Center for Civic Engagement, Student Engagement spotlights campus, community leaders
April 2026 – Drew University’s Center for Civic Engagement and Office of Student Engagement held their annual Community Leader Awards, highlighting many of their top students.
“The Community Leader Awards honor students, faculty, staff, and community partners whose leadership, compassion, and commitment to collective well-being strengthen our communities and inspire meaningful change,” said Sean Hewitt, director of the Center for Civic Engagement.
“These awards celebrate those who lead not only through actions but also through centering service, relationship-building, and an enduring dedication to uplifting others,” he added.
The winners can be found below:
Collaborative Action Award – Leadership and members of both the Feminist Intersection Club and Drew Access to Sexual Health
Faculty Leadership Award – Valerie Siyuan Feng
Center for Civic Engagement Staff Leadership Award – Cesar Barrientos and Kirsten Trambley
First-Year Class Awards – Jenny Abusharia, Jules Domitrowsky, Lailah Haruna, Molly Clinton, and Sam Martinez
Sophomore Student Leader Awards – Anne Ugajin, Ann Marie De Jesus Garcia, Aria Jordyn Casanova-Ghosh, Ebubechukwu Akanno, Jaden Finn, and Kayla Kiernan
Thomas D. Sayles Jr. Student Award for Outstanding Service to the Community – Aniya Gordon-Ellis and Breena Stephens
Junior Class Awards – Arya Patel, Breena Stephen, Cass Perez, Chloe Dudonis, Fundi Ngcongwane, Jack Mocik, Madeline Koory, Megan Burchell, Mika Bidiak, Olufeyikemi Akinyemi-Lawale, Sabr Keres-Siddiqui, Stephanie Yanes, and Victoria Mae Keelan
Class of 1985 Senior Gift Award – Teeya Desgoutte
Senior Year Awards – Aira Poticano, Alexa Santillán, Andzani Mthenjane, Anjelina Grisafe, Azra Ozan, Cecelia Lomanno, Dee Cohen, Dejanayha Hill, Eva Esqueda, Jeremy Lee Gould, Lexi DeRonde, Lindsay Orellana Pineda, Lindsay Orr, Nadia Porchetta, Sandra Faragalla, and Stephanie Huang
Graduate Student Awards – Carrie-Lee Farnham and Janice Marie Beauchamp
Graduate Student Community Action Award – Renessta Olds-Haigler
Gold D Awards – Aira Poticano, Alexa Santillán, Andzani Mthenjane, Dejanayha Hill, Lexi DeRonde, and Sandra Faragalla
NSLS E-Board Members – Brenda Madrid (President), Emma Joyce (Vice President), Aryan Divyesh Chhita (Secretary), Tshegofatso Manopi Sebogodi (Membership Chair)
NSLS Inductees – Alexa Santillán, Lexi Donnelly, Alisha Bourhill-Tumser, Andzani Mthenjane, Annelise Wade, Aria Jordyn Casanova-Ghosh, Briajohnae Catherine Jones, Casey Bush, Christina Dillon, Danielle Elise Penny, Diana Samchuk, Ebubechukwu Akanno, Ece Onatca, Edward Matto, Emily Ardila Aguilar, Emily Hahn, Genesis Puga, Grace DiRienzo, Hilaria Danquah, Inga Krüger, Jack Capeless, Jennifer Velasquez Santos, Jeremy Lee Gould, John H. Lewis, Kaitlyn Zayle, Katherine Mejía Reyes, Kathryne Morales-Ward, Ke’Shon Newsome, Kiara Maria Abreu, Luka Genao, Maxine Larsen, Natalia Zamora, Zari Kamau, Peyton Goings, Ryan Rodrigues, Samira Nazari, Santo Rocco Galacio, Sarah Silverberg, Sarah Weber, Shiv Bhaskar, Vanessa López, and Zoefia Shimp
Drew Wellness Award – Andzani Mthenjane
Global Education Ambassador Award – Marissa Guajardo
Ben Salmon Service Recognition Award – Mari Centeno
Tilghman International Awards – Enola Vicic-Hajdinjak, Liqin Pu, Pim Van Hilten, Eve Onatca, and Tia Prabhakar
