The First Generation Senior Leadership Award

Presented to first-generation graduating seniors who exemplify leadership qualities, strength of character, and serve as role models in their community throughout their time at Ithaca College.

Our 2024 Recipients

The 2024 First Generation Senior Leadership Award recipients along with their majors, minors, and a small highlight of their involvement on campus. Congratulations to all our awardees!

Anissa Borno

Anissa is posed in a group photo with three others in front of camera.

Major: Psychology with minors in Neuroscience and Health

Ithaca College Craft for a Cause Member: (Spring 2022-Fall 2022) | IC After Dark Vice President of Media: (Fall 2022-Fall 2023) | Health and Happiness Club Media Coordinator: (Fall 2022- Spring 2023) | ID Office Operations Assistant-Ithaca College ID Express: (Spring 2022- Spring 2024) | Ithaca College Pre-Health Society Member: (Fall 2022-Spring 2024) | Pinky Swear President: (Fall 2022-Spring 2024) | Ithaca College Women's Club Volleyball Starting player: (Spring 2023-Spring 2024) | Office of Access, Opportunity & Achievement Member (Spring 2023-Spring 2024) | Pre-Physician Assistant Club Member: (Fall 2023-Spring 2024) | First Generation

Skyler Cepek

Skyler is posing for photo in Ithaca College walkway. Skyler is wearing blue Ithaca polo shirt and a red bandana. Skyler is facing the camera and is smiling.

Major: Politics with a minor in Sociology

President, Speech & Debate Team (September 2020-Current) | Head Delegate, Model United Nations Team (January 2023-Current) | Admission Host (September 2022-Current) | Health & Safety Manager, Prism (September 2022-Current) | Board member of IC Macabre (September 2022-Current)

Nicole De La Mota

Nicole is wearing a rowing wet suit and is holding an oar behind head. Nicole is staring at the camera and is smiling.

Major: Psychology with minors in Counseling and Neuroscience

Ithaca Women's Rowing (Fall 2021-Spring 2024) | Ithaca College Leadership Academy (Fall 2021-Spring 2024)

Porter Lopata

Porter is posed for a photo in a desert setting. Porter has hand on a rock and has a barren background with blue sky. Porter is wearing sunglasses. There is a metal object in the shape of a cactus.

Major: Business Administration with a minor in Outdoor Adventure Leadership

Academic: Completed a minor in Outdoor Adventure Leadership through a three-month immersive experience in Southern California and Oregon, leading classmates through challenging terrain, skill development, and risk management (February 15 - April 15, 2024) 

Extracurricular: Active member involved in marketing and promoting ITHACON 2024, pioneering Meta advertising strategies targeting the central NY and surrounding areas (Dates of Participation: Jan 23 - Current) | Intern for the Dean of the Business School, Dean Michael Johnson-Cramer, contributing to the enhancement of marketing tactics via social media to better connect with prospective students, parents, and alumni (Dates of Participation: August 23 - Dec 15)

Lisandra Espiritusanto Marte

Lisandra is posed in a group photo. Lisandra is positioned on the far right and is wearing white pants and a patterned brown and white top. Lisandra is facing the camera and is smiling.

Major: Communication Management and Design

MEMBERSHIPS: Black Artists United - Event Coordinator since (Fall 2024) | Ithaca Athletics Creative Media (co-curricular) - Secretary (Fall 2023-Present), member (Fall 2021-Present) | SOCC (Fall 2021-Present) | Sister2Sister (Fall 2021-Present) | IC Unbound (Fall 2023-Present) | iSign (Spring 2022-Present) | IT@IC Student Employee - IT Support Consultant (Spring 2022 - Fall 2022) | Island Fusion (Spring 2022-Fall 2023)

PARTICIPATION/COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: Knowledge to Action Retreat (2022) | ALS Commemoration Event (2024) | IC PODER Banquet (2021, 2022, 2023) | S2S Lotus Banquet (2022) | VP of SACL search, (2024) | Black History Month Showcase (2024) | IC Spring Day of Service (2024) | MLK Celebration Programming (2024) | BIPOC Kickback (2024) | EdTech Day (2024) | BAU Cabaret (2023)

Katelyn Matthews

Katelynn is posing for photo in front of a wooden plank background with lighting fixtures hanging down. Katelynn is wearing a burnt orange top. Katelynn is looking at the camera and smiling.

{Bio to be added}

Mel Perez

Mel is posing in a group photo with some other students at Ithaca College blood drive.

Major: Speech Language Pathology and Audiology with a minor in Educational Studies and Deaf Studies

IC Red Cross Club President: Spring 2021-Spring 2024 | Ithaca Achievement Program Member: Fall 2022-Spring 2024 | National Student Speech Language Hearing Association Member: Fall 2022-Spring 2024 | PODER: Latinx Student Association Member: Fall 2022-Spring 2024 | iSign Member: Fall 2022-Spring 2024

Adriana Ramirez

Adriana is posed for headshot photo on grey background. Adriana is wearing a white button shirt with a black blazer on top. Adriana has braided dark hair. Adriana is looking directly at the camera and smiling.

Major: Politics and Legal Studies with a minor in Communications Disorders

MLK Scholar (Fall 2020 - Present) | Volunteer at MacCormick Secure Center (Fall 2022 - Spring 2023) | Volunteer at IC Food Pantry (Spring 2023 - Present) | Tri-Alpha Honor Society Member (Spring 2023 - Present) | IC Progressives (Spring 2023 - Present (Co-President and Secretary- revamped the club in the 23-24 year) | Jumpstart Leader (August 2023) | Ithaca College Pre-Law Society (Fall 2023 - Present) (Secretary - apart of the group that created the club) | Internship with Assemblymember Kelles through the Politics Dept (Fall 2023 - Present)

Jania Robinson

Jania is posed for a headshot on a light blue/white background. Jania is wearing a black top exposing shoulders. Jania's hair is in a bun behind head. Jania is looking directly at the camera and smiling.

Major: Exercise Science (Concentration: Medical Science) with minors in Deaf Studies and Chemistry

Member, Chemistry Club (August 2021-Present) | President/Public Safety Officer (August 2022-Present) | Member, Pre-Health Society (August 2020-Present) | Communications Chair (August 2021- Spring 2023) | Vice President (August 2023 - Present) | Member/Secretary, Key Club (August 2021-May 2022) | Member, CSTEP (Fall 2022-Present) | OAOA Tutor (Fall 2023 - Present)