Rising to the Occasion: Celebrating SODA's 2026 Award Winners

Written by Sophia Renner, SODA's Engagement Director

What a school year it was for SODA. From coast to coast, student advocates showed up with passion and purpose, and the impact speaks for itself.

Between August 2025 and May 2026, our growing network of 150 chapters and event hosts educated 152,892 people about the life-enhancing gift of organ, eye, and tissue donation while also inspiring 6,210 individuals to register as donors. Their advocacy brings SODA's cumulative impact since 2014 to 411,236 people educated and 20,428 people registered.

None of this would be possible without the hard-working students who show up, speak up, and dedicate their time to a cause bigger than themselves. We’re beyond grateful for their creativity and drive year after year.

Our annual SODA Awards shine a spotlight on the advocates within our network who go above and beyond: Leaders who demonstrate extraordinary dedication and leave a mark on their schools, their communities, and the next generation of donation champions.

Without further ado, please join us in celebrating SODA’s 2026 award winners!

Most People Registered: Warren County Career Center - Atrium Campus

Back-to-back champs, SODA at Warren County Career Center encouraged 423 people to say "yes" to joining the donor registry this year. Their chapter continues to set the pace for leading impactful events both on and off campus.

One of the many ways they go above and beyond is by educating and recruiting students from other local schools to engage in donation advocacy. Their team dedicates time to attending local job fairs, participating in Healthforce (a community event with hundreds of aspiring healthcare professionals), and presenting to science classes on nearby campuses.

They also celebrated their second consecutive Campus Challenge win in the fall of 2025, scoring the most points of any high school team and registering the most donors overall. During those three months alone, they registered 192 people as donors.

It's easy to see SODA at Warren County Career Center's dedication to advocacy in the consistency and quality of events they host for their peers and community.

Most People Educated: Downingtown STEM Academy

Another two-time winner, SODA at Downingtown STEM Academy educated 26,547 people about organ, eye, and tissue donation this year. They've harnessed the power of engaging advocacy events and social media outreach to create meaningful connections.

A perfect example of this? They hosted a "Cookies and Coloring" event, where students had the opportunity to color illustrated organs paired with facts about donation. The completed pages were then posted on social media alongside facts and figures to amplify the event's impact.

During the three months of our fall Campus Challenge, their Instagram and TikTok posts reached over 1,200 people alone, proving just how powerful social media outreach can be.

In their community, they also annually attend a local Trunk or Treat and a Snowball 5k to spread the word about the gift of life.

SODA at Downingtown STEM Academy is a fantastic example of how blending digital outreach and in-person events can significantly expand a chapter's reach.

Most Creative Registration Event: SODA at Innovation Academy

With summer on the mind and a cause close to their hearts, SODA at Innovation Academy set up shop in their school cafeteria for a two-day tabling event with a simple but irresistible hook: free popsicles. "Popsicles for Purpose" invited students to learn about organ, eye, and tissue donation and say "yes" to joining the donor registry.

"Our Popsicles for a Purpose event was a huge success! We got 100 registrations, with our original goal being 30," the chapter posted to their 263 Instagram followers. "We are so grateful for all of your support."

Surpassing their registration goal by over 200 percent says everything about what the right idea, in the right place, at the right time can do. SODA at Innovation Academy proved that creative advocacy doesn't have to be complicated. Sometimes it just takes a popsicle.

Most Creative Education Event: SODA at DeKalb Early College Academy

Fall festivals are made for fun, and SODA at DeKalb Early College Academy made sure their booth delivered. Their "SODA Pop the Balloon" activation invited festival goers to pop balloons pinned to a wall, with a catch: a successful pop meant answering a question about donation, with candy waiting at the finish line.

"Our SODA chapter's event was not only fun and engaging but also educational for our peers," the chapter shared. "We believe this event made a real impact."

Meeting students where they are, in the middle of a celebration, and turning a moment of excitement into a learning opportunity is exactly what creative advocacy looks like. SODA at DeKalb Early College Academy showed that the best education doesn't always feel like education at all.

