CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - Each spring the University of Northern Iowa recognizes outstanding leaders through a series of awards presented to students and student organizations. Among the awards presented at the annual ceremony, the Office of the Dean of Students recognizes students who earn the Dr. Sue Follon Scholarship, the Beverly Funk Barnes Student Excellence Award, Outstanding Student Leaders Award and Servant Leadership Award.

Geneva Bell, a biology, biochemistry and Spanish triple major, is the 2024 recipient of the Dr. Sue Follon Scholarship for Leadership. As the winner of this $4,500 scholarship, Bell has positively impacted the experiences of others on a daily basis, going above and beyond what one may expect from a peer or college student. She has advocated for larger budgets for student groups and free and open-resource textbooks for UNI students. 

Madelyn Stepanek, an elementary and middle level education dual major, 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. Stepanek is the extraordinary type of person who puts others before herself and looks for ways to improve the lives of those around her.  

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:

• Caroline Christensen
• Hattie Dukes
• Wyatt Heideman
• Samantha Heyer
• Jaylie Hicklin
• Griffin Parker
• Kate Rogers
• Taylor Short
• Tienna Trettin

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

• Jenna Becker
• Allison Flanscha
• Lizbeth Garcia Tellez
• Will Krueger
• Alondra Morteo Valenzuela
• Cameron Opkis
• Issabella Sullivan
• Kimberly Walljasper
• Sam Zimmerman

These award recipients are among several Student Leadership Awards distributed to students at this year’s ceremony, which was held Tuesday, April 16. More information about the Student Leadership Awards and recipients can be found at studentleadershipawards.uni.edu.