HMC Community Honors Student Leaders

The Harvey Mudd College community honored the contributions of student leaders May 11 at the College’s first Student Leadership Awards celebration.

Honorees included scholarship and internship recipients and those who have provided exceptional service as leaders within the HMC community.

“Some say the only true leaders are people like Einstein, but we take a broader view of leadership, one that I think is more consistent with our mission statement,” said Maggie Browning, dean of students and vice president for student affairs. “We honor students who perform outstanding service, who act as responsible role models and who quietly work to bring more integrity, compassion and accountability to our community.”

Student Leadership Awards

The Student Leadership Awards recognize individuals or groups that provide outstanding leadership in any domain. Science Bus volunteers Priya Donti ’15, Kacyn Fujii ’13, Ji Su Lee ’15 and Aarthi Sridar ’15 received the group Student Leadership Award in recognition of their community outreach efforts and dedication to social equality in the sciences.

Science Bus volunteers visit local elementary schools and provide hands-on science lessons to build positive associations with science so that more young men and women—especially from underrepresented groups—will be encouraged to pursue higher education and careers in the scientific disciplines. The group also hosts an annual Science Day in which elementary students are invited onto the HMC campus for a day of friendly, science-related competitions and demonstrations.

Seniors Garrett Menghini and Elly Schofield received individual Student Leadership Awards for their contributions to the HMC community. Menghini has served as the Linde Activities Center supervisor, as athletics director for HMC, as a Summer Institute mentor, dorm mentor and as Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) student branch chair. Schofield has served as a math tutor for HMC’s Homework Hotline, as treasurer for the HMC Math Club/SIAM student chapter, as an ASHMC officer, a writing tutor and a dorm mentor. Last year, Schofield shared her ideas on how to revamp the nation’s math curriculum at the second annual TEDxClaremontColleges. She is also the co-founder of DUCK! improvisation club.

Dean Sundberg Prize

Priya Donti ’15 and Sophia Williams ’15 received the Dean Chris Sundberg Prize. The $500 award recognizes rising juniors who demonstrate exceptional leadership and make a positive impact on the HMC community. Dana Mohamed ’06 established the award in 2009 to honor Dean Sundberg and to encourage student involvement in campus life.

Donti has served as a tutor for HMC’s Homework Hotline, as a Science Bus volunteer and as co-president of the Science Bus program. She is a member of ESW/MOSS (Engineers for a Sustainable World/Mudders Organizing for Sustainability Solutions), an Honor Board class representative, a performer in “DUCK!” improvisation club and a volunteer for Mudders Making a Difference. Williams has served as a mentor and later as head mentor for HMC’s Summer Institute, as a DOS Muchacho—helping to plan and organize student events—and as a dorm mentor. She also helps in the admission office, assisting with the President’s Scholar Program and Future Achievers in Science and Technology.

Strauss Internship for Social Understanding

Natasha Allen ’16, Brittany Borg ’15, Thendral Govindaraj ’16 and Emma Zang-Schwartz ’15 received Strauss internships. Designed for HMC students interested in working with a community service organization, the 10-week Strauss Internship for Social Understanding includes up to $4,000 in support.

Huppe Memorial Internship for a Sustainable World

Beverly Yeh ’14 and Miranda Parker ’14 were awarded Huppe Memorial Internships. The Ben Huppe ’14 Memorial Internship for a Sustainable World provides a stipend of up to $4,000 for work in renewable energy, green technologies and environmental sustainability, or work to solve the problems of underserved populations. Maggie Lewis and Bob Huppe, parents of Ben Huppe ’14, and their family and friends created the internship program in honor of Huppe’s passion for science and social justice.

Also recognized were Watson Fellows Hannah Groshong ’13 and Dustin Zubke ’13, Goldwater Scholars Sam Gutekunst ’14 and Sheena Patel ’14, Astronaut Scholar Josh Edelman ’14 and 2012-2013 Spacapan Memorial Scholarship recipient Brianna Posadas ’13.