Gephardt-involved WashU students and alumni — including Student Engagement Specialist Sophie Devincenti, Donovan Dixson ’24, Sophie Lin ’26, Aspen Schisler ‘26, Charlie Shaw ’24, Laken Sylvander ‘17, Pat Wang ’24, and Da’Juantay Wynter ‘26 — were honored recently for their civic engagement efforts and community contributions.
Da’Juantay Wynter ‘26, a Mosbacher St. Louis Fellow, was selected to participate in The Institute for Responsible Citizenship’s prestigious Washington Program, a selective program for talented Black men in college. Starting in June, in the first of a two-summer commitment, Wynter — selected from among hundreds of applicants — will take on a Washington, D.C.-based internship, join a seminar about economic and constitutional principles, meet public and private sector leaders, and attend professional and personal development workshops.
Gephardt-involved students and institute staff were honored with Spectrum Awards at the annual ceremony on Wednesday, March 20, for their advocacy and service to LGBTQIA+ communities. Sophie Lin ’26, a WUPan Fellow in the St. Louis Fellows Program, was presented the Sylvia Rivera & Marsha P. Johnson Activism Award for both their work as an intern at Missouri advocacy organization PROMO, and co-organizing/curating The Queer Experience: Joy as Resistance Art Exhibition held at Stix House last fall. Aspen Schisler ‘26 was honored for both her efforts co-curating The Queer Experience and her work with Kaleidoscope, a WashU Living Learning Community. Gephardt’s Student Engagement Specialist, Sophie Devincenti, received the James Baldwin Committed Educator Award, for her work spearheading the art show.
Pat Wang ’24, a 2021 Dr. John C. Morris Fellow in the St. Louis Fellows Program and a Seiden Family Civic Scholar, received the Audre Lorde Academic Exploration Award for his work supporting older LGBTQIA+ seniors, and for his 2022 documentary film, “Beyond Voting: What Voting Means to the LGBTQ Community.” Charlie Shaw ‘24 was honored with the Frida Kahlo Creative Arts Award, for their portfolio of artwork. Shaw also presented work at The Queer Experience art exhibit.