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SEAL Awards

Student Organizations at Miami University provide many key activities, events, and experiences that make the Miami experience the best undergraduate experience in the nation. The Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL) Celebration is a recognition ceremony recognizing the dedication and hard work of various student organizations, as well as members and advisors of student organizations each year.

Award Categories

Awards fall into four categories (Events, Student Leaders, Advisors, Graphic Design) as part of the ceremony. Student organizations who complete applications for all four categories will be considered for Organization of the Year. The ceremony is typically held mid to late April in the Armstrong Student Center.

Events of the Year

Events and programs sponsored by student organizations may be nominated or self-nominated in one of the following categories: Multicultural Event, Collaborative Event/Unity Event, and Original Event.

Winners will be selected in each category. One program will be selected from those categories to receive the overall Event of the Year award. If selected for Event of the Year, the nominee will not be eligible to win a category award.

Student Leader(s) of the Year

Student organizations can sponsor a student leader or an individual can self-nominate for a student leader category: President of the Year and Rising Star of the Year. Winners will be selected in each category. One or two individual(s) will be selected from those categories to receive the overall Student Leader of the Year award. If selected for Student Leader of the Year, the nominee will not be eligible to win a Student Leader category award.

Advisor of the Year

Advisors may be nominated or self-nominated in one of four categories: Advisor of the Year, Off-Campus Advisor of the Year, New Advisor of the Year, or Graduate Advisor of the Year. Advisors may be nominated by multiple organizations if they advise multiple organizations.

Graphic Design Competition

Graphic designs may be submitted in one of six categories: Poster/Flyer, Printed Advertisement, Themed Campaign, 3-D Item, Web Site, and Publication. Each organization may submit two submissions per category.

Student Organization of the Year

Organizations may be nominated or self-nominated in their official organization categories: Publishing, Governmental, Special Interest, Most Improved, Outstanding New Organization, etc (Please see the application for the full list of organization applications). Winners will be given in each category. Two organizations will be selected from those categories to receive the overall Organization of the Year award. If selected for Student Organization of the Year, the nominee will not be eligible to win a category award.

2023 SEAL Awards Winners

The 2022 Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL) Awards program took place on April 26, 2023. The winners for the year are:

Student Activities

Innovative Event of the Year

  • Engineers Without Borders, Innvovation Day

Gerald Yearwood Diversity Programming Award

  • Asian American Association, Asian Cultural Festival

Unity Event of the Year

  • HAWKS Peer Health Educators and Miami Athletics, I Step Up: Bystander Intervention: A Talk with Kyle Richard

Recurring Event of the Year

  • The Indian Student Association, Diwali 2022

Philanthropic/Service Event of the Year

  • Engineers Without Borders, Rwanda Water Pipeline Implementation Trip

Best Media

  • Treblemakers Acapella, Dream On Video Single

Best Poster/Flyer

  • Miami University Fashion and Design, Oasis Fashion Show Flyer

Best Social Media Campaign

  • Miami University Student Foundation, Joining the Legacy

Rising Leader of the Year

  • Mónnica Gay, Unidos, DAC, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.

President of the Year

  • Preston Krzyzak, College Mentors for Kids

Most Improved Organization

  • Stage Left

Most Resilient Organization

  • Society of Women Engineers

Outstanding New Organization

  • Cinci Smiles

Outstanding Graduate Advisor

  • Reena Murphy, RedHawks Count and Lucy Trevino Alañis, UNIDOS

Dr. John Clover Outstanding Off-Campus Advisor

  • Pat Lindsay, Pi Sigma Epsilon

Dr. Richard Nault Advisor of the Year

  • Jeffrey Wanko, Stage Left

Student Leader of the Year

  • Nathan Ashbrook, Engineers Without Borders
  • Sydney Kent-Strong, EcoReps

Organization of the Year

  • Best Buddies

Event of the Year

  • Miami University Fashion and Design, Annual Fashion Show: Oasis
  • Miami Activities and Programming, Electric Root Festival

