November 11, 2022
Engineering student receives award from Kansas Prevention Collaborative
Abby Aguilar, sophomore in biomedical engineering, received the 2022 Kansas Prevention Young Leader Award from the Kansas Prevention Collaborative at its annual conference in Wichita Oct. 27-28.
The award recognizes those 22 years or younger who have shown outstanding leadership in prevention efforts in Kansas. The collaborative, a service of the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services, consists of several different state, educational and provider agencies and exists to expand prevention efforts to be more inclusive of mental health promotion, suicide prevention, and problem gambling education and awareness.
Aguilar was nominated for the award for her work as a member and leader of Kansas Youth Connect, playing a critical role in the planning and engagement for the organization's annual conference and presenting for the Governor's Behavioral Health Services Planning Council Prevention Subcommittee on the importance of self-care and diversity, equity and inclusion. She also participated in the Kansas Prevention Collaborative's "Connecting Culture" series, participating in a panel presentation and follow-up.
In addition to her work with Kansas Prevention Collaborative, Aguilar is involved in a variety of organizations at K-State. She won the 2022 Miss K-State title, representing the Philippine Student Association in the annual competition in April. Additionally, Aguilar was named the 2022 recipient of the Sue Barsamian Engineering Student Award for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion at the college's sixth annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Summit, hosted Nov. 1.
She is involved with the K-State chapter of the Society of Asian Engineers and Scientists and founded the College of Engineering International Events Committee. She also serves on the Engineering Student Council's diversity, equity and inclusion wing as the community relations chair.