The Keith M. Miser Leadership Award is presented to the student who has been successful in campus leadership endeavors. This award honors Keith's idea of student involvement and recognizes a student who has contributed to the campus through their leadership activities. The recipient of the 2025 Keith M. Miser Leadership Award is Ayden Carpenter.

Ayden is a Public Communication and Community & International Development major.  Ayden says UVM offered the space to apply his coursework in real time through community organizing, governance, and leadership. Whether working with local nonprofits, shaping student government policy, or building coalitions on campus, his drive to contribute meaningfully to communities helped him to recognize the kind of work that energizes. 

Ayden has engaged in many organizations over his time at UVM including the Cycling Team, Black Student Union, SGA, Student Affairs Advisory Board, Board of Trustees Student Representative and also many experiences outside UVM in the community including research assistant, communications, congressperson and public policy internships.

Ayden has been recognized throughout his career at UVM including a Presidential Leadership Fellow, an Emerging Student Award, Rookie of the Year, the Provost’s Trailblazer Award and the Rodney S. Patterson Award. One nominator recognized Ayden as an outstanding student leader who commits his whole heart to everything that he is involved in, including serving on the recent Presidential Search Committee.

Ayden’s time at UVM has been centered on identifying processes where the student experience at UVM can be improved by breaking down barriers and rethinking the systems that exist to make the experience better for each student. His ability to work behind the scenes, mentor others to access opportunities and build confidence in others has illustrated that leadership isn’t about the spotlight but it is about showing up for others.

He has impacted the campus community through his consistency, care, and concern for others. When asked to reflect on his time at UVM, Ayden says, “UVM taught me that growth happens though community. I am who I am because others believed in me, it’s my responsibility to pay it forward.”