Kamakshi Velamuri, a graduate student in the NC State College of Education’s Higher Education Administration program, has been recognized with three awards from NASPA, the professional organization focused on the advancement of the student affairs profession. 

Velamuri received the:

• 2026 Outstanding Graduate Student Award from the NASPA Asian Pacific Islanders Knowledge Community (APICK), which recognizes the contributions of one master’s- and one doctoral-level student who has made significant contributions to their home campus, demonstrated academic achievement and exceeded expectations in their leadership positions;
• NASPA NOW Professional 2026 Award in Integrity, which recognizes the impact new professionals and graduate students have upon the student affairs profession; and
• NASPA’s 2026 Wellness and Health Promotion Knowledge Community (WHPKC) Outstanding Student Award, which is given to a graduate student who has made a positive contribution to supporting the mission of the Knowledge Community.

“It’s one thing if your university or an individual sees the impact of your work, because they work with you every day, but when something as big as a national organization sees and recognizes you, it’s a form of motivation to do more and do better and continue that work,” Velamrui said. 

Her work related to wellness, in particular, is one of the reasons Velamuri chose to pursue a career in higher education, recognizing that each dimension of wellness in a person’s life impacts the others and, ultimately, can impact their education. 

During her time in the College of Education so far, she has hosted a student-led wellness conference and engaged in several initiatives, workshops and sessions to encourage wellness, especially among undergraduate students at NC State. 

“It’s important, as a professional in education, that we recognize wellness and encourage everybody to practice it because it’s important not just for the students but for professionals in the industry,” she said. 

Velamuri chose the College of Education for her master’s degree, she said, because she felt welcome in her program years before she actually enrolled, having visited NC State with a friend who earned a master’s degree in Higher Education Administration as well. 

The program stood out to her not only because of the cohort model, which she described as having a “mini-family,” but also because of the practical, hands-on learning opportunities she would be exposed to. For example, she currently works as a graduate assistant in the Elevate program, where she supports peer mentors who work with students with intellectual and developmental disabilities and is a member of the Advocacy in Action Policy Fellowship. 

“All of the faculty and staff in the College of Education have great credibility in both education and experience, and I know being here is a valuable asset to me,” she said.