Akwe:kon celebrates the distinguished residents and leaders in the House! Nyá:węh/Thank you for your dedication to our community and for being ambassadors for Indigenous cultures and peoples! We also recognize the incredible service that current Resident Advisors, Gabriella Pico and Krinal Thakkar, as well as Office Assistant, Kimberly Fuqua (Lumbee), have provided to the program and the residents, enriching their living and learning experience and building a safe community.
Congratulations to all recipients! Nyá:węh for your service!
Akwe:kon Leadership Award
Recognizes the student who through their support and exhibited leadership in Akwe:kon; encouraged cross-cultural learning, fostered an inclusive community, and promoted awareness of Indigenous histories, cultures and peoples outside the Akwe:kon community.
Awardee: Yanenowi Logan (Seneca)
Yae promotes unity within the house, and maintains active friendships with everybody regardless of what circle they socialize with. Yae is always encouraging and kind to everybody. She is thoughtful and inclusive, and comes up with fun activities for the residents to participate in.
Akwe:kon Peer Appreciation Award
Recognizes a resident of Akwe:kon for their contributions to support the development of the Akwe:kon community, both on and off campus.
Awardee: Colby Yazzie (Navajo)
Colby, a first year resident at Akwe:kon, has navigated the year by integrating within the community as one of the residents that everyone can get along with. His easy going personality has allowed him to easily connect with others and has become friends with many in the community.
Akwe:kon Outstanding Resident Award
Chosen for exemplary leadership and outstanding commitment to the growth and sustainability of the Akwe:kon community.
Awardee: Paula Blanco Ortiz (Mayan Pipil)
In her first year at Cornell and as resident at Akwe:kon, Paula has shown great leadership and mentor skills and is involved with our Program’s organizations. She has been an outstanding resident within Akwe:kon and actively participates in the programming events and is committed to furthering resident’s experience.
Akwe:kon Lifetime Award
Built on the homeland of the Gayogo̱hó:nǫ’ (Cayuga), Akwe:kon, meaning “All of Us” in Kanyen’kehá:ka (Mohawk), is the residential and cultural program house of the American Indian and Indigenous Studies Program at Cornell University. It is home and a gathering place for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous students and serves as an Indigenous community center on campus. This award recognizes those students who have resided in Akwe:kon during their entire academic career at Cornell.
Awardee: Julianne Billiman (Navajo)
Julianne joined Akwe:kon and has been an ideal resident ever since. Within the time that Akwe:kon has been home to Julianne, she has served as an officer for the AISES organization, demonstrating her skills as a mentor and leader in many ways as well as being involved with programming with the community Akwe:kon is honored to be able to add to our Lifetime award list Julianne’s name and wish her the very best in her future endeavors as a graduate!
Resident Advisor Recognitions
Kimberly Fuqua (graduate student residence hall assistant)
Kimberly has served in the community as OA and as the Akwe:kon’s “House Mom”. She has been a cornerstone for all the residents in the community and we wish to thank her for all the work she has done with and for our community at Akwe:kon, from putting together the Late night Breakfast, hosting Zumba sessions on the lawn, to engaging the Campus partners and raising awareness for misappropriating Indigneous cultures. We congratulate Kimberly on her graduation and the best of luck in her future journey and cannot say enough Nyá:węh’s for her time with us!
Gabriella Pico
Gaby Pico is completing her first year as RA with the Akwe:kon community. Within this time, Gaby has displayed phenomenal leadership and mentorship skills with our peers within the community. A 2nd year Law student, her work ethic and insight provides a valuable perspective to residents and she has become a leader to our residents. We look forward to having Gaby with us next year!
Cathy Rodriquez (Fall 2020 RA)
Thank you to Catherine Rodriguez for the three semesters with our Akwe:kon community. She has been an exceptional leader, who showed her strengths in helping build and maintain our community. She led with wisdom and experience, also committing her time as CoreRA. We would like to wish her success in her future educational and professional endeavors.
Krinal Thakkar
Krinal Thakkar is a sophomore who joined our community in Spring 2021 and will be completing her first semester as Resident Advisor at Akwe:kon. Her involvement in various student organizations as well as her hard work ethics allows her to be a leader and a role model for our community members. We look forward to working with Krinal next year!
