STUDENT AWARDS
President’s Leadership Award
The President’s Leadership Awards were created in 1985 with an endowment from past Texas Exes president Frank Denius.
These awards recognize undergraduate students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership within the student community at The University of Texas. One sophomore, two juniors and three seniors receive the award annually.
The 2022 nomination period has closed.
2022 Recipients
Ashka Dighe
Majors: Plan II Honors; Health & Society; Neuroscience
Senior Ashka Dighe has spent her extracurricular time on the Forty Acres advocating for others. After learning about the negative social and academic effects that come with experiencing sexual violence, she joined It’s On Us to promote better access to resources for survivors at UT. Her sophomore year, she took initiative and planned and hosted a UT Title IX Round Table, a process that demonstrated the additional stress that befalls survivors during and after investigations. Dighe proposed amendments to Title IX- and higher-ed-related bills during the 2019 Legislative Session to advocate for more resources for sexual violence survivors, even testifying in front of House and Senate committees on Higher Education. She did the same as an opinion columnist for The Daily Texan—as well as promoting inclusive housing and arguing to expand health accessibility on campus. Because of these contributions, she was named Abbot of The Friar Society. There, Dighe uses her platform as spokesperson to communicate with the entire alumni network, as well as managing finances and budgets from the group’s endowment.
Additional activities: Texas 4000 for Cancer rider; Deeds Not Words student advocate; Bill Archer fellow.
Benjamin Mathew
Major: Canfield Business Honors; Computer Science Honors
At the top of Benjamin Mathew’s list is helping his fellow Longhorn. A talented programmer and business mind, Mathew has used his gifts as a mentor and guide on the Forty Acres during his first two years on campus. As project manager for Texas Product Engineering Organization, he develops curriculum in conjunction with other club leaders to teach new fellows product management fundamentals. Still only a sophomore, Mathew has already made a name for himself, developing the Austin Product Conference, where he led a team that booked a successful event filled with industry thought-leaders from Slack, Facebook, and Airbnb. Because he wants to enhance the UT student experience, as freshman representative for Computer Science and Business Association, he organized collaborative events between the CSBA and Turing Scholars Program and solicited and presented student feedback to program directors.
Additional activities: intramural basketball point guard; Product@TX fellow.
Chris Wang
Majors: Business Honors; Computer Science Honors
Chris Wang is a Forty Acres Scholar from Houston who stands out even among a crowded field of talented peers. A gifted programmer and ardent leader, Wang earned coveted internships at UBS and was selected as a student leader in the Accenture program. On campus, Wang is the Vice President of Corporate Relations for Texas Computer Science and Business Association, where they expanded corporate partnerships by more than 300 percent and club funding by more than 240 percent. This elected position is just one example of Wang’s commitment to the ongoing success of Texas student organizations, the admiration of their cohort, and their call to lead.
Additional activities: Business, Unraveled podcast production director and co-host; Genesis deal flow analyst; Honors Business Association vice president.
Krisha Tripathy
Major: Biochemistry Honors
For junior Krisha Tripathy, food is much more than nutrition. The Houston native comes from generations of farmers who nourished the land in Punjab, and her family taught her that food promotes togetherness and displays love. For those with food allergies or experiencing food insecurity, however, Tripathy understands the complicated relationship and wants to help. As founder and chair of the UT Food Insecurity Action Team, she created an organization from scratch with the approval of Student Government, one that designed a comprehensive data analysis report that found a drastic increase in food insecure students. She serves on the President’s Student Advisory Committee to transform this data into advocacy for food insecure UT students. Aside from her sky-high aspirations, Tripathy believes that even small-scale contributions and acts of kindness and charity—she grows food for her neighbors in a food desert, for one—can make a world of difference.
Additional activities: Natural Sciences Council membership director; Orange Jackets special events committee member; organic chemistry teaching assistant; An Anti-Dough and Dairy Cookbook co-author; UT Outpost volunteer/independent project lead; Women in Natural Sciences Program program assistant.
