Anisgul Stanikzai ‘23 remembers the first time she volunteered with Guilford College’s Every Campus A Refuge, which helps immigrant and refugee families ease into their new lives in America.

It was in 2022 when a family from Afghanistan arrived on campus. Anisgul, whose family still lives in Afghanistan, was one of the first students to meet them. Anisgul, who has lived in America since 2008, still struggles with English, but her Pashto, one of two principal languages spoken in Afghanistan, remains perfect.

“Hello,” said the mother of the family in broken English to Anisgul.

“Salam alaikum,” Anisgul replied. The mother smiled and her eyes teared, hearing hello in her native language.

Even now, all these months later, Anisgul herself smiles at the story. “How could I not help?” she asks. “That mother, that family could easily have been my mother, my family.”

On April 11, Anisgul and Jim Hood ‘79, retired Dana Professor of English and former Interim President of Guilford, received the College’s 2023 Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards for Excellence of Character and Service to Humanity during the Spring Awards Ceremony, which annually recognizes the accomplishments of students, faculty and staff.

Anisgul has volunteered with Every Campus A Refuge ever since. She does more than translate. She listens. “If I can make them feel a little more comfortable in this country that makes me happy and full,” she says.

Anisgul knows a little about the lives of the Afghan refugees that come through Guilford and ECAR. She grew up in Afghanistan with two sisters and a brother. Her mother and grandfather served as the family leaders.

Her grandfather forbade Anisgul and her two sisters to get a quality education. It was only after he died that Anisgul’s mother sent her to school in the United States. She earned a scholarship to George School, a private Quaker boarding school near Philadelphia. “My mother is my hero,” she says. “Without her I wouldn’t be here today.” 

Anisgul felt so welcomed at George, she wanted to attend a Quaker college.That’s when a counselor at George told her about Guilford, where she was met with open arms. “There’s such a great sense of community at Guilford,” she says. “From (my) first day I felt supported here. It’s like also being at home.”

Anisgul graduates next month with a degree in International Studies and a minor in Business. She’s currently working for the North Carolina African Services Coalition, a nonprofit in Greensboro empowering refugees and immigrants throughout the Triad. She wants to return to school in a few years to earn a master’s in International Studies and work with refugees much like she’s done at Guilford.
 
“There’s a part of me that really wants to help refugees, because they’re a lot like me,” she says, “There are people who are so wonderful and helping them already and I want that to be my target, helping others.”

Jim taught English and courses in other subjects as a faculty member from 1999-2020 and held a number of leadership positions. He served as Interim President from February to December 2021, during the search process that resulted in the appointment of Kyle Farmbry.

Two faculty members and a staff member received the Bruce B. Stewart ’61 Awards for Teaching & Community Service. David Hildreth, the Lincoln Financial Professor of  Education Studies, was recognized for tenured teaching excellence. Katy Collier, a visiting professor of Art, was recognized for non-tenured teaching excellence. Nick Mangili, manager of the Guilford Farm, was recognized for staff community service.

Couldn't attend the Spring Awards Ceremony? Checkout our slideshow. 

Other awards winners included:

Charles A. Dana Scholarship: Renata Diaz '24, Kylie Horn '24, Yein Kim '25 and Ariel Morley '25.

Edward Flud Burrows Scholarship: Jim Glenn '24.

George I. Alden Scholarship: Madelyn Briggs '25 and Nazir Jones '24.

Lawrence T. Hoyle Pre-Law Scholarship: Yein Kim '25.

Dean's Writing Awards: Dean's Award for First Year Writing: Haile Espin '26.

Dean's Award for Scholarly/Critical Writing: Avery Reuter Lorenzana '23.

Dean's Award for Writing in the Physical, Natural and Health: Dishita Agarwal (Early College).

Jeff Jeske Prize in Journalism or Literary Nonfiction: Dishita Agarwai.

Sue Keith Prize in Fiction: Kindra Mancini ’24.

The College also recognized Departmental Awards:

The Charles C. Hendricks Scholarship, awarded to a student based on academic achievement, exemplary personal character and service to the College community, was presented to Jennifer Nicole Sari '24.

The Eugene S. Hire '29 Memorial Award, awarded to a student completing their junior year and has demonstrated the highest standards of scholarship was presented to Darren Brumbach '24.

The Alan Walter Hull '82 Scholarship, which honors a purposeful, altruistic person preparing for a service vocation, was presented to Candace Fant '25.

