There are about 40,000 undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at the University this semester, according to the University’s Office of the Registrar. That’s 40,000 students with leadership roles, academic excellence, athletic achievements and more. When our staff sat down last month to pick 11 students to highlight as the “Students of the Year” — it wasn’t easy. So we sent out a survey to hear from you. We wanted to know: Who are the people you see excelling in student groups and on the stage? On the first day of a new semester — when you play the awkward dance of learning about each other — who are the people that take you aback with their work on this campus and in the greater world?
Even with the power of Google forms on our side, we couldn’t reach all students for nominations. But the managing editors for each section of the paper sat down to discuss the more than 50 nominations we did receive. In these eight pages, you can read the stories of the 11 nominees we felt embodied a “Student of the Year.” They’re students working to aid communities near and far, advocating for justice on campus, representing the University proudly on the field, on the court and overall making this campus a better place. These 11 individuals are making a difference, but that’s not to say you aren’t too. Use these stories as inspiration and decide what positive mark you will make at our University.
