Day of Student Recognition Awards
The Student Commons fosters understanding, inclusion, and critical thinking across diverse topics while supporting individuals from various identity groups. As part of Access & Success, it highlights students who exhibit leadership and commitment to positive impacts on underrepresented communities on campus. The Commons participates in a yearly Day of Student Recognition award ceremony by offering two distinct awards.
Spirit Outstanding Student Award
This award recognizes students who demonstrate exemplary leadership and citizenship on campus. Honorees lead with empathy, curiousity, and openness in clubs, workplaces, residence halls, and other campus spaces, striving to support both of the individuals they lead and the communities they serve.
Congratulations to the recipients of our 2025 Awards!
Spirit Outstanding Student Award
Jenna Anderson
Jenna serves as the Assistant Community Director of the largest residential community on campus and previously worked for three years as a Resident Assistant, now serving in Madison, MSU’s only gender-inclusive residence hall. She co-founded College Democrats of Montana in 2023 and continues to serve on both the state and campus boards. As a queer and disabled community member, Jenna is deeply committed to fostering inclusion, belonging, and empowering marginalized voices. Her work centers on supporting others through advocacy and practical action, including raising over $6,500 to provide food, warm clothing, and supplies to voters waiting in long lines at the polls. Through her leadership and service, she strives to be a compassionate resource and community builder for those around her.
Aishik Biswas
Aishik Biswas is an Electrical Engineering PhD student researching optical communications systems while actively working to foster a safer and more welcoming campus community. During his first year at MSU, he helped establish the university’s first Pan-Asian organization, the Asian Student Interracial Association (A.S.I.A.), which has since introduced celebrations of diverse Asian cultures to campus while prioritizing the well-being of Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander students. As president during the 2023–2024 academic year, he led the organization when it was recognized as Student Organization of the Year. Aishik also volunteers as a student advocate with MSU’s Campus Civil Rights Office, supporting survivors of discrimination, harassment, and interpersonal violence, and contributes to peer education on bystander intervention. Additionally, he serves on the Graduate School Diversity Leadership Coalition, collaborating with other graduate leaders to strengthen support for students from diverse backgrounds.
Awarded to 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
Awarded to 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.