The Student Engagement area within Student Life consists of six departments dedicated to supporting student growth and development through active participation in experiential learning opportunities. These departments include the Center for Service and Leadership (CSL), UA Student Center, Student Involvement, Student Governance and Citizenship (SGA), University Programs (UP), and the Blackburn Institute. On April 14, 2026, Student Engagement hosted the Exemplo Capstone Awards (formerly Service and Leadership Awards) to honor individuals, student organizations and full-time staff who “serve compassionately, engage masterfully and live boldly.”
The awards were presented in five categories:
- Building Community
- Experiential Learning and Leadership
- Growth and Development
- Student Learning
- Success Beyond
See below for a list of the achievements and honors earned within the Capstone community.
Building Community Awards
- Advocacy in Action Award — UA-NAACP; Ducks Unlimited
- ABC Award of Excellence — Savannah Strong
- Henry M. Lipsey Heart of Service Award — Jordan Scott
- UP Ambassador of the Year Award (Fall 2025) — Ava Rudd
- UP Ambassador of the Year Award (Spring 2026) — Brayden Johnson
- Excellence in Hospitality Award — Nakyra Davis
Experiential Learning and Leadership Awards
- John L. Blackburn Advisor of the Year Award — Charter Morris; Quoc Hoang
- Will Byington Award for Student Officer of the Year — Tyler VanDeventer; Lindsey Flondro; Nairobi Brown
- Star Bloom Volunteer of the Year Award — Adleigh Faulkenberg; Khang Nguyen; Zacc Gleason
- Barbara Grimes Selfless Service Award — Isabella Nguyen; Yianna Papdopoulosas
- Spirit of UP Award — Gracelyn Hatchett
- April C. Sanders Distinguished Service Award — Darnell Austin
- Capstone Leadership Award — Austin Moffatt
- STAR Award — Tykel King
Growth and Development Awards
- Outstanding New Organization — AV Dance Collective
- Outstanding Graduate Organization — Graduate Student Association
- Champion for Children’s Award — Myles Hudson; Ella Baggett
- SGA Organizational Excellence Award — Alpha Gamma Delta
- UP Persistence Award — Maria Payne; Jackson Babb
- Bama Rising Star Award — Savion Tabb Stewart
Student Learning Awards
- Organization Event of the Year — Black Business Student Association
- Capstone Innovation Award — Universities Against Cancer
- Outstanding Tide2 Student of the Year — Kathleen Dougherty; Ellanora Slusser
- Outstanding Tide2 Ambassador of the Year — Karizma Bryant; Andrew Harris
- Outstanding Community Partner of the Year Award — West Alabama Food Bank
- Rick Funk Award — Charlie Beth Pruett
- University Programs Student Spotlight Awards — Ellison Butler; Emily Harvey; Ashley Headen; Tregan Holterman
Success Beyond
- Roll Tide Resilience Award — Kyle Golston
- Blackburn Institute Student Officer Recognition — Julienne Pharrams; Marilyn Swint; Hailey Adams
- Dr. Courtney Chapman Thomas UNLESS Active Citizenship Award — CC Hahn
- Stephanie Shamblin Award for Meritorious Service — Rylen Dempsey
- Daniel Nielsen Award for Exceptional Change — Romit Saha; Anna Fritz
- David L. Phelps Organization of the Year Award — College of Communications and Information Sciences Ambassadors
Organization Awards
- Outstanding Academic Organization — College of Communications and Information Sciences Ambassadors
- Outstanding Advocacy Organization — UA-NAACP
- Outstanding Arts & Entertainment Organization — Nach Basanti
- Outstanding Club Sports Organization — Lady Tide Soccer Team
- Outstanding Cultural & Identity-Based Organization — Black Business Student Association
- Outstanding Graduate Student Organization — English Graduate Association
- Outstanding Honors Organization — National Society of Collegiate Scholars
- Outstanding Political Organization — UA Common Ground
- Outstanding Professional Organization — Management Consulting Academy
- Outstanding Recreation & Athletic Organization — Bama Beach Volleyball Club
- Outstanding Religious & Spiritual Organization — UA Vedic Society
- Outstanding Service Organization — Medicine and Community
