About the Spark Award
Congratulations to this year’s Spark Award Recipient, Julia Jannon-Shields!
Julia has demonstrated powerful leadership in advancing equity and community-centered change locally. Learn more about Julia in the OMA&D Blog.
Introduced in 2024, the OMA&D Spark Award honors an individual whose diversity, equity, and inclusion leadership inspires early-career changemakers, and exemplifies the spirit of the Charles E. Odegaard Award. Each year, the award recognizes the accomplishments of a University of Washington alum who graduated within the last 10 years and who has made significant diversity, equity and inclusion contributions during their time as a student and continues to do so post-graduation.
Introducing OMA&D’s Spark Social | Celebrating Leadership & Community
For more than five decades, the Office of Minority Affairs & Diversity (OMA&D) and the Friends of the Educational Opportunity Program (FEOP) have hosted the Annual Celebration Gala, bringing together UW alums, community leaders, partners, and friends to honor leadership, academic excellence, and community impact. This spring, OMA&D and the FEOP Board are proud to build on this tradition by introducing the inaugural Spark Social: Celebrating Leadership & Community, a new event designed to deepen connection and spotlight the next generation of changemakers.
OMA&D’s Spark Social | Celebrating Leadership & Community
Date: Thursday, April 9, 2026, 5:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Walker Ames Room, Kane Hall, UW Seattle Campus
Refreshments will be served; all ages are welcome.
$35 General Admission / Complimentary Tickets for Students (RSVP required) – REGISTER TODAY!
Learn more about the Spark Social: Celebration Leadership & Community.
2024 – Mariama Suwaneh ’17
Who can submit a nomination?
Any person, both internal and external to the University of Washington may submit a nomination for any other person that meets the nomination criteria below.
There is no limit on the number of nominations a person may submit.
Nominees must meet all criteria to be considered.
Note: self-nominations are not permitted.
2026 Spark Award Nominations have closed.
Spark Award nomination criteria
- Graduated from the University of Washington with an undergraduate, graduate or professional degree in the past 10 years.
- Formally connection to OMA&D as a student.
- Diversity, equity and inclusion leadership, advocacy and/or activism as a UW student, especially within organizations affiliated with the Samuel E. Kelly Ethnic Cultural Center (ECC) and/or social justice organizations
- Continued diversity, equity and inclusion leadership, advocacy and/or activism in local, regional, and/or national communities post-graduation.
2026 SPARK AWARD NOMINATION(S) | REQUIRED MATERIALS
Please include the following:
- The nominator’s name, preferred contact information, and relationship to the nominee. Note: Self-nominations are not permitted.
- A nomination letter outlining the nominee’s connection to OMA&D, their contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion on campus, in the community, and post-graduation (not to exceed 500 words).
- A letter of support from a current member of the UW community (not to exceed 500 words).
- OPTIONAL: Up to five (5) links to materials, articles, or other media that highlight the nominee’s leadership, advocacy, activism and/or impact.
Selection Process
A subcommittee of the Friends of the Educational Opportunity (FEOP) Board of Trustees will review nomination materials and select three finalists to be moved forward to the full board for award consideration. The FEOP Board will select the award recipient in fall/winter. The recipient and their nominator(s) will be notified after selection. A public announcement regarding the OMA&D Spark Award honoree will be shared following the award acceptance.
For questions, please reach Crissi Mora, Assistant Director of Constituent Relations.