From campus to community: Black Medical Student Association recognized with Sun Devil Way Award

The Black Medical Student Association is making an impact at Arizona State University, with the student group recently honored at the 14th annual Pitchfork Awards. The Pitchfork Awards serve as a way to shine a light on students and student organizations for their incredible achievements and leadership throughout the year.

Ashley Maddox — a Barrett, The Honors College student studying biomedical sciences and public policy — served as president of the Black Medical Student Association for the 2024 to 2025 academic year. 

“We were awarded the Sun Devil Way Award at Pitchfork Awards this year, and it's so nice to know that the work that we're doing on campus is being recognized,” Maddox said. “We were actually on a plane going to the Annual Medical Education Conference when the group found out that we won the award, and we were so happy and proud because it showed that we are more than just students, that we are making a difference in the community.”

The Sun Devil Way Award is given to an ASU group that embodies what it means to be a Sun Devil— through achievement, engagement and responsibility. By winning this award, the Black Medical Student Association demonstrates the value of lifelong learning and service to the community, embodying what it means to be a Sun Devil through spirit, pride and tradition.

Maddox said that the strong passion behind the student group’s initiatives and an emphasis on student involvement helped their group stand out to the judges at the Pitchfork Awards.

“How equally passionate we are about supporting all students is what made our group stand out,” she said. “Although we are on the Tempe campus, we recognize that there are pre-health students on all campuses, so we are trying to meet the needs of all students. We were able to do tours, we launched our inaugural mentorship program, and online students had the opportunity to be part of the mentorship program too.”

One of the efforts that Maddox highlighted as a stand-out experience from the past year was hosting a CPR Certification event, where nearly 40 pre-health students received their certification at no cost. Another highlight was tabling at Change the World, where the student group won third place for best exhibit.

“We do a lot of tabling events, and one of the tabling events we did was Change the World, we were able to talk to parents, future students and current students about the work we do,” Maddox said. “Showing the impact and as well as demonstrating and having numbers to back up the amount of work we do in the community, I think helped us win third place as an exhibitor at Change the World.”

In addition to on-campus initiatives, the Black Medical Student Association also emphasizes working with the broader community.

“We do community service events, high school outreach and a lot of St. Vincent de Paul work, and so we are all over the community,” Maddox said. “Not only are we representing the Black Medical Student Association when we do these things, but we are also representing Arizona State University. When we go to high schools, when we go to community events, when we tour health professional schools, they see the amount of work and opportunities we are able to have because of the resources of Arizona State University, and so I think that's what made us stand out the most as a student organization.”

Maddox said that her role as president within the Black Medical Student Association has been a pivotal experience.

“It definitely has been such a pivotal and transformational opportunity and role I've had so far in my undergraduate career, because I was able to step into the role as a sophomore at only 19 years old, and oftentimes those presidential positions are presumed to be held by upperclassmen.” she said. “Being able to know that I made such a big impact in one year, such as our different initiatives, our recognition as well, has made it super impactful to be a part of.”

Maddox said that she is incredibly grateful to have worked alongside such a dedicated 16-person executive board, without whom many of the year’s accomplishments would not have been possible.

One of the initiatives that Maddox led as president of the student group was a student-led career fair that focused on pre-health track and brought in 40-plus exhibitors and hundreds of Sun Devils.

“I came up with the idea because I realized oftentimes, when there are career fairs at ASU, it's either you miss class to get the networking opportunities or you miss networking opportunities to maintain your position in class,” she said. “I organized and oversaw the planning with the Latino Medical Student Association and Minorities in Medicine, and we were able to host ASU's first student-led pre-health fair, and it was in the evening to help eliminate the gap, so there weren't any classes, and it accommodated everyone's schedule.”

Maddox said that Arizona State University was the clear choice for her college journey thanks to its ideal location.

“I went to high school in Arizona, so I definitely wanted to stay in Arizona because it was close to home,” Maddox said. “The amount of resources, opportunities and support that you get at ASU is amazing. Even as a first-year student, I was able to join the Luminosity Lab and was chosen to serve as a project lead, where I worked on impactful projects and also participated in engaging events through Barrett, The Honors College.”

“I also did the RISE Summer Leadership Institute in high school,” she added. “With the university’s early start programs, you are able to understand how much ASU invests in future students.”

For incoming first-year students this fall, Maddox says the biggest piece of advice she can offer is to get involved.

“Go to as many ASU and student club events as you can because that is the first way that you find your community at ASU,” Maddox said. “I definitely was very involved my first year, and I don't think I would have had as many opportunities and met as many people otherwise. Your first year is such a pivotal time, and being able to immerse yourself in as many events and opportunities as possible is truly beneficial because that’s how you figure out what you truly like to do.”