University of Wisconsin-Superior students were honored for their hard work and dedication during the 2022-23 academic year during the Yellowjacket Student Excellence Awards ceremony, which took place Wednesday, April 26, in the Yellowjacket Union.

Abigail Voss and Eliani Lammi were named the recipients of the Chancellor’s Leadership Award. This award is given to members of the graduating class who are committed to personal growth and have made a positive contribution to their peers, campus and community.

Dean of Students Scholarships were presented to several UW-Superior students.

• Abdul Basith Mohamed Nasik was awarded the Excellence Scholarship.
• Aik Arzumanyan, Dante Bender, Daniela Castiblanco Diaz, Kimberlee Downing, Kyla Smith and Utahiro Yoshimoto received Oluf Haugsrud Scholarships.
• Lambda Sigma Lambda Scholarships were presented to Viviane De Paula Colletta and Yu Sato.
• Jordan Goldfine received the Dr. Dale A Newman First Nations Scholarship in honor of Robert L Houle.
• The Joe Long Leadership Scholarship went to Wesley Wilson.
• Daniel Clugston was awarded the William & Olga Munnings Scholarship.
• Tyler Ryder received the Optimist Club Scholarship.
• The Maureen Roin Scholarship was given to Shandelle Friedman.
• Aidan Jones was awarded the Stephen Welsh Scholarship Fund.
• The Barb Torgerson Fund was presented to Loretta Stavnes.
• Bradley Lellis received the Lloyd Williams Memorial Scholarship.
• The Jeanette Berthiaume Brandser Memorial Scholarship was presented to Amy Kendall.
• The Gary Johnson Scholarship was presented to Brittney Lozano.
• Jamie Brantmeier received the Andy Borg VFW Scholarship.
• Adalia Ortiz was presented the Gerald Christensen Scholarship.
• The Thomas Jorgenson Scholarship was awarded to Christopher Miller.
• Claire Jarman and Ryan Marcyjanik received the Joseph H Moline Scholarship.
• The Stone Memorial Scholarship was presented to Jenna Anderson.
• The VFW Scholarship went to Maddelyn Swanson.

The Department of Equity, Diversity and Inclusion presented several awards during the ceremony, including:

Tamami Igeta and Tasneem Aidabi were presented Office of Intercultural Success Student Leadership Awards. The award is presented to a student who has demonstrated a passion for increasing diversity and inclusion through leadership.

The Indigenous Cultures Resource Center Student of the Year Award was presented to Sammy Krisik. This award is presented to a student who has worked tirelessly to promote cultural diversity and awareness regarding First Nations and Indigenous cultures within the office as well as working with the Native Nations Student Organization to help support Indigenous students through outreach and programming.

Tamami Igeta received the Gender Equity Resource Center Student of the Year Award. The award goes to a student for their initiative to go above and beyond expectations in advancing and supporting people of minoritized gender and/or sexual identities.

Veteran and Non-Traditional Student of the Year Awards went to Brad Hiler and Adalia Ortiz. This recognizes a student for perseverance, positivity, and being tenacious in achieving their goals.  

EDI Outstanding Leadership Awards were presented to Daniela Castiblanco Diaz, Rhiannon Giguere, Lucas Palomino Linares, Sami Keller, Cassie Skattebo and Camryn Mead. These awards are presented to students that are dedicated to playing an active part in promoting diversity and inclusion at UW-Superior. These students are committed to creating environments where all people are welcome, regardless of background and/or identity. As leaders on our campus, recipients of the EDI awards go out of their way to enhance and promote the spirit of UW-Superior through their everyday work as well as their extracurricular involvement.

Student Involvement also presented awards to multiple organizations and students.

The Native Nations Student Organization received the Evolving Student Organization Award, which honors a recognized student organization that has demonstrated significant growth in the areas of membership development, program development or overall campus involvement in the past year.

The Black Student Union received the Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award. This award goes to a recognized student organization that has raised awareness around issues of diversity and inclusion as well as promoted a space for open and honest dialogue on topics related to diversity.

The Program of the Year Award was given to the Sustainability Club. This recognition goes to a student organization program or event that has promoted student engagement, built a sense of community and enriched the lives of the campus and community through a student-initiated, directed and implemented program.  

The Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award goes to a faculty or staff advisor of a student organization that has shared their professional knowledge, assisted the organization with setting and achieving goals, and encouraged the growth and development of its student leaders. This honor was awarded to Madison Hale, associate student services coordinator.

The Outstanding Emerging Leader Award is presented to individuals who have shown significant and progressive growth in their leadership skills and abilities. They serve as positive role models for their peers and the campus community and show potential to take their leadership to the next level. This year’s recipient of the Outstanding Student Leader Award was Saya Kondo.

The award for Outstanding Student Leader went to Andrew Kerner. Individuals nominated for the award have shown continuous involvement and leadership in campus activities, while being consistent and effective in implementing their leadership skills.  

Kasha Hughlett received the Student Involvement Staff Excellence Award.This award is presented to a student staff member that has worked for Student Involvement for more than one year and in that time has gone above and beyond their job duties and surpassed expectations. These individuals are leaders not only in the workplace but model their leadership across campus and promote the spirit of UWS through their everyday work and their extracurricular involvement.

The Yellowjacket Activities Crew Staff Excellence Award was presented to Rebecca Matson. The YAC Staff Member of Excellence Award is presented to a student staff member that has worked for the Yellowjacket Activities Crew for more than one year and in that time has gone above and beyond their job duties and surpassed expectations. These individuals are leaders not only in the workplace but model their leadership across campus and promote the spirit of UWS through their everyday work and their extracurricular involvement.

Cassie Skattebo was presented the Yellowjacket Spirit Award. This award is presented to a student staff member that has worked as a member of the Yellowjacket Mascot Team. This individual is a leader not only in the workplace but models their leadership across campus and promotes Yellowjacket spirit through their everyday work and their extracurricular involvement.