Student Awards—Current Recipients

President's Award for Leadership

The President's Award for Leadership recognizes a student who embodies our leadership value statement: "We inspire the leadership needed for all individuals to boldly push everyday boundaries while serving others."

David is a third-year Computer Science student graduating this spring with a perfect 4.0 GPA. His influence has spanned across many areas of campus, including serving on the Executive Boards of the McNair Hall Association, the Rowing Club, and Copper Country Robotics. Additionally, he has supported his peers as an Orientation Team Leader and ExSEL Peer Mentor. In his role as the Communication Coordinator for Orientation 2024, he spearheaded the launch of the Guidebook app to better connect incoming students to campus resources.

David’s most profound impact, however, has been his work within USG. As Treasurer, David has managed what is arguably the most time-intensive position on campus. This year alone, he processed over 1,700 financial requests from student organizations. This workload was achieved alongside the monumental task of coordinating and leading 66 hours of scheduled budget hearings for nearly 200 student groups.

Beyond the numbers, David is a builder of systems. He completely rebuilt the USG website to increase transparency and designed a financial tracker so students can see exactly where their Student Activity Fee is being spent. Recognizing that many student organizations were not in compliance with IRS tax filing requirements, David spearheaded a proposal that secured $118,000 to provide the professional support necessary for RSOs to successfully file for non-profit status. He also led a successful RSO Voting Competition and planned classroom presentations, which helped secure 962 student votes to pass a new USG Constitution that improved representation in the distribution of the Student Activity Fee.

What truly defines David’s leadership is his heart for mentorship. When a student group disagreed with a budgetary ruling, David responded with a 2,500+ word explanation that did more than just cite policy; he actively coached the group on how to appeal and how to advocate for the policy changes they wished to see. Through his meticulous attention to detail and unwavering commitment to the success of others, David has ensured that student organizations at Michigan Tech are truly equipped to thrive. Following graduation, David will begin his career at IBM.

Provost's Award for Scholarship

The Provost's Award for Scholarship is given to a senior who best represents student scholarship at Michigan Tech. This outstanding student is considered excellent, not only by academic standards, but also for participation in research, scholarship activity, levels of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and communication skills. 

Dean of Students Award for Service

The Dean of Students Award for Service recognizes a student who embodies our Community values statement, "We inspire an engaged community that actively seeks improvement through acceptance and understanding."

Amber’s commitment to the Michigan Tech community is defined by a simple but powerful philosophy: meaningful change begins with showing up. Whether responding to an emergency at 3:00 a.m. as a Lieutenant for MTU EMS or supporting a peer in the classroom, Amber’s service is rooted in empathy and steady leadership.

Beyond emergency response, Amber has dedicated herself to mental health awareness and prevention. As the Treasurer for the Well-Being Advocates, she spearheaded initiatives like "Boo Bags" to turn mental health support into an everyday student conversation. She extended this mission to her sorority, Delta Zeta, by leading suicide prevention training to ensure her sisters are equipped to support one another in times of crisis.

In the lab, Amber is a constant source of encouragement, often volunteering to let nervous classmates practice phlebotomy on her to help them build technical confidence. As a pre-health student accepted to multiple medical schools, she spends her time paying her success forward—mentoring younger students through mock interviews and panel discussions to help them find their own path in healthcare.

From her work at Aspirus Keweenaw to her roles in Tech Tutors and Summer Youth Programs, Amber’s calm judgment and willingness to lead with compassion have made Michigan Tech a safer and more connected home.