The O’Neill School is proud to name Daniela Castellanos and Zsofia Leary as the inaugural recipients of the O’Neill Student Leadership Award. This new award celebrates students who have demonstrated leadership, impact, and a commitment to O’Neill’s core values of learning, diversity, meaning, excellence, and well-being.
The award will be presented at the O’Neill Expo, the school’s annual celebration of student research and success.
Daniela Castellanos
Daniela is pursuing a joint Master of Public Affairs-Master of Science in Environmental Science with a concentration in Sustainability and Sustainable Development. Daniela was selected for the leadership qualities she’s displayed as part of her graduate assistantships.
As an international student coordinator, Daniela has shared innovative ways to support international students before arriving on campus and throughout their academic journey. Drawing from her own experiences as an international student, Daniela strives to inspire growth and resilience amongst her peers while fostering a sense of community.
Daniela has also worked as a student engagement event coordinator, where she has collaborated with O’Neill’s Undergraduate Program Office, Career Hub, and International Office, as well as student organizations across campus to build meaningful relationships and experiences that benefit both her peers and the staff.
Her nominator wrote, “[Daniela] exemplifies O’Neill core values in every way. Her leadership in her roles as a GA supports learning, celebrates diversity, creates meaning, embodies excellence, and attends to the well-being of others.”
Zsofia Leary
Zsofia is a Hutton and O’Neill Honors student majoring in law and public policy. She was selected for her impact on the local community through the Lincoln Street Boys and Girls Club and for her work on campus as the president of Students for Equity in Public Affairs (SEPA).
At the Boys and Girls Club, Zsofia is a reliable presence, showing up for children who need a friend, advocate, and role model. Her nominator wrote, “Zsofia does hard things with a smile on her face, not because she knows she’ll be better off as a result, but because she knows other people will be.”
Through SEPA, Zsofia has worked to promote equity within the school and implement LGBTQIA+ programming. She leads a board of O’Neill students who work together to organize an annual equity conference and conduct a yearly survey to monitor diversity, equity, inclusion, and cultural competency within the school. She’s also worked to prioritize collaboration within her team and with other student organizations.
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