The Lynn & David Odom Leadership Award, recognizing a rising junior who has demonstrated leadership at the College and may be renewed in the senior year, was presented to Darniece Carter ’25.

The Eric Reid Memorial Leadership Fund, awarded to a rising senior who exhibits leadership involvement that enhances campus life, was given to James Buie ’24.

The Bill Grubbs Memorial Scholarship in Accounting, awarded for superior performance from a student seeking a career in accountancy, was presented to Landon Barnes '24.

The Fred I. Courtney Fund for Scholars in Management, awarded to students based on academic excellence in management and demonstrated leadership potential, was presented to Maddi Page '25, Dawson Edwards '26, Tye Sasser '24 and Landon Barnes '24.

The Ted Benfey Senior Chemistry Award, awarded to honor an outstanding senior Chemistry major for superior ability and academic achievement, was presented to Noah Dabney '23.

The Harvey A. & Maxine K. Ljung Scholarship, recognizing Chemistry majors for scholarship and service to the department and the College, was presented to Maggie Mahanes '22.

The outstanding First-Year Chemistry Award, awarded in recognition for outstanding academic achievement in the field, was presented to Isaac Cunningham '26.

The Outstanding Senior in Computer Technology and Information Systems, awarded to a CTIS major in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field, was presented to Austin Parker '23.

The Cyber & Network Security Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, given in recognition of outstanding achievement in the field, was awarded to Elvis Erazo-Embrocio '25.

The Award for Academic Excellence in Economics, given to a graduating Economics Major in recognition of their high level of academic excellence as demonstrated in their coursework, was presented to Diyaa Kaufman '23.

The Education Studies Outstanding Achievement by a Senior award, which recognizes outstanding academic achievement in the field, was awarded to Teddy Gassert '23.

The Betty Place Prize in Poetry, which honors a poet whose work best demonstrates, with passion and precision, a control of the poetic art, was awarded to Ainsley Kalb '23.

The Dorothy Lloyd Gilbert Awards, which is offered to rising seniors to pursue practicum or internship work in the summer before their final year at Guilford, and graduating seniors to pursue postgraduate study or some other vocational discernment activity crucial to the transition from student to professional, were presented to Madelaine Bradley ’23 and Sierra McCollum '23.

The Rachel Lindner Leahy '14 Award, which helps students in the English and Creative Writing Department take advantage of opportunities for enriching learning experiences outside of the classroom, was presented to Madelaine Bradley ’23, Renata Diaz '24 and Clara Fuehler '25.

The Leora Sherrill O'Callaghan Memorial Fund, awarded to the most promising and accomplished rising senior in the English department, was presented to Austin Rogers '25.

The Sherwood Anderson Creative Writing Scholarships, awarded annually to students who demonstrate exceptional promise in the field of Creative Writing, including poetry, prose and drama, were presented to Renata Diaz '24, Taylor Ferguson '26 and Charlie Miller '26.

The Algie I. and Eva M. Newlin Social Concerns Award, honoring a student who shows outstanding interest in furthering Quaker social concerns, was given to Jerry Gonzalez ’23.

The Roy Leake Award for Excellence in French, which recognizes academic achievement in the study of French language, culture, literature, and significant contributions to the program, was presented to Clare Duda '24.

The Outstanding Advanced German Award, presented for academic achievement in the study of German language, culture and literature and for significant contributions to the program, was presented to Thomas (Will) Nowatka '21.

The Outstanding Student of Intermediate German Award, given for academic excellence in German and for potential growth in the program, was presented to Madeleine Smiley '25.

The Algie I. Newlin First-year Book Award, given to a first-year student who demonstrates outstanding potential in the field of History, was presented to William Beardsley '26.

Algie I. Newlin Scholarship for Rising Senior, presented to a rising senior History major for academic excellence in History and for potential growth in the field, was given to Seth Jeffries '24 and Kathryn Farr '24.

The Thomas Thompson Memorial Scholarship, presented to students who demonstrate high academic achievement and who evince promise for scholarly excellence in History, was awarded to Jay Fletcher '26.

Algie I. and Eva M. Newlin Senior History Prize, presented to outstanding History majors actively engaged in campus life, who have demonstrated scholastic excellence, conscientious performance and potential contribution to the field, was awarded to Alex Souvignier '23, Taylor Calloway '23, Teddy Gassert '23, Alaina Betz '23, Olivia Cunningham '23 and Avery Reuter Lorenzana '23.

