Sponsored by the Indiana University School of Medicine’s Medical Student Council, Service Learning Coalition, DEI Coalition, and Wellness Coalition, these annual awards—now in their fifth year—recognize students for their work this year on behalf of student interest groups, committees, and service projects.
Students nominate peers, with the winners ultimately chosen from executives of those student groups mentioned above.
Congratulations to each of the winners:
Student Organization Award Winners
Community Outreach Award: Student Outreach Clinic
This award recognizes an organization that significantly impacted its community through advocacy and/or outreach.
Student Engagement Award: Terre Haute Surgery SIG
This award recognizes an organization that has made notable efforts to engage students through various means (e.g., leadership, events).
Statewide Engagement Award: OB-GYN SIG
This award recognizes an organization that has shown a passion for equity across multiple IU School of Medicine campuses (e.g., Zoom access, executive board representation, hosting events).
New Organization Award: Vox Medicinus
This award recognizes a student organization formed or reactivated within the last two years that has shown exceptional promise and contributions through programming and/or service that reflects students’ emerging needs and interests.
Inclusivity Award: APAMSA
This award recognizes an organization that has made notable efforts to engage students from a wide variety of backgrounds (e.g., identity, campuses, and school year).
IU School of Medicine Event Awards
Outstanding Campus Event of the Year: Evening of the Arts
This award recognizes an event that has been widely attended by School members and profound impacted the School’s community.
Best Social Event of the Year: Colts Game
This award recognizes an event that has brought together School members to network with or meet other members.
Best Collaboration of the Year: OB-GYN SIG & AMWA IUD Training
This award recognizes a creative collaboration between two or more organizations within the School’s community to host a successful event by fostering excellent communication, mutual support, and sharing resources between student organizations.
Outstanding Educational Event of the Year: Surgery SIG Laparoscopic Skills Event
This award recognizes an event that has provided excellent education to its attendees (e.g., colleagues, families, communities).
Outstanding Philanthropic Event of the Year: Ophthalmology SIG iCare 10th Anniversary Gala
This award recognizes an event that has allowed students to actively engage with and learn more about community partners and their initiatives, while also helping students learn how to impact patient healthcare outside of the clinic.
Outstanding Multicultural Event Series of the Year: South Bend SIG Holiday Parties
This award recognizes an event series that has recognized or encouraged diversity as a core aspect of the event.
Outstanding Wellness Event of the Year: Lazy Ironman
This award recognizes an event focused on promoting medical student well-being (e.g., physical wellness, financial wellness, mental wellness, spiritual wellness).
Outstanding Intercampus Event of the Year: Menstrual Product Drive
This award recognizes an event that has positively impacted the IU School of Medicine community by forging outstanding and meaningful connections across two or more campuses to maximize opportunities.
Innovative Event of the Year: Negotiating Contracts Panel
This award recognizes an event that has uniquely addressed a topic of interest or has required overcoming barriers for organizers to host it.
Individual Awards
Distinguished Student Leader: Olwen Menez & Brooke Stephanian (MS2), Khang Phan & Holden Lawson (MS3), Troy Wesson & Olivia Carlton (MS4)
This award recognizes a student who has demonstrated excellence in leadership, including professionalism, compassion, organization, and empathy, and continually facilitates and advocates for change. Up to two winners allowed for each year (MS2, MS3, MS4).
Unsung Hero: Austin Clark & Kate Lipsius (MS1), Hannah von Werder & Molly Beatty (MS2), Savannah Phipps & Payal Patel (MS3), Sarah Lipp (MS4)
This award recognizes a student who has been integral to the inside workings of an organization but may not hold a leadership role or has worked diligently outside the boundaries of their role. Up to two winners allowed for each year (MS1, MS2, MS3, MS4).
MS1 Emerging Leaders: Amber Nelson & Emily Chestnut
This award recognizes a first-year student who has shown exceptional promise in leadership in aspects of professionalism, compassion, organization, and empathy. The students may not necessarily hold a leadership position, but their participation and presence in activities have proved them to be a valuable future leaders.
Visionary Leadership: Kathleen Ho
This award recognizes a leader or group of leaders who have demonstrated trailblazing efforts in their organization. They have recognized the need for change and created paths to facilitate change.
Distinguished Patient Advocates: Sarah Spivak & Aeleia Hughes
This award recognizes students who advocate for their patients on and off the wards. They exemplify humanistic medicine and empathy for their patient regardless of background.
Distinguished Peer Advocate: Elle Zenni (MS1), Morgan Foley (MS2), Trenton Line & Libbie Silverman (MS3), Jara Alvarez Del Pino (MS4)
This award recognizes student(s) who advocate for their colleagues' needs. This can be through advocacy to school administrators and faculty or at a broader level.
Distinguished Community Engagement: Celine Thormann & Casey Woods (MS1), Taylor Colleton & Elsie Gasaway (MS2), Mitchell Grecu & Michaela Gaviola (MS3), Joe Ballard & Morgan Black (MS4)
This award recognizes a leader who has demonstrated distinguished commitment to their local community. This can be through consistent volunteering, dedicated involvement with community organizations, or advocacy for their neighbors’ needs. Up to two winners allowed for each year (MS1, MS2, MS3, MS4).
Distinguished Diversity/Inclusion Champion: Maria Martinez & Amber Nelson (MS1), Ruth Zagales (MS2), Saveda Majety & Cameron Edwards (MS3)
This award recognizes a student who promotes and advocates for the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) of their peers. This student has shown dedication to improving inclusivity and awareness for the entire school, among their campus, or individually within their class. They exemplify the ability to represent student needs, negotiate for student interest, and innovate in the realm of DEI. Up to two winners allowed for each year (MS1, MS2, MS3, MS4).
Distinguished Curricular Advocacy: Emily Merritt
This award recognizes a leader who has demonstrated commitment to advocacy in curriculum. They exemplify the ability to represent student needs and negotiate for student interests, translate curricular and assessment changes, and innovate in curricular engagement.
Distinguished Wellness Champion: Sam Philleo
This award recognizes a student who promotes and advocates for their peers’ health, wellness, and self-care. This student has shown dedication to improving the dimensions of wellness for the entire school, among their campus, or individually within their class.
Outstanding Advisor: Niki Messmore
This award recognizes a staff or faculty member who has served as an advisor to a student organization (SLC projects, SIG, committee, and wellness groups) and has made outstanding contributions to the student organization. This person has had a profound impact on students by providing a welcoming, inclusive, and enthusiastic environment and was chosen based on their involvement and knowledge of the organization, ability to challenge leaders, and willingness to provide guidance and support when needed.
Outstanding Faculty or Staff Advocate: Dr. Katie Stanton-Maxey & Keri Good
This award recognizes a staff or faculty member who acted as an outstanding advocate for students. They have played a key part in student organizations by providing openness to change, constructive feedback, and a commitment to excellence in our student organizations, among other qualities.
