In her role, she helps coordinate events of all sizes with professionalism, attention to detail, and care. Beyond campus, Daylin volunteers at a local hospital and actively contributes to environmental campaigns, demonstrating her strong commitment to service and sustainability. She is widely recognized across campus for her warmth, professionalism, and exceptional leadership.
Greek Leader of the Year Award Recipient:
David Romero
David is a Civil Engineering student from Takoma Park. A dedicated campus leader, he has served in multiple leadership roles within La Unidad Latina, Lambda Upsilon Lambda Fraternity, Inc., including Vice President, Chapter President, and Recruitment and Community Service Chair. Beyond his chapter, he has worked to strengthen collaboration within the fraternity and sorority community through his role as Vice President of Community Relations for the Multicultural Greek Council. David is also a Clark Scholar in the A. James Clark School of Engineering, President of the Campus Equity Collective, and an active member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers.
James H. Kehoe and Ethel Kesler Award Recipient:
Amari Harrington
Amari is an Information Science major graduating this spring and is from Bowie, MD. Throughout his time at UMD, Amari has worked closely with the Intramural Sports and Club Sports programs at RecWell, training hundreds of student officials, reviving the Maryland Student Officials Association, and earning All-American honors as an Intramural Sports Official in multiple sports! Amari plans to continue working in collegiate recreation upon graduation.
James Otis Williams Cultural Leadership Award Recipient:
Aniya Baker
Aniya is a dedicated second-year student leader from Baltimore committed to advocacy, community-building, policy reform, and student support. As Vice President of Public Relations for the Black Student Union and an inducted member of the NAACP, she has led initiatives that inform and empower students while organizing advocacy efforts addressing issues impacting the Black community on campus. Through her work as a Resident Assistant and Open House Student Tour Guide, Aniya mentors first-year students, fosters inclusive community spaces, and connects students with valuable campus resources. She is recognized for her ability to mobilize collective action, build meaningful connections, and create lasting impact across the broader campus community.
John B. Slaughter Outstanding Senior Award Recipient:
De’Vonte Boswell
De’Vonte Boswell is a senior at the University of Maryland, College Park majoring in kinesiology with a focus on athletic management and sports media, with minors in nonprofit leadership and sociology. He serves as co-president of the NAACP, vice president of the Black Student Union, president of Riddim Ryderz, and a Nyumburu Student Ambassador. De’Vonte has worked to advance equity on campus while building community through student leadership, sports media, and his content creation brand, Vonte Visions.
Kirwan Award Recipient:
Amrutha Alibilli
Amrutha Alibilli is an ILS pre-med pursuing a double degree in Neuroscience and Spanish with a Data Science minor. Born in a rural town in southeast India, she has witnessed healthcare disparities first-hand and strives to serve minority communities through research, policy advocacy, and dance.
La Raza Unida Award Recipient:
Manuel Alejandro Custodio
Manuel Alejandro Custodio, is a first-generation Microbiology & Public Health double major interested in the intersection of science and community health. As President of the Coalition of Latinx Student Organizations & a research assistant in family health, Manuel is passionate about the betterment of the Latino community on and off UMD's campus.
Linda Clement Outstanding Advisor Award Recipient:
Daniel Ostick
Daniel Ostickserves as the interim advisor for the Residence Hall Association while also working full-time as an Assistant Director for Student & Staff Development in Resident Life. Over the past two years, he has remained a dedicated and engaged mentor, providing guidance, resources, and support to student leaders through weekly executive meetings and biweekly senate meetings while fostering both organizational success and student growth.
Lorde – O’Leary Award Recipient:
Danielle Martin
Danielle Martin is a senior majoring in Biology & Spanish and minoring in LGBTQ+ Studies. They are an active leader in UMD's LGBTQ+ student groups, offering educational and social programs that connect diverse communities and interests. After graduation, Danielle will be doing clinical work that continues their interest in equity in the medical sphere for LGBTQ+ and multilingual populations.
Mary McLeod Bethune Award Recipient:
Naomi Nicholas
Naomi Nicholas is a senior Phillip Merrill Presidential Scholar majoring in English Language and Literature. She is Vice President of the Black Pre-Law Association and a member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. She is heavily involved in community service and promoted campus efforts to expand mentorship and professional development opportunities.
Mildred & Richard Loving Award Recipient:
Valeska Zitta
Valeska Zitta is a Chemistry major with a 3.8 GPA and a minor in Chinese. She serves as the President of the Multiracial Student Union, conducts biomedical research through NIH programs, and enjoys building inclusive campus communities while advancing scientific inquiry and cross-cultural engagement.
