Presented to students who have shown empathy, helpfulness, and a willingness to go above and beyond in support of their peers throughout their undergraduate experience.
Our Namesake: Dr. Gloria L. Hobbs
In 1962. Dr. Hobbs became the first African American to receive a Ph.D. from the Department of Foreign Languages at the recently desegregated University of Texas. During this time, she encountered several experiences with racism and was actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement, including the housing of the Freedom Riders. In 1966, she helped create and direct the first Texas Women’s Job Corps Center, which provided thousands of underprivileged young women from all over the country with the skills needed to be gainfully employed and good citizens.
In 1972, Hobbs became the first African American elected to the Ithaca College Board of Trustees. She has since had a long and deep relationship with Ithaca College, including establishing the President Shirley M. Collado Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Ithaca College Community and the Dr. Gloria L. Hobbs Endowed Scholarship for Students in the African Diaspora. She was named an honorary trustee and recognized with the college’s Meritorious Service Award. Dr. Hobbs is a charter member of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial, the Leadership Council of the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Legacy Society of Doctors Without Borders, and a Life Member of the Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Her commitment to our community and her passion for equity work serve as an inspiration to us all.
Award Recipients
Current and Past award recipients along with their majors. Congratulations to all our awardees!
Laura Arias Montas, Television & Digital Media
Curtis Bediako, Finance
Zoe Grainer, Psychology
Kailee Leung, Clinical Health Studies/Physical Therapy
Max Marshall, Clinical Health Studies/Physical Therapy
Sanskar Mehta, Finance
Nyilah Moreno, Psychology
Christopher Morris, Sports Media
Jacqueline Pereira, Television & Digital Media Productions
Tatyana Rubio, Business Administration; Concentration in Marketing
Inbaayini Anbarasan, Jounalism
Anissa Borno, Psychology
Desoni Cooper, Documentary Studies and Production
Heaven Cuevas, Journalism
Vanivy Delaney, English Education
Liguori Flanagan, Health and Physical Education
Pearl Hettich, Physical Therapy
Lisandra Espiritusanto Marte, Communication Management and Design
Nathalie Molina, Communication Management and Design
Brianna R. Mutsindashyaka, Cinema Production
Cayla Krista Jones, Occupational Therapy
Christian Castro, Integrated Marketing Communications
Oluwadamilola Risikat Oyetunji, Business Administration
Erica Jordan Reyes, Musical Theatre
Jacquelyn Paige Chin, Cinema and Photography
Jillian M. Bleier, Journalism
Laura Caridad Avila, Viola Performance
Martha Kemp-Neilson, Mathematics
Melanie Sepulveda-Rosado, Environmental Studies
Nijha A. Young, Journalism
Violet Lokelani M. Schwartzsmith, Speech-Language Pathology/Audiology
Malachi Burley, Sociology
Katherine Chan, Business Administration
Tsedale Forbes, Health Education
Carly Greer, Architectural Studies
Alma Guardado, Social Studies Education
Tywanda Jones, Psychology
Abhinav Kumar, Business Administration; Management
Serah Lawal, Legal Studies
Kyla McCall, Biology
Quincie Moe, Clinical Health Studies/Physical Therapy
Cesar Morocho, Health Sciences
Meaghan Newkirk, Psychology
Emily Obando, Integrated Marketing Communications
Helen Reyes, Anthropology
Gisela Rosa, Sociology
Manny Sanchez, Television Radio
Alyssa Spady, Journalism
Gabriella Tola, Creative Writing
Isabella Topping, Health Education/Physical Education
Silas Turner, Politics
Nelson Wu, Athletic Training
Bria Bradley, Computer Science
Daisy Cantero, Sociology
Darius Elmore, Vocal Performance
Madeleine Guerrier, Business Administration; Marketing & Management
Rachel Huff, Music with an Outside field in Counseling
Emily Jimenez, Theatre Studies
Moyo Kehinde, Musical Theatre
Soledad Lalla, Writing for Film, TV, and Emerging Media
