Michael Amato-Montanaro SEAS’25 is excited to graduate this May with a B.S. in mechanical engineering, and is being recognized for his decisive leadership in rebuilding a faltering Columbia University Men’s Ice Hockey Club. In his first two years with the program, Amato-Montanaro experienced both the triumph of the team's first-ever conference championship and the challenges of a following season defined by an exodus of players and organizational instability. As these circumstances forced the club to operate independently during the 2023-24 academic year, Amato-Montanaro co-founded and served as president of the New York Collegiate Ice Hockey Club,a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that secured the team’s future. Under his leadership, the program transitioned from Division III to Division II and reimagined its presence in the Columbia community. Amato-Montanaro also launched an internship program that now employs 10 students from both Columbia and local high schools; the program established initiatives to financially support FGLI players and overhauled team recruitment efforts. Returning to Columbia this year, the club built upon this momentum to secure its second conference championship and log its first appearance at the National Tournament, where it reached the National Semifinals.