The Campus Life & Leadership Award honors a UIS student who strengthens the campus community through integrity, leadership, and meaningful involvement. Recipients are students who uplift others, encourage engagement, and contribute positively to campus life. This award reflects the Division of Student Affairs’ mission of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes student success, lifelong learning, and growth and development. Students recognized with this award exemplify these values through their daily actions and community impact.

2025 Recipient

Piper Schrepferman

2024 Recipient

Paige Williams

2023 Recipient

Josh Rowzee

2022 Recipient

Alexa Lopez

2021 Recipient

Nicole Girard

Amanda Jones

2020 Recipient

Eric Loera

The Inclusive Excellence & Equity Leadership Award honors a UIS student who has made meaningful and sustained contributions toward advancing equity, inclusion, and belonging on campus. This award recognizes a student who actively works to create a more socially just university community by promoting cultural competency, challenging bias, and supporting programs and initiatives that foster understanding and respect across differences. Aligned with the Division of Student Affairs’ mission of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes student success, lifelong learning, and growth and development, this award celebrates students who strengthen the campus community through advocacy, education, and leadership rooted in equity and inclusive practice.

Formally Known as Vanguard of Diversity Award

2024 Recipient

Alexa Redd

2023 Recipient

Ingrid Franco

2022 Recipient

Jocelyn Nelson

2021 Recipient

Jayla Stubblefield

2020 Recipient

Shaurika Miggins

The Military‑Connected Student Leadership & Service Award honors a UIS student who is an active‑duty service member, reservist, National Guard member, or veteran and has made a meaningful impact on the success, transition, and sense of belonging of military‑connected students at UIS. This award recognizes a student who embodies the Division of Student Affairs’ mission of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes student success, lifelong learning, and growth and development. Recipients demonstrate leadership, advocacy, and dedication to strengthening support networks for those who have served or are currently serving.

2024 Recipient

Chantel Gsell

2022 Recipient

DeJoie Simmons

2021 Recipient

Freddy Rocha

2020 Recipient

Abraham Rios

The Outstanding New Leader Award honors a first‑year or sophomore undergraduate student who demonstrates exceptional promise as an emerging leader. This award recognizes a student who, within their first two-four semesters, has shown initiative, academic dedication, and a strong commitment to the UIS community. Recipients embody the Division of Student Affairs’ mission of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes student success, lifelong learning, and growth and development. This award celebrates new student leaders who are already contributing to a vibrant, engaged, and inclusive campus community and show strong potential for continued leadership at UIS.

2025 Recipient

Adi Rumler

2024 Recipient

Chidera Okafor

2023 Recipient

Alexa Redd

2022 Recipient

Franki Miller

2021 Recipient

Ben Norris

2020 Recipient

Fernando Contreras

The Prairie Star Student‑Athlete Leadership Award honors one female and one male undergraduate student‑athlete who exemplify excellence both on and off the field. Recipients demonstrate outstanding academic and athletic achievement while contributing positively to the UIS community through leadership, service, and meaningful engagement across the Division of Student Affairs. This award reflects the Division of Student Affairs’ mission of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes student success, lifelong learning, and growth and development. Selected student‑athletes embody the values of integrity, collaboration, and campus connection—strengthening the bridge between Athletics and the broader UIS community.

2025 Recipient

Taylor Zawacki

2024 Recipient

Carmen Llopis Fabra

2023 Recipient

Clark Morgan

2021 Recipient

Hannah Nicolaisen

2020 Recipients

Dan Mahoney

Kaitlyn Thronhill

The Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service honors a UIS student who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to volunteerism both on campus and throughout the greater Springfield community. This award celebrates a student whose service exemplifies compassion, integrity, and a deep commitment to uplifting others. Aligned with the Division of Student Affairs’ mission of fostering a supportive and inclusive environment that promotes student success, lifelong learning, and growth and development, this award recognizes a student who uses service as a pathway to personal growth, community impact, and the enrichment of the campus experience.

2025 Recipient

Taytum Scarborough

2024 Recipient

Jada Kinney

2023 Recipient

Carl Burts

2022 Recipient

Nancy Cano

2021 Recipient

Claudia Mika

2020 Recipient

Sarah Chicoine

Intercultural Understanding & Leadership Award

This award recognizes a student who has demonstrated an extraordinary commitment towards engaging the UIS Campus in understanding the multitude of cultures that exist on campus through programs and/or initiatives that create connections within the community and cultivate appreciation and mutual respect for all. 

• 2025 Recipient
  • Romina Trujillo Agostini
• 2024 Recipient
  • Abhishek Soni
• 2023 Recipient
  • Aislinn Diaz
• 2021 Recipient
  • Hannah Baity
  • Ocean Pagan
  • Tasneem Shaik
• 2020 Recipient
  • Maegan Flight