Two seniors on the Medical Anthropology track, Venezia Garza and Issa Mudashiru, have been named winners of the 2025 Spirit of Princeton Award for service. Sponsored by the Office of the Dean of the Undergraduate Students, the Spirit of Princeton Award honors undergraduates’ positive contributions to campus life through the dedicated effort in student organizations, athletics, community service, religious life, residential life, and the arts. 

Venezia Garza is from Los Angeles, California and in addition to her degree in Anthropology, she is receiving a minor in Latin American Studies. She is a residential college adviser in Mathey College and an active member of the Anthropology Undergraduate Advisory Board. She is the leader of two health related service oriented organizations at Princeton, Alzheimer’s Buddies and Henry J Austin Health Clinic, and a Peer Health Advisor. Beyond academics and health related activities, she is also the President of Princeton’s premier Latin dance company, Más Flow, and works as an Orange Key Tour Guide.

Issa Mudashiru is from Bethesda, Maryland and in addition to his degree in Anthropology, he is receiving a minor in Global Health and Health Policy. He is the captain of the men's varsity soccer team and his commitment to student wellness is evidenced by his role as a student athlete wellness leader and events volunteer with the Princeton Varsity Club. He is a 2025 Schwarzman Scholar and his Anthropology field work photo took second prize in our summer photo contest. He spent summer 2024 conducting ethnographic field research for his senior thesis in Sierra Leone at the Sierra Leone-China Friendship Hospital and Koidu Government Hospital-Partners in Health. 

Warm congratulations, Venezia and Issa! We are all immensely proud of your inspirational work!

Read more about the 2025 Spirit of Princeton Award and the other five Class of 2025 winners here.