Furman Students Honored with Leadership Awards

The Furman University Student Leadership Awards were presented March 30 in the Younts Conference Center on campus. A committee of students, faculty and staff selects the awardees, who come from across the campus.

Caleb Rikard ’25, a math major who received one of two Willard A. Metcalf Personal Character Awards, talked about his growth as a leader by recognizing his fellow student leaders in a speech to the families, students, faculty and staff in attendance.

In Rikard’s first year at Furman, older students thoughtfully mentored him in his job as manager for the men’s basketball team. When he joined the Furman University Student Activities Board, other students “showed me the deep care someone can have for an organization, and the passion to see it succeed,” he said. “They inspired me to focus on what I could give to the organization and to campus, rather than focusing on what those things could give to me. They helped me shift my focus to creating a space where others belonged, rather than trying to find a place I belonged.”

Other student leaders who helped make Furman a place of belonging, and who contributed to the university’s success, are listed among the 2025 Leadership Awards Honorees below. See photos from the awards ceremony below the list of awardees.

ALFRED S. REID MEMORIAL AWARD
Charlie Gessner
Gabrielle Harvey
Patrick Guinee
Xannie Gray

ALGERNON SYDNEY SULLIVAN AWARD
Grace Prince
Yaseen Echekki

BOUNDARY-BREAKER PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
Residence Life Council- G Pavilion Project

DAN JOYNER OUTSTANDING ATHLETIC LEADER
Ivan Agyaakwah
Megan Marvin

 FURMAN’S HALL OF LEADERS AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE & LEADERSHIP
Carly Gillis
Collin McBride
Elijah Poritzky
Ellie Schulson
Katie Spannaus
Menna Ellaqany
Morgan Chapman
Noah Nussbaum
TJ Robertson
Trace Lackey

 HARRY B. SHUCKER OUTSTANDING STUDENT LEADER AWARD
Alice Tyszka
Amanda Nnodim

 JOSEPH VAUGHN AWARD
Soukeyna Pitroipa

Lillian Brock-Flemming Award
Sarah Gonzales

 LIPSCOMB AWARD
Jason Levitt

 MAX AND TRUDE HELLER COMMITMENT TO COMMUNITY AWARD
Molly Faul

 STUDENT ORGANIZATION ADVISOR OF THE YEAR
Jason Hansen- Jewish Student Association
Casey Hawthorne- STEM advisors
Andy Coe- First Generation Student Alliance
Lexie Johnson- Afrikiya

 STUDENT ORGANIZATION OF THE YEAR
Afrikiya

 THE LEVERETTE SUSTAINABILITY AWARD
Summer Marsden

 THE PRESIDENT’S AWARD
Dalmondeh Dearest (DD) Nayreau
Emerson Gray

 UNSUNG HERO AWARD
Emmie Barth
Helen Gutierrez
Kayla Neubert
Mary Boucher

 WILLARD A. METCALF PERSONAL CHARACTER AWARD
Caleb Rikard
Joey Maness

 WINSTON BABB MEMORIAL AWARD
Audrey Ryu
Chandler Parker
Evelyn Campbell
Sim Colson