The Central College Student Development office announces the 2026 student leadership award recipients. Each year, Student Development seeks nominations campus-wide to recognize the contributions, achievements and efforts of Central students, student groups and club advisors.
A panel representing Academic Affairs and Student Development reviewed the nominations and selected the following award recipients for 2026. Congratulations to all the nominees and the 2026 award recipients.
- Bridge Builder Award: Lakera (Keke) Hannah, Class of 2027, from Maquoketa, Iowa
- Diversity & Inclusion Award: Book Club
- Organizational Excellence Award: History Club
- Outstanding Event Awards: History Club’s program with Jimmy Suong, a Cambodian refugee, survivor of the “Killing Fields” and U.S. Army veteran; and Common Ground’s Drag Show
- Outstanding New Leader Awards: Sofie Geistkemper, Class of 2028, from Marion, Iowa, and Donovan Klish, Class of 2028, from Liberty, Missouri
- Senior Student Development Awards: Kylie Carstens, Class of 2026, from Lake City, Iowa, and Chris Ver Heul, Class of 2026, from Monroe, Iowa
- Service Award: SCATE — Students Concerned about the Environment
- Student Organization Advisor of the Year Award: Lori Witt, associate professor of history and history club advisor
- Unsung Hero Awards: Vittorio (Vito) Luchi, Class of 2027, from Avondale, Arizona, and Brianna Wright, Class of 2026, from Fort Madison, Iowa
Photo caption: History Club members. Front row, left to right: Samuel Kerns ’29, Joshua Kuhlers ’28, Lori Witt, associate professor of history, Madison Price ‘27. Back row, left to right: Kael Dircks ’26, Christopher Little ’26, Lauryn Venema ’26, Elizabeth Kerns ’26. Members not pictured: Chase Grandia ’26, Caelin Barbour ’26, Steel Anderson ’28, Alivia Akers ’27, Laura Waggoner ’27, Connor Helm ’29, Campbell Crabb ’29, Landon Messer ’28, Christian White ’29.