Seven international students enrolled at the University of Minnesota—including Huda Ahmed, Rawan Algahtani, Verónica Cadavid-González, Ariel Chau, Bhargavi Rathore, Leyan Sayeh, Ruitao Wu, and Chenwei Yan—were recently awarded the 2022 President’s Student Leadership and Service Award.
The award recognizes students who contribute to critical elements of student experience and demonstrate responsibility and accountability, independence and interdependence, goal orientation, self-awareness, resilience, appreciation of differences, and tolerance of ambiguity. Six of these students are actively involved in leadership roles in the International Student and Scholar Services department.
Together, the students who are recipients of this award demonstrate leadership skills, strong academic standing, serve their community to create lasting change within the University, and contribute to the University’s public mission through their leadership and service.
Read more about all of the students receiving the PSLSA Award
Huda Ahmed
College of Liberal Arts
Dubai
Huda is a second-year Psychology student. She is actively involved on campus as a Senior Content Creator in Special Populations at International Student and Scholar Services. She also works as an orientation leader for the Orientation and Transition Experiences department on campus. In her free time, Huda enjoys playing guitar and reading.
Rawan Algahtani
College of Education and Human Development
Saudi Arabia
Rawan is a Human Resources Development student with a minor in Leadership. She is actively involved on campus in International Student Ambassadors, Global Minnesota, Cross-Cultural Discussion Groups, and the Coffman Memorial Union Art Committee.
Verónica Cadavid-González
Humphrey School for Public Affairs
Colombia
Veronica is a Master of Human Rights student studying economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as international law. She is the student representative in the Human Rights Governing Council. She works as research consultant at the Human Rights Center working on projects that aim to protect and enhance the rights of rural communities in the Global South and rural Minnesota. While pursuing her master's degree, she was also a researcher at the Protection Networks Study at the Human Rights Program at the College of Liberal Arts, and an intern at the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Ariel Chau
Carlson School of Management
Vietnam
Ariel is a Management Information Systems student with a minor in Business Analytics. She is actively involved on campus as a member of the Carlson School of Management Case Competition Team and the Carlson School Student Advisory Board. She is also a peer mentor for the THRIVE Program and works as an office assistant for Orientation and Transition Experiences.
Bhargavi Rathore
College of Science and Engineering
India
Bhargavi is a Chemical Engineering student with a minor in Sustainability Studies. She is actively involved on campus as a technical director for Team Tech in the Society of Women Engineers, a Global Gopher Influencer for International Student and Scholar Services, and a biofuels subteam research member for Innovative Engineers. In her spare time, she plays intramural badminton.
Leyan Sayeh
College of Science and Engineering
Palestine
Leyah is a Computer Engineering student with a minor in Statistics. She is actively involved in the Arab Student Association, the Institution of Electronic Engineering and Engineers, and Women in Engineering.
Ruitao Wu
College of Liberal Arts
China
Ruitao is a Psychology student. He is actively involved as a Senior Student Engagement Coordinator Intern at ISSS and is in charge of Global Gopher Events. In his free time, he loves playing cardistry—a type of card art that involves different cuts and moves by using one’s hands or interacting with other objects.
Chenwei Yan
College of Liberal Arts
China
Chenwei is a Biology, Society, and Environment student. She is actively involved, serving as an ambassador for the College of Liberal Arts, a team leader for CLA’s Office of Student Experience, a Nutritious U Food Pantry student leader, and a teaching assistant for the School of Public Health’s Rothenberger Institute. She also volunteers for M Health Fairview and participates in Pre-Pharmacy Club.
