Thirteen seniors receive 2025 Distinguished Leadership Awards

Each year, the Distinguished Leadership Award for Outstanding Seniors recognizes graduating students for their outstanding scholarship and contributions to the Macalester community. This year’s thirteen recipients have been successful in the classroom, in campus life, and in the community. They have been positive role models for the student body and worked to promote the college’s core values. Here, we share details from the award nominations submitted by faculty, staff, and fellow students.

Kalid Ali

Kalid Ali is the kind of student who seems to be everywhere at once; leading with purpose, uplifting others, and making a lasting impact at every turn. A standout scholar-athlete with a 3.9 GPA, Kalid has excelled as an economics major and varsity track and field athlete, all while founding Macalester’s club soccer team, serving in student government, and mentoring peers through the Consulting Club. His leadership extends off campus as a board member at YouthPrise, where he advocates for youth equity. Kalid embodies the spirit of Macalester: curious, collaborative, and committed to service. Whether organizing students, connecting classmates to career opportunities, or helping win a MIAC championship during Ramadan, Kalid leads with humility and heart. He’s not just active in our community—he’s essential to it. As one nominator put it: Kalid doesn’t wait for a title to lead. It’s simply who he is.

Justine Ballard

Justine has been a quiet force of leadership, mentorship, and academic excellence throughout her time at Macalester. As a longtime member and formerly editor-in-chief of The Mac Weekly, she not only led the paper with integrity, but mentored dozens of student writers and designers; building a collaborative, supportive newsroom. In the classroom, she’s consistently modeled thoughtful engagement and intellectual depth, often ranking at the top of her media and cultural studies courses. Justine’s dedication extends beyond academics: she’s served as a course preceptor for multiple classes, an Orientation Coordinator and a trusted advisor to international students navigating their first year. Whether playing saxophone in the Pep Band, supporting Ukraine relief efforts, or helping first-years find their way around the Max Center, Justine shows up with care, curiosity, and an unwavering commitment to community. She brings a global perspective to all she does, shaped by her international upbringing and grounded in Macalester’s core values.

Ryan Connor

Ryan is a quiet powerhouse: someone whose leadership is defined by humility, impact, and service. As chief of staff and vice president of MCSG, an RA, Senior RA, and FYC preceptor, Ryan has transformed the student experience by mentoring peers, building lasting systems, and advocating for meaningful change. His impact spans from under-resourced classrooms in South Carolina and St. Paul, to classrooms and cultural exchange abroad in Vienna, to residence halls at Macalester where he fostered inclusive communities and mentored new RAs. He’s led campus-wide efforts to improve dining, expand study away access, and elevate student voices in institutional decisions. Ryan’s intellect, care, and quiet determination have shaped this campus in lasting ways. Whether designing resources for future leaders or simply showing up to support a classmate, Ryan leads with clarity, compassion, and a deep sense of responsibility. He’s made a meaningful and lasting difference at Macalester.

Sonja Erickson

Sonja Erickson’s leadership at Macalester reflects deep purpose, intellectual rigor, and a genuine commitment to social change. As founder and president of Macalester’s chapter of the National Marrow Donor Program, Sonja led efforts that earned national recognition, registering over 170 donors and raising thousands for lifesaving treatments. As president of Habitat for Humanity, she organized build days, spring break service trips, and campus-wide sustainability efforts. Academically, Sonja is equally remarkable. Her award-winning research on nurse resiliency in sexual trauma care was selected for presentation at the Scholars at the Capitol and is being prepared for publication. In the classroom, on build sites, and in hospice care settings, Sonja leads with humility, compassion, and determination. She brings people together to do meaningful work—often quietly, but always powerfully. Sonja has strengthened Macalester’s commitment to community health, civic engagement, and justice— and she leaves behind a legacy of impact that will last well beyond graduation. 

Mena Feleke

Mena has spent her four years at Macalester serving others—with compassion, intelligence, and a deep commitment to equity. A Bonner Scholar, Chuck Green Fellow, and leader in the Community Engagement Center, Mena has worked tirelessly to expand access to education for BIPOC and first-generation students. As College Access Coordinator, she organized campus visits, tours, and panels to help young students envision a future in higher ed. In student government, she led outreach efforts to build stronger connections between students and college leadership. Beyond campus, Mena has held prestigious internships with the Minnesota Legislature, the DFL, and Congresswoman Betty McCollum. Through it all, she has remained grounded in service by mentoring elementary school students, guiding campus tours, and uplifting her peers. Mena’s leadership is purposeful and people-centered. She shows up, builds bridges, and opens doors for others and in doing so, she’s made Macalester a more inclusive and empowering place for all.

Matté Lopez

Matté is a leader, mentor, and scholar whose commitment to Macalester’s core values is evident in all she does. As co-founder and leader of the First Generation and Low-Income Student Union, she has created space, support, and advocacy for students navigating similar paths. Her mentorship extends to QuestBridge high school students and peers across campus, especially BIPOC and first-generation students. Matté has balanced these leadership roles with exceptional academic achievement – completing an honors thesis in International Studies, conducting independent, grant-funded research in Dakar, and excelling in rigorous coursework. Her community engagement is equally impressive, from volunteering with Habitat for Humanity to coordinating programs at Nexus Community Partners. She brings a spirit of internationalism and multiculturalism to her work, conducting research in French and Wolof and immersing herself in global communities. Through her persistence, care, and vision, Matté has made Macalester a more accessible and supportive place for all.

