2025-2026 Golden Bishop Awards

2025-2026 Golden Bishop Awards

Ohio Wesleyan Honors Students for Leadership, Community Service, Campus Involvement

DELAWARE, Ohio - Ohio Wesleyan University is honoring students with Golden Bishop Awards in recognition of their outstanding achievements in leadership, community service, and campus involvement during the current academic year.

The Golden Bishops were presented April 13, with WCSA President Raazia Aamir and Vice President Taylor Thompson serving as the event hosts.

"From navigating the rigors of academia, to participating in campus involvement through student organizations and athletics, and even engaging in community and professional development activities, we understand that it's no small feat that you are students," Aamir told the crowd gathered in Merrick Hall. "So tonight, we'd like to celebrate you. … Your hard work and dedication have not gone unnoticed."

Members of the Ohio Wesleyan community recognized at the 2025-2026 Golden Bishop Awards and their honors are as follows:

Service Awards

The Bridge Builder Award, recognizing exemplary service that fosters relationships, resolves conflicts, builds trust, and promotes positive change both on- and off-campus.

• Emma Luft of Columbus, Ohio, for helping families to rebuild and repair hurricane-damaged homes in Houston, Texas; New Orleans, Louisiana; and Tampa, Florida, during three years of participation in OWU's Spring Break Service Week program. Luft will continue serving others in AmeriCorps after she graduates in May.
• Ian Sander of Pemberville, Ohio, for service that includes conducting life-sustaining research on tobacco and its effects, as well as making notable contributions in Circle K, Pre-Health Club, Wilderness Trek Rewilding efforts in Scotland, and Service Camp Oh-Wooo.
• Sisters United under the 2025-2026 presidential leadership of Dez Dorelien of Columbus, Ohio, and Layah Stoutamire of Upper Marlboro, Maryland, for work that includes connecting Black women on campus, welcoming prospective students, hosting panels to raise political awareness, and honoring all women with Women's History Month programming.

The Patricia G. Young Award for Leadership in Service to Children and Youth

• Avery Krause of North Royalton, Ohio, for her community work as a children's mentor, tutor, team leader, and coach, as well as her potential to help others as a future teacher.

Residential Life Awards

Recognizing student-leaders for their work to help fellow students connect and find spaces where they feel they belong within OWU's residential communities.

Outstanding Resident Assistant/Moderator Award

• Annika DeLong of Archbold, Ohio, for her work in Smith Hall supporting first-year Bishops as they settle into the campus community.
• Lily Reinert of St. Louis, Missouri, for her work to imagine, propose, and create The Kitchen. This OWU small living unit (SLU) brings together students with a special interest in cooking, nutrition, and learning more about the world through culinary experiences. Reinert currently serves as the house moderator.

Heart of the Community Award

• Oyindoubra "Doubra" Akika of Lagos, Nigeria, and Malaika Mongella of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, for their work as president and vice president of Rafiki wa Afrika, respectively, and their roles in Residential Life, resulting in significant student-led programming to support community and connection.

Student Involvement Awards

Student Organization Advisor Recognition

• Sarah Busse, adviser to the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, for work that includes helping students "to think critically and come to conclusions themselves to grow as leaders and individuals."

Student Organization Community Impact Award

• Rafiki Wa Afrika for its work to raise awareness of African and Caribbean cultures, including a mock Nigerian Edo wedding that created an immersive experience highlighting Nigerian traditions, music, dancing, and celebration.

New Student Organization Recognition

• Bridge
• Data Circle
• Debate Club
• Geography Club
• Get2Steppin'
• Herpetology Club
• Line Dancing Club
• Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students
• Ohio Wesleyan Athletic Council
• OWU Catholic
• OWU Endurance Club
• Philosophy Club
• Project EDSA (Eating Disorder Support and Awareness)

Nancy Bihl Rutkowski Leadership Fellowship, recognizing students who successfully complete the fellowship's yearlong curriculum centered on the Social Change Model of Leadership.

• Rhys McCain of Milford Center, Ohio
• Hadiza Rahaman of The Bronx, New York
• Aryaka Tickoo of Mumbai, India
• Inesh Tickoo of Delhi, India
• Aiden Veerjee of Johnstown, Ohio

Fraternity & Sorority Life Awards

Chapter Academic Excellence Award, recognizing chapters with the highest combined average GPAs during calendar year 2025.

• Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity (3.25 GPA)
• Chi Phi fraternity (3.25 GPA)
• Kappa Alpha Theta sorority (3.58 GPA)

Fraternity & Sorority Emerging Leader of the Year

• Chloe McGee of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, a member of the Delta Zeta sorority, recognized for making her mark in theater and choir, and as a Woltemade Economics and Business Fellow.

Fraternity & Sorority Community Impact Recognition

• Phi Gamma Delta (FIJI) fraternity for its ongoing and impactful work with the Delaware Women's City Club and the People in Need Food Pantry.

Fraternity & Sorority Members of the Year

• Mack Fincham of Springfield, Ohio, a member of the Alpha Sigma Phi fraternity, for "transformative leadership" in building "a thriving, influential brotherhood."
• Anya Shevchik of Jefferson, Ohio, a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, for helping the organization to flourish by implementing new systems that increased engagement and membership.

Standards of Excellence | Lead, Serve, Belong Award

• Delta Zeta sorority

WCSA Awards

Recognizing the work of OWU's student government, the Wesleyan Council on Student Affairs

Donald G. Chenoweth Friend of WCSA Award

• Braidy Duncan of Patriot, Ohio, for his support of the student government's mission and goals, especially his work with the Food Committee.

WCSA Best Overall Member

• Aiden Veerjee of Johnstown, Ohio, for his four years of involvement in OWU's student government, especially his two as comptroller.

WCSA Best New Member

• Kirsten Quinn of Ostrander, Ohio, for working on WCSA policies and guidelines, as well as serving as deputy comptroller.

WCSA Social Justice Steward

• Rukevwe Diohwo of Columbus, Ohio, for organizing political dialogue via political roundtables and her dedication to student inclusion.

Meek Leadership Awards

Recognizing seniors for exceptional leadership while at Ohio Wesleyan and for demonstrating the promise of outstanding leadership in the future.

• Max Baker of Chicago, Illinois, whose achievements include serving in several leadership roles with Chi Phi, completing multiple independent studies, being heavily involved in OWU theatre productions, and serving as a student supervisor of Admission tour guides.
• Jemimah Chukwuemeka of Ikoyi, Lagos State, Nigeria, whose achievements include earning multiple OWU Connection grants to complete health-related research in the U.S. and abroad, serving as a research assistant both at Ohio Wesleyan and The Ohio State University, teaching children as a Bishop Scholars tutor, and providing leadership for both the Black Student Union and Rafiki wa Afrika.
• Emma Foster of Sylvania, Ohio, whose achievements include reviving the Neurds neuroscience club and growing it into a campus cornerstone, serving as a peer tutor, leading the cello section of the OWU Chamber Orchestra, and publishing peer-reviewed research.
• Aninditha Nair of Dombivli, India, whose achievements include founding the Computer Science and Programming Club, spearheading the university's first Women in Tech conference, completing research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, earning the runner-up spot in OWU's Big Problem Challenge entrepreneurial competition, serving as the technical product manager at the International Association for Geoscience Diversity, and earning an OWU Connection grant to research and build prototype equipment to support textile recycling.
• Aiden Veerjee of Johnstown, Ohio, whose achievements include selection as an Accounting and Finance Fellow; presenting on several topics, including an argument for investing in the Intel Corporation, the basics of investing, and the history of global exploitation; and being named a two-time winner of the Norman Leonard Research Award for his work in financial modeling and AI. He has also held leadership roles in Alpha Sigma Phi, WCSA, and the Investment Club.

Watch the 2025-2026 Golden Bishop Awards online and learn more about the annual celebration of excellence at owu.edu/GoldenBishopAwards.

Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation's premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers more than 70 undergraduate majors and competes in 24 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through its signature experience, the OWU Connection, Ohio Wesleyan teaches students to understand issues from multiple academic perspectives, volunteer in service to others, build a diverse and global perspective, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world experience through internships, research, and other hands-on learning. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book "Colleges That Change Lives" and included on the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review "Best Colleges" lists. Connect with OWU expert interview sources at owu.edu/experts or learn more at owu.edu.