Logan Eggleston
Major: Management
Logan Eggleston is proof that stellar athletes can be world-changers both inside and outside sports. As a member of the UT volleyball team, the outside hitter is captain of the team, an All-American, and a winner of a number of academic awards, including being named Big 12 Conference Scholar Athlete of the Year for 2021. She also leads off the court, as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, and L.E.A.D. Initiative president and cofounder, where she helps allocate funds from athletics to community resources. In 2020, she helped craft a letter to the university asking for changes needed during that tumultuous summer. She was consequently named to the Eyes of Texas History Committee, which was tasked with examining the alma mater song and sharing those findings with Longhorn Nation. In being part of that initial conversation and speaking her mind, she leaves a legacy beyond her incredible accomplishments as a student-athlete.
Additional activities: Black President and Leadership Council member; Developing Neighborhood Longhorn Fund Committee cofounder and member.
Tien Nguyen
Major: Biology Honors
The person who most inspired senior Tien Nguyen is her mother, a working class woman who worked in a nail salon. Coming from a humble background, Nguyen arrived on the Forty Acres with imposter syndrome—was she really meant to be here? As she finishes her undergraduate degree, the answer is clear. In addition to her stellar work in the biology department, Nguyen has made a name for herself as an excellent communicator, shown in the creation of her UT Chatty Gal website, which she uses to synthesize her immense knowledge into easily digestible blog posts focused on women’s health. She leads a team of writers there, and has formed discussion groups among readers to help foster a sense of community on campus. Nguyen was awarded a student research award from the Office of Undergraduate Research to support her thesis study, an examination of prenatal and birth doulas, particularly surrounding the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. As Nguyen reaches the end of her undergraduate years on the Forty Acres, her leadership and intellect prove that the future of health care is in good hands.
Additional activities: Texas Orange Jackets member and settlement home director; Wright Lab undergraduate research assistant; UT Center for Health Communication Father’s Playbook intern; Microbe Hackers Lab Freshman Research Initiative researcher and student mentor.
Past Recipients
2021
Brianna McBride
BS ’21, BA ’21, Life Member
Pranav Jayaraman
BSA ’20. Life Member
Samantha Bryant
BBA ’21, Life Member
Grace Farley
Class of 2022, Social Work; Plan II Honors Program, Hicks School of Social Work, College of Liberal Arts
Ethan Jones
Class of 2022, Business Honors and Public Relations, McCombs School of Business and Moody School of Communication
Jiarong Joyce He
