Celebration of Excellence

Our 2024 Award categories are as follows:

• The IDEA Allyship & Advocate Award: This award is given to an individual who promotes the needs and experiences of all members of the Caltech community and challenges systemic barriers that impede members of marginalized identities from contributing their skills and talents at Caltech. Such actions include raising awareness, inspiring action, cultivating an inclusive environment, advocating for an equitable campus climate, and leading efforts to dismantle structural barriers that uphold oppression and discrimination.

• The IDEA Outreach and Education Award: This award is given to individuals who teach and inspire interest in inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility in the community at large through learning experiences and service. This person takes the initiative to participate in civic engagement through volunteerism, service-learning, and teaching initiatives as a change agent in the community outside of Caltech.

• The Candace Rypisi Outstanding Mentor Award: This award is given to individuals who are willing to share knowledge and enhance their mentee's professional and personal development. This person has provided emotional and moral support and encouragement while improving or helping facilitate access to career-related information and exposure to various professional resources. This awardee is someone who actively promotes their mentee's sense of competence, confidence, and belonging.

• The CCID Agent of Change Award: This award is given to individuals embodying servant leadership through a demonstrated commitment to steering institutional change within the Caltech community. This person takes the initiative and has the vision to translate a need into actionable steps or policy to create a legacy and a more inclusive campus climate.

• The CCID Activist Scholar Award: This award is given to individuals who demonstrated excellence within their discipline and research while engaging in complex social justice issues. This awardee has led or participated in advocacy campaigns centering on the experiences of minoritized identities and provided vision and leadership in forming affinity spaces and targeted support programs.

• NEW AWARD- The Houses and Residences IDEA Award: The Houses and Residences IDEA Award celebrates exceptional individuals who excel in fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment within the Houses and Residences. Their unwavering commitment ensures that each resident feels a deep sense of belonging and support. These leaders drive positive transformation by nurturing inclusive dialogues and instilling a strong sense of community through their advocacy. Through their efforts, they create an environment where everyone can flourish in Houses and Residences.

• NEW AWARD- The Inclusive Laboratory Engagement Award: The Inclusive Laboratory Engagement Award celebrates exceptional individuals who excel in their discipline and in fostering a vibrant and inclusive environment within the graduate student and/or post-doc community, particularly in the laboratory setting. They strive to ensure that each person feels a deep sense of belonging and support. These leaders foster an environment for collaborative research and learning. Through their efforts, they create an environment where everyone can thrive in their academic and research pursuits.

*The Agent of Change and Activist Scholar Awards were introduced in 2021. Dr. William "Bil" Clemons Jr., and Sarah Sam were the inaugural recipients for their dedication and leadership in moving the campus community forward in becoming a more inclusion and equitable environment.*

The IDEA Ally Award: Melissa Li

The IDEA Advocate Award: Claire Ralph

The IDEA Outreach and Education Award: David Cagan

The CCID Agent of Change Award: Maria Manzanares

The CCID Activist Scholar Award: Arianne Hunter

The Candace Rypisi Outstanding Mentor Award: Alexander Viloria Winnett

The Outstanding Mentee Award: Jenni Ji

The IDEA Ally Award: Rebeccah Warmack & Shreya Anand

The IDEA Advocate Award: Lily Dove & Adam Wierman

The IDEA Outreach and Education Award: Shelley Diamond

The CCID Agent of Change Award: Melany Hunt

The CCID Activist Scholar Award: Levi Palmer & Jennifer Yu

The Candace Rypisi Outstanding Mentor Award: Claire Saunders

The Outstanding Mentee Award: Anastasiya Grebin

2021: Maura Dykstra, Peter Collopy

2020: Dawna Bagherian, Elena Mantovan

2019: Sofie Leon, Melissa Gutierrez

2018: Douglas Rees, William Schmidt, Jr.

2017: Bil Clemons, Trixia Buscagan

2016: Beverly McKeon, Emily Blythe

2015: Liz Jackman, Grace Leishman

2014: Victoria Orphan, Samantha "Pixie" Piszkeiwicz

2013: Michele Judd, Brice Nzeukou

2012: Raul Navarro, Anastasios Dimitriadis

2011: Joseph Shepherd, Teresa Juarez

2010: Shelly Diamond

2009: Neka Williams, David Doll, Greg Fletcher

2008: Ana Salazar, James Endrizzi

2021: Renee Wang, Abigail Jiang

2020: Dessie DiMino, Niv Karthikeyan

2019: Melany Hunt, Stephanie Threatt, Sophus Shackford

2018: Sarah Reisman, Sarah Sam

2017: Jennifer Weaver, Nikita Sirohi

2016: Harry Atwater, Stephanie Huard

2015: Portia B. Harris, Matt Gethers

2014: Larissa Charnsangavej, Wilton Mui, Marcella Gomez

2013: Karly Brockett, Chinenye Indigo

2012: Mary Neary Morley, Justin Liu

2011: Megan Dobero, Barbara Green

2010: Raul Gutierrez, Brandon Comella

2009: Donatela Bellone, Amy Trangsrud

2008: Aric Fitz-Coy, Geoffrey Lovely

2021: Ella Watkins-Dulaney

2018: Leah Sabbeth / Stephanie Kwan

2017: Ivanna Escala / Mohar Chatterjee

2016: Katharine Saad / Alicia Lanz

2015: Moureen Kemei / Leah Dodson

2014: Suzanne Kern / Xi Xi

2013: Jill Craven / Sunita Darbe

2021: John Bostick/Alexia Kim, Athena Kolli