At the end of each academic year, the Student Activities Office Awards Program recognizes the accomplishments of student leadership in the context of recognized student organizations. By the time they are seniors, many student leaders often have put in hundreds of hours as members of student groups; some students even go into careers based on their group memberships. The Leadership Awards recognize the value that student contributions have at Brown.
Student Activities
Student Leadership Awards
Student Leadership
Awarded to the member of a student group who best demonstrates the qualities of outstanding leadership and membership, such as dependability, dedication, trustworthiness, loyalty and helpfulness.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Kikuyo Shaw and Jada Wooten |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Justin Lu, Victoria Rose and Jack Walker |
| 2022 | Emma Rosenkranz, Charles Wang and Mia McKinney |
| 2019 | Jennifer Xinyue Xu |
| 2018 | Gabe Zimmerman and Diem-Khanh (Nini) Nguyen |
| 2017 | Yun Gao, Eren Ileri and Madeline DiGiovanni |
| 2016 | Emma Dickson, Lauren Galvan and Christine Mullen |
| 2015 | Sophia Dalce and Samuel Kase |
Awarded to the member of a student group who best demonstrates the qualities of outstanding leadership and membership, such as dependability, dedication, trustworthiness, loyalty and helpfulness.
| 2024 | Christian Muñoz and Amanda Ruiz |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Ray Che, Daniel Li and Ma Irene Quilantang |
Awarded to a Brown student employee who has demonstrated initiative, dependability and quality contributions in their workplace. The recipient positively impacts their work environment and shows the qualities of an outstanding leader.
| 2024 | Not given this year. |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Brenda Subilhaga |
Emerging Leadership
Awarded to a new student leader on campus (first-year student, transfer student, or a student who has never had any prior involvement until this academic year). This student has shown involvement, dependability and concern for others. “The Emerging Student Leader” is someone who shows great potential for future service to the Brown University community.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Annika Singh and Kyle Kavully |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Lavleen Madahar |
| 2022 | Glennie LeBaron, Kelly Wei and Madu Subramanian |
| 2019 | Savannah Doelfel |
| 2018 | Ben Martel and Ashleigh LoVette |
| 2017 | Isabel Thornton and Sonia Sachar |
| 2016 | Drashti Brahmbhatt and Renata Mauriz |
Awarded to a new student group that was founded within the last two years. This group has demonstrated a dedication to positive engagement within the Brown community and has strived to standards of leadership, growth and impact.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Brown Ballet Company |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Girl Gains Lifting Club |
| 2022 | Brown Public Speaking Initiative and Black Star Journal |
| 2019 | Disability Justice at Brown (DJAB) |
| 2018 | Bias E-Learning Project and the School of Public Health Womxn of Color Collective |
| 2015 | Students for Life |
Student Groups
Awarded for a student performance group that has demonstrated a mastery of their art. Nominated groups may be asked to perform at the awards ceremony.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Gendo Taiko |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Shades of Brown |
| 2022 | Brown Aerial and Acrobatics |
| 2019 | Shakespeare on the Green |
| 2017 | Mariachi de Brown |
For a student group that has exemplified exceptional leadership, through campus programs, building community and impactful initiatives.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Bengali Students Association and Young Entrepreneurs of Providence |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Fashion@Brown, Brown Outing Club and Formula Racing |
| 2022 | Create@Brown and Brown Esports |
| 2019 | Brown Refugee Youth Tutoring & Enrichment (BRYTE) and Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE) |
| 2018 | Project LETS, Black Student Union and SoBear Activities Club |
| 2016 | Black Student Union and Project LETS |
| 2015 | Students for Samaritans and Ivy Film Festival |
Engaging Community
Awarded to multiple student groups who demonstrated successful collaboration through the planning and implementation of a campus event or initiative.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Not given this year. |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Brown Concert Agency and Students of Caribbean Ancestry |
| 2022 | Class Coordinating Board, Sounds@Brown, Underground Thursdays |
| 2019 | oSTEM and Graduate Students of Color in STEM |
| 2018 | Impulse Dance Company and BRYTE |
| 2017 | Campus of Consent Bill (Sexual Assault Peer Education, SAPE program and Undergraduate Council of Students) |
| 2016 | Latin American Student Organization (LASO) and El Movimiento Estudiantil Chican @ de Aztlan (M.E.Ch.A.) |
| 2015 | The F.L.A.M.E Conference (Feminists @ Brown) |
Awarded to an individual or group that works to positively impact and inspire the local, national or international community by demonstrating a clear purpose of activism, advocacy, or raising awareness for a social, political, environmental or economic issue.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Doctors and Engineers Without Borders Club at Brown |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Art for Service and SoBear |
| 2019 | Students for Saving Mothers |
| 2018 | Sunrise RI (Formerly RI Student Climate Coalition) |
| 2017 | Housing Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE), Arely Diaz-Loza |
| 2016 | Native Americans at Brown |
| 2015 | “Prospects for Peace after Gaza” (J Street U) |
For a student leader or group that connects academics and co-curricular endeavors through sponsored events and initiatives. The recipient works to extend learning far beyond the reaches of the classroom experience.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Society for Asian Scientists and Engineers (SASE) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Ivy League Pre-Health Society |
| 2019 | Brown Asian Sisters Empowered (BASE) |
| 2017 | Chelse Steele of Mosaic+ |
| 2016 | Natalie Asalgado and Kimberley Charles |
| 2015 | MedTalk Brown (Minority Association of Premedical Students) |
Events
This award is given for an event that exemplifies exceptional teamwork through student leadership. The event demonstrated effective planning and implementation to bring about a successful program/event.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Brown Puzzlehunt (Brown Puzzle Club) and College Climate Gathering (Sunrise Brown) |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Gala 2022 (Class Coordinating Board), Lunar New Year (Chinese Students Association) |
| 2022 | Detours (TEDxBrownU), Black Convocation (Black Student Union) and Annual Culture Show (AfriSA) |
| 2019 | Evicted in Providence (HOPE) |
| 2018 | Annual Culture Show sponsored by African Students’ Association (AfriSA) |
| 2017 | East Coast Taiko Conference (Gendo Taiko) and Pride Prom (Queer Alliance) |
| 2016 | The Brain Fair sponsored by Brown Brain Bee |
| 2015 | A Night on College Hall (Class Coordinating Board and Greek Council) |
Advisor
Awarded for a staff or faculty member who has provided exceptional service and/or has made a significant impact to benefit a student group through their supportive efforts, dedication, assistance and encouragement.
Past Recipients
| 2024 | Not given this year. |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Alex Haynes |
| 2022 | Dean Lindsay Garcia |
| 2019 | Anne Marie Ponte |
| 2018 | Jennifer Casasanto |
| 2017 | Je-Shawna Wholley |
Note: The SAO Leadership Awards were not held in 2020 or 2021 due to COVID-19.