2026 Award Recipient
Ela Jalil
Ela Jalil was selected as our Circle Leader of the Year for her exceptional commitment to Omicron Delta Kappa and her steady, values-driven leadership throughout her time in the Sigma Circle. From her earliest connection to ODK as a first-year student sharing the organization’s story on campus tours, to her service as Public Relations Chair and ultimately President, Ela has demonstrated a deep and sustained investment in the mission of ODK.
As President, Ela led with both intention and care. She prioritized building a cohesive, collaborative executive board and created an environment where members felt supported, heard, and empowered to contribute. Her leadership was not about visibility, but about impact. She consistently worked behind the scenes to ensure the success of initiatives, the strength of relationships, and the continued growth of the Circle.
Ela’s contributions as Public Relations Chair further reflect her commitment to excellence. Through her work on The Leader, she strengthened communication within the Circle and elevated the voices of its members. Her ability to manage complex projects while maintaining a high standard of quality speaks to her organizational skill and dedication.
Beyond her roles, Ela embodies the spirit of ODK through her collaborative approach, mentorship of peers, and genuine desire to make a positive impact. She leads with humility, integrity, and purpose, leaving a lasting mark on the Sigma Circle.
In 2022-2023, ODK National changed the award process to allow for additional members to apply for pillar and national leader of the year awards, changing the previous requirement that only the Circle Leader of the Year was eligible to apply Nationally.
Past Recipients
Omicron Delta Kappa Leaders of the Year
- 1976-77 Fred Vogelgesang
- 1977-78 Clayton Powell
- 1978-79 John Fraser
- 1978-79 Larry Kirsch
- 1979-80 Jo Lynn Littman
- 1980-81 Marty Rosenstock
- 1981-82 Nancy Pearl
- 1982-83 Wendy Gelfand
- 1983-84 Matthew V. Zanger
- 1984-85 Michele Barone
- 1985-86 Devon McGraw
- 1986-87 Calvin Ellis
- 1987-88 Steven Vinick
- 1988-89 Shauna Paylor
- 1989-90 Bradley J. Federman *
- 1990-91 Michael D. Smith
- 1991-92 Dawn Nichols
- 1992-93 Marc Greenberg * & Sheryl-Lynn Caroff
- 1993-94 Marc W. Solomon **
- 1994-95 Paul Mandell
- 1995-96 Kelvin Reaves
- 1996-97 Hillary Cherry **
- 1997-98 Faiz Ahmad
- 1998-99 Paul A. Solomon
- 1999-2000 Larry A. Long
- 2000-01 Jason Ward *
- 2001-02 Peggy Wood
- 2002-03 Adam Chepenik **
- 2003-04 Christine Hwang *
- 2004-05 Christina Pernia
- 2005-06 Joe Williams
- 2006-07 Tim Lee *
- 2007-08 Shannon Auxier
- 2008-09 Raakee Sharma
- 2009-10 Joanna Calabrese **
- 2010-11 David Nelson
- 2011-12 Odunola Ojewumi
- 2012-13 Anna Roth
- 2013-14 Christopher Riley *
- 2014-15 Cara Hamel
- 2015-16 Kayla Coutts
- 2016-17 Samantha Bingaman *
- 2017-18 Jacob Veitch
- 2018-19 Rick Mikulis
- 2019-20 Christine Rhee *
- 2020-21 Emily Berry **
- 2021-22 M Pease **
- 2022-23 Amy Rivera
- 2023-24 Lei Danielle Escobal
- 2024-25 Alyssa Orlando
* Also selected as Province/Region/Pillar Leader
** Also selected as ODK National Leader
ODK Gen. Russell E. Dougherty National Leader of the Year
Each year, Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes its most outstanding student leaders with the Gen. Russell E. Dougherty National Leader of the Year honors. This program is named in memory of Gen. Russell E. Dougherty (University of Louisville, 1947). Gen. Dougherty was a one-time staff member with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He also served in the U.S. Air Force as commander in chief of the Strategic Air Command and director of strategic target planning.
The Society also recognizes a student in each of the five pillars of campus life celebrated by O∆K: academics and research, athletics, service to campus and community, communications, and creative and performing arts.
- 2022-23 Tesia Shi **
- 2022-23 Matthew Ober *
* Selected as Pillar Leader
** Selected as ODK National Leader