Class of 2023, Honors Computer Science, Business Honors, College of Natural Sciences, McCombs School of Business
2020
Mamdou Balde
BS ‘20, Life Member
Oscar Lopez
Class of 2022, Business Honors and Government, McCombs School of Business College of Liberal Arts
Life Member
Josefina Salazar Morales
BS ‘20, Life Member
Shilpa Rajagopal
Class of 2021, Biology Honors and Marketing, College of Natural Sciences, McCombs School of Business
Life Member
Brooke Reaves
Class of 2021, Business Honors and Plan II Honors, McCombs School of Business, College of Liberal Arts
Life Member
Tyson Smiter
BS ‘20, Life Member
2019
William Acheampong
Class of 2021, Business Honors Program, History
Life Member
Colton Becker
BS ‘19, Life Member
Siji Deleawe
BBA ‘20, BA ‘20, Life Member
Javier Granados II
BS ‘20, Life Member
Kelsey Mumford
BSA ‘19, BSN ‘19, Life Member
Mehraz Rahman
BA ‘19, Life Member
2018
Valarie Cardenas
BBA ‘18, Life Member
Caroline “Gabby” Crank
BBA ‘19, BA ‘19, Life Member
Jacqueline C. Gibson
BA ‘19, BSA ‘19, Life Member
Karan Kathuria
BSA ‘18, Life Member
Matthew “Micky” Wolf
BBA ‘18, BA ‘18, Life Member
Emily Yang
BS ‘20, Life Member
2017
Sofia Aranha
BFA ‘18, BA ‘18, Life Member
Jade Jackson
BSA ‘17, BS ‘17, Life Member
Seth Krasne
Life Member
Amber Magee
BSPH ‘17, Life Member
Garrett Maples
BS ‘17, Life Member
Mayra Sharma
BA ‘18, BSA ‘18, Life Member
2016
Imani Boyette
BBA ‘16, Life Member
Jon Burstain
BBA ‘18, Life Member
Kevin Helgren
BSA ‘17, BS ‘17, Life Member
Rachel Huynh
BA ‘16, BBA ‘16, Life Member
Robbey Orth
BS ‘18, Life Member
Bethany Rolan
BA ‘17, BBA ‘17, Life Member
2015
Lauren Caton
BS ‘16, Life Member
Ignacio Cruz
BS ‘15, Life Member
Amy Enrione
BBA ‘16, Life Member
Madison Gove
BBA ‘17, MPAFF ‘19, Life Member
Neal Makkar
BBA ‘15, Life Member
Coleman Tharpe
BS ‘15, BA ‘15, Life Member
2014
Charlie Adkins
BBA ‘16, MPA ‘17, Life Member
Elyssa Klann
BA ‘14, Life Member
Holland Finley
BA ‘14, BBA ‘14, Life Member
Jeffrey Li
BS ‘15, BBA ‘15, Life Member
Michael “Ugeo” Williams
BS ‘14, BA ‘14, Life Member
Tara Sharma
BS ‘15, Life Member
2013
Armiya Humphrey
BBA ‘15, MPA ‘16, Life Member
Robert Belanger
BA ‘14, BBA ‘14, Life Member
Steven Macapagal
BA ‘13, Life Member
Rosaura Estrada
BS ‘13, Life Member
Julie Fogarty
BS ‘13, Life Member
James Salazar
BS ‘13, Life Member
2012
Michael Daehne
BS ‘12, BBA ‘12, Life Member
Jordan Metoyer
BA ‘16, Life Member
Ana Laura Rivera
BA ‘14, Life Member
Rebekah Sosland
BA ‘13, Life Member
Bhargav Srinivasan
BA ‘12, BBA ‘12, Life Member
Rebekah Thayer
BBA ‘13
2011
Shelby Carvalho
BA ‘11, MGPS ‘15, Life Member
David Forinash
BS ‘12, Life Member
Derin Kiykioglu
BA ‘12
Audrey Najera
BATD ‘12, BA ‘12
Jimmy Talarico
BA ‘11, Life Member
Eugene Wood
BA ‘11, Life Member
2010
Erica Brody
BBA ‘12, Life Member
Erik Eyberg
BS ‘10, Life Member
Charles “Bud” Franck
BAR ‘10, Life Member
John Kidenda
BBA ‘09, Life Member
Cecilia Lopez
BA ‘10, MED ‘12, Life Member
Berenice Medellin
BSW ‘11, BA ‘11, JD ‘16, Life Member
2009
Jacob Marcus Bintliff
