Ten students honored in 2026 Quest for the Best awards
The honorees are recognized for exceptional academics and community service, along with impactful mentors.
Ten ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø students have received the 2026 Quest for the Best award, which recognizes high-achieving ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø students for outstanding performance in academics and community service.
The annual Quest for the Best Vice Presidential Student Service Award has celebrated student achievement for three decades in four key areas: academic excellence, student service and activities, community service and leadership development.
Winners are asked to nominate a faculty or staff member who had a significant and positive impact on their personal growth and development during their time at ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø.
This year’s Quest class includes nine seniors and one junior.
The 2026 honorees and their respective faculty/staff honorees are:
Enoch Ampofo
Senior, Journalism, with an emphasis in advertising
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Donnae Praether, Assistant Director, ºÚ¹Ï³ÔÁÏÍø Gus & Emma Thompson Black Resource Center
Naomi Chuang
Senior, Mechanical Engineering, with an emphasis in bioengineering.
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Theresa Garcia, Assistant Dean of Engineering for Student Affairs
Ambra Costanza
Senior, Communication Studies
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Chelsea Lombrozo, Leadership Studies Lecturer & Assistant Director, Glazer Center for Leadership
Tamar Hazon
Senior, Psychology, with an industrial, organizational emphasis
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Michelle Dean, Director of Undergraduate Programs, Professor, Academic Affairs, Fowler College of Business
Katelin Jaque
Senior, Cellular and Molecular Biology
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Gena Sbeglia, Assistant Professor of Biology
Sara Laila
Senior, Public Health, with an emphasis in Environmental Health
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Elana Elkin, Assistant Professor, Environmental Health
Aliza Siddiqui
Senior, Computer Engineering
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Janice Dils, Assistant Director, Associated Students Government Affairs
Ethan Van Boerum
Junior, Biology, with an emphasis in Marine Biology
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Chelsea Lombrozo, Leadership Studies Lecturer & Assistant Director, Glazer Center for Leadership
Olivia Van Winkle
Senior, Liberal studies with an emphasis in Elementary Education
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Patricia Lozada-Santone, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, College of Education
Jasmin Zeis-Khalil
Senior, Political Science
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Christina Brown, Executive Director, Associated Students