Most Impactful Multicultural Outreach: SODA at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine

SODA at UAB Heersink School of Medicine knows that reaching underrepresented communities starts with showing up in the right rooms. This year, they tabled at the Integrative Healthcare Summit, an annual student-organized event designed to expose high school and college students, particularly those from underrepresented backgrounds, to diverse healthcare careers.

Over the course of the event, their chapter educated 100+ students about organ, eye, and tissue donation and recruited aspiring student leaders to start their own SODA chapters or join existing ones. They were also joined by a kidney recipient whose firsthand story brought the mission to life in a way no statistic ever could.

By meeting students where their curiosity already lives and pairing education with lived experience, SODA at UAB Heersink showed what meaningful, community-rooted outreach looks like.

Most Impactful Media Feature: Ava Thompson 

Some advocates come to this work through passion. Ava Thompson came through lived experience. Diagnosed with polycystic kidney disease at just six years old, and having witnessed her grandmother receive a life-saving kidney transplant, Ava turned personal loss and hope into a mission. That mission caught the attention of one of the country's biggest publications, People Magazine.

Ava founded Michigan's first active SODA chapter at Allegan High School, bringing donation advocacy to her peers and community in a way that earned her national recognition. The People Magazine feature shone a spotlight not just on Ava's story, but on the power of student advocates to shift the conversation around organ, eye, and tissue donation.

When Ava's dedication makes national headlines at just 15 years old, it reminds all of us why this work is so important and what's possible when student advocates share their stories.

Check out Ava’s feature in People Magazine.

Best National Donate Life Month Event: SODA at Charlottesville High School

SODA at Charlottesville High School found a creative way to make donation education anything but ordinary. For National Donate Life Month, their chapter hid eggs throughout the school courtyard and organized students into teams to hunt them down. Inside each egg? Candy and donation-related words waiting to be connected, turning a simple activity into a meaningful conversation starter.

"We hope you had a great time learning about the importance of organ donation and then participating in the egg hunt," the chapter posted to their 145 Instagram followers. "Don't forget to sign up to be an organ donor!"

By combining donation education with some friendly competition, SODA at Charlottesville High School made sure the message lingered long after the candy was gone.

Best Donation Collaboration: SODA at American University

When SODA at American University learned that their campus also had a Gift of Life chapter registering bone marrow donors, they saw an opportunity. The two organizations joined forces for a joint tabling event, drawing students in with donuts and leaving them with something far more meaningful: a chance to save a life.

The impact of that afternoon turned out to be bigger than anyone could have anticipated. A match was found for an 11-year-old girl battling Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Because of the students who showed up that day, a child fighting a life-threatening illness now has a second chance at life.

This is what collaboration looks like at its best: Two organizations, one shared mission, and a ripple effect that reaches far beyond one college campus.

Best Transplantation Collaboration: SODA at Virginia Commonwealth University

Some advocacy happens on campus. SODA at Virginia Commonwealth University took theirs to Washington DC. In partnership with the Hume Lee Transplant Center, chapter leaders traveled to Capitol Hill to meet face to face with senators and representatives, making the case for three critical pieces of legislation: the Living Donor Tax Credit Act, the Living Donor Protection Act, and the Honor Our Living Donors Act.

"We went to Capitol Hill this month for the people who give life, advocating for living organ donors and the policies that protect them," the chapter posted to their 493 Instagram followers.

This partnership between SODA at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Hume Lee Transplant Center showed that empowerment can be found in the courage to speak with lawmakers who shape the policies that affect donors and recipients.

Best OPO Collaboration: SODA at Duquesne University and the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE)

SODA at Duquesne University and their OPO partner, the Center for Organ Recovery & Education (CORE), spent a day doing something simple but powerful: showing up for the people who make donation and transplantation possible. Together with Second Chance Fundraising, chapter members visited Allegheny General Hospital to deliver treats and gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and staff who work tirelessly behind the scenes.

The visit held special meaning for Second Chance Fundraising as it marked the 10-year anniversary of their founder's own heart transplant that day. 

"Transplantation isn't possible without the amazing work of our healthcare workers," Second Chance Fundraising shared. "Huge thanks to CORE and SODA Duquesne for joining us for the day and helping us man an awareness table!"

