Successor to Herman B Wells, Elvis Jacob Stahr Jr. was inaugurated as president of Indiana University on November 19, 1962. Dr. Stahr arrived at IU with an already extensive resume, having been a Rhodes Scholar, a practicing attorney, provost of the University of Kentucky and the University of Pittsburgh, president of West Virginia University, and Secretary of the Army under John F. Kennedy. In 1966, the prestigious Elvis J. Stahr Awards were established in Dr. Stahr’s namesake to honor IU seniors who have excelled academically while serving as active campus and community leaders.
For 2025, we would like to honor Joshua Brinkman, Neennara “Belle” Chatpunnarangsee, Megan Cunningham, Rachel Curry, Aidan Hamilton, Hannah Hunt, and Rose Nicholson with the Elvis J. Stahr Award to honor all of their achievements on the IU Bloomington campus and service efforts within the community.
Joshua Brinkman
Joshua Brinkman is a student at the O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs majoring in Law and Public Policy. He currently serves as the Battalion Commander of the IU Army ROTC program and is a member of the 103rd Board of Aeons. He has also represented IU in the Little 500 as a rider for the Army Cycling Team.
Joshua is the recipient of the Lenkowsky Writing Award in Public Affairs and has participated in multiple honors programs through the American Enterprise Institute in Washington, D.C., San Diego, and Nashville, Tennessee. He has completed internships with the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. and the U.S. Army JAG Corps in Bavaria, Germany, deepening his experience in public service and leadership.
Acknowledgements: “Thank you to my professors and mentors who provided me with so many opportunities during my journey at IU.”
Neennara “Belle” Chatpunnarangsee
Belle is the co-founder of People of Color for Policy Advocacy (POC-PA), a student organization dedicated to centering policy discussions on underrepresented communities. She also serves as an assistant at the IU Asian Culture Center, where she leads the podcast production team.
As a student in the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies (HLS), Belle was a member of the Dean’s Advisory Board and played a key role in founding both the school’s first student publication, Hamilton Lugar Lens, and its student government. Her other campus involvements include serving as a consultant for HLS Global Development Consultants and as an Associate Justice on the IU Student Government Supreme Court.
Acknowledgements: “Thank you to Professor Christoph Irmscher and the Wells Scholars Program, the IU Asian Culture Center, friends and family, and all my professors and mentors who supported me and made my time at IU an enriching experience.”
Megan Cunningham
Megan Cunningham has embraced a rich, interdisciplinary academic journey at Indiana University, pursuing two majors, two minors, two honors programs, and conducting research in two labs. Her induction into Phi Beta Kappa stands as a testament to her dedication to academic excellence and her love for learning.
As the first honors student in her research lab, Megan has written a thesis on tinnitus perception and attention, an experience that has fostered both personal growth and meaningful mentorship. She has also collaborated with the Student Advisory Board in the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences and participated in Q&A panels about the Undergraduate Teaching Assistant and Honors programs. She will represent the department at the IU involvement fair.
Acknowledgements: “I am deeply grateful to my SLHS honors mentors, all my professors, and friends at Indiana University, as well as my family who have supported and guided me throughout my academic journey. Your encouragement, wisdom, and belief in me have been instrumental in achieving my goals, and I truly could not have done it without your support—thank you!”
Rachel Curry
Rachel Curry is a dedicated leader and advocate whose service has spanned campus and community. She currently serves as Vice President of the African American and African Diaspora Studies (AAADS) Undergraduate Association and is a member of both the 102nd and 103rd Boards of Aeons. She has also held leadership roles as Vice President of the Tau Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., and as President of the Social Work Student Association, where she emphasized community service and advocacy.
Her commitment to serving others extends into the broader Bloomington community. Rachel is currently a social work intern at West Washington Jr./Sr. High School, where she provides critical support to youth in need.
Acknowledgements: “Thank you to every professor, faculty member, mentor, and student who contributed to my success and the wonderful experience I have had at Indiana University. My most special thank you has to be extended to my mother and father, whose consistent love and support always give me the courage to follow my dreams and succeed.”
Aidan Hamilton
Aidan Hamilton has embraced a wide range of experiences at Indiana University that reflect his dedication to service, integrity, and personal passion. As a soldier, he proudly instructs ROTC cadets in the Army’s basic Combat Medicine standard, helping prepare future officers with essential life-saving skills. As a student, he serves on the IU Student Conduct Board, contributing to a fair and respectful campus community.
Aidan’s enthusiasm for exploration and learning is also evident through his involvement with the Academic Diving Program, which he describes as one of his most meaningful experiences at IU. Whether in the classroom, the field, or underwater, Aidan seeks out opportunities that both make the world a better place and bring him joy—values he hopes to carry forward into his future career.
Acknowledgements: “Thank you to my family and friends for your unending support, putting up with my wild ideas and late-night rants spanning the range of academia and politics. Thank you to my professors, mentors, and advisors for your kind-hearted guidance on and off the job.”
Hannah Hunt
Hannah Hunt is graduating with a double major in International Studies and Spanish from the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies, along with a certification in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages. A recipient of the Cox Research Scholarship, she also earned the Shreve Scholarship, Provost’s Scholarship, and Hutton Honors Scholarship. Her academic excellence has been recognized through induction into Sigma Iota Rho and Sigma Delta Pi, placement on the Executive Dean’s List, and graduation with honors from the Hutton Honors College.
Hannah has dedicated her time at IU to supporting international students through her work with the Office of International Services, where she served as both a conversation partner and coordinator of the Practical English Tutorials program. She also contributes to the Chin Languages Research Project, helping preserve the language and culture of the Chin refugee diaspora, a community originally from Burma that now resides in her hometown of Indianapolis. Her passion for mentorship is further reflected in her involvement with Big Brothers Big Sisters at IU and the Mentor Collective program.
Acknowledgements: “I am incredibly grateful for the support I have received from my professors, supervisors, and mentors at IU. They have inspired me to become the best I can be and have provided me with relentless guidance throughout my academic and professional journeys. I would not be the person I am today without the encouragement of my mom, my grandma, my brothers, my extended family (un agradecimiento muy especial a Pedro y Sofía), and my friends, whose unwavering support has followed me through every stage of life, activity, and country I have found myself in.”
Rose Nicholson
Rose Nicholson is earning a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Life Sciences from the College of Arts and Sciences, with minors in Biology and Chemistry. A Goldwater Scholar and Founders Scholar, she has also received the Arts and Sciences Indiana Scholars Award, the Drs. Sidney and Becca Fleischer Research Scholarship, the Experiential Learning Travel Scholarship, and a Hutton Honors College Travel Grant.
Her most meaningful experience at IU has been her time in the Ragsdale Lab, where she turned her first solo research project into a first-author paper published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society. She also presented this work at the Society of Integrative and Comparative Biology National Conference. As she completes her honors thesis and anticipates a second publication, Rose reflects on the invaluable mentorship and opportunities that have shaped her academic journey.
Acknowledgements: “I owe a huge thank you to my incredible mentors who made my time at IU so valuable—Dr. Levis and Dr. Ragsdale, as well as the whole Ragsdale Lab and Dr. Mike Manzella of the ASURE program. None of this would be possible without the unwavering support of my family, to whom I owe the biggest thanks of all.”
