Student Leadership Awards celebrate UMass Dartmouth community leaders

2026 awards recognize students, faculty, staff, organizations, and campus leaders for outstanding service and leadership

These students, faculty, staff, advisors, and organizations help strengthen the UMass Dartmouth community through their leadership, service, involvement, and commitment to their fellow Corsairs.

Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award

• Francois Bouchard

Most Improved Student Organization of the Year Award

• Nepali Student Association
• Rugby Club

Student Organization of the Year Award

• Cricket Club

Outstanding Student Event(s) of the Year

• Ghanaian Student Association, Beyond the Crown: The Essence of Ghana
• Muslim Student Association, Ramadan Grand Iftar

Navigating Leadership Recognition

• Aakash Mohan Wani
• Aidan Danforth
• Jack Farago
• Kailey Sousa
• Kayla Pimentel
• Kaylee Tavares
• Kennyel Cotto
• Pranavi Nadipalli
• Savannah Tran
• Shriya Rudhraganesh
• Tanishka Nath Pasumarthi
• Victoria Lopez

David M. Milstone Established Leader

• Dorian Jones
• Seth Albernaz
• Vanessa Dos Anjos

University Civic Engagement Award

• Gina Cuba

Student Bar Association Awards

• Excellence in Leadership Award – Caitlin Gaddis
• Outstanding Part-Time Student Award – Sally McDonough
• Law Review Excellent Award – Paulina Aguilar-Delgado

Frederick Douglass Unity Award

• Angel Pelissari
• Gaina Jean-Pierre
• Vanessa Dos Anjos

Center for Women, Gender & Sexuality

• Sydney Wojtunik

Center for Religious & Spiritual Life Awards

• Daniel Katsev
• John Driscoll
• Yassine Fatimi

Student Government Association Awards

• Committee of the Year – Infrastructure Committee and Finance Committee
• Senator(s) of the Year – Ryan Brown, Jessica Welsh, Robbie Andrade
• Rising Star Award – Karl-Andy Neuvieme
• Student Body Representative of the Year – Amelia Breese
• Excellence in Leadership – Cassy L. Depina

Graduate Student Senate Awards

• Student Organization of the Year – Collegiate DECA
• Program of the Year – Mental Health Initiative, Monique Alexander (Student Affairs) & Victoria E. Santos (Health Services)
• Staff of the Year – Philip A. Van Deusen, Dining Services; Stacy Ploskonka, OSEL
• Champion of Student Success – Yuqian Han, Coordinator of International Services
• Community Impact – Ashwin Panicker, Senator, SMAST; Piper C. Dienst, CDW
• Organizational Impact Award – Melissa Colten, Senator, School of Law
• Committee Member of the Year – Dola Wahid, Finance Committee, GSS
• Exemplary Leadership Award – Isadora Teles de Oliveira Gouveia, AIS
• Senator of the Year – Nithesh Kesamneni, Senator CCB, Treasurer GSS
• Advisor’s Excellence Award – Kimberly M. Scott, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
• Catalyst for Change – Chancellor Mark Fuller
• The Changemaker – S M Mushfiquer Rahman Ashique

Walter Cass Faculty Recognition Award

• Dr. Merve Meral, Economics Department

Distinguished Service to the University Award

• Monica Godinho, STAR Center

Louise M. Goodrum Unsung Hero Awards

• Vanessa Dos Anjos
• Erika Acevedo

Lamar E. McClinton Student Leadership Award

• Molly Gookin

Donald C. Howard Pillars of the Community

• Angel Pelissari
• Anushka Fnu
• Davon Fuentes
• Egypt Isis Watson
• Erika Acevedo
• Jacqueline O’Hare
• Joshua Cameron
• Manuel Frederico
• S M Mushfiquer Rahman Ashique
• Sam Riley
• Sydney Wojtunik