Eight students have been named winners of the 2026 Allen Macy Dulles ’51 Spirit of Princeton Award, honoring Princeton University undergraduates for positive contributions to campus life. The award recognizes students who have demonstrated a strong commitment to the undergraduate experience through dedicated efforts in student organizations, athletics, community service, religious life, residential life and the arts.
The selection committee received over 200 letters of nomination on behalf of outstanding undergraduate students. The Spirit of Princeton Award is sponsored by the Office of the Dean of Undergraduate Students and has been given annually since 1995.
The recipients of the 2026 Spirit of Princeton Award are:
Tharuka Hikkaduwa Gamage, a senior from London is majoring in mathematics, with minors in computer science and Italian. A residential college adviser in Whitman College, she contributed to Princeton’s academic and entrepreneurial community through her work as a co-founder and co-lead of the AI Fluency Lab and as a co-director for the 2026 Silicon Valley TigerTrek. Gamage co-founded the Sri Lankans at Princeton student organization and served as its treasurer. She is involved with the Scholars Institute Fellows Program, where she previously served as a head fellow, and is a member of the Playhouse Choir and the women’s ultimate frisbee team.
Caroline Kane, a senior from Los Altos, California, is majoring in psychology with a minor in neuroscience. She is a member of Rockefeller College and has been actively involved in fostering student well-being and peer support for varsity student-athletes as a student-athlete wellness leader and a defender on the varsity women’s soccer team. Kane is a two-year president of the student-athlete service council, is the activities chair of Cannon Dial Elm eating club and is a SHARE peer.
Alyssa Lloyd, a senior from Reardan, Washington, is majoring in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, with minors in entrepreneurship and journalism. She is a residential college adviser in Rockefeller College, where she also served as co-chair of the college council. Lloyd previously supported incoming first-year students at Princeton as an orientation summer engagement coordinator and as a Community Action leader. She is also a co-director of Camp Kesem, a coach with Girls on the Run and a member of the Civic Leadership Council.
Luke Miller, a senior from El Paso, Texas, is majoring in the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, with minors in finance and Spanish. A peer academic adviser in Butler College, he has contributed to campus life as the head writer of the All-Nighter Late Night Talk Show and as a Class Day co-chair for the Class of 2026. Beyond his current role as co-chair of Orange Key tour guides, Miller was a guide selection officer and logistics chair. He is a teacher with the English as a Second Language (ESL) El Centro program and is a member of Cap and Gown eating club.
Jaisnav Rajesh, a senior from Plainfield, Illinois, is majoring in computer science. He is a residential college adviser in New College West and serves on the residential college leadership team. Rajesh is a peer career adviser with the Center for Career Development, a community ambassador with the Scholars Institute Fellows Program, and a project manager with the Financial Literacy Program. He is also the assistant to the editor for the yearbook production team and is a member of Tiger Inn eating club.
Aaliska Sapkota, a senior from West Hartford, Connecticut, is majoring in molecular biology with minors in quantitative and computational biology and Spanish. She is a member of Two-Dickinson Co-Op, a tutor with the McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning and a volunteer with Academic Success Today. Beyond her membership in Butler College, Sapkota is a head fellow with the Scholars Institute Fellows Program, a member of the ProCES student advisory board, and a volunteer with the English as a Second Language El Centro program.
Genevieve Shutt, a senior from Vale, North Carolina, is majoring in anthropology with a minor in African American studies. She is president of the Brown Food Co-Op, president of the Princeton University Farmers Market and a leader of Princeton Presbyterians. Prior to serving as U-Council Chair for the Undergraduate Student Government, Shutt held the roles of Campus and Community Affairs chair and U-Councilor. She is a member of Forbes College and previously served as a head fellow for Vote100, Princeton’s student voter registration initiative.
Jaden Stewart, a senior from Los Angeles, is majoring in politics with minors in history and the practice of diplomacy and history. He is an undergraduate fellow with the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions, a U-Councilor with the Undergraduate Student Government and a Class Day co-chair for the Class of 2026. Stewart, a member of Forbes College, previously served as the Cliosophic party chair with the American Whig-Cliosophic Society, was secretary of the Princeton Political Review, and played tenor saxophone with the Princeton University Wind Ensemble. He is also involved with the Princeton Christian Fellowship, previously holding the roles of secretary and global ministry team lead.
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