UAB graduating senior Sienna Rucka has been named the UAB Honors College’s recipient of the 2022 Dean’s Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Student. She will be recognized at the Honors College MedallionSienna Rucka Ceremony and during spring commencement in a special presentation.

“This award means the world to me,” said Rucka. “I feel that it’s one conclusive recognition for all my hard work and dedication over the past 4 years. I am so grateful for the recognition, and it is a remarkable honor to have my work and dedication to UAB, the Honors College, and the Birmingham community acknowledged. I have received so much support from the Honors College and it’s extremely rewarding to know how much they care about their students and how much pride they take in all their student’s hard work and successes.”

Every spring, UAB recognizes students who have won prestigious national honors, including fellowships and scholarships, university school awards, and student service awards. Schools and divisions at UAB submit names of students to be honored. A selection committee in the Honors College chose Rucka based on her sustained academic excellence, service, and leadership involvement to UAB and the greater Birmingham community.

During her four-year undergraduate career, Rucka has amassed an impressive record of achievements, from joining the 2020 class of the prestigious Clinton Global Initiative University to developing influential student programming. She has been an active member of the Honors College Leadership Council (HCLC), holding multiple positions since 2019. Most recently, she has served as president of the HCLC. She was the co-founder and chair of the HCLC’s new Health and Wellness Committee. “Being involved on the Honors College Leadership Council (HCLC) has had a tremendous impact on my college experience,” said Rucka. “I have had amazing opportunities to work alongside great faculty and students to help create a welcoming and supportive experience for all students.”

When COVID-19 forced UAB’s operations to go virtual before the 2020 spring semester concluded, Rucka sought different options to keep the Honors College student body engaged. She helped to create Pet Show and Tell, where over 100 students attended on Zoom to share “funny stories as they introduced their pets” and “create an environment for students to feel heard.”

Not only did Rucka serve on leadership opportunities in the Honors College, but she was heavily involved in campus initiatives. She serves as co-president of Students Empowering Humanity in Alabama (SEHA) and research analyst at the UAB Hugh Kaul Precision Medicine Institute (PMI). Her previous appointments include a teaching assistant for three courses, undergraduate liaison for the American Physician-Scientist Association (APSA), and co-founder and treasurer of SEHA. Through her work with SEHA and PMI, Rucka developed an appreciation for the medical field by advocating and providing medical care to underserved patient communities.

“Sienna is a truly outstanding student, both academically and as a student leader, and I am so proud of all that she has accomplished at UAB,” said Shannon L. Blanton, Ph.D., dean of the UAB Honors College. “She has played an extremely important role in facilitating student connections and involvement, and has had a tremendous impact on our Honors community.”

Rucka credits the Honors College’s Honors Hall as one of the places on campus where she felt safe and supported. “I love walking into Honors Hall, saying hi to all the advisors, and meeting up with friends to get our work done for the day,” said Rucka. “It is so great to be surrounded by the amazing Honors College faculty and students, and it’s so humbling to work alongside such qualified and dedicated individuals.”

As a student on the accelerated bachelor’s/master’s (ABM) program, Rucka will graduate this spring with two degrees, Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience and Master of Science in Multidisciplinary Biomedical Science. After graduation, she will attend medical school, where she plans to achieve her dream of becoming a physician who works with pediatric patients and provides people with the opportunity “to live in optimal health and happiness.”

For students who are unsure of their career path or need help navigating through college, Rucka offers two friendly tips. “I would advise students to always work hard and not be deterred or discouraged by failure,” said Rucka. “I would also advise students to find ways to pursue what they are truly interested in and don’t let what others think to dictate their path.”