Peggy Ryan Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership

The Peggy Ryan Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership recognizes students who excel academically, perform service to the College community and nation, and represent an exemplary level of accomplishment.

The selection committee for this award consists of leaders in each of the academic schools and the Office of Student Engagement, as well as students who are former recipients of the award. This committee reads every application, ranks them, and reviews each applicant’s qualifications – which results in these 72 students being honored.

Check out the full list of all winners by school below.

Roy H. Park School of Communications:

Cody Acquista, Class of 2026

Caleb Cackowski, Class of 2026

Stephanie Capitano, Class of 2025

Elijah Cedeno, Class of 2025

Matteo DAnello, Class of 2026

Gianna Desiderioscioli, Class of 2025

Maria Eduarda Formoso, Class of 2026

Kyle Goff, Class of 2025

Zhannz Gomez, Class of 2025

Devon Jezek, Class of 2025

Thomas Magee, Class of 2025

Jacob Makofske, Class of 2025

Leila Marcillo-Gomez, Class of 2025

Robert Mattesky, Class of 2026

Alysia Parks, Class of 2025

Sarah Payne, Class of 2026

Anita Preuss, Class of 2025

Baneet Pukhrambam, Class of 2026

Noa Ran-Ressler, Class of 2025

Erin Schiefelbein, Class of 2025

Abygail Sevegny, Class of 2026

Emily Statler, Class of 2025

Undarmaa Tserenkhuu, Class of 2025

Evan Volkman, Class of 2025

Meredith Waropay, Class of 2026

Melelana Wheeler, Class of 2025

Avery Winwood, Class of 2025

Chloe Zonis, Class of 2025

School of Business:

Reese Abrahamson, Class of 2026

Matthew Andersen, Class of 2025

Leena Asim, Class of 2025

Annabel Doamekpor, Class of 2025

Collin Feeney, Class of 2025

Katie Laubenstein, Class of 2026

School of Health Sciences and Human Performance:

Shania Alexander, Class of 2025

Siena Bieber, Class of 2026

Tim Cheeseboro, Class of 2025

Abby Chesshire, Class of 2025

Lindsay Coll, Class of 2025

Sasha Culver, Class of 2026

Kyla Eisman, Class of 2025

Charlotte Feigin, Class of 2026

Alexa Gonzalez, Class of 2025

Emma Hogan, Class of 2026

Sydney Jacobs, Class of 2026

Brianna Jankowski, Class of 2026

Daniel Jin, Class of 2025

Maddy Kim, Class of 2026

Madison McKeon, Class of 2025

Meagan Medina, Class of 2026

Kerry O'Brien, Class of 2025

Catherine Papa, Class of 2025

Leticia Rebelo de Oliveira, Class of 2026

Abby Regan, Class of 2025

Lauren Russell, Class of 2026

Faith Sabatier, Class of 2025

Madelyn Salvante, Class of 2025

Natalie Soloway, Class of 2025

Anushri Sukumaran, Class of 2026

Olivia Valdez, Class of 2025

School of Humanities and Sciences:

Ashan Anthonisz - Chandrasena, Class of 2026

Nathan Connors, Class of 2026

Emma Heinze, Class of 2026

Maria Lesser, Class of 2026

Rishabh Sen, Class of 2026

Oak Weihing, Class of 2026

Mia Wong, Class of 2026

School of Music, Theatre, and Dance:

Kian Broderick, Class of 2025

Zoe Ennis, Class of 2025

Lily Milkis, Class of 2025

Victoria Schecter, Class of 2026

Jasmine Williams, Class of 2025

About the Award & Qualifications

Peggy Ryan Williams served as president of Ithaca College from 1997 to 2008. She was a strong advocate for academic achievement, co-curricular involvement, and community service. Based on these qualities, this award for academic and community leadership was named in her honor. After her tenure at Ithaca College, Dr. Williams has continued to support student leadership on campus and involvement in the community. She is a role model for life-long service to higher education, as demonstrated by her involvement on the board of the American Association of University Women, and her global work with the Women in Leadership in Higher Education Forum.

This award recognizes students who excel academically, perform service to the College community and nation, and represent an exemplary level of accomplishment. The most outstanding students representing the College are selected for this award.

 

To be considered for this award, a student must:

  • Have at least a 3.0 cumulative grade point average,
  • Be considered a member of the junior or senior class,
  • Be in good judicial standing and
  • Have made contributions in multiple areas, including:
    • Community service,
    • Involvement and leadership in organizations, and/or
    • Paid positions of a selective nature.

Note: Students are only eligible to win this award once.

Photo of past recipients of Peggy Ryan Williams Award

Spring 2025 Peggy Ryan Williams Award for Academic and Community Leadership Selection Timeline

February 3: Application Opens on IC Engage

February 19: Application Closes at 11:59pm EST

February 20-March 7: All applications are reviewed and award recipients are determined. 

March 17: Award recipients will be notified.

April 24: Recognition at the Co-Curricular Symposium.