Francesca LoPresti

Francesca is a dynamic presence—equal parts scientist, organizer, and community builder. As an environmental studies major with a focus on global health, she has combined academic excellence with deep commitments to environmental justice, Indigenous rights, and student mentorship. From leading kayaking trips with the Outing Club to conducting field research on soil contamination in Ecuador and wild rice wetlands in Minnesota, Francesca brings curiosity and care to every space she enters. As the Environmental Justice Fellow and a COP28 delegate, she’s connected global policy to local action, advocating for communities most impacted by extractive industries. Her “101” outdoor education series has opened access for BIPOC and first-gen students, and her collaborations with groups like COPAL and East Phillips Neighborhood Institute show her dedication to intersectional environmentalism. Francesca’s warmth, vision, and sense of play have made Macalester more joyful, more inclusive, and more courageous. She leaves behind a legacy of connection and change.

Mayumi Morgan

Since her first semester at Macalester, Mayumi has been a dedicated community organizer, peer mentor, and advocate for justice. Through her leadership in the Community Engagement Center and as a founder of the Macalester Organizing Coalition, she has built meaningful pathways for students to engage with public issues—locally and politically. She planned an organizing summit at the Minnesota State Capitol, helped students connect to political caucuses, and led trainings to strengthen grassroots power. A Chuck Green Fellow, Mayumi also contributed to Northside Achievement Zone’s work in Minneapolis and conducted research while studying abroad in Brazil. Her academic excellence in Political Science and International Studies is matched by her commitment to making organizing accessible, sustainable, and student-led. Whether mentoring fellow students, advocating for policy change, or leading workshops, Mayumi centers collaboration and care in all she does. She has left a legacy of action, empowerment, and community at Macalester.

Amanda Nogueira Moreira de Souza

Amanda Nogueira Moreira de Souza is a remarkable scholar, activist, and community leader whose impact spans continents. At Macalester, she has served as a Resident Assistant, Access and Equity Fellow, and co-chair of the Human Rights Conference – all while maintaining academic excellence and pursuing her passion for global justice. As a delegate to the UN Environment Assembly, she helped draft international climate policy, and through a Davis Projects for Peace grant, she designed and led anti-racist education initiatives for teachers in Brazil. On campus, Amanda has brought people together—whether through zero-waste competitions, cultural festivals, or career panels linking language learning to future opportunities. Her leadership is grounded in care, vision, and an unwavering commitment to inclusion. She has worked tirelessly to uplift BIPOC voices, promote internationalism, and create transformative change. She leaves behind a record of thoughtful leadership, collaborative change, and deep commitment to justice.

Justin Potts

Justin Potts exemplifies excellence across academics, athletics, and student leadership. A double major in physics and mathematics with a computer science minor, he has earned multiple Academic All-District and All-MIAC honors as a varsity football player. As President of SAAC and Vice President of BIPOCa, Justin has revitalized the Kofi Kup to encourage cross-campus involvement, organized service events centered on BIPOC communities, and worked to make athletic spaces more welcoming to all students. He has played a key role in bridging gaps between athletes and non-athletes, showing that participation in varsity sports can be a springboard for wider campus engagement. His leadership extends across campus—from engaging in the CSLE Leadership Challenge to supporting peers in the MSCS department and contributing to the DevGarden. Justin leads with thoughtfulness, energy, and integrity, and his efforts have helped students connect more meaningfully across communities, both in and out of the classroom.

Richard Rose

Richard is a thoughtful, justice-driven leader whose impact at Macalester has been profound. As co-founder of the First-Generation and Low-Income Student Union, he has built lasting support structures for students navigating systemic barriers, creating space for advocacy, connection, and change. A Bonner Scholar, Chuck Green Fellow, and Lives of Commitment Program Coordinator, Richard has led with empathy and action—whether mentoring peers, organizing food access efforts, or challenging institutional practices through research. His investigation into Habitat for Humanity’s use of prison labor sparked campus-wide conversation and modeled courageous, values-based leadership. Richard brings intellectual depth and personal insight to his academic work, including a powerful senior capstone on the opioid epidemic that demonstrates both critical analysis and a strong sense of purpose. He brings care, clarity, and follow-through to everything he does, and in doing so, exemplifies what it means to lead with integrity.

Joel Sadofsky

Joel has been a cornerstone of student leadership, academic excellence, and service throughout his four years at Macalester. As a four-year member of MCSG, including as president and Academic Affairs chair, he has championed initiatives around textbook access, financial equity, and inclusive classroom practices, ensuring that student voices are heard across all levels of institutional decision-making. A geography and geospatial science major, Joel brings the same dedication to his academic work, mentoring peers as a teaching assistant and presenting original research at academic conferences. He is also a longtime supporter of the Macalester library, where he has served as a student supervisor and leader—training fellow student employees, improving user experience, and helping expand access to critical resources. Off campus, Joel has served as a nature educator and outdoor leader, blending his love for the environment with a passion for youth mentorship. Through every role, he leads with humility, curiosity, and care—quietly building systems, relationships, and opportunities that will benefit Macalester long after he graduates.

Sabine Sullivan

Sabine has been a consistent force for care, advocacy, and leadership throughout her time at Macalester. As a three-year Resident Assistant and current Senior RA, she has gone above and beyond to build welcoming, supportive communities and to advocate for improvements in Residential Life. A dedicated mentor, she’s helped peers navigate their academic and career journeys—from lab work to internships to LinkedIn profiles. Sabine has also made a lasting impact through her student organization leadership, serving on the board of Filipinos at Macalester all four years and expanding events that celebrate Filipino identity and heritage. In the Chemistry Department, she has supported student learning as a trusted lab preceptor, while her work on the Hamre Center Advisory Board has contributed to ongoing efforts to improve campus resources and student support. Sabine leads with warmth, thoughtfulness, and a strong sense of purpose—leaving behind a legacy of support and empowerment at Macalester.