Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center
Submit this form to cast your vote for the Annual Awards Gala! Each ECC-affiliated RSO can vote TWICE. We recommend having a president and/or vice-president vote on behalf of your RSO. Any additional votes after the second submission will be disregarded. We appreciate your input and your dedication to continued student leadership!
Here are your nominees for the 21st Annual GALA Awards! VOTING CLOSES MAY 10, 5:00PM. We will announce the winners at the 2024 Annual Awards Gala, held on May 16 at the Ethnic Cultural Center, 5-7pm.
Commitment to Community and Service
The Purple Group
Nomination Testimonials:
- “Their community service has extended beyond the UW Seattle campus boundaries. There was a health care enrollment teach-in during winter quarter that allowed parents of UW students to attend virtually and in-person at the ECC. Purple Group has shown up and spoken out about employment eligibility and protections at SAB meetings. I love how Purple Group is able to fundraise with the Gammas and the Knights in the Multicultural Greek Council.”
Black Student Union
Nomination Testimonials:
- “The Black Student Union has been at the forefront of uplifting news and protests for Palestine, a partnered effort with Super UW. On campus they collaborate with Latine Student Union to explore historical collaborations and the use of artistic expression. They hosted a mutual aid teach-in. This was informative and perfect for their commitment throughout the Tukwila mutual aid project in Winter quarter. They spread information to help book hotels or rentals for new persons arriving at the Riverton Church during the severe weather period, and extend the rentals as much as possible for the 60 refugee families in Tukwila. Ain’t no power like people power!!!”
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Nomination Testimonials:
- “I nominated this RSO because of their support beyond SHPE, including but not limited to:
- hosting a community blanket making event and donating them
- tabling at an elementary schools science night to encourage the next generation of engineers
- providing professional development through resume reviews, interview practices, and networking events”
Unidas Seremos
Nomination Testimonials:
- “I nominate Unidas Seremos because of their commitment to community service. They are always hosting events that cater to the community and are constantly encouraging their members to support them. Recently, they hosted a clean street event for Earth Day and were able to pick up so much trash!”
SKY@UW
Nomination Testimonials:
- “This RSO works towards bringing mental well-being on campus through meditation. They have fun events like Paint an Meditate, Declutter Your Mind. Their meditation workshops are really amazing at building a sense of community through bringing awareness about emotional intelligence.”
Sikh Student Association
Nomination Testimonials:
- “SSA has done community service events as well as many community building events. This includes events like Seva for Shelters, Youth Akhand Paath, Kirtan night, and many more. SSA is an RSO that is committed to raising awareness about Sikhism and educating people on who Sikhs are.”
Nikkei Student Association
Nomination Testimonials:
- “They hosted an event called “Day of Remembrance” to commemorate the wrongful incarceration of many Japanese Americans in the 1940s. There, they had speakers from the Japanese American community touch on the history and their ancestors’ own experiences. They also touched on its similarities to the topic of immigration and deportation and the similarities between the two by inviting a grassroots organization called La Resistencia to speak. The event encouraged more involvement in not only the Japanese American community, but also support for organizations of other ethnic backgrounds.”
Outstanding Collaboration and Participation
Salsa Club
Nomination Testimonials:
- “I nominate UW Salsa club because they strive to create an inclusive environment and community. UW Salsa club officers work hard every week to put on beginners-intermediate lessons in both salsa and bachata, even bringing professionals from local studios. Beyond doing regular collaborations with Swing Kinds and Tango club, UW salsa club also hosts a large-scale social every quarter that promotes connection between the UW community and the greater Seattle dance community.”
Chicanos/Latinx for Community Medicine
Nomination Testimonials:
- “This RSO has made great effort in collaborating with other RSOs and provided a welcoming environment to everyone. Not only with RSOs, they also prepared meetings with outside organizations. This overall has provided opportunities for members.”
- “Great collaboration this year. Included many other RSOs on campus that contributed to the expansion of the RSO. Also made it very welcoming to many ethnic groups.”
