Diversity Awards
Spirit Outstanding Student Award
This award is given to a student who embodies leadership, citizenship, and involvement, and belongs to an underrepresented identity group including Black and African-American students, Indigenous and American Indian/Alaska Native students, Hispanic and Latinx students, LGBTQ+ students, non-traditional students, students with disabilities, and students from other underrepresented cultural, racial, and religious identities.
Spirit Activism Award
The Spirit Activism Award is given to a student who embodies leadership, citizenship, and community involvement, demonstrating these characteristics through their achievements and work towards social justice.
Congratulations to the recipients of the 2024 Diversity Awards!
Spirit Outstanding Student Award
Jovany Guillen Castillo
Jovany Guillen recently received the Diversity Leadership scholarship from the American Marketing Association. Out of 100+ schools, Jovany was the only student awarded this scholarship. He was also the only student from the entire Northwest to attend the KeyBank Diversity Leadership Symposium, where he received the title of best presenter. His latest accomplishments include a position as a creative intern at Energy BBDO. At this second-largest impact-focused advertising firm, he will work in Chicago throughout the summer, focusing on impact design. Jovany's passion also involves social justice, and he continues to look for opportunities to help underrepresented communities. Jovany has achieved a 3.8 GPA while holding three leadership positions and working part-time.
Spirit Activism Award
Ochuwa Imokhai
Ochuwa Imokhai graduated from MSU in 2022 with a B.S. in Cell Biology and Neuroscience BS. Currently, she is pursuing her Master's in Health Sciences. Ochuwa seeks to impact the world around her in various ways. One of her initiatives includes advocating for equitable healthcare and caregiver respite programs for minority populations, recognizing the need for more accessible healthcare and support for disadvantaged communities. As a dedicated Health Professions Peer Advisor and AHEC Scholar participant, Ochuwa passionately promotes mental wellness. Her efforts are inspiring and have positively impacted minority communities at MSU.
Awarded to Flor Vega
A first-generation international graduate student from Peru, Flor is pursuing her Master’s in Public Administration at MSU.An unwavering commitment to provide opportunities for underserved student communitiesinspired her to create the First-Generation Students Association (FGSA), where she currently serves as President. Flor’s capacity to create community and opportunity reaches beyond MSU. She is also the Vice President of the United Nations Association (UNA)-USA Bozeman chapter at MSU. Through this work, she is in charge of executing a seed grant project that benefits high schoolers from the Fort Peck Native Reservation. Flor will also serve as a CAP mentor for high school students in the Bozeman community.
Spirit Activism Award
Awarded to Barla Beaudoin
Barla's commitment to diversity work is evident in her service to the MSU community as a DISC Diversity & Inclusion Ambassador and a representative on ASMSU's DEI council. Barla has been a part of Proyecto Salud, which provides free healthcare services to the community's growing immigrant population, and Bozeman Tenants United, which fights for afforfable housing in Bozeman. Through her current work with South North Nexus (SNN) she helps address the needs of migrant workers.
Spirit Outstanding Student Award
Awarded to Meghan Rodriguez
Spirit Activism Award
Awarded to Juliana Rajamohan
Spirit Outstanding Student Award
Awarded to Holly Old Crow
Holly is graduating with a degree in Criminology and minor in Native Studies. She is currently the 2020-21 American Indian Council President, an American Indian Scholars Program leader, a McNair Research Scholar, and most importantly a mother. She had the opportunity to spearhead the AIC online auction fundraiser bringing in approximately $7000 worth of product and monetary donations. Holly has created connections with major funding organizations in an effort to bring more support and resources to the American Indian Council and Indigenous Students at MSU.
Spirit Activism Award
Awarded to Olivia Jakabosky
Olivia is a sophomore majoring in Conservation Biology and Ecology with minors in Sociology and Global Studies. She is a Cameron Presidential, Udall, and Garden Club of America Scholar. Olivia initiated MSU's first Pan-Asian Student Interracial Association to not only foster a close-knit cultural community but to also increase the awareness of the diversity of Asian cultures for both heritage and non-heritage students. She has also addressed environmental issues as an HonorsCollege Presents Program Coordinator by facilitating a lecture with National Geographic photojournalist, Ami Vitale, who shared a global environmental perspective with the Bozeman community.