Indian American Student Avi Patel Earns Yale's Top Student Employee Honor

Indian American undergraduate Avi Patel has been named among 10 Yale College students honored with the university's annual Y Work Awards for Outstanding Undergraduate Student Employees, recognizing exceptional contributions made through on campus jobs.

Patel, a Class of 2026 student majoring in the History of Science, Medicine, and Public Health, received the honor for his dual roles as a student intern in Yale's Office of Development and as a communications intern with the Department of Internal Medicine at Yale School of Medicine.

The awards were presented by the Yale College Dean's Office and the Office of Undergraduate Financial Aid at a ceremony held at the Yale Schwarzman Center. Dean Pericles Lewis praised recipients for their dedication, professionalism, and initiative beyond the call of duty.

Serena Crawford, associate director of communications at Yale School of Medicine, called Patel one of the strongest writers at the institution, noting his stories on faculty research and department innovations appeared regularly in Yale News, Yale Today, and the Hartford Courant.

Gena Lai of the Office of Development called his impact "truly extraordinary for an undergraduate employee," highlighting his ability to quickly master complex subject matter and deliver results well outside his primary academic focus.