The Oski Student Leadership Awards honor students, faculty, staff, and organizations who have contributed to the growth, development, and vitality of UC Berkeley and the broader community. We also recognize students who complete the Berkeley Student Leadership Academy, a program that provides a customized experience for undergraduate Berkeley students to develop leadership competencies.
2025 Oski Student Leadership Awards
Please join us in congratulating the following student leaders, staff, and organizations on winning this year’s Oski Student Leadership Awards. A ceremony for award winners was held on April 8, 2025.
Outstanding Undergraduate Student Organization Award
This award is given to a group of students who have significantly impacted the undergraduate student population, the campus, or the community through innovation, collaboration, and the quality of leadership they have displayed.
Winner: The Career Readiness Program (CRP) for their dedication to bridging the gap between academic achievement and professional success for underprivileged college students.
Outstanding Graduate Student Organization Award
This award is given to a graduate organization that has significantly impacted the graduate student population, the campus, or the community through innovation, collaboration, and the quality of leadership they have displayed.
Winner: Beyond Academia for their profound impact on the graduate student community by actively empowering graduate students and postdocs to explore diverse career paths beyond academia.
Outstanding Student Staff Member Award
This award is given to a student employee who has significantly impacted the campus community through innovation, collaboration, and the quality of leadership they have displayed.
Winner: Bailey Donnelly for her work as a Student Recovery Coordinator (SRC), which has been invaluable to the Collegiate Recovery Program (CRP) and the community of students CRP serves.
Outstanding Campus Partnership Award
This award is presented to a group of students, faculty, and/or administrative staff who demonstrate commitment to Berkeley’s Principles of Community and have positively impacted the student experience.
Winner: The Berkeley Student Food Collective (BSFC) for promoting sustainable food systems and providing students access to affordable, healthy, and ethically sourced food, which aligns with the university’s commitment to environmental responsibility and social equity.
The Dean’s Award for Inclusive Excellence
This award is presented by the Associate Vice Chancellor/Dean of Students to a student who has proactively demonstrated a commitment to the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, justice and has positively impacted the lives of UC Berkeley students.
Winner: Lanah Duque, who’s leadership at UC Berkeley exemplifies a deep commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging, making a tangible impact on marginalized communities. As ASUC Chief Communications Officer and former Senator, Lanah secured a $10,000 annual grant for Pilipinx student safety, helped create the official Cal Pilipinx community website, and allocated $100,000 in funding to campus wellness initiatives. Her work as Deputy Executive for Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging further amplified underrepresented voices by distributing $70,000 in grants to multicultural organizations.
Outstanding Faculty and Staff Advisor Award
This award is given annually to a member of the faculty, administrative, or support staff who has repeatedly demonstrated a commitment to the community and its needs, and who has also affected the lives of Berkeley students.
Winner: Dean Tanioka, Director of UC Berkeley’s NavCal program, who exemplifies high standards of student advocacy and mentorship. His commitment to supporting non-traditional students has transformed countless lives and strengthened the entire UC Berkeley community.
Vice Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Student Leadership
This award is presented by the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs to both an undergraduate and graduate student who has demonstrated significant leadership to the campus community through equity, innovation, and collaboration.
Undergraduate Winner: Kayla Castro for her exceptional leadership and commitment to enriching the UC Berkeley campus community. As the ASUC Community Engagement Director for the Filipino and Southeast Asian endorsed office, Kayla has consistently demonstrated a passion for advocacy and empowerment. Kayla is an active member of The Access Project, working to make legal resources more accessible, and is the Berkeley Legal Studies Association Vice President Intern. She co-founded and serves as Co-President of the Public Health and Law Society.
Graduate Winner: Ryan Manriquez Ryan’s leadership as President of the UC Graduate and Professional Council (UCGPC) has been transformative, showcasing empathy, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to student advocacy. Representing over 60,000 graduate and professional students across the UC system, Ryan has championed critical issues such as higher education funding, housing affordability, and basic needs resources, all while fostering collaboration and inclusivity.
Kenneth Priestley Award
Established by the Associated Students, the Cal Alumni Association, and friends in memory of Kenneth Priestley, the Kenneth Priestley Award recognizes a “graduating senior who is outstanding in student leadership and contribution to student welfare.”
Winner: Kenneth Ng, who has played a pivotal role in advancing student engagement within the newly established College of Computing, Data Science, and Society (CDSS). As ASUC Academic Affairs Vice President, he has fostered a highly productive partnership between CDSS leadership and the ASUC, ensuring that student voices are meaningfully incorporated into the college’s structure. Beyond advocacy, Kenneth has worked tirelessly in both CDSS and the Mathematical and Physical Sciences Division (MPS). He has served as a mentor and leader in his department, Physics, further demonstrating his dedication to his peers.