Outstanding Graduate Student Distinguished Service Award:

John Carlo Combista 

John Carlo Combista is a pharmacist from the Philippines who is pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science in the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences. He has previously studied in the Philippines, the People's Republic of China, and Israel. Carlo is interested in understanding how the brain develops and functions. Outside of academia, he is passionate about singing and volunteers his free time to work with vulnerable populations.

Jaden Mikoulinskii

Jaden Mikoulinskii is a first-generation American college student from Appleton, Wisconsin. Jaden has committed to taking her service, leadership, and scholarship beyond the classroom here at the University of Maryland-College Park. Jaden, a Master's candidate in Higher Education, has served as the HESI Graduate Student Government Representative (2022-23), one of ten Graduate Student Senators in the University's Senate (2023-24), and Graduate Student Representative (Master's) for the College of Education Senate (2023-24). Jaden also chairs the campus Senate Student Affairs Committee (2023-24) and is a member of other campus committees!

Joel Miller

Joel Miller is a doctoral student in the College of Education. He researches the historical and contemporary implications of policy processes on the experiences of public school students. As an educator, he is committed to nurturing students’ sense of belonging and success. He lives in Dundalk, MD.

Lasair Ni Chochlain

Lasair Ni Chochlain hails from Macungie, Pennsylvania. They are currently working on their Master’s in Entomology. Lasair received their Bachelors of Science in Biology from Penn State’s Schreyer (schrai-yah) Honors College. With their passion for disability advocacy, Lasair has helped create more holistic support for graduate students within this community. Their goal is to teach entomology or biology in a post-secondary classroom inclusive of disabled people.

Esther Olonimoyo

Esther, a first-generation doctoral student in chemistry/biochemistry at the University of Maryland, hails from the southwestern part of Nigeria. She is passionate about science and community and strives to bridge cultures and inspire others. With a global perspective, Esther aims to impact research and beyond positively.

Autumn Perkey

Autumn Perkey is a 5th year Ph.D. student in Government and Politics focusing on International Relations and American politics from Hebron, Ohio. She received her bachelor’s degree in political science from Ohio State University in 2019. Her research focuses on the intersection between political psychology, conflict processes, and public opinion.