Spirit of Maryland 2024

The 2024 Spirit of Maryland Award

The Spirit of Maryland Award is presented annually, in lieu of a traditional Homecoming King or Queen honoree, to two members of the senior class who through their achievements have most exemplified the "spirit" of the University of Maryland. Criteria for the award include outstanding scholarship, leadership, campus involvement, community service, and communication skills. A committee composed of faculty, staff, and alumni interviews students who are advanced to the final round of the application process.

2024 Winners

Jahnavi Kirkire is a Government and Politics, and Public Policy and International Relations double major from Brookville, Maryland. Her involvement and leadership experiences include President and Founder of BridgeUMD, Vice President and Membership & Induction Chair of Omicron Delta Kappa, and Resident Assistant in the North Hill Community.

Mason Minus is a Government and Politics major from Bel Air, Maryland. His involvement and leadership experiences include being President of the Black Student Union, The Student Government Association’s Director of Diversity and Inclusion, and a student leader in the Student Success Initiative dedicated to mental health awareness and the creative arts.

2024 Finalists

Yara Ayache is a Psychology and Public Health Science double major form Clarksville, Maryland. Her involvement and leadership experiences include being a Fellow in the The Spirit of Success Accelerator program, Fundraising Director of the American Medical Student Association, and President of A Worldwide Arabic Resource Effort (AWARE).

Erika Holdren is a Government and Politics major with a concentration in International Relations from Ocean City, Maryland. Her involvement and leadership experiences include being President of the Residence Hall Association, Vice President of the Multiracial Biracial Student Association, and an International Security and Intelligence Global Fellow.

Esohe Temiloluwa Owie is a dual degree candidate with a Bachelors in Science in Public Health Science and a Masters in Public Health in Health Equity. Home is Lagos, Nigeria. Her involvement and leadership experiences include being President of the Eta Beta Chapter of the Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority, Co-President of the Office of Multi-ethnic Studies Education’s Sister to Sister Program, and Co- Chair of Retention and Recruitment for The Honors College's PrePAIR Connections Mentoring Program.

Samai Patel is a Computer Science major from Bel Air, Maryland. His involvement and leadership experiences include being Co-Founder and Executive Director of the App Development Club, Captain of the ACES Honors College program, and an Engineering Intern at Microsoft.

Bryant Rivera Cortez is a Middle School Math and Science Education major from Rockville, Maryland. His involvement and leadership experiences include being in Gymkana, the College Success Scholars, and TerpsEXCEED programs.

Robin Schlesinger is a Family Science major from South Brunswick, New Jersey. Her involvement and leadership experiences include being the President of the Panhellenic Council, Fellow for the Karabelle Pizzigati Initiative in Advocacy for Children, Youth, and Families, and membership on the Vice President of Student Affairs Student Advisory Council.

Jerry Shen is a General Biology and Statistics major from Boyds, Maryland. His involvement and leadership experiences include being a Representative for CMNS in the Provost Undergraduate Student Advisory Council, Researcher in the Losert Biophysics Laboratory, President and Co-founder of the American Physician Scientist Association at UMD.

Sophia Winner is a double major in Government & Politics and Economics from Baltimore. Her involvement and leadership experiences include being President of the Maryland Parliamentary Debate Society, President of the Honors Humanities Living Learning Program, and Laufer Democracy Intern with the Maryland Democracy Initiative.