Kate Hevner Mueller served Indiana University from 1937 to 1969 as Dean of Women, Senior Counselor for Women, and Professor of Education. Dr. Mueller was a national pioneer for women professionals and developed the Master’s Program in College Student Personnel (Higher Education and Student Affairs) at Indiana University in the early 1950s. The Kate Hevner Mueller Senior Awards were established in 2013 to honor IU seniors who have proven leadership on campus both inside and outside of the classroom and who have improved the IU community through their presence.
This year, Indiana University has selected 29 outstanding recipients for the Kate Hevner Mueller Outstanding Senior Award. In this article, we congratulate Peri Ehudin, Hannah Fry, Sadia Habib, Brandon Hamblin, Caliel Hines, Jeremy Kim, and Sarah Kurpius for their ability to represent Dr. Mueller’s essential goals of the university: to promote intellect, develop personality, and inspire citizenship and leadership to all students.
Award Winners:
Peri Ehudin
Hannah Fry
Sadia Habib
Brandon Hamblin
Caliel Hines
Jeremy Kim
Sarah Kurpius
Peri Ehudin
Peri is earning a Bachelor of Science in Human Development & Family Studies from the School of Public Health. She has been an active member in the Alpha Epsilon Phi sorority, serving as Vice President of Philanthropy in 2020. Peri was also passionately involved with the Indiana University Dance Marathon, acting as a 24-hour dancer for RHARC’s team during IUDM 2018. In 2019, she joined the Fundraising committee and danced for 36 hours. In 2020, she took on the role of Fundraising chair for the Fundraising Committee, and most recently, Peri served on the Executive Council for the IUDM 2021 year as the Director of Fundraising. As a scholar, Peri has made the School of Public Health Dean’s List twice – in Spring 2020 and in Spring 2021.
Acknowledgments
When asked to name the people at IU and in her personal network that have supported her Hoosier journey most, Peri said:
I want to thank my parents for always believing in my passions as much as I do and for being an incredible support system. I also want to thank a few professors who went above and beyond in guiding me inside and outside of the classroom, namely Professor Catherine Sherwood-Laughlin, Professor Angie Wong, and Professor Deborah Getz. The education and encouragement I have received from each of you will help me long after I graduate. I will be forever grateful to each of you for being your student, and you will each continue to inspire me.
Hannah Fry
Hannah is earning a Bachelor of Science in Nonprofit Management & Leadership from the O’Neill School of Public & Environmental Affairs. Hannah is a member of the O’Neill Honors Program. Hannah has been an active member of the Indiana University Student Alumni Association since Fall 2019, where she later served as a Student Fellow. For her academic merits, Hannah has been awarded the Bayh Family Scholarship, the Browning Scholarship, and the Jo Ann Linsmith Scholarship. Additionally, Hannah is proud to have been an intern for both the Indiana University Foundation through the 2020 Daniel C. Smith Internship Program, as well as the 2021 Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Advancement.
Acknowledgments
Reflecting on her time at IU, there were numerous individuals whose support has guided Hannah throughout her academic journey:
I am beyond grateful for the Indiana University professors, staff, faculty, students, donors, and alumni that have impacted me over the years and have embedded within me a sense of pride and passion for my alma mater. Thanks to your guidance and support over the years, I feel confident in my abilities to go off into the world and ‘Lead for the Greater Good’ in everything I do!
Sadia Habib
Sadia is earning a Bachelor of Science in Finance and Business Analytics from the Kelley School of Business. She is a part of the Hutton Honors College, and was selected to participate in the Business Operations Consulting Workshop through the Kelley School of Business. Throughout campus, Sadia has served in leadership roles as part of the Indiana Memorial Union Board, most recently serving as the President of the Indiana Memorial Union Board. In this role, she focused on making the Indiana Memorial Union a welcoming and inclusive space. In one of her initiatives, she created a student gallery in partnership with the IDS and People of IU in the Georgian Room in the Indiana Memorial Union to celebrate everyday IU students in action. Sadia is also the Assistant Dean of Intake for Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority Inc. She had the opportunity to serve as a Residential Assistant at Union Street Center for the past three years, where she coordinated programs for the Honors Thematic residential community. For these accomplishments and more, the Division of Student Affairs awarded Sadia with the 2021 McKaig Student Award for her leadership and devotion to the IU student body.
Acknowledgments
When sharing her thoughts on the importance of a support system throughout her journey at Indiana University, Sadia said:
I would like to thank my mentors, advisors and professors, who pushed me to achieve more and enabled me to grow as a student leader. Moreover, I would like to thank my family and friends for believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. I am where I am today because of all the overwhelming support I was fortunate enough to receive in the last four years.
