Leon Mhingiro came to Vanderbilt from Zimbabwe, carrying a beloved Ubuntu philosophy, "I am because we are." It is a shared commitment of a community that lifts one another up.
"That phrase captures the essence of my Vanderbilt experience, from arriving as someone searching for belonging to becoming someone who cultivates it for others. It reminded me that true success is never individual; it is something we build together, through connection, care and shared purpose," said the applied mathematics and economics double major.
Mhingiro's contributions have earned him the Outstanding Senior award for the Class of 2026. He and nine other finalists were celebrated during halftime at the Vanderbilt Homecoming football game on Nov. 8.
The Outstanding Senior Award is one of the highest honors an undergraduate student can receive at Vanderbilt. It recognizes a senior who exemplifies the values of the university community through leadership, service and passion. Students are nominated by a campus organization, fellow student, faculty or staff member and are voted on by their class.
"To be nominated by my peers and named Outstanding Senior, knowing it reflects leadership, service and passion, felt like the culmination of everything I have worked toward here at Vanderbilt," he said. "More than anything, it reminded me of the people who helped me along the way: my parents, siblings, mentors, friends, professors and residents I have had as an RA. This recognition is deeply meaningful because it not only represents the impact I have had on Vanderbilt but also the impact Vanderbilt has had on me."
"This recognition is deeply meaningful because it not only represents the impact I have had on Vanderbilt but also the impact Vanderbilt has had on me." - Leon Mhingiro
SERVING STUDENTS WITH CARE
Both in Zimbabwe and in the U.S., Mhingiro has been using his resources to create positive change. He credits an international student from Libya with helping ease his transition and find belonging within Vanderbilt.
"I've had probably one of the most positive college experiences an international student can ever get. During my time at Vanderbilt, I have found people who shaped my journey and made me who I am today," he said. "This award and my time here in general has been a reflection of those relationships that I've been able to build and nurture over the last three and a half years."
GETTING INVOLVED
Mhingiro is the former president and current adviser of Vanderbilt Finance Club and the Vandy in Finance student ambassador for the Career Center, where he has worked to democratize professional development and recruitment resources for students interested in pursuing a career in finance.
"After completing investment banking recruitment, I realized there was an inherent disparity in students' access to resources," he said. "Through these roles, my goal was to ensure all students can benefit from information and opportunities that were previously restricted to members of exclusive organizations on campus."
In addition to his finance-focused roles, he is also a new member educator for Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity and active member of Kappa Sigma social fraternity.
He is in his third year as a resident adviser and believes it's one of the most meaningful parts of his Vanderbilt experience.
"Being an RA has taught me that leadership is not about authority, but about presence and empathy. From late-night conversations with residents to organizing programs that foster connection, I learned how small, consistent acts of care can create real community," he said.
FUTURE IN FINANCE
During his college career, Mhingiro has interned in finance and investment banking both in the U.S. and Zimbabwe.
"My internships inspired me to pursue advanced coursework in applied mathematics, economics and computer science to build the analytical foundation I'll need for a long-term career in finance that focuses on impact and opportunity creation," he said.
After graduation he will work for Morgan Stanley in New York City as an investment banking analyst. He's excited to keep his Vanderbilt relationships going through Vanderbilt's new campus in New York City.
"I'll be excited to go and meet everyone else who is in New York and see the students who are taking part in internships in the city and hopefully serve as a resource for those students as well," Mhingiro said. "I'm excited and ready to see what the future holds and I will forever be thankful for the opportunities and community Vanderbilt has given."
CLASS OF 2026 NOMINEES
Sydney Brown
Majors: Computer Science and Cognitive Studies
Sydney Brown is a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholar, president of the Vanderbilt NAACP, chaplain of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. and a member of the National Society of Black Engineers. She is head resident adviser of Carmichael College.
"I initially pursued the role of resident adviser because my first-year RA made Vanderbilt feel like a true home almost immediately. I still remember talking with friends on the second day of school and calling my dorm 'home.' That feeling resonated with me and inspired me to help create it for others," Brown said.
Brown plans to work as a software engineer after graduation.
Harper Dale
Major: Human and Organizational Development
Harper Dale founded and serves as president of Vanderbilt Community for Suicide Prevention. She is vice president of education for Kappa Alpha Theta and vice president of community service for Delta Sigma Pi. Dale works as a teaching assistant in the Owen Graduate School of Management.
"The biggest piece of advice I'll carry forward from my time at Vanderbilt is to lead with compassion and courage, even when you don't have all the answers," Dale said. "Some of my most meaningful experiences-like founding Vanderbilt Community for Suicide Prevention or mentoring new members in Theta-started with uncertainty… When you act with genuine intention and kindness, people feel it, and that's what creates real change."
After graduation, Dale will move to New York City to work in human capital consulting with KPMG.
Aja Halbert
Majors: Psychology and Medicine, Health and Society
Aja Halbert earned the Bill Gates Scholarship and the Schuler Scholarship. She is the vice president of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., internal vice president of Vanderbilt NAACP, co-chair of MOSAIC, outreach chair for Vanderbilt's Black Student Association and a VUceptor. She's also volunteered since her first year at Vanderbilt at Dream Streets North, an after-school program that provides low-income students with food, tutoring and mentorship.
"I have served as a VUceptor for two years, and the experience has been one of the most meaningful parts of my time at Vanderbilt," Halbert said. "I loved being a consistent source of encouragement and honesty for my Visions group, helping them find community while also learning more about myself as a leader and mentor."
