The Elmer Nicholson Achievement Prize is presented to the student who has emerged from their total UVM experience with the promise of great expectations in their field of interest. This year’s recipient is Areeb-Ud-Din Ahmad (he/him pronouns).

Areeb is a highly engaged leader in our BIPOC and International student communities. He will be graduating with a degree in Computer Science from the College of Engineering and Mathematics. As a participant of Global Gateway Program, he was motivated to find community at UVM—and help other non-native English-speaking students do the same.

Areeb was a founding member of the Global Gateway Leadership committee, focused on organizing community-building events for non-English speaking international students. By his second year, Areeb found himself exploring identity more deeply and reflecting on what it means to be a person of color, leading to his involvement with the UVM’s Mosaic Center. Areeb had come to understand that belonging is essential to every student’s well-being and ability to thrive; that understanding motivated him to facilitate critical connections for the International student community. He quickly became a leader within the Mosaic Center, working to “bridge the gap between people of color in America and those from foreign lands.”

Notably, Areeb also initiated the International Student Association, a student organization that has since created a plethora of programs and initiatives connecting International students to each other and to campus resources. Areeb has also served as an Orientation Leader, International Student Ambassador, and tutor, working always to ensure that his fellow peers feel seen, heard, and connected.

In 2022, Areeb was awarded the Andrew Harris Award for his commitment to creating an inclusive climate for those from underrepresented and marginalized backgrounds. A natural community builder, Areeb’s contributions to the international student experience and UVM community broadly will continue to leave an impact well beyond his graduation.