Brandon Hamblin
Brandon is earning a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from the Kelley School of Business. Brandon swam for the IU Men’s Swim Team, where he was also a Big Ten Champion in 2019 and 2022. Brandon is involved in the Athletic Director’s Diversity Council, Big Ten Mental Health Cabinet, and Big Ten Equality Coalition. As part of his leadership in the Athletic Director’s Diversity Council, he helped make the equality athletic apparel that was used by IU athletes throughout the 2020-2021 seasons. Brandon also served as a Hoosier Hero mentor, where he mentored freshman student athletes to help with their transition as a collegiate athletes. In addition to his involvement with IU Athletics, Brandon spent time in the Bloomington community volunteering with the Boys and Girls Club and in the Reading Across America program.
Acknowledgments
In recognizing her personal and Student Athletics communities that have impacted her time at IU most, Brandon said:
I would like to thank my parents, Christine & Neil Hamblin, for supporting my decision to come to IU and for giving me the tools and resources needed to help me succeed. I would like to thank Coach Ray Looze for recruiting me and allowing me to be on the IU swim team. Lastly, I would like to thank Scott Dolson, Mattie White, and Lisa Winters for allowing me be so involved in the IU Athletic Department.
Caliel Hines
Caliel is earning a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience with minors in Chemistry and Psychology from the College of Arts & Sciences. During his time at IU, Caliel served in numerous roles committed to the improvement of the IU community. As a member of the Committee for Undergraduate Education, he helped review and approve over 50 policies and academic programs (degrees, majors, minors, and certificates) proposed by schools and departments in the College of Arts and Sciences. Caliel is also a proud member of the Kovener Teaching Fellowship Program, where he assisted a faculty member with the piloting and implementation of a more inclusive and equitable chemistry course (CHEM-C117: Principles of Chemistry & Biochemistry). Caliel served as Vice President of the Board of Eons, a student-research and advisory Board to the President of Indiana University, where he conducted research on campus-related issues which directly influenced more than 33,000 undergraduate students on the Bloomington campus. Moreover, Caliel served as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in the Lu Laboratory of the Gill Center for Biomolecular Sciences, where he frequently coordinated standard laboratory procedures for time-sensitive experiments and operated delicate scientific instruments. For this, he was recognized as a Fleischer Research Scholar and noted as a meaningful contributor to the published research of the lab.
Acknowledgments
When sharing his thoughts on the importance of a support system throughout his journey at Indiana University, Caliel said:
Without a doubt, if it were not for the support of my family, friends, and the faculty of IU, I would not have been able to accomplish a single thing. Thus, I give all Glory to God for what He has done and for the ways He has made.
Jeremy Kim
Jeremy is earning a Bachelor of Science in Finance from the Kelley School of Business. Jeremy served in many leadership positions at IU. He is currently President of the Indiana University Student Foundation (IUSF), an executive board member of Beta Sigma Psi, Student Body Treasurer for Indiana University Student Government, and a member of the Cabinet of Student Leaders. For his efforts as a campus leader, Jeremy has been honored with the IUSF Executive Award, as well as the Hingst Award, which is awarded to the Beta Sigma Psi chapter with the most outstanding scholastic program.
Acknowledgments
Jeremy is incredibly grateful to his family and friends for supporting him during his time at IU. Jeremy shared:
I have met the most amazing people; they have only encouraged me to become the leader I aspire to be. Thank you to my parents, Euna and Myeong; the 2022 IUSF Steering Committee; my fraternity brother and role model Lucas Ganyard; my vice president Ruhan Syed who entrusted me with the role of treasurer; and so many more. My time at IU would mean nothing without them and for that, I am truly grateful.
Sarah Kurpius
Sarah will earn a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and Spanish with a minor in Communication and Public Advocacy from the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as a certificate in Latin American and Caribbean Studies (CLACS) from the College of Arts and Sciences. Sarah is currently writing a thesis for the International Studies Honors Track, which she will orally defend in April. She has completed the Hutton Honors Notation while maintaining a 4.0 cumulative GPA. Sarah is also a member of three collegiate honors societies: Phi Beta Kappa, the National Collegiate Arts and Sciences Honor Society; Sigma Delta Pi, the National Collegiate Hispanic Honor Society; and Sigma Iota Rho, the Collegiate International Studies Honor Society. Taking her learning beyond the classroom, she has also studied abroad with the Missouri School of Journalism and completed a strategic communications internship in Monteverde, Costa Rica during the summer of 2021. Sarah has won several academic and research awards during her time at IU, including the 2020 Luis Dávila Best Undergraduate Student Essay in Latino Literature, Arts & Culture, the 2021 Sam Burgess Undergraduate Library Research Award, and the 2021 Distinguished Pol-IU-glot Scholar, award for knowledge of 3+ languages and an interest in multiculturalism. Lastly, in terms of on-campus involvement, she is currently serving on the 2022 IU Student Foundation Steering committee as a co-chair of the Little 500 Cycling Committee.
Acknowledgments
When reflecting on the individuals that she appreciates most for their continued support at IU, Sarah said:
I would like to thank all my friends and family members, but especially my parents, who have helped me through many stressful times and endured many late-night phone calls offering advice; and my grandparents, who have always been so excited about everything I’m doing and always show up when I need them. I would also like to thank the many faculty members and advisors who have believed in me along the way and pushed me to be my best.
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