Penn State Brandywine students who have impacted the campus through their service and leadership were honored at an awards banquet on April 21. The annual leadership banquet celebrates the achievements of students who are involved with clubs, student government and campus programs.
MEDIA, Pa. — Penn State Brandywine students who have impacted the campus through their service and leadership were honored at an awards banquet on April 21. The annual leadership banquet celebrates the achievements of students who are involved with clubs, student government and campus programs.
Karly Rees, a fourth-year business major, received the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award. This award recognizes a student whose outstanding qualities of character, scholarship, leadership and citizenship have been directed into programs and services that have positively influenced fellow students and have contributed to the prestige and well-being of their campus and the University as a whole.
Rees has been involved with Brandywine athletics since her first year at Brandywine in 2021 as a catcher on the softball team. She also served as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Council and was a peer mentor for first-year seminar courses.
One of her nominators wrote: “Karly is a student that you don’t come across often. She is extremely intelligent, responsible and hardworking. Karly’s list of achievements during her time here at Penn State Brandywine is astonishing. However, it is not the accolades that define her. From the moment Karly stepped foot on campus, she has been a step ahead of her peers. She is graduating in May and has already secured a job at a top-four accounting firm in the country. She is the best representative of a student we have at Penn State Brandywine, and I am so proud to have had her represent Brandywine athletics these last few years.”
Christian Williams (right) won the Individual Leadership Award.
Philippe Latour (right) won the Individual Leadership Award.
Madison Ollis won the Individual Leadership Award.
Esha Thawani won the Individual Leadership Award.
Julia Santangelo won the Student Worker of the Year Award.
Tejas Chigurupati (right) won the Student Worker of the Year Award.
Khaleelah Hamm won the Student Commitment to Equity & Inclusion Award.
Brandywine Benefitting THON members were gifted necklaces for their hard work this academic year.
Joshua Marquit won the Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award.
Tony Mattei won the Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award.
The Multicultural Club won the Student Organization Program of the Year Award.
Stephen Terry won the Student Organization President of the Year Award.
Sara Hallahan won the Student Organization President of the Year Award.
The Math Club won the Student Organization of the Year Award.
Sierra Coleman won the Outstanding Service to Student Affairs Award.
Natalie Suda (center) won the Resident Assistant of the Year Award.
Karly Rees, a fourth-year business major, received the Eric A. and Josephine S. Walker Award.
Student Government Association members were honored for their work during the 2024-25 academic year.
Tejas Chigurupati and Madison Ferguson (second from left) were inaugurated as president and vice president for the 2025-26 academic year.
Individual leadership awards were presented to the following students who demonstrated leadership qualities and contributed to the campus community and student organizations:
- Philippe Latour
- Madison Ollis
- Esha Thawani
- Christian Williams
The Student Worker/Employee of the Year Award was presented to students for doing exceptional work in their on-campus job:
- Tejas Chigurupati
- Julia Santangelo
The Student Organization President of the Year Award was presented to the following students for their exceptional leadership in advancing the organization’s goals:
- Sara Hallahan, Brandywine Benefitting THON
- Stephen Terry, Computer and Technology Club
The Student Commitment to Equity & Inclusion Award was presented to a student who highlighted their dedication to promoting equity and inclusion within the campus community:
- Khaleelah Hamm
The Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award was presented to advisors for their guidance and support in fostering organizational growth and individual leadership development:
- Tony Mattei, director of entrepreneurship and digital marketing – Entrepreneurship Club
- Joshua Marquit, teaching professor of psychology – Magic The Gathering Club
The Student Organization of the Year Award was presented to a registered student organization that has impacted and contributed to student life through programming, advocacy initiatives and work on campus:
- Math Club
The Student Organization Program of the Year Award was presented to a registered student organization that held an event, program or activity that impacted and contributed to student life and the student experience:
- Culture Fest – Multicultural Club
The Outstanding Service to Student Affairs Award was presented to a student who during their time at Penn State Brandywine has contributed to the work and success of the Office of Student Affairs:
- Sierra Coleman
Residence Life presented the Resident Assistant of the Year Award:
- Natalie Suda
Brandywine’s Center for Social Impact honored its student interns:
- Miata Alie
- Zena Ballan
- Iyana Handy
- Alexander Hart
- Abel Hillberg
- Bandy Khoury
- Azieb Ogembe
Student Affairs recognized the following students for their involvement with the Student Government Association:
- Jordan Polillo, 2024-25 president
- Madison Ollis, 2024-25 vice president
- Madison Ferguson, 2024-25 treasurer
- Tejas Chigurupati
- Julia D’Orazio
- Ava Elliott
- Sara Hallahan
- Philippe Latour
- Timothy McClure
- Nicholas Pananos
Tejas Chigurupati and Madison Ferguson were inaugurated as the Student Government Association president and vice president for 2025-26.