- “This organization has done an incredible job of bringing together members of different communities to advocate for BIPOC representation in healthcare and STEM. We’ve channeled solidarity by coming together with students from the Black community through collaborations with Africans in Medicine and National Society for Black Health Professionals – together we spoke of medical racism and how we can be anti-racist when serving vulnerable patient populations. We’ve also strengthened our presence in the Latine community with a number of collaborations with Latine RSOs, some of which include Unidas Seremos, MEChA, and the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers. Through these collaborations we have supported our communities, even creating care packages for Washington migrant workers and collecting clothing donations during Farmworker’s Awareness Week. Most recently CCM has collaborated with the largest Neuroscience RSO on campus – Grey Matters, where we discussed representation in the sciences and wrote letters to elderly folks in retirement homes. Aside form ECC affiliated RSOs, we have brought in multiple professionals from the UW School of Medicine, Seattle Children’s, Harborview Medical Center, along with many more in order to provide our members with the resources and connections they need to make a lasting impact in the future.”
- “I nominate this RSO for this category because they have shown their commitment to forming community within the ECC community by forming partnerships and collaborations with many organizations on campus that include: washpirg, Unidas Seremos, SHPE, Africans in medicine, OSHR, and Grey Matters journal. This RSO has shown their willingness to form community with others through these collaborations. Not only are they dedicated to [forming a] community, but also uplifting others in the process.”
Taiko Kai
Nomination Testimonials:
- “I nominate Taiko Kai because they have practices at the ECC 3 times a week and frequently interact with ECC student leaders and staff! A particular event they hosted was the Taiko Kai Alumni Potluck, which was a wonderful way to give back to both the ECC and our wonderful alumni. Not only did more than 50 people show up in participation but we also showed collaboration when we set up drums and played songs for each other!”
Khmer Student Association
Nomination Testimonials:
- “I nominated this RSO because they built a strong relationship with LaoSA and ThaiSA to successfully plan a winter formal. This was the formal that KhSA had planned in almost a decade and they decided to work collaboratively with two other RSOs that aren’t as active and don’t have as much funding to work with. Not only was the formal executed very well but KhSA now has a very close relationship with LaoSA and ThaiSA and hopes to collaborate with them again in the future.”
Latine Student Union
Nomination Testimonials:
- “LSU has been growing in numbers we haven’t seen before and we had to adjust in new ways. LSU has increased their executive board, and now represents our community [with] more efficiency and flexibility. Our member numbers have increased and participation has been crazy which enabled us to collab with RSO’s like BSU and ISLA!!!”
- “LSU has collaborated with various organizations such as the Black Student Union, Indigenous Students of Latin America, Purple Group, and many more to create deeper and stronger ties with our diverse UW community. Additionally, LSU has successfully attracted members from all backgrounds, making our community a diverse beacon on campus that appeals to both Latine and diverse students’ needs. Finally, we have expanded our political advocacy and outreach for students, making us much more involved with on-campus issues.”
- “This year Latine Student Union has focused on building solidarity within our own community and across different communities as well. We have collaborated with Latine organizations such as Purple Group, ISLA, and MECHA (collab coming in a couple weeks!). We have also collaborated with groups such as BSU and SUPER and have brought in community members for our meetings.”
MESH
Nomination Testimonials:
- “Mesh has been [an] outstanding example of collaborative effort. From working to support local enthusiasts through helping them teach specialized workshops to holding a large exposition event with an incredible amount of moving parts, MESH continues to provide a space for passionate creators to explore local resources and begin/continue their creative journeys. They’ve even been collaborating with other RSO’s that relate to fashion, ultimately creating spaces for niche hobbies where two RSO’s align!”
- “Throughout this year, Mesh has continually contributed to the ECC community while also building their own community internally in the club and building connections externally. In February, they held the Scene: a Mesh Fashion Exposition that brought together fashion-related RSOs, external fashion organizations, and multiple speakers and alumni to put together networking resources for their members to learn more about the Seattle fashion scene. Throughout the year, they have also collaborated with multiple on-campus RSOs to bring educational workshops and content to their community.”