Fraternity and Sorority Life

Rising Leader of the Year

  • IFC: Aidan Scott, Delta Chi
  • MGC: Oscar Campos Ortiz, Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc.
  • NPHC: Marcus Jordan, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and Giade Ensley, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
  • Panhellenic: Claire Ogden, Alpha Delta Pi

Warren T. Nelson Award for Outstanding Service

  • Taha Sharaf, Delta Chi

Chapter President of the Year

  • IFC: Josh Akum, Alpha Epsilon Pi
  • MGC: Bianca Colón, Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc.
  • NPHC: Mackenzie Lee, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Panhellenic: Caroline Geist, Zeta Tau Alpha

Dr. Richard Nault Scholarship

  • Rylie Hildebrand, Phi Sigma Sigma
  • Taha Sharaf, Delta Chi

Grace Daniels Outstanding Sorority Advisor of the Year

  • Emily Wolfzorn, Alpha Omicron Pi

Brian Breittholz Fraternity Advisor of the Year

  • Michael Raymond, Lambda Chi Alpha

Jerry Miller Outstanding Fraternity Faculty/Staff Advisor Award

  • Dr. Timothy Cameron, Beta Theta Pi

B. Derrell Hart Most Improved Chapter Award

  • IFC: Alpha Epsilon Pi
  • MGC: Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.
  • NPHC: Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc.
  • Panhellenic: Delta Delta Delta

Andrew Herman Memorial Chapter Excellence

  • IFC: Delta Chi
  • MGC: Alpha Psi Lambda National, Inc.
  • NPHC: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Panhellenic: Chi Omega

Phillip and Martha Shriver Outstanding Greek Man & Woman

  • Outstanding Man: John Michael Dancy, Sigma Chi
  • Outstanding Woman: MacKenzie Lee, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Council Leaders of the Year

  • IFC: Sam Belkowitz, Alpha Epsilon Pi
  • MGC: Sevara Ubaydullaeva, Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc.
  • NPHC: Katie Ervin, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. 
  • Panhellenic: Deisi Kazizi, Alpha Chi Omega

Wilks Institute for Leaderhip and Service

Wilks Institute Leadership and Service Award

  • Yaereem Lee

Wilks Institute Civic Responsibility Award

  • Mollie Duffy

Harry T. Wilks Fraternity and Sorority MPACT Award

  • Kappa Kappa Psi

Harry T. Wilks Student Organization MPACT Award

  • Engineers Without Borders

Wilks Institute Socially Responsible Leader Award

  • Jules Jefferson

Wilks Institute Servant Leader Award

  • Annabel Dechant

Sustainability Awards

Social Sustainability

  • Green Gamers, Spectrum and League of Geeks

Economic Sustainability

  • Ian Murphy, Geography and Planning Society

Environmental Sustainability

  • Lauren McCann, Ecoreps

Red Brick Reward Recognition

Best Buddies

Chabad

Dance Theatre

Hillel

League of Geeks

Miami Chemical Society

Cru

Miami University Fashion and Design

HAWKS Peer Health Educators

Phi Delta Epsilon

Student Academy of Nutrition and Deitetics

Warriors of Tomorrow

Stage Left

Vision Dance Company

2022 SEAL Awards Winners

The 2022 Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL) Awards program took place on April 27, 2022. The winners for the year were:

Student Activities

Outstanding Poster/Flyer

  • Roller Disco Poster, Miami Activities and Programming

Outstanding Publication

  • In Dreams EP, Just Duet

Outstanding Original Event

  • Advancing Women in Entrepreneurship: Fall 2021 Pop Up Shop

Outstanding Collaborative Event

  • HAWKS, SASS, MARS: Can I Kiss You?

