Multicultural Leadership Awards & Graduation Reception

Congratulations Class of 2013!! On Wisconsin!

The Multicultural Student Center (MSC) began the Multicultural Leadership Awards and Graduation Reception in the Spring of 2000. The Multicultural Leadership Awards program was developed to recognize contributions made by student leaders, Multicultural Organizations, and staff all across campus. In addition to student leaders and Multicultural Organizations, the MSC staff recognizes the accomplishments of our graduating students of color.

Award Categories:

  • Emerging Leader (Freshmen and Sophomores Only) Minimum 2.25 G.P.A* This award recognizes individuals whose contributions have contributed to the advancement of the organization’s mission and goals. Nominees must show consistent leadership that is displayed through their active participation in the organization.Demonstrates commitment to organization; demonstrates potential for future contributions to the organization and to the rest of the campus community of color; demonstrates outstanding leadership characteristics and skills; student does not have to hold a specific leadership position in the group.
  • Established Leader (Juniors and Seniors Only) Minimum 2.5 G.P.A* This award recognizes individuals whose contributions have contributed to the advancement of the organization’s mission and goals. Nominees must show consistent leadership that is displayed through their active participation in the organization.Demonstrates commitment to the organization. Provides leadership and vision for the organization; demonstrates ability to establish and maintain positive relationships with others; serves as a role model for new members and/or other students of color on campus; demonstrates outstanding leadership characteristics and skills; and, student does not have to hold a specific leadership position in the group.
  • Excellence in Social Justice (Organization). This award recognizes a student-led organization that has demonstrated excellence in social justice programming, efforts, and leadership in the 2009-2010 academic year. Special consideration will be given to groups that embody the core competencies emphasized by the Institute for Social Justice and Transformative Leadership (msc.wisc.edu/socialjustice): Understanding Privilege and Oppression, Ally-ship, Community Organizing, and Transformative Leadership and Movement Building.
  • Excellence in Social Justice (Individual) This award recognizes an individual student who has demonstrated excellence in social justice efforts and leadership during the 2009-2010 academic year. Special consideration will be given to people whose work embodies the core competencies emphasized by the Institute for Social Justice and Transformative Leadership (msc.wisc.edu/socialjustice): Understanding Privilege and Oppression, Ally-ship, Community Organizing, and Transformative Leadership and Movement Building.
  • Behind The Scenes Leader Minimum 2.25 G.P.A** *This award recognizes individuals whose contributions have contributed to the advancement of the organization’s mission and goals without having held any formal role or position within the organization. These individuals rarely receive recognition for their work yet play a critical role in the advancement of the organization. Demonstrates commitment to the organization.Consistently surpasses expectations of membership; demonstrated contributions to the organization and to the rest of the campus community of color; demonstrates outstanding leadership characteristics and skills; student does not have to hold a specific leadership position in the group.*
  • Outstanding Faculty/Staff* Given to faculty or staff at the UW-Madison, this award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the success and advancement of students of color and/or student of color organizations. Nominees must show dedication to students of color and/or student of color organizations that is displayed through their active participation in the campus community of color. Nominees must be current Faculty or Staff at UW-Madison.
  • Outstanding New Program *This award is designed to recognize new and innovative events or programs that have been developed by a registered student organization of color. These programs can be educational or social in nature and should serve the needs of multiple sections of the UW-Madison community of color. Program must have occurred on campus. Program must have occurred within the last school year; organization must be registered with the Student Organizations Office; organization must be in good standing with the university as designated by the Student Organizations Office. Program must be a newly developed event or program; Program must have occurred within the last school year; Program made significant contributions to the campus community of color; Program fulfilled its purpose as designated by program goals.
  • Outstanding Established Program *This award is designed to recognize events or programs that are an annual occurrence for a registered student organization. These programs can be educational or social in nature and should serve the needs of multiple sections of the UW-Madison community of color. Program must have occurred on campus. Program must have occurred within the last school year; Organization must be registered with the Student Organizations Office; Organization must be in good standing with the university as designated by the Student Organizations Office. Program must have occurred within the last school year and also in the previous school year. Program makes significant contributions to the campus community of color.*
  • Outstanding Student Organization *This award is designed to recognize student organizations that have contributed significantly to the campus around the issues students of color face. These organizations can be educational, political or social in nature and should serve the needs of multiple sections of the UW-Madison community of color. Organization must be registered with the Student Organizations Office.  Organization must be in good standing with the university as designated by the Student Organizations Office; Develops positive collaborative relationships with other student organizations, community organizations, staff and/or faculty; Organization makes significant contributions to the campus community of color; Contributes positively to the personal development of its members; Supports other campus events as well as other student of color organizations; Events meet the needs of the students of color; Develops campus events that build and educate the campus community.