Breakout Organization
Khmer Student Association
Nomination Testimonials:
- “Since COVID, KhSA has started from scratch and this year, they established additional roles and learned how to delegate tasks. KhSA has become more organized which made meetings and events more engaging and meaningful. This year, they collaborated with Lao Student Association and Thai Student Association to create a winter formal. They also sold out on their annual Khmer New Year show again, with 500 people in attendance at the HUB Ballroom. This included Khmer community members and a variety of other members who came to support the mission to uplift Khmer youth and teach Khmer culture.”
First Generation Leaders in Law
Nomination Testimonials:
- “FGLL has done an outstanding job in building a community for first generation students with aspirations to pursue law. They have successfully executed their goal to inform and provide tools, resources, and knowledge to historically disadvantaged student demographics with an interest in law. Additionally, FGLL has built relations with very well respected organizations in the Seattle area, such as the Seattle Clemency Project, and have built strong relationships with other UW RSOs such as First Generation Leaders in Business, and the UW chapter of House of Wisdom, among many others. Despite being a new RSO, FGLL has created an amazing community and a support network for first generation leaders in law at UW.”
- “FGLL has been around for only a year, and within that year, we have garnered 500 social media followers and about 30 consistent club members. We have been able to offer our members various professional development events throughout the year, and have created a community amongst underrepresented individuals in the pre-law/policy fields. We are also in the process of establishing a mentorship program in partnership with UW Law School, which we are planning to fully launch next year. We are very proud of all that we have been able to accomplish within just a year!!”
Lao Student Association
Nomination Testimonials:
- “I nominated this RSO because of their remarkable growth and impact throughout the year! Despite having to start over in 2023, they quickly amassed a following of 200+ on Instagram and developed a new community for Lao students and those interested in learning about Lao culture to gather together. Through a diverse array of events like Lao artifact explorations at the Burke Museum, potlucks, and general meetings, they effectively promoted, educated, and preserved Lao culture on UW campus, which had been dormant since 2018. They also forged partnerships with key community organizations in the greater Seattle area such as the Lao Community Service Center (LCSC) and United Communities of Laos (UCL). Their community involvement in events such as the 2024 Miss Lao Washington LCSC pageant, where they assisted in cleanup, the UCL Summer Retreat, where they prepared breakfast for over 150+ community members and led a hiking activity, and the UCL Summer Festival, where they served as vendors for community outreach showcased their commitment to service and community engagement. Additionally, their initiative to host a UW Seattle campus tour for underrepresented Lao-American communities demonstrates their dedication to advocating for higher education access. In collaboration with other student organizations, they’ve not only established a clear and distinct identity but have also set a precedent for collaborative and inclusive event planning, as seen in their Winter Formal (with Khmer Student Association and Thai Student Association) and Summer Picnic (with Hmong Social Club). Overall, their rapid growth, impactful partnerships, and collaborative spirit make them a standout candidate for this award!”
Origami Club
Nomination Testimonials:
- “This year Origami Club has truly grown as a club. Each week they’ve coordinated a different theme for origami for members of all experience levels to enjoy. They have expanded their visibility by advertising events through newsletters, flyers, and a variety of social media posts. Some events they’ve held this year include holiday parties, origami destressing workshops, movie nights, and group origami activities. Some group origami activities they’ve done during club include modular origami, origami sumo wrestling, origami pranks, and paper airplane competitions. Furthermore, Origami Club has partnered with a wide variety of organizations on campus. They partnered with the RSO center during HUB crawl to assist in guiding origami basics, hosted an Art Booth during Grey Matter’s Cultural Showcase at the ECC, volunteered at Nikkei Student Union’s DOR to teach origami ikebana, partnered with TYAPN’s fundraiser in making origami flowers, promoted the club during the Japanese Program Spring Mixer, and hosted a joint RSO collaboration with Pokémon Trainer Club to do Pokémon Origami with. Origami Club also hosted a fundraiser with Meraki Tea Bar to raise money to hold more origami club events in the future.”