Rising Leader of the Year

  • Centoria McConnell, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

President of the Year

  • Sidra Capriolo, Miami University Ohio Innocence Project-u

Most Improved Organization

  • College Mentors for Kids

Outstanding New Organization

  • GEODES

Outstanding Graduate Advisor

  • Kailey Costabile, Miami Activities and Programming

Dr. John Clover Outstanding Off-Campus Advisor

  • Connie Mehlman, Best Buddies

Dr. Richard Nault Advisor of the Year

  • Rob Abowitz, EcoReps

Student Leader of the Year

  • Chase Harris, BSAA

Organization of the Year

  • HAWKS Peer Health Educators

Event of the Year

  • Asian American Association: Asian Cultural Festival

Outstanding Multicultural Event/Gerald Yearwood Diversity Programming

  • LUAM: A Tast of Luxembourg at Oxford Farmers Market

Fraternity and Sorority Life

Rising Leader of the Year

  • IFC: Brody Criz, Alpha Epsilon Pi
  • NPHC: Nana Ofosu Hemaa, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
  • Panehellenic: Gwendolyn Peters, Alpha Omicron Pi

Warren T. Nelson Award for Outstanding Service

  • Jerimiah Grimm, Beta Theta Pi

Chapter President of the Year

  • IFC: Sam Belkowitz, Alpha Epsilon Pi
  • MGC: Sevara Ubaydullaeva, Theta Nu Xi National Sorority, Inc.
  • NPHC: Mackenzie Lee, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Panhellenic: Clare Robertson, Alpha Delta Pi; Annalee Berger, Zeta Tau Alpha

Dr. Richard Nault Scholarship

  • Reece Gormley, Phi Mu

Grace Daniels Outstanding Sorority Advisor of the Year

  • Dionn Tron, Alpha Omicron Pi

Brian Breittholz Fraternity Advisor of the Year

  • Ben Willingham, Beta Theta Pi

Jerry Miller Outstanding Fraternity Faculty/Staff Advisor Award

  • Not Awarded

Andrew Herman Memorial Chapter Excellence

  • IFC: Beta Theta Pi
  • NPHC: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Panhellenic: Zeta Tau Alpha

Phillip and Martha Shriver Outstanding Greek Man & Woman

  • Outstanding Man: Jack Hartwell, Beta Theta Pi
  • Outstanding Woman: Sydney Jefferson, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Council Leaders of the Year

  • IFC: Wilson Maier, Sigma Chi
  • MGC: Marianna Gay, Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.
  • NPHC: Ashley Sankey, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Panehellenic: Jessica Chelst, Delta Delta Delta

Wilks Institute for Leaderhip and Service

Wilks Institute Leadership and Service Award

  • Nav Chima

Wilks Institute Community Engaged Learning Award

  • Michelle Abata

Wilks Institute Critical Reflection Award

  • Madison Miner

Wilks Institute Civic Responsibility Award

  • Victoria Villanueva

Harry T. Wilks Fraternity and Sorority MPACT Award IFC

  • Beta Theta Pi

Harry T. Wilks Fraternity and Sorority MPACT Award Panhellenic

  • Alpha Delta Pi

Harry T. Wilks Fraternity and Sorority MPACT Award MGC

  • Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, Inc.

Harry T. Wilks Student Organization MPACT Award

  • Alpha Phi Omega

Wilks Institute Socially Responsible Leader Award

  • Aiyana White

Wilks Institute Servant Leader Award

  • Marina Shenouda

Sustainability Awards

Social Sustainability

  • Lauren Lewis

Economic Sustainability

  • Cassie Conrad

Environmental Sustainability

  • Ecoreps

2021 SEAL Awards Winners

The 2021 Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL) Awards program took place on April 28, 2021. The winners for the year were:

Student Activities

Outstanding Poster/Flyer

  • Miami University Fashion & Design

Outstanding Publication

  • How to Study in America, Luxembourgish Students at Miami

Outstanding Original Event

  • Reverse Trick or Treat, HAWKS Peer Health Educators

Outstanding Collaborative Event

  • 2020 Virtual Health Exploration Initiative, Anatomy & Physiology Club, Delta Epsilon Mu, Minority Association of Pre-Health Students