BA ‘10, Life Member
Natalie Butler
BA ‘12, BS ‘12, Life Member
Liam O’Rourke
BA ‘11
Abraham Pena
BS ‘09, Life Member
Keshav Rajagopalan
BS ‘10, BA ‘10, Life Member
Rebecca Reid
BS ‘09
2008
William P. Bacon
BA ‘08, Life Member
Katie Brehm
BBA ‘09
Nathan Vidal Bunch
BA ‘11, Life Member
Stephen Lang Myers
BA ‘08, JD ‘11, Life Member
Nicole Elizabeth Trinh
BS ‘08, MPAFF ‘10, Life Member
Mechiel Johannes Van Der Walt
BA ‘08, Life Member
2007
Sarina Hickey
BA ‘07, BBA ‘07, Life Member
C. Melvin Ike
BS ‘07
Ryan Miller
BJ ‘07, PHD ‘15
Keshav Rajagopalan
BS ‘10, BA ‘10, Life Member
Monica Richards
BS ‘10
Danielle Rugoff
BA ‘09, Life Member
James Tolleson
BM ‘08, MED ‘17
2006
Matthew Garrett Ashbaugh
BBA ‘08, BA ‘09
James Mahoney Burnham
BA ‘06, Life Member
Mansai A. Deshpande
BA ‘07, Life Member
Zachary Charles Hall
BA ‘09
Andrew R. Lara
BA ‘07
Sheena Paul
BA ‘07, BBA ‘07
Kan Yan
BA ‘06, Life Member
2005
Salome Balderramme
BS ‘06
Tara Buentello
BA ‘07, MS ‘10
Jesus Castillon
BS ‘05, BJ ‘05, Life Member
Ellen Chen
BS ‘06, MS ‘08
Lauren Gilstrap
BA ‘06, BBA ‘06, Life Member
Matthew Hardigree
BA ‘05, Life Member
Vivek Sakhrani
BS ‘08, Life Member
2004
Jesus Castillon
BS ‘05, BJ ‘05, Life Member
Monica Villasenor Culver
BBA ‘06
Kevin Curry
BA ‘05, BBA ‘05, Life Member
Steven Hardt
BSPR ‘07
Rusty Ince
BS ‘04, BA ‘04, Life Member
Jake Ward
BS ‘06, BA ‘06, Life Member
Wendy Wheless
BS ‘04, MBA ‘08, Life Member
2003
Andrew Brummett
BA ‘03
Derek Deas
BBA ‘05, Life Member
Katie King
BA ‘03, JD ‘06, Life Member
Sly Majid
BA ‘04, Life Member
Omar Ochoa
BBA ‘07, BA ‘07, MPA ‘07, JD ‘11, Life Member
Clint Tuttle
BBA ‘03, Life Member
2002
Dimi Aldridge
BS ‘02
Erin Dominguez
BA ‘03
Andrew Friedberg
BA ‘02, BBA ‘02, Life Member
Jon Mureen
BS ‘03, Life Member
Sonia Nezamzadeh
BJ ‘03
Tim Taliaferro
BA ‘05, Life Member
Phu Tran
BS ‘02
2001
Zaina Nabil Al-Mohtaseb
BA ‘04
Colleen Davies
BBA ‘02, BA ‘02, Life Member
Andrea Greene
BBA ‘03, Life Member
Chris Harlan
BBA ‘01, BA ‘01, Life Member
Nils Marchand
BBA ‘02, Life Member
Jake Olcott
BA ‘01
Daron Roberts
BA ‘01, Life Member
2000
Hector Eduardo De Leon
Parisa Fatehi
BA ‘01, MPAFF ‘07, JD ‘07, Life Member
Milam Newby
BA ‘00, JD ‘03, Life Member
Sebastian Paige
BS ‘03, Life Member
Carlos Luis Rodriguez
BA ‘00
Mollie Sultenfuss
BA ‘03
Randy Thompson
BBA ‘01, BA ‘02
1999
Vanessa Cooksey
BS ‘99, Life Member
Kiesha Curtis
BSW ‘00
James Hwang
BS ‘02, BA ‘02
Atisha Patel
BA ‘00
David Sanchez
BS ‘02
Demetris Williams
BA ‘99
Krissah Williams
BA ‘01, BJ ‘01
1998
Christina Allen
BA ‘98, JD ‘01, Life Member
Nina Bhatia
BA ‘00
Troy Daniel
BBA ‘00, Life Member
Lisa Henken
BA ‘98, Life Member
Annie Holand
BA ‘99, JD ‘04, Life Member
Daron Roberts
BA ‘01, Life Member
Marlen Whitley
BA ‘98, JD ‘01
1997
Dee Campanella
BJ ‘99, Life Member
Emily Johnson
BA ‘00, Life Member
Tyson Brice King
BS ‘97
Candice Marchland
BBA ‘98
Kat Murray
BA ‘98, Life Member
Ryan Phelps
BA ‘99
Anthony Rosette
BS ‘97, Life Member
1996
Carl Harvey Jr.
