The Student Leader Awards, fostering leadership through annual recognition program
Students going into various healthcare professions need more than a rigorous education in the health sciences to prepare them for what lies ahead.
They need opportunities to develop the leadership skills that will help propel them forward throughout their careers. That’s why the Center for Student Life holds the Student Leader Awards each spring.
The Student Leader Awards is an initiative to highlight the achievements of students on campus who participate in leadership opportunities beyond their academics.
Whether they join the more than 2,000 students involved in Registered Student Organizations,
help lead one of the sevenStudent Government Associations, or get involved as student
ambassadors, tutors, orientation leaders, fitness center trainers, interns or peer
mentors, there are hundreds of ways for students to Show Their Fire beyond the classroom.
“Students contribute so much to our campus community, and I enjoyed having the chance to recognize student leaders for all they do,” said Alex Cooper, assistant director for student involvement in CSL. “For instance, student organizations hosted more than 1000 events this academic year. That only scratches the surface of the deep impact our students have.”
The awards ceremony took place on April 29, 2026, with more than 100 students, faculty and staff in attendance. From more than 60 nominations, 11 students and RSOs were selected to receive awards based on the UNT System values.
“The ceremony was a celebration of the passion, dedication, and the impact that student leaders and organizations bring to our community,” said Lauren Richmond, TCOM Class of 2027, and winner of the 2026 Be Curious Award for her work as chair of the Beautiful Feet Clinic for the unhoused. “This award is especially meaningful, as it not only reflects my own growth, but also the support, encouragement, and perspectives of the people around me who have continually challenged me to keep learning, growing, and creating meaningful experiences for others."
In previous years, this program focused only on students who were involved in a Registered
Student Organization, Student Government Association or another leadership program within
CSL. This year, through Cooper’s leadership, CSL expanded the awards to include all
student leaders across the Division of Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.
This expansion allows for student ambassadors, Center for Academic Performance tutors,
fitness center trainers, student interns and more to be nominated and recognized as
well.
“It was wonderful to see how appreciative and excited students were for the ceremony,” Cooper said. “And with the expansion, it was even more impactful to hand out awards that highlighted our UNT Health values to students from such a variety of leadership roles.”
As a student ambassador, Lane Berry, TCOM Class of 2028, was grateful to be involved this year due to the expansion of the program to include more student roles.
“Winning the Better Together award showed me that the positive impact of my work extends beyond my perception,” Berry said. “Everyone who visits our campus deserves a high-quality tour … and I always try my best to give our visitors that positive experience.”
For Nicole Everitt, being president of Advocates for Patient Safety and winning the 2026 Courageous Integrity Award represents “an acknowledgment of the hard work of our student leaders this past year” and a validation of the valuable education, innovative learning opportunities and collaborative work that APS provides.
"The awards ceremony was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all student organizations and students who lead across campus,” said Everitt.
Full list of 2026 Student Leader Awards winners:
For each of the UNT System values, one student and one RSO were selected. There was also an award for student organization of the year.
- Courageous Integrity
- Student award: Rebecca Kostroun, PT Class of 2027
- Organization award: Advocates for Patient Safety
- Be Curious
- Student award: Lauren Richmond, TCOM Class of 2027
- Organization award: Latino Medical Student Association
- We Care
- Student award: Miranda Martinez, TCOM Class of 2028
- Organization award: Student Association of Biomedical Sciences
- Better Together
- Student award: Lane Berry, TCOM Class of 2028
- Organization award: Latino Medical Student Association
- Show Your Fire
- Student award: Nana Kofi Kusi-Boadum, PhD in Biomedical Sciences (pharmacology and neuroscience) student
- Organization award: NeuroPharm Connect
- Student Organization of the Year Award
- Latino Medical Student Association
Nominations for next year’s Student Leader Awards will open the first week of March 2027, when the program is scheduled to further expand to include nominees from Be|Well and student leadership programming as well.