Splendore '27 and Gawu-Mensah '26 selected for Augustana's Hasselmo Award

Two future educators Gaia Splendore ’27 and Leroy Gawu-Mensah ’26 have received this year’s Nils Hasselmo Award for Academic Pursuit.

The Hasselmo Award, established in 2011 by Dr. Nils Hasselmo ’57, supports Augustana students pursuing careers in research or higher education teaching. Inspired by the impact of his own Augustana experience, Dr. Hasselmo created the award to help students access professional opportunities.

The $5,500 award is divided evenly between the two recipients. The funds can be used to purchase books or resources, as well as support travel to conferences, professional meetings, special collections, laboratories or graduate schools.

'It didn't feel real'

Splendore, a triple major in history, English and creative writing from Fort Wayne, Ind., plans to pursue graduate study and a career in academic teaching and research in cultural studies. 

In the nomination process, faculty members consistently highlighted her ability to foster thoughtful discussion and inquiry; as one wrote, she brings “a combination of authority and goofiness” that makes her both engaging and effective in front of a class.

When she learned she had been selected for the award, Splendore was attending the Association for Writers and Writing Programs Conference in Baltimore.

“The conference itself was already a whirlwind, so when I got the email notification on my phone alerting me of the award, it didn't feel real,” she said. “To a certain extent, it still hasn't entirely clicked in my mind because I've been so busy and this is such an honor.”

Splendore said the recognition affirmed her commitment to the humanities and her longstanding academic goals.

“I see this recognition as an affirmation that I am on the right path,” she said. “This prize is truly a breath of fresh air… affirming to me that now more than ever, the world needs scholars who will challenge the master narrative.”

After graduating from Augustana, Splendore plans to pursue a master’s, potentially followed by an MFA in creative writing, before earning a Ph.D. and teaching at the collegiate level. She also hopes to work in publishing and conduct historical research along the way.

She credits several Augustana experiences with shaping her academic interests, including English courses with Dr. Laura Greene and an honors course on food anthropology and history taught by Dr. Brian Leech.

“Not only was it on an interesting and relevant topic, but it also expanded my understanding of classes and the different ways one can learn,” Splendore said.

'Being supported makes me feel seen'

Leroy Gawu-Mensah’s interdisciplinary work in design, art and research has inspired him to pursue a career as a college professor.

Gawu-Mensah, a graphic design and computer science double major, also was surprised to learn he had been selected for the award.

“I remember telling Professor Vickie [Phipps] and Professor Larissa [Frimpong] about my fun teaching experience last summer as a design educator, but I had no idea that this would lead to my being nominated for the Nils Hasselmo Academic Pursuit Award,” he said.

The recognition, he said, is an important step toward his goal of becoming a design educator.

“I have developed a passion for teaching and design over the years and being supported in that makes me feel seen and appreciated,” Gawu-Mensah said.

During the nomination process, one faculty member emphasized that his “curiosity and love of learning make Leroy particularly well-suited for an academic career,” noting that he approaches scholarship as a collaborative process and actively engages with the ideas of his peers.

Gawu-Mensah plans to pursue an MFA in design, which he hopes will allow him to expand his creative practice while exploring new ways to communicate ideas and tell stories.

“I want to create a space where people feel safe bringing ideas to life and contribute toward building a world filled with curious people,” he said.

Gawu-Mensah credits Augustana's graphic design department and the broader campus community with helping shape his development as both a designer and educator. His experience working as a community advisor in residential life also taught him the importance of building supportive communities, a value he hopes to carry into his future classroom.

“The friends, memories and relationships I have built over the years will be valuable in the future,” Gawu-Mensah said.

By Yael Haddad '26