Last week in Senate: USA’s Banquet Award Winners

By Mikayla Boyd, Editor-in-Chief

In lieu of their weekly senate meeting, the United Student Association (USA) held their annual USA banquet to celebrate the accomplishments of the senate this year and reflect on the legacy of USA. The banquet hosted both current and former USA members, providing a networking opportunity for current students as well as an opportunity for USA alumni to see how much USA has grown. USA also gave out their annual Senate awards – Up and Coming Senator of the Year, Cabinet Member of the Year, Senate Member of the Year, Finance Board Member of the Year and the President’s Award.

The Up and Coming Senator of the Year Award, voted on by the Senate, was bestowed upon Senator Javohir (Javo) Aminov. Aminov, who also serves as assistant news editor for The Griffin, was lauded by VPMPR Leyla Akil, who said, “As a freshman senator, [he has] already made [his] presence known in ways that matter. Serving on both the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. and sustainability committees, [he has] demonstrated a clear commitment to not only being involved, but being intentional with their involvement.”

ITS/Facilities Liaison Bri Firkowski then won Cabinet Member of the Year, which is voted on by the USA Executive Board. Speaker Paige Apps said Firkowski “constantly strives for excellence in everything that [she has] done and continue[s] to do, all while maintaining an upbeat attitude during meetings and constantly advocating for the betterment of the student experience on campus. Apps continued that Firkowski “completely reimagined the role of a liaison, specifically in the title that they hold…[Bri] met the challenges head on and ran with it like I’ve never seen before. [Her] work and passion have not gone unnoticed by anyone in USA.”

Senate Member of the Year was then awarded to Public Health Chair Daeshyon Riley. This honor is voted on by the senate. Public Health Chair Riley has previously served as a senator, library services liaison and now public health chair. Last year, he received the Cabinet Member of the Year Award. This year, President DeGlopper remarked that Riley “came into every meeting with an extensive plan, determined to achieve every goal. They have continued to reimagine the role of committee chair, and run one of the most active and engaging committees this year.”

Dominic Vivolo, Vice President of Business and Finance (VPBF)-elect for the 2026-27 USA executive board, took home the Finance Board Member of the Year Award, which was chosen by VPBF Bella Peters. Peter remarked that Vivolo was chosen “for [his] consistent attendance, impactful contributions to our conversations and overall passion for their role on finance board this past year. Although this individual, like myself, is new to finance board this year, [he has] taken the role and ran with it.”

Finally, President-elect Leyla Akil won the President’s Award, which was chosen by President Analee DeGlopper. Akil has previously served as dining services liaison, diversity chair and currently as vice president of marketing and public relations. President DeGlopper said “This award remains undisclosed, even to the e-board, until right now. It is symbolic of an individual who has played a tremendous role in the background operations of this year's Senate. [Leyla] is someone I can always count on, and completes any and all tasks with the utmost efficiency. [She does] this all while simultaneously running other clubs and organizations on campus. I truly admire [her] work ethic and passion.”

USA meetings resume this Friday, March 27 at 2:30 p.m. in Old Main 203, featuring Dr. Graham Stowe, the chair of faculty senate, as their final guest speaker of the year.