UMSI grads earn special honors

Students at the University of Michigan School of Information continue to demonstrate exceptional academic ability and professional promise. Their dedication to service and their insight as advocates and empathetic leaders is vital to the future of technology and society. 

At the 2022 graduation ceremony, the school bestowed special honors on four graduates across the graduate and undergraduate programs whose work, passion and integrity exemplify UMSI’s mission to create and share knowledge so that people will use information — with technology — to build a better world. 

Margaret Mann Award

The Margaret Mann Award is the first and oldest student award at the School of Information. It was established in 1938 to honor associate professor Margaret Mann upon her retirement. Mann was the first external faculty member hired into the department of library science when it was created in 1926.

Each year, this award goes to one or more students who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and professional promise. The Margaret Mann Award recognizes the heritage of UMSI and the deep roots of professional education in the information field at the University of Michigan. The award recognizes future promise through evidence of accomplishment at UMSI. 

Honoree: Dana Reik (Master of Science in Information)

Reik came to the School of Information seeking to become an effective design decision maker. Her exceptional achievements and involvements at UMSI have ensured her success. Reik has maintained a 3.9+ GPA while working full time at global design company IDEO and serving as a peer coach/instructional aide with UMSI’s Career Development Office. 

Reik has not only found supportive communities and extracurriculars to join, like Design Clinic, she also creates and expands opportunities for others. She took on extra projects to this end as a peer coach, including presenting a workshop on ways for students to identify inclusive company cultures. 

Reik was a user experience design intern at BCG Platinion in New York City, where she impressed her supervisor and colleagues with her proactive approach, ability and leadership skills. Reik will return to BCG Platinion as a design strategist after graduation. 

Nikki Roda Award 

The only award at UMSI named for a student was inspired by an exceptional student, Nikki Candelore Roda.

Roda had a significant impact on the school while she was here, showing leadership and initiative and inspiring her peers. Ultimately, Roda made UMSI a better place to be a student.

The Nikki Candelore Roda Student Impact Award celebrates a student who has shown initiative and dedication to service, influenced the culture and climate of the school in positive ways, been an insightful leader and good ambassador, and will leave a lasting legacy. 

Honoree: Nida Hameed (Master of Science in Information)

Hameed fully commits herself to her projects while going above and beyond to support her peers. She has served as a graduate student instructor, played an integral role in developing the programming and content of UMSI’s UX Lab, and delivered exceptional peer coaching through the Career Development Office. 

Hameed has been a dedicated advocate for UMSI’s international student community. As a peer coach/instructional aide for SI 505: Career and Internship Studio: Design Your Success, she used her experience as an international student to become the go-to for international peers, normalizing struggles and focusing on empowerment. She has initiated conversations to change the culture to a place where students can not only share their successes but also discuss their concerns, fears and pain points.

Edmon Low Award 

The Class of 1972 established the Edmon Low Award to honor professor Edmon Low on his retirement. Nominations are solicited from master's students, and the award recipient is chosen by the executive officers of the School of Information Master's Association. Awardees embody the qualities valued by Low: dedication to service, empathy for others, confidence building, industry, interpersonal acuity, responsibility and humor.

Honoree: Oleg Nikolsky (Master of Applied Data Science) 

As one of the founders of the Master of Applied Data Science student organization (MADSA), Nikolsky is a major contributor to the sense of community in the fully online program. He served as interim treasurer while the MADSA board got organized, and he completed UMSI’s Leadership Series. 

Nikolsky has twice been a graduate student instructor for the MADS program’s Milestone II project course and will continue to work for the program after graduation. He brings a fun, positive attitude to challenging problems on Slack and is an encouraging resource for homework help. 

When Nikolsky saw an opportunity to do social good with data science, he began working with managing director of MIDAS Jing Liu, the city of Detroit, Microsoft and Starry Internet to help provide internet to unconnected Detroit citizens — while completing his MADS degree in 20 months and working full time. 

John L. King Award 

To honor the professor who devoted many years to the development of the Bachelor of Science in Information program, UMSI created the John L. King Award in 2015. The award recognizes an outstanding student in the undergraduate program. 

Honoree: William Luna (Bachelor of Science in Information) 

Luna, a transfer student from Grand Rapids Community College, exemplifies a pioneering and engaging spirit. A constant advocate for the needs of community college students, he provides feedback to strengthen the pathways for these students to continue their education at UMSI. 

Luna has worked as an information mentor (IM) with UMSI’s Recruitment and Admissions team for two years. One of his keen strengths is his ability to share his story so prospective students can see themselves in him and at UMSI. Recently, Luna led the IM team in their very first social for current transfer students. 

He has been an invaluable resource and outstanding example to two newly hired information mentors. 

To watch the graduation ceremony, visit the School of Information’s 2022 graduation archive.