2026 Office of Engaged Learning Banquet Celebrates Leadership, Scholarship, Citizenship, and Ambassadorship
WACO, Texas (April 30, 2026) — Baylor University’s Office of Engaged Learning (OEL) honored students, faculty, staff, and community partners at its annual banquet Thursday evening, celebrating a year of achievement in leadership, research, civic engagement, and global learning.
Held at the Paul L. Foster Campus for Business and Innovation, the banquet brought together members of the Baylor and Waco communities to recognize individuals and programs that exemplify Baylor’s mission to educate students for worldwide leadership and service. The evening included dinner and formal recognition of award recipients, engaged learning instructors, undergraduate researchers, and national and international fellowship recipients.
“The Office of Engaged Learning exists to help students connect what they are learning in the classroom with lives of purpose, service, and leadership,” said Andrew Hogue, PhD, associate dean for engaged learning. “Tonight, we celebrate a community of students, faculty, and partners who model what it means to learn deeply, lead courageously, and serve the common good.”
Student Awards Highlight Excellence in Engaged Learning
Several of OEL’s highest student honors were presented during the program. The Myles Horton Award for Leadership was awarded to Sahil Billakanti and Julianna Canas, recognizing their leadership and commitment to positive social change. The Robin Wall Kimmerer Award for Scholarship honored Aliyah Ogden and Luke Walther for excellence in research and scholarly engagement grounded in community and ethics.
Recipients of the Fannie Lou Hamer Award for Citizenship, Nicole Day and Alizay Mohamed, were recognized for civic leadership and sustained service, while Eliza Denley and Mason Gregory received the Madeleine Albright Award for Ambassadorship for their work fostering global understanding and representing Baylor beyond campus.
"We are extraordinarily proud of these students for the ways they have enhanced life at Baylor and beyond," noted Jennifer Good, PhD, Director of Citizen Scholar Development in the OEL. "These are people who exemplify all the best of what we advocate in our work."
Honoring Community and Campus Partnerships
The banquet also emphasized the essential role of partnerships in engaged learning. Mission Waco received the OEL Community Partner Award for its longstanding collaboration with Baylor and its impact on student learning and the greater Waco community. The OEL Campus Partner Awards were presented to Rebecca Kennedy and Tres Bodet for their leadership and collaboration in advancing engaged learning opportunities across the university.
“Engaged learning is never a solo effort,” said Rebecca Flavin, PhD, Director of Engaged Learning Curriculum. “Our community and campus partners expand what’s possible for students by opening doors to meaningful, real‑world experiences.”
Faculty Excellence and Instructor Recognition
Faculty members whose teaching and mentorship support high‑impact learning were honored through the Elizabeth Vardaman Awards, which recognize excellence in mentoring undergraduates. This year’s recipients were Dr. Kara Poe Alexander (English), Dr. Gabrielle Miller (Spanish), Dr. Lauren Barron (Medical Humanities), Dr. Jacques Nguyen (Psychology and Neuroscience), Dr. Jane Damron (Communication), and Dr. Jay Yoo (Human Sciences and Design).
Dozens of additional faculty and staff were recognized as Philanthropy & Public Service Instructors and Engaged Learning Course Instructors, reflecting Baylor’s broad institutional commitment to experiential, community‑based education.
“Our faculty are the heart of engaged learning at Baylor,” said Daniel Benyousky, PhD, Director of Major Fellowships & Awards. “They challenge students to connect intellectual rigor with responsibility to others, both locally and globally.”
Recognizing Scholars and High‑Impact Opportunities
The program also recognized students participating in many of Baylor’s signature engaged learning initiatives, including Provost’s Scholars, Vardaman Scholars, URSA grants, Collins Scholars, and Baylor Summer Fellows.
Students were additionally recognized for achievements in national and international fellowships, including Fulbright Award semifinalists and winners, a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellowship finalist, Rotary Global Grant winners, and Harry S. Truman Scholarship finalists, highlighting Baylor students’ growing national and global impact.
“These achievements reflect years of mentorship, curiosity, and courage,” said Mark Richards, Associate Director for Operations, Innovation, and Programs, who presented several of the evening’s recognitions. “They show what happens when students are supported in pursuing ambitious goals.”
Celebrating a Shared Commitment to Purposeful Learning
The banquet concluded with reflections on the collective impact of engaged learning at Baylor and the shared responsibility of nurturing students who are prepared to serve and lead. In her closing remarks, Mona Choucair, PhD, Resident Faculty Fellow in the OEL, emphasized that the evening’s recognitions represent a broader culture of collaboration and care.
“The stories we celebrate tonight remind us that engaged learning is not just about experiences,” Choucair said. “It is about formation—who our students are becoming and how they will serve the world.”