The Annual University Student Leadership Awards program recognizes and celebrates the outstanding achievements of our student leaders and scholars. Through this program, the university aims to acknowledge the exceptional academic performances and contributions to the University of Maryland community and surrounding neighborhoods made by students.
Numerous Scholars were finalists and recipients of several of UMD's top awards.
Receiving one of the highest honors at the recent awards ceremony was Aliah Brown (JLT), who received the UMD Model Citizenship Award. The University of Maryland Model Citizenship Award, is the most prestigious University award presented to two members of the graduating senior class who during their collegiate career has most nearly typified the model citizen and have contributed significantly to the general advancement of the interests of the University
Brown is a Government & Politics and Criminology & Criminal Justice dual degree student with an MLAW minor from Waldorf, Maryland. Brown is committed to service through Alpha Phi Omega, the BSOS Dean's Student Advisory Council, and the Justice and Legal Thought Scholars Program. Aliah aspires to attend law school, focusing on social justice.
Three other College Park Scholars were finalists for the Maryland Medallion Society, Model Citizenship Prizes, and the Wilson H. Elkins Prize - Annabelle Teel Grant (JLT), Zoa Nicholson (MSS), and Caroline Thorne (IS).
Grant is a Government & Politics and Criminology & Criminal Justice dual degree student. She is Co-Chair of the Student Conduct Review Coalition, a Community Advocate for the University Student Judiciary, a Teaching Assistant for the Maryland Fellows Program, Events & Lectures Chair for Omicron Delta Kappa, served as a Peer Mentor in the Justice and Legal Thought Scholars Program, Vice President of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity, and a Captain in the Maryland Mock Trial Program. After graduation, she will be serving Teach for America Baltimore, where she hopes to help advance educational equity while preparing for law school.
Nicholson is an Information Systems and Supply Chain Management dual degree student from Parkton, Maryland. This College Park Scholars alumna has served as President of the UMD Student Alumni Leadership Council, President of Omicron Delta Kappa, and board member of the Smith School’s Dean’s Student Advisory Council.
Thorne is a Government & Politics major, minoring in Sustainability studies from Silver Spring, Maryland. She is an Intern for the UMD Office of Government Relations and a Program Coordinator for the Maryland Democracy Initiative’s Laufer Democracy Internship Program. She completed internships at the White House, the Office of Representative Steny Hoyer in the U.S. House of Representatives, and the Embassy of Spain’s Office of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and also served as the Director of Governmental Affairs for the Student Government Association. Following graduation, she will attend the UMD School of Public Policy for her Master’s Degree.
Receiving distinction from Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) was Eileen Chen (PL). She was named the ODK Sophomore Leader of the Year. The University of Maryland Sophomore Leader of the Year is recognized by the Sigma Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Society as the second-year student who has demonstrated a diverse and high level of achievement in leadership and campus involvement. The recipient of this award best exemplifies the leadership qualities of the sophomore class.
Chen is a finance and information systems major from Rockville, Maryland. She is a first-generation college student who is part of the College Park Scholars Public Leadership Program, an inaugural member of the Smith Business Leadership Fellows Program, and a member of the QUEST honors program. She serves as the President of the Women in Business Association, Alpha Kappa Psi, and the Vice President of Marketing for the Smith Finance Group.