The Continuing Education Achievement in History, which goes to CE students who have achieved excellence in the study of history, was presented to Drake Holben '23.

The International Studies Outstanding Student Award, which goes to an International Studies major in recognition of outstanding academic achievement, was presented to Noely Bernier '23, Miguel Perez Montero '23 and Anisgul Stanikzai '23.

The Academic Honors for Community & Justice Studies, given in recognition for outstanding academic achievement in the field, was presented to X Braithwaite '24.

The Academic Honors for Criminal Justice, presented in recognition for outstanding academic achievement in the field, was awarded to Lydia Saunders '24.

The Barton Parks Community Justice Award, honoring a graduating senior who demonstrated extraordinary community service, exemplary leadership and innovation in responding to social justice issues, and an understanding of justice grounded in the perspectives of local communities, was awarded to Lenore Ramos Juarez '23 and Jess Castaneda '23.

The Outstanding Graduate Student in Criminal Justice, presented in recognition for outstanding academic achievement in the graduate criminal justice program, was given to Christy Elder '07.

The Community Service Award, which recognizes a student in the Justice and Policy Studies department who has made outstanding contributions to the quality of life on campus and /or in the broader Greensboro community, was presented to Jim Glenn '27.

The J. R. and Margaret Boyd Scholarship in Mathematics, presented to Mathematics majors who have demonstrated exceptional promise in becoming a mathematician, was awarded to Griffin Icenhower '25.

The Robert Clark '49 Math Scholarship, given to a deserving Mathematics major, was awarded to Cordai Shadie ’26.

The Nereus and Oriana Mendenhall Math Scholarship, awarded to a deserving Mathematics major, was presented to Misaen Hole '23.

The Mary Ellen Cathey Scholarship, established to provide financial assistance to Guilford Music students in good academic standing, was presented to Destini Nyorkor '26, Jennah Malik '22 and Joshua Hall '26.

The Laura Kelley Dobbins Scholarship, which recognizes Music students – especially those interested in preparing for service as part- or full-time ministers of music – was presented to Drew Carlson ’26, Noah Dabney '23, Lexi McGraw '24, Ariel Morley '25, and Luke Trainor ’26.
 
The Vernie Davis Peace and Justice Award, honoring leadership in working for the peaceful transformation of conflict at Guilford College or in the broader Greensboro community, was given to Matthew J. Howard ’24.

The Hazel Steinfeldt/American Friends Service Committee Scholarship, presented to students committed to working for peace and justice in the world as reflected in their career plans and goals, was presented to Matthew J. Howard ’24, Hannah E. Dieth '25 and Zoe A. Jordan '25.

The Areté Prize in Philosophy, honoring outstanding philosophical growth and citizenship, was awarded to Chiagoziem Ejindu '25.

The Senior Excellence Award in Political Science, presented to every senior who demonstrates the highest standards of “engaged citizenship,” was given to Katy Farr '24 and Aileen Cerda '23.

The Kathy Adams Research Methods Award, presented to a Psychology student who has done exemplary work in the Research Methods and Analysis course, was awarded to Daniela Lam Oviedo '24 and Josie Schoenberg '24.

The Outstanding Student in Psychology, presented to a Psychology major in recognition for outstanding academic achievement in the field, was awarded to Jennifer Marquez Trejo '23.

The Donald Deagan Achievement Award, recognizing outstanding achievement in the Theatre Studies Department, was presented to Brandon Taylor ’23. 

The Judith Weller Harvey Award in Campus Ministry, given to a senior who has contributed significantly to Guilford's spiritual community, was awarded to Liz Poole ’23.

The Frederic and Margaret Crownfield Religious Studies Prize, awarded to the student writing the best paper in Religious Studies, was given to Maryn Leonard '24.

The Sociology and Anthropology Award For Academic Excellence and Community Service, which honors seniors who have both excelled academically and applied what they have learned to serving others at Guilford and beyond, was given to Avery Edwards '23.

The Excellence in Spanish Award, presented to seniors who have persistently undertaken to attain a high level of achievement in their studies of Spanish and in their development as young scholars, was awarded to Calley Hull '23.

The Outstanding Student of Beginning Spanish, presented for academic excellence in Spanish and for potential growth in the program, was awarded to Trinity Stryer '24 and Elijah Menser ’26.