May 9, 2025
Honoring leadership and legacy
By Jill Spotz
The Lafayette Activities Forum was honored with the Student Organization of the Year–Serving Beyond Their Membership Award at the 2025 Aaron O. Hoff awards ceremony May 7.
On the afternoon of May 7, a trumpet sounded from Colton Chapel, signaling the beginning of one of Lafayette’s most cherished events—the Aaron O. Hoff Awards. Performed by Corey Stein ’28, the salute honored the legacy of Aaron O. Hoff, a member of the Class of 1836 and the College’s first African American student. Nearly three centuries earlier, Hoff sounded a similar horn to call Lafayette’s first students and faculty to class. The annual Hoff Awards honors his legacy and continues to inspire leadership and service, which is celebrated during this annual event.
The Aaron O. Hoff Awards were created in 1991 by the late Pam Brewer, associate dean of students and director of student life. While Lafayette had long recognized academic achievement, Brewer saw a need to honor leadership and service. Along with a group of students, she found inspiration in the life of Hoff—a man who exemplified the very traits she hoped to celebrate.
“To receive a Hoff Award or nomination means you have displayed leadership and commitment to your community,” explained Jake Bates, associate director of fraternity and sorority life, during his remarks. “I found a wonderful quote in our notes from former Hoff Awards recipient Swati Pandey ’23 that sums up this honor best: ‘Lafayette truly is a special place, and we are vulnerable about what can be done better, and each year, we strive for those changes as a community.’”
Individuals were nominated by members of the Lafayette community, and recipients were then chosen by a committee of students and administrators. The awards were given in four categories—Community Builders, Change Makers, Educators, and Highest Honors. This year’s Hoff Award winners include:
Community Building Awards:
- Student Organization of the Year – Serving Their Membership: Lafayette Running Club
- Student Organization of the Year – Serving Beyond Their Membership: Lafayette Activities Forum
- Program of the Year: Panhellenic Council
- Big 8 Program of the Year: Kaleidoscope Knowing Yourself=Loving Yourself program
- Commitment to Service Award: Lafayette Environmental Awareness and Protection Club (LEAP)
Change Agents:
- Robert I. Weiner Interfaith Award: Elise Trocker ’26 and Yaseen Saleh ’25
- Mattachine Award: Jessica Heske ’25
- Alumni Association Student Volunteer Service Award: Fiona O’Connor ’27
- Service Above Self: Alexander Brown ’26 and Erin Caputo ’25
- World Citizen Award: Areeb Atheeque ’25
Educators:
- Superior Teaching Award in Sciences and Engineering: Trent Gaugler, associate professor, mathematics
- Superior Teaching Award in Humanities and Social Sciences: Dylan Groves, assistant professor, government and law
- John T. McCartney Excellence in Diversity Education: Abbey Mann, assistant professor, psychology
- Administrator of the Year: Melissa Dalrymple, associate director of student leadership and involvement
- Staff Member of the Year: Georgia Rehrig, dining services
Highest Honors:
- Frances Ocansey-Ahene Spirit of Multiculturalism Award: Francesca Stix ’25
- Pamela E. Brewer Emerging Leader Award: Lauren Finlay ’27 and Milan Iezzi ’28
- Aaron O. Hoff Unsung Hero Award: Brandon Harding ’26 (Brothers of Lafayette), Brendan Bauer ’25 (Zeta Psi), Denisse Villegas ’25 (Hispanic Society of Lafayette)
- The 1974 Award: Rebekah Lazar ’26
- Marquis Award: Jermaine Grant ’25
