The MIT Undergraduate Advising Center (UAC) proudly celebrated the outstanding students, faculty, and staff recognized during the annual 2026 UAC Awards. These awards honor the individuals and communities whose dedication, innovation, mentorship, and advocacy continue to strengthen the undergraduate experience across the Institute.
Honoring Excellence in Advising, Teaching, and Student Support
Several faculty and staff members were recognized for their exceptional commitment to undergraduate advising and student development.
Professor Anne McCants received the Alan J. Lazarus ’53 Award for Excellence in First-Year Advising for her deeply personalized and holistic approach to mentoring students through the Concourse program. Her work encourages students to pursue intellectual rigor while also reflecting on balance, curiosity, and personal growth.
Professor Sylvia Ceyer was honored with the Departmental Advising Excellence Award for her thoughtful mentorship and individualized support of students in the Department of Chemistry. Her guidance has helped countless students navigate academic and professional decisions with confidence.
Professor Bryan Bryson earned recognition for the Most Innovative First-Year Seminar through his course, Hands-On Making in Biological Engineering, which immerses students in experiential, hands-on learning from the very beginning of their MIT experience.
Dr. Sharmila Chatterjee received the Outstanding Veteran First-Year Advisor Award in recognition of her decades-long commitment to supporting and empowering first-year students. Known for her approachable and encouraging advising style, she has consistently helped students navigate challenges while connecting them to the resources they need to thrive.
Dr. Joshua Abraham was recognized with the Outstanding Rookie First-Year Advisor Award for the meaningful impact he has made early in his advising career. Students praised his sincere encouragement and ability to make them feel capable even during moments of uncertainty.
The Undergraduate Staff Excellence Award was presented to Emma Dunn Santana for her exceptional leadership and unwavering dedication to supporting undergraduate students, faculty, and staff within the Department of Mechanical Engineering and across the Institute.
Recognizing Student Leadership and Community Impact
The UAC Awards also celebrated students whose leadership, innovation, advocacy, and service have strengthened the MIT community.
This year’s Distinguished Peers Award recipients included Emmanuel Adetunji for Public Service, Mohamed Abdelmeguid for Entrepreneurship, Stacy Vazquez for Public Service, and Oluwadara Deru for Public Service. Presented by MIT’s Office of Academic Community, Empowerment, and Success (OACES), the award recognizes students whose contributions extend far beyond themselves and create meaningful impact throughout the community.
Akorfa Dagadu was recognized as this year’s recipient of the Black Alumni of MIT Community Advancement Program and Fund (BCAP) Fellowship for her commitment to community-centered public service and innovation.
Rachel Shulman received the First Generation and/or Low-Income Student Support and Advocacy Award for her outstanding work supporting FLI students through the Fission and Fusion Undergraduate Scholars program. Her leadership and advocacy have helped foster a more inclusive and equitable student experience at MIT.
Warren Knowles was honored with the Transfer Student Advocacy & Impact Award for his exceptional leadership and tireless advocacy on behalf of transfer students. Through community-building initiatives and student support efforts, he has played a significant role in strengthening the transfer student experience at MIT.
The Associate Advisor Awards recognized Samantha Phillips for her service to the Concourse Learning Community and Sarah Habona for her work as a traditional first-year advising associate advisor.
Celebrating Outstanding First-Year Students
The Outstanding First-Year Student Awards highlighted students who have already made remarkable contributions during their first year at MIT through athletics, research, innovation, leadership, and service.
This year’s recipients included:
- Anna Chan – Athletics
- Victoria Fang – Athletics
- Francesca Garfi – Athletics
- Mila Kaplan – Innovation
- Charles Lai – Athletics
- Jada Ogueh – Leadership and Service
- Alexander Skula – Research
Together, these students exemplify the extraordinary energy, initiative, and creativity found throughout MIT’s first-year class.
Recognizing Student Organizations and Mentorship
MIT’s chapter of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) received the ASCEND Student Group of the Year Award for its exceptional efforts to foster professional development, belonging, and community engagement through impactful programming and student support.
The Mentor Advocate Partnership (MAP) and E-Mentor Advocate Partnership (EMAP) programs also recognized outstanding mentors and protégés whose relationships embody the spirit of mentorship and community-building at MIT.
Award recipients included:
- MAP Rookie of the Year: Jessica Landry
- EMAP Rookie of the Year: Yannan Tuo
- MAP Protégé of the Year: Mazzi Moore
- EMAP Protégé of the Year: Jeffrey Kwon
- MAP Pair of the Year: Kurt-Michael Songcog & Bill Bao
- EMAP Pair of the Year: Rupert Webb & ZheYu Jiang
- MAP Mentor of the Year: Stephanie Hamilton
- EMAP Mentor of the Year: Gerald Baron
These individuals were recognized for their dedication to fostering meaningful connections, supporting student growth, and strengthening community across the Institute.
Institute Awards
Several students and faculty members were also recognized for prestigious Institute-wide honors.
The Albert G. Hill Prize recipients included Kristel Acuna Garcia, Akorfa Dagadu, Oluwadara Deru, Annabelle Liefke, Peyton Meader, and Lauren Nichols. The award honors students who have maintained high academic standards while making significant contributions to improving the quality of life for underrepresented students at MIT.
Professor Claire Conceison received the Arthur C. Smith Award for her extraordinary dedication to enriching undergraduate life through mentorship, teaching, and engagement across the arts, athletics, and student organizations.
Professor Kristin Bergmann was honored with the Earll M. Murman Award for her profound impact on undergraduate advising and mentorship, empowering students to navigate academic and professional decisions with confidence and curiosity.
Professor Raúl Radovitzky received the Everett Moore Baker Memorial Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, the Institute’s only teaching award nominated and selected entirely by students. He was recognized for his dynamic teaching style, student-centered approach, and commitment to creating an engaging and supportive learning environment.
Building Community Through Care, Leadership, and Excellence
The 2026 UAC Awards Ceremony served as a powerful reminder that the strength of the MIT community is built not only through innovation and achievement, but also through mentorship, compassion, collaboration, and service.
Congratulations to all of this year’s award recipients and nominees. Your dedication continues to shape a more supportive, inclusive, and inspiring MIT experience for students across the Institute.