Outstanding Graduate Student Assembly Member Award Recipient:
Julian Livingston
Julian Livingston is a first-year master’s student studying Higher Education Policy in the College of Education at the University of Maryland, College Park. He serves as a master’s representative for the College of Education Senate and as an EDHI representative for the Graduate Student Government. His interests and advocacy efforts focus on graduate civic engagement, community advocacy, LGBTQ+ advocacy, and advancing diversity within the U.S. education system.
Resident Assistant of the Year Award Recipient:
Casey Pham
Casey Pham is a senior from LaPlata, MD, majoring in Biology and Information Science, with a minor in Paleobiology. She completed the Life Sciences Scholars Program and worked in an entomology lab on campus. Casey positively impacts students through her roles as a TA for INST and tutor for College Success Scholars. As an RA and RA Team Lead, she supports students, mentors fellow RAs, and makes the South Hill Community a fantastic place to live and learn.
Sarah Winnemucca Award Recipient:
Linaly Miyamoto
Linaly Miyamoto serves as President of the Native American and Indigenous Student Union, a Data Reporter for The Diamondback, and a Student Consultant at the iConsultancy. She leads with service rooted in community, guided by history, and oriented toward a future where Indigenous students here never have to fight as hard.. to simply belong.
Spirit of Maryland Award Recipient:
Ashley Morales
Ashley Morales is an English and Spanish double major from Gaithersburg, Maryland. Her involvement and leadership experiences include being a Squad Leader for the Mighty Sound of Maryland, a Montgomery County Public Schools Extracurricular Activities and Leadership Advisor, and an English Language Development Teacher.
Spirit of Maryland Award Recipient:
Michael O’Neill
Michael O’Neill is a Mechanical Engineering major with a minor in Global Engineering Leadership and General Business from Brookeville, Maryland. His involvement and leadership experiences include being an Undergraduate Fellow in the A. James Clark School of Engineering Keystone Program, and interning at the Goddard Space Flight Center and the Johnson Space Center.
Student Athlete of the Year Award Recipient:
Kori Edmondson
Kori Edmondson (Severn, Md.) is a dynamic midfielder for Maryland Women’s Lacrosse, combining elite performance with academic excellence as a Criminal Justice major holding a 3.570 GPA. A three-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree (2023–25), she has emerged as one of the nation’s top players, earning 2025 Big Ten Midfielder of the Year and multiple All-American distinctions. A member of Team USA, Edmondson was a 2025 Tewaaraton Top-25 finalist and enters 2026 on the Tewaaraton Watch List and as a preseason First Team All-American. Off the field, she is engaged in Maryland’s Leadership Academy, reflecting her commitment to growth, leadership, and impact beyond the game.
Student Athlete of the Year Award Recipient:
Will Schaller
Will Schaller is a standout defender for Maryland Men’s Lacrosse and a three-time Academic All-Big Ten selection (2023–25), balancing elite performance with a 3.437 GPA as a Philosophy, Politics, and Economics major. A 2025 USILA First Team All-American, he earned Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and helped lead Maryland to the NCAA All-Tournament Team. Schaller’s impact extends beyond the field through community engagement, including Career Night with the CIA and involvement with Team IMPACT and 15 For Life. His leadership, resilience, and commitment to service define both his collegiate career and future aspirations.
Student Wellness and Mental Health Advocacy Award Recipient:
Varun Deshpande
Varun Deshpande is a Public Health Science major from Glenwood, Maryland. He is the Co-Director of the Student Government Association Health & Wellness Committee, the Public Relations Chair for NMDP, a former member of the SPH Inaugural Dean's Undergraduate Student Advisory Committee, and a research assistant in the Moore Lab.
Vera Cruz-Kochiyama Award Recipient:
Matthew Adjodha
Matthew Adjodha is a senior Public Health Science and Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics dual degree student from Rockville, Maryland who is dedicated to creating third spaces where marginalized students—both APIDA and non-APIDA—feel emboldened to critically think, educate, and advocate in coalition. He is Co-President of the Asian American Student Union, Vice-President of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) National Leadership Honors Society, a Rawlings Undergraduate Leadership Fellow, and an executive board member of College Success Scholars. Matthew hopes to earn an MD/PhD to apply epigenetics and genetic epidemiology research to medicine, advocacy, and policy to reduce chronic disease disparities and support universal healthcare for all.
William L. Thomas Student Government Association Award Recipient:
Zyad Khan
Zyad Khan is a Computer Science major with a minor in data science and an active member of SJP. Through his involvement in the SGA, Zyad has made lasting contributions to student advocacy and campus initiatives, leaving a meaningful and positive impact on both the SGA and the broader University of Maryland community.
For FAQs visit our About page located here. If you have any further questions please email: umdawards@umd.edu