Awards and Celebrations

Honoring Excellence: Awards and Recognition 

Student Engagement and Belonging celebrates the outstanding achievements of students who work to make our campus community GREAT. The Awards and Scholarships below are a few of the ways Intercultural Student Engagement recognizes the dedication and impact of our campus community.
 

2024 Spellman Award winners standing together proudly showing their award certificates.


The Dr. Seth Spellman, Jr. Achievement Awards

Established in 1991, these awards honor the late Dr. Seth Spellman, Jr., one of the University’s most esteemed colleagues. They celebrate the accomplishments of undergraduate students who have demonstrated a lived experience that reflects expertise and ability to contribute to programmatic aims associated with better learning outcomes among students who have different perspectives and backgrounds.

The 2025-2026 award categories will be announced in January 2026.

 

Spellman Highest Academic Achievement Award
Spellman Highest Academic Achievement Award

To receive a Spellman Highest Academic Achievement Award, scholars must be enrolled full-time undergraduates with a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above at the end of the Fall semester. Upper class students must have matriculated at the University for a minimum of two consecutive semesters. Freshman, sophomore and junior recipients of the Academic Achievement Awards receive certificates and senior class recipients are honored at an annual reception.

Highest Academic Achievement Award honorees are the highest-ranking male and female recipients of African, Asian/Pacific Islander, Latino or Native American heritage in their class.  Our top honorees have an average GPA of 3.97 and many of them have perfect 4.0 GPA’s!  

Recent Recipients

  • Sadaf Ahmadi
  • Lauren Aldrin Bernard
  • Maliyka  Aziz
  • Vincenzo Benedetti
  • Maurice Burbridge
  • Jaciano Carrero
  • Layla Farmer
  • Hailey Ferreras
  • Mohamed Gardner
  • Isabella Giddings
  • Eli Gifford
  • Javier Gonzalez
  • Itzel Gutierrez Tapia
  • Leandre Harris
  • Samantha Keskin
  • Taniyah Larkins
  • Ivan Latella-Chicaiza
  • Stephanie Marcos
  • Cory McCarthy
  • Raja Mosher
  • Nneoma Ogbonna
  • Fatima Ramos-Sandoval
  • Sanad Sahawneh
  • Demari  Samuel
  • Arya Sapkal
  • Jason Scheffel
  • Tyler Sljukic
  • Kaden Smallwood
  • Taína Stevens
  • Parmesh Thakoordial
  • Jewel Winant
  • Holy Mary Zaher
Dr. Seth Spellman NIA ALANA Scholarship Award
Dr. Seth Spellman NIA ALANA Scholarship Award

The NIA ALANA Scholarship Award recognizes students who have exhibited a strong commitment to the University at Albany community through their outstanding service and leadership. Recipients will be presented with a monetary award. Eligible applicants must have a minimum GPA of 3.0 by the end of the previous academic semester. They must also have been full-time students at UAlbany for a minimum of two semesters and be in good judicial standing. Financial need will be considered.  

Recent Recipients

  • Dana Morales-De Brecourt
  • Zyon Small
  • Addison Yang
  • Jeremy  Zheng
Spellman Award for Distinguished Leadership
Spellman Award for Distinguished Leadership

The Spellman Award for Distinguished Leadership recognizes African, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American heritage students at the University at Albany who have made notable efforts to enhance the quality of life for the University community. The Award for Distinguished Leadership is presented to students or organizations who meet one or more of the following criteria:  

  • Served as an appointed, elected or situational student leader
  • Planned, organized or presented successful activities and programs for a student group, club or organization
  • Recognized as leaders and role models by peers, faculty and administrators

Recent Recipients

  • Maliyka Aziz
  • Halimah Lawson
  • Oroboghene Obaro-Ogbovoh
  • Parmesh Thakoordial
  • Adrianna Vidot
Spellman Queer/Trans People of Color Leadership Award
Spellman Queer/Trans People of Color Leadership Award

The Spellman QTPOC Leadership Award recognizes students who provide exemplary leadership in support of the QTPOC community at UAlbany or in the surrounding community, coordinate activities for a student organization in support of LGBTQ+ inclusion, serve in a leadership capacity or function as a leader in this area, or function, or are generally recognized as, role models and effective leaders by peers, faculty and staff in advocating for the QTPOC/LGBTQ+ community.  