By turning appreciation into advocacy, SODA at Duquesne University reminded us that honoring the people behind donation is just as important as spreading the word about it.

Most Promising New Chapter: SODA at Lane Tech College Prep High School

Established in November 2025, SODA at Lane Tech College Prep hit the ground running. In their very first Campus Challenge, they educated 1,609 people and registered 15 new donors, a remarkable debut for a brand new chapter.

But what makes this chapter truly stand out is the heart behind their advocacy. The chapter was founded in honor of a loving grandfather, Aurelio Salamanca, whose corneal tissue donation to medical research inspired a deeply personal mission. 

"His kindness will help pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries," the chapter posted to their 179 Instagram followers. "Though he is no longer with us, his spirit and love remain in our memories, traditions, and every act of kindness inspired by his example."

That mission extends to their community. Recognizing that donor registration rates are lower among Hispanic individuals despite thousands waiting for life-saving transplants, their chapter has made culturally rooted advocacy a cornerstone of their work, carrying forward a message that feels both urgent and deeply personal.

For a chapter not yet a year old, SODA at Lane Tech College Prep is already showing what it looks like to lead with purpose.

SODA OPO MVP: Robert Smith

Robert Smith from LifeNet Health, the OPO that serves the greater Virginia area, was nominated by a local chapter leader at the University of Virginia, who writes:

“Robert Smith has been an incredible partner to our SODA chapter and has gone above and beyond to support our members and our mission. Throughout the year, Robert took the time to educate our chapter about organ, eye, and tissue donation, ensuring that we felt prepared and confident when speaking with students at donor registration and awareness events. His knowledge, enthusiasm, and willingness to answer questions helped us become stronger advocates for donation on our campus. What makes Robert especially deserving of this recognition is how invested he has been in our chapter's success. He regularly attended events, participated in our social media content, and even appeared in our TikTok videos and Instagram Reels to help spread awareness in creative and engaging ways. He helped make donation education approachable and fun for students while never losing sight of the importance of the mission. Robert also consistently supported our chapter by providing LifeNet Health merchandise for outreach events, including t-shirts, laptop bags, pens, and other materials that helped us engage students and increase visibility on campus. He even brought pizza to meetings and events, creating opportunities for members to learn more about donation while building community. Most importantly, Robert genuinely cares about student advocates and the impact they can have. His responsiveness, encouragement, and dedication have been instrumental to our chapter's growth and success. We are incredibly grateful for his partnership, and I cannot think of anyone more deserving of SODA's 2026 OPO MVP Award.”

Thank you, Robert, for your unwavering enthusiasm and genuine belief in the power of investing in student-led advocacy!

SODA Advisor MVP: Jason Lowery

World Language Teacher Jason Lowery was nominated by a SODA at Shorewood High School chapter leader, who writes:

“Profe Lowery brings a smile to SODA meetings! He is always willing to answer our questions and help our advocacy efforts. Profe Lowery came to off-campus events and was always prepared to coordinate last-minute supplies and help for our events. This year, he also helped us communicate with other people in our community, including organizing a meeting with the director of the Medical College of Wisconsin, Dr. Cooper, to help us learn about current events in organ donation legislation. This ultimately led to club members drafting letters to the senate at our most recent meeting. The club would not be the same without him!”

Thank you, Profe Jason Lowery, for bringing energy and dedication to your chapter, and for opening doors that turned your students into confident advocates!

SODA High School Chapter MVP: Clemence Delfosse

Clemence Delfosse was nominated by fellow chapter leaders at Columbus North High School, who write:

“Our chosen MVP was voted on by our chapter members at our final meeting for the school year… 'Clemence deserves to be SODA’s MVP because she built our chapter from the ground up. She organized events, gave out information, and always encouraged participation. She is so passionate about organ donation and getting people of all kinds involved. She’s done an amazing job as the chapter's president!'

Another member added, 'I think that Clemence deserves this award because not only is she an excellent leader, as the SODA founder for Columbus North, but she also inspires others to take a stance on what they believe in. [She] truly inspires me everyday to educate others about organ donation and [the] truth that is behind becoming a donor. Clemence also won an award for our chapter at our HOSA state leadership conference for community awareness, earning a first place medal. I am beyond proud of being a part of her team and winning this award alongside her. She truly works hard when it comes to managing the SODA chapter at our school.'"

