The Graduate College is pleased to announce the winner of the Graduate Student Leadership Award.

Stephanie Brown, a PhD student in Media and Communications
Stephanie founded Broad Comedy, an organization that organizes inclusive stand-up comedy events in Champaign-Urbana and provides workshops to help potential performers develop their skills in a welcoming environment. Broad Comedy’s efforts in support of women and non-binary comedy performers has created a new kind of inclusive space in the Champaign-Urbana community and provided personal and professional growth opportunities for participants and spectators alike.

Two graduate students also received special recognition. They are:

Rachel Storm, PhD student in Educational Policy, Organization, and Leadership Rachel founded Four Walls and a Roof, an NGO which partnered with a women’s organization in Cotacachi, Ecuador to provide research and fundraising support to develop the first battered women’s shelter in the area. Rachel also runs Girl Radio, a local media training program for 9-13 year old girls.

Ashley Armstrong, PhD student in Mechanical Engineering Ashley founded a graduate student outreach organization called ENVISION, which plans and organizes STEM activities at local schools and other Champaign-Urbana locations. In addition to reaching underrepresented children in our community, ENVISON has also focused on providing transformative professional development for its graduate student members.

The awards were announced at the Image of Research/Graduate Student Leadership reception that took place on Wednesday, April 4, in the University Library.

This award is sponsored by The Graduate College and its student advisory group, SAGE (Students Advising on Graduate Education). It  recognizes graduate students who have exhibited outstanding service that has positively impacted the campus or wider Urbana-Champaign community.