UAlbany Unveils Winner of Annual Holiday Card Student Art Contest

Student stands with President and Vice President with her winning artwork
President Havidan Rodriguez and Vice President Mike Christakis congratulate contest winner Sara Sadaat. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

By Amy Geduldig

ALBANY, N.Y. (Dec. 11, 2025) — The University at Albany announced the winners of its 2025 Holiday Card Design Contest at an unveiling Dec. 9 in the Campus Center Great Hall.  

Junior Sara Sadaat earned the first-place prize of a $1,500 scholarship and the honor of having her winning submission featured on UAlbany's annual holiday card. Her illustration depicts two best friends enjoying the magic of a campus snowfall — a scene that captures the warmth and spirit of the holiday season on campus. Sadaat, who is from Flushing, N.Y., is pursuing a degree in Human Biology.

“My illustration was inspired by my experience here at the University at Albany. To me, UAlbany represents a community where people from diverse backgrounds come together, celebrate the season and share kindness. While making this piece, I wanted to channel all the joy and good energy I feel on campus with the people I love and the moments we share. I also wanted to honor my twin sister who motivates me to be my best self and with whom I’ve shared some of the best moments of my life, both at home and here at UAlbany. Winning this year’s holiday card contest means so much to me and motivates me to keep creating art and sharing positivity through my work,” Sadaat said.

The winning entry and two finalists were unveiled Tuesday morning during the annual end-of-semester Community Coffee Hour with President Havidán Rodríguez. Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Michael Christakis, who emceed the unveiling event, noted the holiday card contest began in 2018.

“The winners of this year’s holiday card contest created pieces of art that speak to our spirit of community and camaraderie. Every year as I review the finalists, I am amazed by the talent and creativity within the UAlbany community. Congratulations to our winner and the finalists and thank you to all the artists who participated in this year’s contest,” President Rodríguez said. 

First runner-up Danielle Iris-Perez Duffy won a $1,000 scholarship for her entry depicting a snowball fight on Bob Ford Field at Tom & Mary Casey Stadium. Duffy is a graduate student working towards her master's degree in Regional Planning from Queens, N.Y.  

First-Runner Up Danielle Iris-Perez Duffy
First runner up Danielle Duffy received a $1,000 scholarship for her submission. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

Kiran Jadhav — a sophomore business major in the Massry School of Business from Westchester, N. Y. — was the second runner up and will receive a $750 scholarship for her design of a snowy holiday scene on the podium, featuring the building of a Great Dane snow dog.  

Second runner-up Jadhav's design featured students building a snow dog and enjoying the snow on the podium. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)
Second runner-up Jadhav's design featured students building a snow dog and enjoying the snow on the podium. (Photo by Patrick Dodson)

To further embrace the season of giving, the University invited attendees to bring donations for the Northern Rivers annual holiday giving campaign, which supports children and families across the Capital Region. Donation bins will be located at University Hall, Student Engagement & Belonging in the Campus Center and all uptown residential Quads until Friday. The University will deliver the collected items to Northern Rivers on Dec. 15. Faculty, staff and students are encouraged to donate new, unwrapped toys, clothing, home goods, hygiene products and other essentials to the collection bins. Click here for more information.