Campus Compact is pleased to announce that Alexandra Renteria (University of North Texas at Dallas), Nabile Galván, DME (Indiana University), EmRhys Jenkins (Colorado College), Simon Wang (University of Pittsburgh), Florian Nguyen (Mesa Community College), and Elvis Veliu (Schoolcraft College) have been awarded Campus Compact's new Student Leadership Award. The award recognizes undergraduate and graduate students who demonstrate inspiring leadership qualities through civic and community engagement.
Students who receive the award lead change on their campuses and in their communities and inspire their peers to do the same. Recipients of the Student Leadership Awards are selected on the basis of their leadership and community impact, their ability to overcome adversity, their commitment to learning and deep engagement with communities, and their support from campus and community partners.
Alexandra Renteria, Graduate Student in Public Leadership in Administration, University of North Texas at Dallas
"Alexandra has demonstrated a significant impact in her community, her job with the City of Dallas, and at the University of North Texas at Dallas," said nominator Dr. Janiece Upshaw, asssociate professor at the University of North Texas at Dallas in a letter supporting Renteria's nomination. "Alexandra is committed to her Latino community, the students of UNTD, the citizens of Dallas, and to her own ambition to achieve her master’s degree in public leadership and administration. She manages her responsibilities with extreme skill, calmness, and a sense of purpose." Read more about Alexandra →
Nabile Galván, DME, Doctoral Candidate in Music Education, Indiana University
"I have known Nabile for three years through her work as an online teacher for the Jacobs School of Music Virtual Academy. I have supervised her there and in her volunteer work as a lead teacher with the Cheerful Heart Music Education workshop in the Dominican Republic and Haiti," said nominator Kimberly Carballo, senior lecturer in Music and director of Indiana University's Jacobs Virtual Academy in a letter supporting Galván nomination. "Nabile is a visionary and innovative teacher, a mentor for emerging educators, a role model for fellow students, and a thoughtful human being." Read more about Nabile →
EmRhys Jenkins, Undergraduate Student in Sociology, Colorado College
"EmRhys had been working for a year already with The Place [a nonprofit focused on youth homelessness], the only youth homeless shelter in the city, and I had seen them speak very powerfully at a city council meeting in support of a supportive housing project my organization was backing," said nominator Max Kronstadt, executive director of the Colorado Springs Pro-Housing Partnership in a letter supporting Jenkins' nomination. "Getting to watch EmRhys grow into these leadership roles has been a real pleasure. No matter what happens, I can’t wait to get to watch them continue to grow and develop as a powerful change agent in our community."
"EmRhys’ record of community engagement demonstrates their commitment to equity, addressing systemic issues, and overall building community," said nominator Sarah Elsey, student engagement coordinator at Colorado College. "There is no doubt that EmRhys is leading change on our campus and in our community while inspiring others to do the same." Read more about EmRhys →
Simon Wang, Undergraduate Student in Economics and Psychology, University of Pittsburgh
"To say that Simon stands out as a leader in civic and community engaged leadership is an understatement. From my first interaction with Simon, I was impressed by his dedication to community service and research," said nominator Dr. Catherine G. Cordova, director of community engaged learning at Pittsburgh's David C. Frederick Honors College in a letter supporting Wang's nomination. "Without question, Simon Wang embodies student leadership - and more importantly, student leadership focused on the type of civic and community engagement deserving of this award." Read more about Simon →
Florian Nguyen, Computer Science Student, Mesa Community College
"I have had the pleasure of working closely with Florian through their involvement in our Center for Community & Civic Engagement, where they continually demonstrate a unique ability to lead, inspire, and drive positive change," said nominator Alejandra Maya, program coordinator at Mesa Community College's Center for Community & Civic Engagement in a letter supporting Nguyen's nomination. "Through every initiative, they inspire their peers, create spaces for meaningful dialogue, and model the very essence of community-minded leadership. I am confident that Florian will continue to drive positive change and make a lasting impact wherever they go." Read more about Florian →
Elvis Veliu, Undergraduate Student in Applied Sciences, Schoolcraft College
"All I know is that his quiet confidence and determination as the president of the Omicron Iota chapter had earned him the respect of his peers, instructors, and advisors," said nominator Todd Stowell advisor for Phi Theta Kappa and director of the Student Activities Office at Schoolcraft College in a letter supporting Veliu nomination. "Schoolcraft College was fortunate to have a leader of Elvis's caliber and seemingly unending energy to help provide encouragement and direction to Phi Theta Kappa members and the community at large." Read more about Elvis →
The Student Leadership Award is presented as part of Campus Compact's Impact Awards, which recognize shining examples of meaningful, impactful higher education civic and community engagement work. Read more about the other awards and this year's recipients here.
The recipients of these awards will be recognized at Compact25, Campus Compact’s annual conference, which will be held in Atlanta, Georgia from March 31st - April 2nd, 2025.