BS ‘97
Sam Jacobs
BA ‘00, Life Member
Jake Margo
BA ‘97, Life Member
Yvette Mirabal
BA ‘96, Life Member
Jennifer Monday
BS ‘99. Life Member
Ronnye Vargas
BA ‘96, Life Member
1995
Alex Eastman
BA ‘96, Life Member
David Henderson
BA ‘98, JD ‘01
Mirshish Massey
BJ ‘99
Brian Siegal
BA ‘95, JD ‘98, Life Member
Ronnye Vargas
BA ‘96, Life Member
Julie Zelman
BA ‘95, JD ‘99, Life Member
1994
Joshua Aruh
BBA ‘95
Deana Dittmar
MPA ‘96, BBA ‘96, Life Member
Katherine Dunphy
BS ‘98
Lisa Epifani
BA ‘94, Life Member
Jennifer Goldman
BA ‘96, JD ‘00, Life Member
Chad Young
BS ‘96, Life Member
1993
Heili Allee
BA ‘96, Life Member
Glenn Brown
BA ‘96, Life Member
Kip Dixon
BBA ‘94, Life Member
Howard Nirken
BA ‘93, MPAFF ‘97, JD ‘97, Life Member
Sean Petrie
BA ‘93
Stephen Shang
BS ‘94
1992
Stacie Baker
BBA ‘93, Life Member
David Gomez
Sean Mast
BBA ‘92, BA ‘92, MBA ‘93, Life Member
Howard Nirken
BA ‘93, MPAFF ‘97, JD ‘93, Life Member
Laura Schaulat
BS ‘95
Meredith Spiekerman
BA ‘93, Life Member
1991
Julie Ballard
BA ‘91, MPAFF ‘94, MBA ‘94, Life Member
Sarah Louise Biddle
BFA Art History ‘95, Life Member
Jennifer Bradley
BA ‘92
Jackie Lain
BA ‘91, JD ‘94, Life Member
Marty Meekins
BA ‘93, JD ‘97, MBA ‘97, Life Member
Jennie Molz
BA ‘92, Life Member
1990
Meredith Byers
BA ‘93, Life Member
Jackie Lain
BA ‘91, JD ‘94, Life Member
Marty Meekins
BA ‘93, JD ‘97, MBA ‘97, Life Member
Teri Pinney
BA ‘90, Life Member
Anneke Schroen
BA ‘90, Life Member
Charla Serbent
BA ‘92, BS ‘92
Cliff Vrielink
BA ‘90
1989
Jennifer Bradley
BA ‘92
Debbie Knupp
BS ‘89, Life Member
Mark Murdock
BA ‘91, Life Member
David Antonio Perez
BBA ‘91, BA ‘91
J.C. Rozendaal
BA ‘89, JD ‘97, Life Member
Paul Schweizer
BA ‘89, JD ‘94, Life Member
Christine Warden
BBA ‘90, Life Member
1988
Dina Castranova
BBA ‘91, Life Member
James Delk
BS ‘89
Deanna Dewberry
BJ ‘92
Bill Dorland
BS‘88, Life Member
Mike Hulbert
BS ‘89, Life Member
Randi Shade
BA ‘88, Life Member
1987
Steve Barrett
BBA ‘87, JD ‘91, Life Member
Julie Beckham
BS ‘87, Life Member
Archie Holmes
BS ‘91, Life Member
Blair Schlossberg
BA ‘88
Mark Strain
BA ‘89, JD ‘92, Life Member
Michael Whellan
BA ‘87, JD ‘90, Life Member
1986
Dean Carter
BS ‘88, Life Member
Dorina Trevino Clarke
BBA ‘87, Life Member
Patricia Jeffrey
BBA ‘86, JD ‘90, Life Member
Marc H. Muchnick
BA ‘88
John Scott
BA ‘88, MPAFF ‘93, Life Member