The Office of Student Organizations, Leadership and Service (SOLS) announced the 2021 recipients of the Vanderbilt Awards for Leadership Excellence (VALE). Each spring, SOLS presents individual and student organization awards to recognize those who work to transform the Vanderbilt community. Students can either apply for VALE through AnchorLink or be nominated by fellow students and/or faculty.
“These awards also recognize efforts that encourage members of this community to engage in a life-long pursuit of excellence in personal and social development,” VALE’s website states.
Senior Stephanie Wang was the only student to receive more than one award this year. She won the Casey Carter Bonar Award, the Robert Peter Pratt Memorial Award and the Susan Jung Award.
“I’m super thankful to the Office of Student Organizations for recognizing me, but I’m moreover super appreciative of all the organizations I’ve been a part of throughout undergrad,” Wang said. “They’ve definitely contributed so much to my personal growth, and I wouldn’t be the same person I am today without my involvement in them.”
Each individual award is accompanied with a monetary stipend and a commemorative trophy. Student organization awards come with a stipend and the organization’s name is engraved on a plaque outside the Sarratt Student Center.
Ceremonial Video
Typically, an awards ceremony is held mid-spring to formally recognize VALE recipients. According to SOLS Program Coordinator Wilaberto De Los Santos, this year’s ceremony was pre-recorded and posted to YouTube on April 21.
“In order to promote a safe and enjoyable recognition experience that followed our COVID-19 guidelines and was easier to manage programmatically, we decided to do a pre-recorded video,” Santos said. “This format allowed us to announce this year’s award recipients, highlight a few performances and recognize Dean of Students Mark Bandas who will be retiring this year.”
The video featured two performances by Vanderbilt’s Espresso Yourself, including Micha Bermy singing “Lemonade” by Jeremy Passion and Spectrum A Cappella, and a performance by the Spirit of Gold Marching Band. After SOLS staff announced the VALE winners, Vanderbilt faculty, students and alumni personally congratulated Dean Mark Bandas on his retirement.
“Dean Bandas is a man of great renown that celebrates others before himself, whether that be students, faculty or staff,” Melissa Kumi, senior and Honor Council president, said. “He has worked tirelessly to uplift the voices of all students to foster a community of respect and support.”
Individual Awards
Accolade: The Chancellor’s Diversity Award: Shubham Gulati
Casey Carter Bonar Award: Melissa Kumi & Stephanie Wang
Glenn & Elizabeth Bogitsh Award: Lauren Wong
Imani Award: The Rev. James Lawson Award for Campus and Community Leadership: Sam Merrick
John T. and Lizzie Allen McGill First Year Awards: Shamel Basaria and Rachael Perrotta
John T. McGill Award: Oluwatobi Odugunwa
John T. and Lizzie Allen Upper-class McGill Award: Abhi Nathan
Lori Groves-White Award for Advocacy and Courage: – Virginia Richards
Nora C. Chaffin Scholarship: Tanya Tejani
Reverend Beverly A. Asbury Award for Interfaith Dialogue: Madelynn Roche
Ripple In The Pond Award: Adam Geffner
Robert Peter Pratt Memorial Award: Stephanie Wang
Rob Roy Purdy Award: Pranav Kodali
Susan Jung Award: Stephanie Wang
Thomas M. Weser Award: Kevin Ifiora
William Aaron Pathfinder Award: Margaret Redic
Student Organization Awards
Best Arts Program: Kefi Collective
Best Collaborative Program: iLEAD & Bridge Club
Best Diversity and Inclusion Program: South Asian Cultural Exchange (SACE)
Best Health and Wellness Program: Vanderbilt Club Table Tennis
Best Intercultural Awareness Program: Vanderbilt’s Mu Rho Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Best Interfaith Program: Vanderbilt Interfaith Council
Most Meaningful Service: Engineers Without Borders
