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 Mimi Duong (she/they). 

Throughout her time at UVM, Duong has shown a deep dedication to students of color 

through their leadership in multiple capacities and spaces on campus. She has served as a voice for underrepresented and historically marginalized students through her roles in the Asian Student Union and FirstGen@UVM. 

Duong’s consistent commitment to ASU has helped her come to value her role in her community. “I became involved in community action and community care which is why I constantly pursued leadership positions within my club,” she reflects. Serving as the Secretary has allowed them to cultivate a healthy community—during their time in ASU, there has been a 40% increase in membership. 

 
One of her nominators said, “Mimi’s passion for cultivating community is contagious. It exemplifies the ideals we hold for communities, while simultaneously building strong foundations and relationships to grow into these ideals.”  Duong has been recognized with the Women and Gender Equity Center Social Justice Award, and the Mosaic Center Ram Vincent-Bryan Community Builder Award. 

Duong graduates with a degree in Public Communication from the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and a minor in Japanese. Throughout their time at UVM, one of Duong’s biggest academic challenges was oral communication and public speaking. She credits her major in creating opportunities to grow as a public speaker. A nominator notes that Duong's academic growth is demonstrated by her confidence in teaching and mentoring students who are struggling with public speaking and presentations for class, especially BIPOC first-year students.   

“My time at UVM has been a labor of love in discovering what leadership means to me through supporting my underrepresented communities.”