Rising Leader of the Year

  • Anna Moellenbeck, HAWKS Peer Health Educators

President of the Year

  • Ellie Krug, Miami University Fashion & Design

Most Improved Organization

  • Open Fifth

Outstanding New Organization

  • Guitar Club

Outstanding Graduate Advisor

  • Autumn Jager, Sigma Phi Epsilon

Outstanding Off-Campus Advisor

  • Chuck Dragga, Engineers Without Borders

Dr. Richard Nault Advisor of the Year

  • Andy Obregon-Mantilla, UNIDOS

Student Leader of the Year

  • Jacob Butze, Alpha Kappa Psi
  • Michaela Mitchell, Engineers Without Borders

Organization of the Year

  • EcoReps
  • Sexual Assault Survivor Support (SASS)

Event of the Year

  • American Idiot: A Rock Recital, Stage Left
  • Friends of Fashion, Miami University Fashion & Design

Outstanding Multicultural Event

  • Asian Cultural Festival, Asian American Association

Love and Honor Story Project

  • Reena Murphy
  • Sidra Capriolo
  • Josie Crater
  • Brandon Small
  • Nhu-Y Tran
  • Halle Campbell

Fraternity and Sorority Life

Rising Leader of the Year

  • IFC: John Akum, Alpha Epsilon Pi
  • NPHC: Sydney Jefferson, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
  • Panehellenic: Adriana Rivera, Zeta Tau Alpha

Warren T. Nelson Award for Outstanding Service

  • Jack Hartwell, Beta Theta Pi

Chapter President of the Year

  • IFC: Alex Orr, Beta Theta Pi
  • NPHC: Jordyn Thompson, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Panhellenic: MacKenzie Attwell, Zeta Tau Alpha

Dr. Richard Nault Scholarship

  • Lydia Yamashiro, Chi Omega
  • Clinton Ransom, Delta Chi

Grace Daniels Outstanding Sorority Advisor of the Year

  • Sabrina Larson and Lauren Sherrard, Zeta Tau Alpha

Brian Breittholz Fraternity Advisor of the Year

  • Dr. Steve Large, Sigma Phi Epsilon

Jerry Miller Outstanding Fraternity Faculty/Staff Advisor Award

  • Dr. Matthew Stephan, Alpha Epsilon Pi

Andrew Herman Memorial Chapter Excellence

  • IFC: Beta Theta Pi
  • NPHC: Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Panhellenic: Chi Omega

Phillip and Martha Shriver Outstanding Greek Man & Woman

  • Outstanding Man: Mackenton Johnson, Lambda Chi Alpha
  • Outstanding Woman: Kyndal Fletcher, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Council Leaders of the Year

  • IFC: Mackenton Johnson, Lambda Chi Alpha
  • NPHC: Kyndal Fletcher, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 
  • Panehellenic:Claire Drew, Delta Delta Delta and Molly McNamara, Alpha Phi 

Scholar Leaders 2020-2021

This award recognizes the following members of the 2020-2021 Scholar Leaders Community.

  • Julia Marie Albesa
  • Myles Bailey
  • Alexis Bebout
  • Mackenzie Britton
  • Kaitlin Cacchillo
  • Rachel Cacchillo
  • Sidra Capriolo
  • Jade Cessna
  • Grace Connors
  • Rachel Cooley
  • Liam Dingman
  • John Doll
  • Petrina Duffour
  • Abigail Froehlich
  • Marianna Gay
  • Christopher Guptil
  • Cassidy Hanner
  • Lauren Haus
  • Tyler Hilgeman
  • Benjamin Jacoby
  • Jordan Lee
  • Zachary Marsh
  • Autumn Marshall 
  • Liam Martin
  • Carson Mccarthy
  • Margaret Pena
  • Laura Polanka
  • Sara Rainey
  • Mark Senne
  • Sakshi Shah
  • Molly Smith
  • Spencer Townes
  • Hailea Tucker
  • Kira Ward
  • Rachel Webb
  • Alexandra Whitehead

2020 SEAL Awards Winners

The 2020 Student Engagement and Leadership (SEAL) Awards program took place virtually on May 6, 2020. The winners for the year were:

Student Activities

Outstanding Poster/Flyer

  • Bob Ross event, Miami Activities & Programming

Outstanding Publication

  • Chabad at Miami University

Outstanding Original Event

  • Pancakes with Dancakes, Miami Activities & Programming

Outstanding Collaborative Event

  • Mental Health Awareness Day, Kappa Alpha Theta, Student Counseling Service, Rec Center, Active Minds, Never Walk Alone, The Body Project

