CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - The University of Northern Iowa celebrated student achievement and service during its annual Student Leadership Awards ceremony, held Tuesday, April 15. Each spring, UNI recognizes exceptional students and student organizations whose leadership and commitment have made a lasting impact on campus and in the community.

Among the honors presented by the Office of the Dean of Students were the Dr. Sue Follon Scholarship, the Beverly Funk Barnes Student Excellence Award, the Outstanding Student Leaders Award and the Servant Leadership Award. 

Briella Curtis and ZaKiyah Timmons-Crear are this year’s winners of the Dr. Sue Follon Scholarship. This scholarship recognizes students for their leadership contributions during their tenure at UNI and potential to model leadership. Curtis, a psychology and family services major, has volunteered with several community organizations, including House of Hope and Cedar Valley Angels. Timmons-Crear, a family services and gerontology major, played a key role in organizing a FAFSA night at Waterloo East High School to help students complete their financial aid applications.

Emily Reeser, an elementary education major from Cedar Falls, is this year’s winner of the Beverly Funk Barnes Student Excellence Award. This award recognizes students who continually create new value through dedication, passion and creativity for the benefit of UNI. Reeser has gone out of her way to make students feel like they belong in the UNI family and impacted the greater Cedar Valley community.

The Outstanding Student Leaders Award is given to graduating seniors who have demonstrated dedication and leadership through their involvement in one or more campus activities. Students receiving this recognition are:

• Nkasa Bolumbu
• Lizbeth Garcia Tellez
• Micaiah Krutsinger
• Alondra Morteo-Valenzuela
• Emily Reeser
• Sarah Stegge
• Madelyn Stepanek
• Catrina Tounjian

Recipients of the Servant Leadership Award, which recognizes students who have worked for the common good while putting the needs of others first, include:

• Kimberly Carlson
• Ella Diiulio
• Elliot Drew
• Diana Espinoza
• Tamra Faubel
• Emma Hastings
• Miranda Lozada
• Jake Staack

These award recipients are among several Student Leadership Awards distributed to students at this year’s ceremony. More information about the Student Leadership Awards and recipients can be found at studentleadershipawards.uni.edu.