Black at Foster
Nomination Testimonials:
- “I nominate Black@Foster for the Breakout Organization award. Comprised of the Association of Black Business Students (ABBS) and the UW-Chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants (NABA), they have fostered a supportive community while offering invaluable professional opportunities and leadership development. Throughout the year, Black@Foster has showcased remarkable growth in programming, membership, visibility, and community outreach within Seattle and King County. They have solidified a unique identity while collaborating effectively with other student organizations like FGBL doing resume-building events, celebrating black history month and Chinese New Year with a collab movie night, and giving back by making hygiene kits for unhoused women during a philanthropy event with UWIB and a diversity mixer with AMA, UWib, ABSA, UWBA & Alpfa. This year we’ve hosted AMAZON, EY, KPMG, PwC, RSM& Delitteo for panels, workshops, fireside chats, and professional development. A Black@Foster epitomizes excellence and innovation, making them truly deserving of this recognition.”
Gamma Alpha Omega
Nomination Testimonials:
- “Joining last year it was clear Gamma Alpha Omega was not known to others and even some in the multicultural Greek council. I feel like this year we strived to make a name for ourselves and create an identity that would attract like minded individuals. We’ve done lots of fundraising and community service where we reached out to the youth of the greater Seattle area. As well as, helping those in need through food, clothes, and school supply drives. Our presence I hope has been shown and viewed in a good light.”
Africans in Medicine
Nomination Testimonials:
- “I nominate this RSO because this year is their first year and they have made excellent progress and growth at a newly starting organization. They have created numerous and resourceful events and partnered with multiple well established organizations that have impacted so many students on campus. They have shown that they deserve this award for their involvement in the community at UW.”
Most Impactful Programming
National Organization of Minority Architecture Students - UW Chapter
Nomination Testimonials:
- “NOMAS UW has created a month-long series for AANHPI Month including firm tours, guest panelist discussions, portfolio and resume reviews, and a happy hour night. Another event series took place in February where NOMAS UW created an event series for black history month that includes a collaboration with a local black food truck, a panelist discussion with black professionals in Seattle, and a round table discussion on afrofuturism. NOMAS UW also is committed to engaging the college of built environments through education by hosting a BIPOC Architecture trivia night.”
Nikkei Student Union
Nomination Testimonials:
- “Nikkei Student Union (NSU) held their annual Day of Remembrance (DOR) event in February to remember the impacts of Executive Order 9066 that led to the incarceration of over 100,000 Japanese Americans during World War II in 1942. This event also collaborated with La Resistencia to discuss the present-day connection with the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma, where undocumented families of color are incarcerated in poor living conditions, and rally attendees for an upcoming protest.After having smaller scale DOR events due to the pandemic, this was the first time scaling up the event by obtaining and managing a larger budget to include more speakers, a larger venue to support a larger audience, and activities and dinner to promote discussion and connection between people. Volunteers from NSU as well as the UW Origami Club supported speakers and attendees to make things run as smoothly as possible.This educational event was open to anyone, including those who may have had little knowledge regarding this history, or those from historically oppressed communities. NSU did extensive outreach, leading to a great diversity of backgrounds, with attendance from ECC-affiliated RSO members, general UW students, and community members of the greater Seattle area.”
Organization of the Year
Chicanos/Latinx for Community Medicine
Nomination Testimonials:
- “As a first-year student, I wanted to find a community of individuals that would impact my time here at UW. When I attended my first CCM meeting everyone was so welcoming, and nice. Everyone wants the best for each other and the amount of support/wisdom the upperclassmen have given me has been extremely helpful as I navigate my first year at UW.”