Rising Leader of the Year

  • Student Organization: Joshua McCoy, Native American Student Association

President of the Year

  • Riddhi Chopra, Miami University Fashion & Design

Most Improved Organization

  • Anatomy and Physiology Club

Outstanding New Organization

  • Women Who Invest

Love & Honor Story Project Recipients

  • Shelby Frye
  • Sophie Dorsife

Outstanding Graduate Advisor

  • Ashley Morrison, Miami Activities and Programming (MAP)

Outstanding Off-Campus Advisor

  • Mike Brunner, Engineers Without Borders

Advisor of the Year

  • Rachael Lange, Ox-Wee

Student Leader of the Year

  • Lindsay Stewart, Miami University Student Foundation
  • Lucy Rukstales, Engineers Without Borders

Organization of the Year

  • Miami University Fashion & Design
  • Unidos

Event of the Year

  • Talawanda Engineering Day, Engineers Without Borders
  • RECON 2020, League of Geeks

Boldly Creative Event of the Year

  • Reverse Trick or Treat, HAWKS Peer Health Educators

Boldly Creative Student Leader of the Year

  • Alyssa Francis, SEAL Ambassadors

Boldly Creative Organization of the Year

  • Stage Left

Fraternity and Sorority Life

Dr. Richard Nault Scholarship

  • Jake McCorkle, Delta Chi
  • Victoria Holvey, Delta Gamma

Rising Leader of the Year

  • IFC: Kyle Naderhoff, Phi Gamma Delta
  • NPHC: Jordan Thompson, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Panehellenic: Olivia Casey, Zeta Tau Alpha

Warren T. Nelson Award for Outstanding Service

  • Brianna Woods, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Chapter President of the Year

  • Christian Daniels, Beta Theta Pi
  • Evan Anderson, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.
  • Sarah Hale, Zeta Tau Alpha

Grace Daniels Outstanding Sorority Advisor of the Year

  • Lauren Sherrard, Zeta Tau Alpha
  • Sabrina Larson, Zeta Tau Alpha

Brian Breittholz Fraternity Advisor of the Year

  • Drew Harmon, Sigma Chi

Jerry Miller Outstanding Fraternity Faculty/Staff Advisor Award

  • Eric Buller, Beta Theta Pi

Andrew Herman Memorial Chapter Excellence

  • Beta Theta Pi
  • Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
  • Chi Omega

B. Derrell Hart Most Improved Chapter

  • Lambda Chi Alpha
  • Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc.

Phillip and Martha Shriver Outstanding Greek Man & Woman

  • Outstanding Man: Jermaine Thomas, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
  • Outstanding Woman: Kamea Duncan, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Leaders of the Year

  • IFC: Matt Avdey, IFC Vice President of Conduct
  • NPHC: Renee Boyd, NPHC Co-Treasurer
  • Panehellenic: Olivia Groves, Panhellenic Vice President of Programming

2019 SEAL Awards Winners

Award Recipients

Organizations of the Year

Outstanding New Student Organization

Most Improved Student Organization

Outstanding Student Organization Leaders

Advisor of the Year

Off Campus Advisor of the Year

  • Jane Armstrong, Cru

Event of the Year

Most Original Event of the Year

Outstanding Multicultural Event of the Year

Outstanding Collaborative Event of the Year

Outstanding Poster and Flyer

Outstanding Publication

Rising Leader of the Year

Outstanding Organization President of the Year

Outstanding Council Officer

Warren T. Nelson Award for Outstanding Service

Dr. Richard Nault Scholarship

Grace Daniels Outstanding Sorority Advisor of the Year

Brian Breittholz Fraternity Advisor of the Year

Jerry Miller Outstanding Fraternity Faculty/Staff Advisor Award

Phillip And Martha Shriver Outstanding Greek Man

Phillip And Martha Shriver Outstanding Greek Woman

Andrew Herman Memorial Chapter Excellence