After graduation, Halbert plans to work as a clinical research coordinator for a year before starting medical school.
Elise Harris
Majors: Political Science and Communication Studies
Harris has been a resident adviser for three years. She is on the executive board of Blackness and the Great Outdoors and serves on the board for Vanderbilt Student Communications, which oversees the university's 13 student media groups. Harris is currently a writer for Vanderbilt Law School and has completed journalism internships with Dow Jones News Fund, Nashville Business Journal and Bloomberg News.
"At Bloomberg, I researched and reported on commodities, which confirmed my interest in pursuing a legal career connected to resources trading and land rights. That led me to seek out aligned coursework here on campus, including my current class on Commodities Conflicts in Africa, where I've gained more historical and regional context, and a professor mentor," she said. "It's been exciting to see my journalism experience, professional development and academics come together so perfectly."
After graduation, Harris plans to take a gap year before entering law school.
Christina (Ko-Eun) Lee
Majors: Child Development and Medicine, Health and Society
Lee is president of Global Medical Missions Alliance and has been working as a research assistant in Dr. TK Kim's lab at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. She also volunteers weekly at Abe's Garden through Vanderbilt AlzBuddies to care for and build relationships with patients with Alzheimer's disease. And she volunteers at the Veterans Affairs Hospital as a patient care assistant.
"My first medical mission trip to Honduras with the Vanderbilt GMMA chapter truly defined and solidified my journey," Lee said. "One key moment that stood out to me was realizing that although medical treatment was important, many patients carried suffering that went far beyond their physical conditions. When caring doctors took the time to truly listen and love them as individuals, not just as patients, their hearts began to heal alongside their bodies."
After graduation, Lee plans to work as a research assistant in Dr. Kim's lab while preparing to apply to medical schools.
Kennith Lee
Major: Human and Organizational Development
Lee is a QuestBridge scholar, co-president of Vanderbilt Asian Pre-Professional Society, and president of the Korean Undergraduate Student Association. As director of marketing for Students Consulting for Nonprofit Organizations, he worked with Nashville-based nonprofits that expand access to education and community support.
He also mentors high school and college students by helping them with resumes, interview preparation, essays and career resources.
"Growing up in a low-income environment, most of my peers could not afford tutoring or additional support outside of school. When I later moved to a city where almost everyone had access to private tutors and extracurricular coaches, I saw firsthand how unequal the playing field really was. That contrast shaped one of my core values: mentorship and education. It made me want to help bridge those gaps for others who simply need guidance, opportunity and someone to believe in them," Lee said.
Lee plans to work for a startup after graduation.
Sarah Qaddo
Majors: Medicine, Health and Society; Human and Organizational Development; Molecular and Cellular Biology
Qaddo was president and is now the senior adviser for Middle Eastern and North African Student Association, co-president of Vanderbilt Pre-Medical Society, has served numerous roles on Vanderbilt Student Government, United Against Inequities in Disease, Minority Association of Pre-Medical Students, Students for Health Humanities, and the Vanderbilt Undergraduate Research Journal. Qaddo has also been a resident adviser for Warren College.
During her time at Vanderbilt, Qaddo has pursued multiple research and internship experiences to explore medicine through both a scientific and human lens. She also has volunteered at Siloam Health as a clinical interpreter, supporting Arabic-speaking patients, many of whom are immigrants and refugees without insurance, through their medical visits.
"Having once been the child translating for my own parents when we first came to the U.S., it has been a full-circle moment to now help other families communicate with physicians, navigate paperwork and understand their treatment plans. I see patients at some of the most vulnerable moments in their lives, and each interaction reminds me how something as simple as language access can restore dignity and transform care," she said. "Vanderbilt has taught me to lead with empathy, listen before acting, and value the quiet ways we can lift each other up."
After graduation, Qaddo plans to take a gap year to spend time with family and continue working in health care before attending medical school.
Catherine Reller
Majors: Computer Science and Applied Mathematics
Reller is focused on applying AI and computational methods to sustainability challenges, from climate modeling to clean energy optimization.
She is co-president of Wilskills, Vanderbilt's largest student-run outdoor organization, and is a founding executive of Plant Futures, a social venture advancing food industry sustainability. She is also an active member of Kappa Kappa Gamma.
"My most significant contribution to the Vanderbilt community has been serving as president of Wilskills," she said. "What makes Wilskills particularly meaningful is our commitment to breaking down the barriers that often make outdoor recreation inaccessible, as quality gear and expert knowledge typically come with steep costs."
After graduation, Reller said she plans to work in climate tech at a "mission-driven company working on environmental impact."
Stephanie Yu
Majors: Neuroscience and Cinema and Media Arts
Yu is a neuroscience teaching assistant, and she volunteers weekly in the NICU Music Therapy department at the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital. She is part of Basement Films and Vanderbilt Photo Society. She was a transfer student leader at orientation and is the education chair for Alternative Spring Break.
"I help educate site leaders and participants on planning and social issues. Doing ASB was genuinely a transformative experience that I would never give up. The site I went on was amazing and showed me in more ways than one how impactful yearlong rehabilitation programs are," she said. "This volunteering opportunity was also one of the main reasons I am so interested in addiction psychiatry."
After graduation, Yu is hoping to attend the Master of Science in Media, Medicine, and Health program at Harvard. Or she will continue her research at VUMC and then apply to medical school.
"I aspire to work in addiction psychiatry or sports neurology, continue educating others through filmmaking ranging from narratives to documentaries, and later on open a nonprofit yearlong addiction center," she said.