- “At every CCM event I have felt welcomed and supported to go after my professional health inspirations. CCM has provided numerous of resources to learn how to succeed in STEM courses and has created a supportive environment for students to feel empowered as they navigate STEM at this large institution. Despite being an upperclassman I have learned so much about the different health professional opportunities and this has been facilitated by the professional panels and social events with health grad students that CCM has consistently held throughout the year. CCM has worked to provide a community for all interested students and has also prioritized giving back to the surrounding community through the diverse community service events they have led.”
- “This RSO has been very welcoming to new members and has established a safe space for new students. This RSO has also shown students about different career paths in medicine with the different speakers they have every week. Overall, CCM has made the first year at UW an enjoyable one.”
- “This organization has worked relentlessly to make a space for not only Latine students, but also students from other underrepresented backgrounds. We have collaborated with other cultural healthcare organizations, several of these events included faculty from numerous branches of UW Medicine. These meetings have allowed members to learn about healthcare disparities, become connected for shadowing and internship opportunities, practice their suturing skills, and much more. Being a minority student pursuing a historically gatekept profession at a PWI is incredibly difficult, however, the existence of CCM and our long history of success (producing doctors and medical students such as Brian Cedeno and Irvin Garcia from Foos in Medicine at UCLA Medical School), has fostered a supportive community where all students from marginalized communities feel safe being themselves. This year has been a true testament to our work as we have had an increase in membership and membership retention which has allowed us to fundraise money to provide a scholarship for the first time in a few years. With this momentum and your consideration in this award, CCM has great potential in playing a larger role where we may advocate for health policies that pertain to our communities.”
- “I nominate this RSO because they have provided an open space for all students to go and learn more about all fields related to medicine. They also provide really helpful informational meetings with medical professionals from all backgrounds to learn more about their careers and experiences. Lastly, they offer a friendly and welcoming environment to new and prospective members.”
- “I nominate this RSO because they have given me community and long lasting relationships within the Latinx community on UW, and within the larger UW campus. They have given me the chance to meet and form partnerships with different organizations on campus that have the same goals of giving resources and communities to marginalized communities and voices. They have also shown me the different possibilities I have within the field of medicine throughout their consistent and well attended meetings. This organization has a great retention rate which shows how important and beneficial it is to the Latinx community on campus and why it deserves organization of the year.”
Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers
Nomination Testimonials:
- “SHPE changes lives by empowering the community to realize its fullest potential and to impact the world through STEM awareness, access, support, and development. SHPE takes responsibility for its collective strength and passion by developing communities, building a diverse and inclusive membership, and challenging each other to be our best. SHPE acts on a foundation of service. committed to delivering the highest levels of quality, integrity, and ethical behavior. We embrace our diverse cultures and communities, which enable us to adapt, thrive, and persist with optimism. SHPE is a home away from home while college is a hard time for students SHPE builds a bond with all its members making them feel welcomed and comfortable, and there is a place on campus where they can call home and members they can call famila… that’s what the SHPE Familia is.”
- “They make students feel welcomed regardless of their background. SHPE has provided many professional experiences to their members leading them to internships and jobs. This organization remains true to their values.”
- “SHPE has helped me find a home away from home at UW. Among the emphasis of community, they are always trying to help the professional development of minorities in STEM to get the best opportunities available. SHPE is dedicated to helping all those who want to pursue a career in STEM to achieve their goals.”
- “This RSO supported me through my first year at UW. It maintained a perfect balance between professional development and community building. I attended a resume workshop they hosted and after using the feedback I was given I got a summer internship. I also appreciated the fun events they had like blanket making and slime crafts. These fun events gave me a space where I could take a break from midterms and destress. Overall it gives me a great community of people who look like me and are aspiring to achieve similar goals I have.”
- “SHPE has given me a community on campus that offers both resources and familia. Through our social outings, professional development, and outreach events I have grown a lot as a person. My favorite memory was SHPE convention where I had the opportunity to interview with top engineering companies and get a job!”
