Student leaders in civic engagement and justice, Pipe Band success, a greener campus

Maccolades is a monthly round-up of the most recent accolades and accomplishments earned by members of the Macalester community. Below are highlights from September 2025.

Voices beyond the vote 

Finley Roman ’28 was named a Newman Civic Fellow from Campus Compact, a national coalition of colleges and universities. The year-long fellowship recognizes students who stand out for their leadership potential and commitment to creating positive change in communities. The fellowship offers learning and networking opportunities to help nurture their development as civic leaders.

A political science major, Roman is passionate about public policy and social change. In their first year, they volunteered with Macalester’s Mobilize Mac initiative on election engagement and served as a Senate intern at the Minnesota State Capitol. This year, they’re working at a neighborhood organization in St. Paul through Macalester’s Off Campus Student Employment program, staffing neighborhood committees and supporting residents in community projects. 

“I have long been passionate about civic awareness and engagement on all levels of government beyond election seasons,” Roman said. “My long-lasting refrain is that one’s voice does not begin or end at the ballot box.”

Building a case for reuse 

Macalester’s Sustainability Office received a grant from the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency to fund a ReUse Manager position. Blake Olson, a St. Olaf graduate and former Minnesota GreenCorps member who supported reuse and waste reduction at Macalester from 2023-2025, was hired for the role. The project pilots innovative reuse initiatives while measuring their social, educational, economic, and environmental benefits. It aims to build a business case for reuse managers as a long-term solution on college campuses.

Advocacy in action 

Macalester student Marco Lopez ’27 received the Hamre Award, which is presented annually to at least one member of each class. The award honors students who live out the mission of the college and promotes values such as equity and inclusion, well-being, integrative learning experiences, and collaborative partnership. 

“The work that keeps me going and hopeful are the young BIPOC folks I work with who take their imaginative and resilient personalities and transform it into a community project,” Lopez said. 

He serves his communities in West Side, Saint Paul and Macalester-Groveland through the Youth Leadership Initiative, Bonner Scholars, and the Transformative Pedagogy Institute.

“As an aspiring professor I realize that my passion for social justice/activism and academia does not have to be separated and instead gives me hope that I can engage in both theory and practice,” Lopez said. 

A mission of student success 

Kathryn Kay Coquemont, vice president for student affairs, earned the 2025 Region IV-East Scott Goodnight Award for Outstanding Performance as a Dean from the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. 

This award honors senior student affairs officers in Region IV-East (Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Ontario) for professional achievement, innovative responses to students’ needs, staff development, and leadership on campus and in the community.

“What excites me most about receiving this honor is that it reflects the collective work of a community I deeply love and believe in,” Coquemont said. “While the award is given to an individual, I see it as recognition of the Macalester students who inspire me daily, my Student Affairs team whose creativity and care make innovation possible, and my colleagues across campus who trust me as a partner. To have that work lifted up by NASPA reminds me of why I entered this field: to build environments where students can belong, develop, and find academic and life success.”

En route to a medical career 

Ashley Plaza Martillo ’26, a biology major at Macalester, received a Women in STEM scholarship from the Minnesota Private College Council. She cites faculty support as an important part of her college experience. “The level of attention provided by the faculty members, plus the smaller class sizes, means you get so much attention,” she said. “I would have been forgotten at a bigger school.”

Martillo also has found community in the Mac First Generation organization, where she noted that most members share low-income backgrounds. She serves as the group’s treasurer. “It gives us a safe space on campus, and by advocating we can bring about change,” she said. “It’s very rewarding.”

Planning to become a physician’s assistant, Martillo volunteers at St. Paul’s Regions Hospital. She said the scholarship has helped make that possible: “It definitely has eased my financial burden.”

Steadfast support for Twin Cities debate 

Macalester trustee Matt Entenza ’83 received the Minnesota Urban Debate League’s Champions of Change Award for his longtime support of debate. Entenza helped launch the league more than 20 years ago, expanding resources and programming to support competitive academic debate in Twin Cities high schools and middle schools. 

In announcing the award, his former debate partner, Augsburg University Regent John O’Brien, said: “Matt was always just a fierce advocate for debate. His opponents recognized him as a triple threat: smart, compelling speaker, super hardworking. . . it’s turned into a lifetime commitment to changing the world with his time, treasure, and talent.”

A powerful paper 

Macalester student John Ying ’26 was awarded the Sidney DeVere Brown Prize for his paper, “The Rhizomatic White Paper Protest: The 2022 COVID-19 Demonstrations in China.” Awarded by the Midwest Conference on Asian Affairs, this prize recognizes a well-crafted paper on a timely topic. Ying will be formally recognized at the conference this October at The Ohio State University, where he will also present his paper.

The sound of success 

Macalester’s Pipe Band excelled at the Caledonian Club of San Francisco Highland Games in Pleasanton, California. The Grade 3 band placed third in the Medley competition, while the Grade 5 band earned second in the Quick March Medley. These results capped off a strong season: the Grade 3 band was named Midwest Pipe Band Association Champion Supreme, and the Grade 5 band finished third in the Champion Supreme standings. Students and staff can join the pipe band community by taking bagpipe or drumming lessons.

How to be considered for future Maccolades

If you or someone you know recently earned an award, fellowship, or honor and would like it to be considered for inclusion in next month’s Maccolades, please let Communications & Marketing know by filling out this Maccolades form. For recent book publications, please use this book publication form.