  • Provide exemplary leadership in support of the QTPOC community at UAlbany or in the surrounding community
  • Coordinate activities for a student organization in support of LGBTQ+ inclusion
  • Serve in a leadership capacity or function as a leader in this area
  • Recognized as role models and effective leaders by peers, faculty and staff in advocating for the QTPOC/LGBTQ+ community

Recent Recipients

  • Sydney Davidson
  • MJ Smedley
Spellman Award for Outstanding Community Service
Spellman Award for Outstanding Community Service

The Spellman Award for Outstanding Community Service recognizes African, Latino, Asian/Pacific Islander and Native American heritage students who have made notable efforts to enhance the quality of life for the University community. It is presented to students or organizations who meet one or more of the following criteria:  

  • They have demonstrated unselfish involvement in efforts to improve the quality of campus life.
  • They have dedicated considerable time and energy to worthwhile projects that benefit others.

They are identified by student peers, faculty and administrators as individuals or groups who have consistently given of themselves to improve the University community.

Recent Recipients

  • Lorraine Affigne
  • Isabella Blauvelt-Mercado
  • Halimah  Lawson
  • Surya Muthukrishnan
2023 Lavender Award Recipient posting with distinguished UAlbany faculty in full graduation regalia


Lavender Celebration and Awards

Lavender Celebration recognizes LGBTQ+ and allied students completing their bachelor’s, master’s or PhD degree. Participating graduates are encouraged to invite friends, allies and family as they receive a rainbow tassel, hear from LGBTQ+ and allied alumni, meet fellow graduates and are received by LGBTQ+ faculty and allies.

Lavender Celebration features awards open to all celebrating faculty, staff, students and alumni who contribute to the LGBTQ+ community. Nominations open in March and April and can be made online through MyInvolvement.

The 2025-2026 award categories will be announced in January 2026.

Lavender Awards
The Nancy Belowich-Negron SAFE SPACE Award
The Nancy Belowich-Negron SAFE SPACE Award

Nancy Belowich-Negron was the Director of the Disability Resource Center at UAlbany for more than 30 years. During that time she served as the lead trainer for the National Coalition Building Institute (NCBI) and spearheaded the development of Safe Space training. Although Nancy retired in 2013, her spirit and resolve continue to flow through the lives she touched at UAlbany.  

This award is given to a UAlbany community member whose dedication to deliberate dialogue around intersectional identities embodies Nancy’s spirit and who has continued to forge Brave Safe Spaces on campus through their work with the Safe Space Program or other campus commitments. 

OUT-Standing Faculty or Staff Award
OUT-Standing Faculty or Staff Award

This award recognizes a UAlbany faculty or staff member whose leadership promotes understanding and inspires others to improve the climate for the LGBTQ+ campus community.

Excellence in LGBTQ+ Scholarship or Creative Works
Excellence in LGBTQ+ Scholarship or Creative Works

The Excellence in LGBTQ+ Scholarship or Creative Works Award is given to an LGBTQ+ faculty, staff or student whose research, publishing or creative work forges brave new paths or whose research or work furthers LGBTQ+ scholarship and representation.

The Harvey Milk Alumnus Award
The Harvey Milk Alumnus Award

After leaving the University at Albany, known then as the New York State College for Teachers in Albany, Harvey Milk ‘51 became a teacher in New York City before moving to California where he became the first openly gay man elected to a public office. This award is given to a UAlbany alumnus who, upon leaving the University, has made substantial contributions to social justice issues in their work or community involvement.

Gender Warrior Award
Gender Warrior Award

The Gender Warrior Award is given to a faculty member, staff member, student or department that has made a substantial impact on issues of gender equity, who has challenged the barriers and constructs of gender and promoted social justice.

Departmental Inclusion Award
Departmental Inclusion Award

This award recognizes a UAlbany department which has made a significant, sustained contribution to furthering LGBTQ+ inclusion through its work or resources on campus or in the community.

Dreamer Achiever Award
Dreamer Achiever Award

This award is presented to a department, faculty member, staff member, student or student group that dreams boldly and whose dedication and passion bring new resources and inspire others.

Volunteer Award
Volunteer Award

This award recognizes UAlbany students, faculty or staff members who make outstanding contributions to LGBTQ+ resources on campus or broader communities without holding an elected office within an organization. 

Unsung Hero Award
Unsung Hero Award

This award recognizes a UAlbany department, student, student group, faculty or staff member who has made outstanding contributions to LGBTQ+ initiatives on campus or in the broader community. UAlbany has seen a large increase in resources and awareness of LGBTQ+ issues and strives to recognize and remember those who have contributed to this success but who may not have been formally recognized.

Amazing Ally Award
Amazing Ally Award

An ally is defined as someone who advocates, serves on committees, mentors or provides ally development for the benefit of the LGBTQ+ campus community. This award recognizes a UAlbany department, faculty, staff, student or student group who has supported and advanced the LGBTQ+ and allied campus community.