This past academic year, seven individuals were honored at this year’s annual Student Leadership Awards banquet on April 14, hosted by the division of student affairs. Individuals were presented with a variety of awards entailing their servitude to Notre Dame and inspiring faith for others around campus.
Senior Frances Ubogu was awarded The Rev. Theodore M. Hesburgh, C.S.C., Award, which highlights a graduating senior whose leadership and involvement on the University’s campus promotes an inclusive and welcoming environment. She expressed that a large part of her success was due to the unwavering support of her parents and faith that continually inspired her.
“It is largely due to my family’s support. I have a couple of mentors and my faith that have just continued pushing me to be my best. I honestly think that it has been a combination of those two factors that have kept moving me forward,” Ubogu said.
Senior Gabriella Searl received the Blessed Basil Moreau, C.S.C., Leadership Award in honor of her hosting a weekly rosary in Howard Hall, which specifically aimed at enhancing the faith life of students within the residence halls. The award is given to a student who enhances the Catholic character of the University.
Searl, similarly to Ubogu, expressed that contributing to the overall enhancement of Notre Dame in aspects of community faith posed no challenge but rather an engaging and enriching communal opportunity for herself and her residential community.
“Faith has always been a community thing ... Then I had the opportunity to start taking it on by myself in high school and college. I just realized that no matter what happens, one dependable thing in my life is God and my faith, so I’m going to stay true to that no matter what their highs and lows are. And I went through many highs and many lows, but the community was always there on Sunday evenings,” Searl said.
Senior Melody Padilla was presented the John W. Gardner Student Leadership Award. The award is given to a student that pursues service both directly on campus and outside of Notre Dame.
Padilla, a theology major with a minor in business economics, expressed that her roles as a volunteer at La Casa De Amistad, vice president of outreach for UndocuAlly ND, an anchor Intern in Campus Ministry, a Mercy Works leader and as a student researcher for both the Institute for Ethics and the Common Good and the Klau Institute for Civil and Human Rights allowed her to cultivate a path towards social enhancement.
When asked who inspired her career in service, Padilla expressed that her study abroad professor was a key figure in viewing research as an approachable aspect of academia.
“My professor from Mexico, when I did my semester abroad, [was] professor Maria Lopez. She’s so epic. I think the U.S. is so machine based when it comes to doing research, so having someone who’s very much human interacting in research with people was inspiring,” Padilla said.
Senior Allison O’Connor, a graduate of the Mendoza business honors program received the Ray Siegfried Award for Leadership Excellence. Siegfried was known for being generous, devoted to the Catholic faith, leadership and passion for Notre Dame athletics.
O’Connor expressed that being directly involved with other students which held similar passion to cultivating a positive campus environment led to her dedication and interest into the Notre Dame Student Government.
“Honestly, it was my friends and my teammates at least. We see the government, just seeing Dawson and even how much they truly cared about the University of Notre Dame and our fellow students really inspired me every day just to go to the University. Even my teams ... girls showing up every day, giving 110% of the matter of what they were going through, was always really inspiring,” O’Connor said.
Through her time at Notre Dame, O’Connor was heavily involved in Student Government and served as chief of staff during the 2024-2025 academic year. She was also an athlete on the women’s varsity rowing team. O’Connor expressed that students should not limit themselves in the beginning of their college careers.
“I would say don’t limit yourself. If there’s something that you want to go for ... definitely go for it. [The] sky’s the limit [and] you never know what’s going to stick and where you’ll find your groove. Just be patient with yourself,” O’Connor stated.
Senior James Grammig was a recipient of The Mike Russo Spirit Award. The award honors an undergraduate who distinguished themselves in character quality and extracurricular involvement. Grammig is a Crowley Family Scholar and a former resident assistant in O’Neill Family Hall. He discussed that despite being sick throughout the second semester of his freshman year, he still felt like he was part of a community through his dorm section in O’Neill Hall.
“I just remember the most impactful year was definitely my freshman year during my winter break [when] I got pretty sick. I actually had to miss the whole second semester and I was in a hospital for a month and not really looking at my phone or devices. And I remember, coming out of this and looking at my phone for the first time and just seeing hundreds of messages from guys in my section and my RA at the time,” Grammig said.
Gramming urged individuals to create a Notre Dame that inspires them and that they cannot wait to wake up and become involved with every day.
“I think the biggest thing is to go out of my comfort zone, especially with joining clubs and similar groups to those,” Gramming said.