Thank you, Clemence, for building something truly special for your peers and for inspiring everyone around you to lead with passion and purpose!

SODA College Chapter MVP: Jordyn Goldsmith

Jordyn Goldsmith was nominated by a fellow chapter leader at the University of Virginia, who writes:

“Jordyn Goldsmith has been an invaluable member of our chapter and is highly deserving of SODA's 2026 Chapter MVP Award. Throughout the year, she consistently took initiative to keep our chapter [be] organized and engaged. She was always on top of reaching out to members about meetings, events, and volunteer opportunities, helping maintain strong participation and communication within our organization. One of Jordyn's most impactful contributions was her creativity in developing educational programming. She came up with the idea to create an "Operation" game focused on organ, eye, and tissue donation, which became a fun and interactive way to educate students about donation. The activity helped us engage students who may not have otherwise stopped to learn about our mission and sparked meaningful conversations about donation and transplantation. Beyond her ideas and leadership, Jordyn is someone our chapter could always count on. Whether helping plan events, supporting outreach efforts, or encouraging member involvement, she consistently went above and beyond to advance our mission. Her dedication, creativity, and commitment to organ donation advocacy have made a lasting impact on our chapter, making her an outstanding candidate for SODA's 2026 Chapter MVP Award.” 

Thank you, Jordyn, for your creativity, your reliability, and for making the work of donation advocacy as engaging as it is impactful!

SODA Professional School Chapter MVP: Keeley Carney 

Keeley Carney was nominated by a fellow chapter leader at the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine, who writes:

“Not only has Keeley been an active SODA member and our chapter Vice President, but she is also spearheading a project to introduce a more comprehensive summary of organ donation into our first-year medical school curriculum. She has met with multiple school administrators, curriculum managers, physicians, and other professionals to discuss and implement her idea. She has designed a case-conference based curriculum that will use one case of a liver transplant to walk first-year medical students through the entire organ donation process. She has built this in conjunction with our local OPO to ensure proper education regarding the common myths and misconceptions surrounding organ donation. The case conference will feature donor community stories and other speakers with many perspectives such as social workers, family advocates, local OPO liaisons, transplant surgeons, ethicists, and immunologists. She has also created a research survey to analyze the efficacy of this educational panel in preparing medical students to work with organ donation patients in the future. This survey examines student beliefs, knowledge base, and feelings of preparedness to help donor and recipient patients. Keeley truly saw something lacking in our medical school curriculum and has worked hard to improve it. Her panel has been approved to be implemented in the curriculum in Spring 2027, and our hope is that it can provide a blueprint to other medical schools. While working on all of this, she has also been a great leader for our chapter, helping with events and communication on campus.”

Thank you, Keeley, for building something that will shape how future medical professionals understand and champion organ, eye, and tissue donation!

SODA National MVP: Julia Renz

We are proud to present our National MVP Award to a student whose dedication to donation advocacy extends far beyond their college campus.

Julia Renz has received the gift of life not once, but twice. As a two-time heart transplant recipient, she understands better than most what is at stake in this work, and that understanding has shaped everything she does as an advocate.

Julia founded SODA at University of Colorado Boulder and has led her chapter with the kind of purpose that only comes from lived experience. Under her leadership, her chapter has built a meaningful relationship with Donor Alliance, their local OPO, bringing members behind the scenes through facility tours that turned awareness into deep understanding. She has shared her story on national stages, including at the AOPO conference, carrying the student advocate's voice into rooms full of donation professionals.

"As a two-time heart transplant recipient, Julia brings a powerful perspective to every conversation about donation," said Nicole Nidea, SODA's Executive Director. "Her leadership, dedication, and heart have strengthened our mission and inspired countless others, making her a standout choice for SODA's 2026 National MVP Award."

Julia, thank you for transforming your own second chances into a lifetime of second chances for others. We are so grateful to have you in the SODA community!

To be eligible for our annual awards, join an existing SODA chapter on your campus or start a new chapter on your campus by visiting sodanational.org/students.