Previous Winners: 

2013:

  • Emerging Leader- Maria Espino
  • Established Leader - Christin Whitener
  • Behind the Scenes- Mayra Miranda
  • Excellence in Social Justice (Individual)- Alexandra Gardner
  • Outstanding Faculty/Staff- Karla Foster
  • Outstanding Established Program- 5th Annual Black Men’s Initiative (Wisconsin Association of Black Men)
  • Outstanding New Program- Box City (Wisconsin Black Student Union)
  • Outstanding Student Organization- Muslim Student Association
  • MSC Meyerhoff Undergraduate Excellence Award- Siddique Arkam
  • MSC Wisconsin Experience Award- Cesilia Gonzalez
  • Campus Partners Award- Prince Moody, The Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, and The Havens Center

2012:

  • Emerging Leader- Diana Macias
  • Established Leader - Theotis Sharpe
  • Behind the Scenes- Alexis Antonio Valladares
  • Excellence in Social Justice (Individual)- Anjali Misra
  • Outstanding Faculty/Staff- Dr. Finn Enke
  • Outstanding Established Program- Africa Night (African Students Association)
  • Outstanding Student Organization- Sigma Lamda Gamma National Sorority
  • MSC Meyerhoff Undergraduate Excellence Award- Brittany Hopkins
  • MSC Wisconsin Experience Award- Saengthong Douangdara
  • Campus Partners Award- Jasmine Clay, Valeria Davis, Raymond Neal, Brad Thome

2011:

  • Emerging Leader- Jasmine Savoy
  • Established Leader - Steve Pereira
  • Institute for Social Justice and Transformative Leadership Award- Sheltreese McCoy
  • Behind the Scenes- Alida Cardos Whaley
  • Outstanding Faculty/Staff- Ruby Paredes
  • Outstanding New Program- Lamda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc. (Latino Leaders in Education)
  • Outstanding Established Program- La Mujer Latina Conference
  • Excellence in Social Justice (Organization)- MEChA, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan!
  • Outstanding Student Organization- Filipino American Student Organization (FASO)
  • MSC Meyerhoff Undergraduate Excellence Award- Zina Knox
  • MSC Wisconsin Experience Award- Saengthong Douangdara

2010:

  • Emerging Leader- Cydney Edwards
  • Established Leader - Jeanette Velazquez
  • Excellence in Social Justice (Individual)- Steve Pereira
  • Behind the Scenes- Mayra Rodriguez
  • Outstanding Faculty/Staff- Jasmine Clay
  • Outstanding New Program- SuperMercado Latin@ Welcoming (Sponsored by Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc.)
  • Outstanding Established Program- India Night (Sponsored by India Students Association)
  • Excellence in Social Justice (Organization)- MEChA, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano de Aztlan
  • Outstanding Student Organization- Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.
  • Outstanding MCC Grant Proposal- Hmong American Student Association
  • MSC Wisconsin Experience Award- Andreall Moore

2009: 

  • Emerging Leader- Sehrish Rana
  • Established Leader- Michelle Zamara
  • Outstanding New Program- Woman of DiSTinction Luncheon (Sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.)
  • Outstanding Faculty/Staff- Dean Thomas Browne
  • Outstanding Established Program- Dedicated and Striving Together Series (Sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.)
  • Outstanding Student Organization- African, Hispanic, Asian & Native American Pre-Health Society(AHANA)

2008:

  • Established Leader- Sunil Sunkara
  • Behind The Scenes Leader- Amanda Lee Rivas Cantu
  • Outstanding New Program- IGSA’s Madison Showcase for Fine Arts
  • Outstanding Faculty/Staff- Christine Poleski
  • Outstanding Established Program- Indian Graduate Student Assocaiton’s Music of India
  • Outstanding Student Organization- Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.