- “SHPE UW deserves to be org of the year because they produce a tangible difference in our community. They provide knowledge and a healthy environment for hispanics in stem to explore who they want to be, and give them the tools needed for success in their careers. One example was their resume workshop, where professionals helped students strengthen their resumes, opening the doors for them to advance their career.”
Latine Student Union
Nomination Testimonials:
- “LSU has reached every goal we have had since we began three years ago. Our growth from then to now is no small feat, and LSU had to adjust and overcome obstacles we hadn’t had to face before when it meant accommodating such a large student group. LSU has also been advocating for the Latine identity in ASUW Senate and ensuring everyone has a voice on campus, and they don’t have to be Latine.”
Origami Club
Nomination Testimonials:
- “This year Origami Club has truly grown as a club. Each week they’ve coordinated a different theme for origami for members of all experience levels to enjoy. They have expanded their visibility by advertising events through newsletters, flyers, and a variety of social media posts. Some events they’ve held this year include holiday parties, origami destressing workshops, movie nights, and group origami activities. Some group origami activities they’ve done during club include modular origami, origami sumo wrestling, origami pranks, and paper airplane competitions. Furthermore, Origami Club has partnered with a wide variety of organizations on campus. They partnered with the RSO center during HUB crawl to assist in guiding origami basics, hosted an Art Booth during Grey Matter’s Cultural Showcase at the ECC, volunteered at Nikkei Student Union’s DOR to teach origami ikebana, partnered with TYAPN’s fundraiser in making origami flowers, promoted the club during the Japanese Program Spring Mixer, and hosted a joint RSO collaboration with Pokémon Trainer Club to do Pokémon Origami with. Origami Club also hosted a fundraiser with Meraki Tea Bar to raise money to hold more origami club events in the future.”
Unidas Seremos
Nomination Testimonials:
- “This organization has an amazing retention rate throughout the year with their amazingly planned meetings. This organization also has given me community and friendships through their community service events and their informational sessions regarding important issues. This organization empowers and gives community to Latina women which is needed on the UW campus.”
Lambda Theta Alpha Latin Sorority, Inc.
Nomination Testimonials:
- “LTA has hosted/co-hosted over thirty events this past year focused on the growth of sisters and others to engage in community building and personal development. These events include a Negotiation Workshop for women of color, Big Man On Campus for the YWCA, which helps women and children experiencing domestic violence, and the annual Volleyball tournament fundraiser for St. Judes. LTA focuses on academics to professionally represent women of color on campus and services on and off campus.”
The Black Student Journal
Nomination Testimonials:
- “The Black Student Journal, having only been a running organization for a year, has amassed a large membership, created a community for black student artists, and held successful social activism events. The Black Student Journal has published three Issue’s during this time, creating a platform for more than five dozen black students. They’ve also held Launch Parties that have provided space for students to share their poetry, art, and talents. They’ve done collaborations with organizations such as the Black Student Union for a Poetry Slam, The African Student Association and Somali Student Association, to hold a protest for Sudan, Congo, and against campus Islamophobia. They’ve also collaborated with SUPER UW in order to hold a fundraiser screening for Palestine during this time. Through all of this, they also ran a monthly book club, creating more of a space for black students to explore their uncelebrated interests and passions. In collaboration with the Queer Student Commission, the Black Student Journal has also created an ongoing series titled The Black Queer Reading group, in which queer students discuss their identities and experiences with race, sexuality, and gender. All in all, the Black Student Journal has done a service to black, queer, muslim, creative students on campus by being a multi-purpose organization that serves to address all of these identities.”
National Organization of Minority Architecture Students - UW Chapter
Nomination Testimonials:
- “They have created insightful programming to advance representation for architecture students at the College of the Built Environments. NOMAS UW has instituted month-long series for AANHPI Month and Black History Month bringing in diverse voices from the Seattle architecture community to engage with students and provide avenues for expression and learning. NOMAS UW is also committed to highlighting student voices and filling the gaps left by the built environments that students of color routinely fall through.”
