About the Honoree
John Price, a career YMCA professional, served as the International Programs Director of the University YMCA from 1950 to 1968. Under his leadership, hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and community members gained a special appreciation for the international richness of Champaign-Urbana and the special gifts that people of many cultures bring to the University of Illinois campus. Through his example and programs, students now spread around the globe a special commitment to international peace and understanding. John gave active leadership to the Cosmopolitan Club and International Student and Scholar Services (formerly the Office of International Student Affairs) where he served as a staff member following his tenure at the University Y.
About the Award
Given to a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign who has shown a commitment to international understanding by organizing and delivering international programs and services. John Price, a career YMCA professional, served as the International Programs Director of the University YMCA from 1950 to 1968. Under his leadership, hundreds of students, staff, faculty, and community members gained a special appreciation for the international richness of Champaign-Urbana and the special gifts that people of many cultures bring to the University of Illinois campus. Through his example and programs, students now spread around the globe a special commitment to international peace and understanding. John gave active leadership to the Cosmopolitan Club and International Student and Scholar Services (formerly the Office of International Student Affairs) where he served as a staff member following his tenure at the University Y.
Kristina Serrano, 2023-24 Recipient
Kristina Serrano is a Senior at the University of Illinois majoring in Interdisciplinary Health Sciences with a concentration in Health Diversity, and a minor in Sociology. As a peer educator with the McKinley Health Center, she has touched the lives of many students on campus, and as a student leader at the University YMCA serving as the President of I-Cause (Illinois Coalition of Assissting Undocumented Students Education), she has led a dynamic coalition in advancing equity in postsecondary education for all students regardless of documentation status.
This past fall Kristina helped to organize and lead an educational and advocacy trip for students to Washington, D.C. The purpose was to learn more about and draw lawmakers’ attention to pathways to employment for those with undocumented or uncertain immigration statuses. With only a few weeks' notice, Kristina was able to organize dozens of her peers to join others from around the country in the Capitol. At the same time, she ensured I-Cause kept focus on its ongoing, robust advocacy, education, and supportive programming on campus for undocumented and DACAmented students, including its successful efforts to raise and make critical financial awards to students through the I-Hope Scholarship.
As a leader in efforts like these and others, she has been able to foster dialogue and action that increase international understanding by centering the voices, needs and promise of students whose immigration status might otherwise serve as a barrier to their educational and professional dreams. Her leadership and service work in support of foreign-born and other students at the University of Illinois has been exemplary.
Past Award Recipients
2024: Kristina Serrano
2023: Frank Cabrera
2022: Tyeese Braslavsky, Kat Carranza Bahena
2021: Daniella Di Stefano
2020: Denisse Gaitan
2019: Kelly Cuevas Tovar
2018: Kelsey Schreiber
2017: Hannah Jarman
2016: Keilin Jahnke
2015: Kenny Long
2014: Reshmina William
2013: Greg Damhorst
2012: Holly Curia
2011: Davide Motta & Jisoo Hyun
2010: Rakesh Kumar Gopchandani
2009: Iva Yankova
2008: Ellen Schenk
2007: Young Jae Lee
2006: Felix Autenrie
2005: Batamaka Some
2004: Andres Fernandez
2003: Michael Bullerman & Carlos Suarez
2002: Ruxandra Costescu
2001: Ivan Fietl
2000: Saravan Rajendran
1999: Rebecca Mladic
1998: Delphine Mei
1997: Ashish Deb Roy
1996: Eugene Yeo
1995: Jocelyn Chong
1994: Leslie Hammersmith
1993: Consolata Kabonesa
1992: Sufen Lai
1991: Lorraine Haricombe
1990: Jackie Buckley
1989: Lawrence Brown