Chinweike Okegbe Service Award
On this page: About Dr. Chinweike Okegbe (1989-2016), Past Recipients
2024 recipient:
- Valeria Spacciante (Classics)
Awarded annually to two senior graduate students and one non-student who have had a lasting impact due to their service to the Department and University while demonstrating academic excellence.
In honor of Chinweike Okegbe, this award is meant to reflect his vision of a student being recognized for leaving the Department and the University, as a whole, more improved than when he/she first entered the program. As the co-founder of the Biological Sciences Career Initiative (BSCI), in addition to his many other contributions, Chinweike Okegbe demonstrated this ideal and this award captures the determined spirit that he had to help others.
The Chinweike Okegbe Service Award is awarded at the final plenary meeting of the year, traditionally in mid-April. The executive board of the Arts and Sciences Council selects the recipients (and are thus ineligible to receive the award during their term). Recipients may only receive the award once.
All current Columbia graduate students are welcome to place nominations by contacting members of the executive board with letters of support. The award includes a certificate of commendation and a token of recognition for their service to the University (see ASGC Constitution, Article X, Section 14-16).
Please consider nominating a member of the Columbia graduate community.
A scholarship fund in the Department of Biological Sciences has been established in Chinweike’s name. Online donations are welcome. Any checks should be made out to Columbia University, with "Chinweike Okegbe Memorial Fund (23744)" for the memo (please follows these instructions).