Black Student Empowerment awarded 2026 Perkins Prize

Black Student Empowerment received the 30th annual James A. Perkins Prize for Interracial and Intercultural Peace and Harmony at an April 20 ceremony in Willard Straight Hall.

Each year, the $5,000 Perkins Prize recognizes a Cornell group or individual that advances a sense of community while respecting diversity. Two honorable mentions, with prizes of $500 each, were also awarded.

Provost Kavita Bala congratulated this year's 19 nominees - including students, faculty, initiatives, programs, offices, clinics, centers, student organizations, fraternities and sororities - and emphasized the role of student-led efforts in shaping the campus community and advancing Cornell's mission to do the greatest good.

"You bring your experiences, your identities and your perspectives - yes, to the classroom, but to everything you do," Bala said. "All the activities, all the conversations on and off campus, and each discussion you have in all those settings, is an opportunity to discover and nurture shared values."

The Black Student Empowerment office - part of the Centers for Student Equity, Empowerment, and Belonging within Student and Campus Life - has created a space where students are not only supported, but also seen, affirmed and connected in the fullness of their identities, said Ryan Lombardi, vice president for student and campus life.

"Through advising student organizations, creating new leadership development efforts and offering signature programs that bring the campus community together, the office has built something that is both deeply practical and profoundly human," Lombardi said. "It is a network of care, mentorship and growth that reaches across the student experience."

The Black Student Empowerment office, established in fall 2023, is led by Sharifa A. Wip, associate dean of students and director of Black Student Empowerment. Wip advises more than 25 student organizations, supports student leadership development, coordinates community-building programs and connects students with mentorship and resources.

The office's signature programs include the MAKANDI Welcome Ceremony for first-year and transfer students; Empowering Space, a community-building gathering at Ujamaa Residential College; RESTORE, which offers healing discussions, yoga and meditation; Echoes of Wellness, a sound bath experience; and BlackOUT Week, a collaboration with the LGBT Resource Center celebrating Black and QTBIPOC history, culture and identity.

Wip also established the Black Student Empowerment Fellows Program to expand student leadership opportunities. Fellows support peers academically and socially, help develop programming and lead their own initiatives, such as Cocoa & Chat and Letters to the Next Class. They also hold office hours at 626 Thurston Ave., offering tutoring, campus tours and guidance on campus resources. This year, seven undergraduate and three graduate fellows participated in the program.

Master's degree student Cameron White '24, who has been a fellow for two years, accepted the award on behalf of the office.

"As someone who did not have the opportunity to experience an office like Black Student Empowerment during my time as an undergrad, being able to serve and take part in this space as a member and leader fills me with great joy," White said.

White supports event planning and coordinates other fellows. "I've truly come to see how the work we do changes the way our campus receives the students we come into contact with," White said. "You'll see that now, 626 Thurston is buzzing with students who receive resources, mentorship and gather together to build their own community by just showing up to a space."

Alissa Tokumoto '26 and the Pan-African Student Association (PASA) received honorable mention prizes.

Tokumoto, a double major in agricultural sciences and environment and sustainability in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, is the founder of Cornell's chapter of the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers. She built an inclusive community focused on mentorship, career development and cross-cultural collaboration, helping students secure professional opportunities while fostering a sense of belonging across campus, according to nominators.

PASA aims to foster community and intercultural engagement across Cornell's African diaspora, bringing together students through dialogue, cultural programming and collaborative leadership. Over the past year, PASA has engaged more than 1,000 students through initiatives including Afrik: The Fashion Show, a large-scale celebration of fashion, music and artistic expression, which also supports philanthropic causes. The event was among the final programs in this year's Willard Straight Hall Centennial.

The Perkins Prize is endowed by Cornell Trustee Emeritus Thomas W. Jones '69, MRP '72, in honor of former President James A. Perkins - two figures central to the history of Willard Straight Hall and its legacy in student activism. As a student, Jones participated in the 36-hour takeover of the building in April 1969.

Jones drew on that legacy of Willard Straight Hall in speaking to students at the ceremony.

"All of you should be proud of how your nomination, or your prize itself, reflects your leadership role on campus in building the bridges across racial and cultural differences," Jones said. "It's an important undertaking across our entire country. So having leadership skills in that area really helps prepare you to be a better citizen for this country."

Laura Gallup is a communications lead for Student and Campus Life.