Presented to the senior male student who best exemplifies the qualities of character, leadership and scholarship. One of the two recipients for this year’s award is given to Andrew Romano (he/him pronouns).

Andrew E. Romano is a parks, recreation and tourism major from the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources.

Growing up in Sherman, Conn., and Brooklyn, N.Y., Andrew is committed to increasing racial diversity in outdoor sports and activities.

He originally came to UVM for the university’s wildlife and fisheries biology program and his passion for animals. While young, Andrew developed a love for the llamas, goats and chickens in the petting zoo at his mother’s amusement park near Coney Island, New York.

Born in Guatemala, Andrew and his adopted mother moved around as he grew up—from Brooklyn to Virginia to Pennsylvania and, finally, Connecticut. There, as a high school student, he volunteered at a local wildlife rehab center, The Wildlife Line, where he cared for injured mammals and birds and educated the public about proper interaction with wild animals.

At UVM he joined the Outing Club and served as treasurer of POCO, or People of Color Outdoors, and soon led student trips for both organizations. He took up skiing, and his newfound winter sport turned into employment. This past winter, Andrew worked as a ski instructor for Vail at Stowe Mountain Resort and a backcountry skiing guide for Umiak Outdoor Outfitters in Stowe.

Andrew received the Rubenstein Senior Award in Recognition of Leadership and Community Building and the Angela Batista Award from the Mosaic Center for Students of Color. He was also selected as a United Stated Department of Agriculture Multicultural Scholar.

He plans on pursuing a career in water and snow sports to increase diversity and improve accessibility to all individuals regardless of experience.