Who’s who at Binghamton University? This award finds out by acknowledging some of campus’s top student leaders each year.

The Who’s Who Among Students Award is a national program that recognizes students for their outstanding contributions to their schools through campus leadership, scholarship and community achievements.

This year, Adam Amit, a senior economics and philosophy, politics and law (PPL) major and Laura Chaath, a political science and history major, were among the students who received the award.

“Earlier in the year, I saw that applications were open for Who’s Who in Binghamton and I decided to apply,” Amit said. “Friends of mine in past years had applied and been recognized so I have known about Who’s Who and thought it was a great way to recognize campus leaders.”

The campus-nominating committee, which is coordinated through the XCEL Center and the Office of Campus Life, submits names to the national Who’s Who organization. A committee made up of faculty, staff and students reviews the applications. They then forward certificates for the students once they’ve been approved at the national level.

“Student recipients receive a letter from President DeFleur along with the certificate, mailed from the Office of Campus Life,” said Debora Clinton Callaghan, senior associate director of campus life.

Amit has involved himself with campus activities from the start. As a freshman, he was the Seneca Hall treasurer and remained in student government throughout his dorm experience. He is currently a resident assistant in the Hillside Community.

Amit, a director at Catalysts for Intellectual Capital 2020 (CIC2020), also created and organized the Binghamton Blowout Block Party.

“It was the first fair held in Downtown Binghamton that was coordinated by both campus and city leaders,” he said.

Chaath also has a lot on her plate, as vice president of College Democrats, communications director for Prospect Magazine, Southern Tier regional director for College Democrats of New York and more.

In addition to extracurricular activities, both Amit and Chaath balance the work load that comes with being a BU student.

“Balancing activities, schoolwork, family and friends is a challenge, but I believe that it is a challenge that everyone in college faces, which makes it less daunting,” Chaath said.

Amit also feels the stress.

“Balancing all my extracurricular activities and school work is certainly a challenge, but with time and practice it is becoming much easier to do so,” he said.

Nomination information is solicited during the fall semester each year and students are notified as to the outcome in January, according to Callaghan. All candidates must have at least a 3.3 cumulative GPA and be in good judicial standing. There is no cost to apply.

“I feel very honored and proud to be recognized as one of Binghamton’s top leaders on campus,” Amit said. “Who’s Who is really a great way of motivating and recognizing many of our University’s excellent student leaders who have dedicated so much of their time and energy in making our University better.”