Award Recognition
Indelible Mark
Juan José Amaya, an Art History major hailing from Bogotá, Colombia and raised in New York, is grateful for being acknowledged for his campus leadership.
Since joining Columbia in 2018, he has been an active and emphatic voice for his peers, using his intersecting identities to shape his leadership approach. In his initial two years, Juan José co-founded upLIFT, Columbia's sole FGLI-dedicated housing community, and served as the Communications Director of Alianza, a pan-Latinx organization that celebrated and challenged Latinidad by exploring themes of race, sexuality, and class through campus programming.
Lastly, Juan José had the privilege and blessing of captaining Sabor in 2022, where he used Latin culture and heritage in order to realize the group's artistic vision. He co-led a salsa workshop fundraiser for Puerto Rico, broke record ticket sales for their annual Fall Show, and received recognition from LAACU at their annual gala for their community-building efforts.
My mother always said growing up, "Dime con quién andas y te diré quién eres." I've found myself cherishing these words during my time at Columbia, helping me understand that I am only as successful as those who uplift me, I am only as confident as those who embrace me, and I am only as passionate as those who fuel me. To mi familia on and off campus — mil gracias y lxs amo. <3