Political Science Recognizes Two May Graduates with William J. Block Award for Service

Adachi Amaram and Nicholas J. Cooke are the 2025 undergraduate recipients of the William J. Block Award for their impact and service to the university and greater community. Awarded annually to graduating seniors who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to public service, this year marks only the second time that the award has been given to two students in honor of their work to support the greater university community. 

Adachi Amaram 

Adachi transformed campus challenges into meaningful wellness initiatives benefiting the entire university. As president of the African Student Union, she revitalized one of NC State’s largest cultural organizations. Drawing from her lived experiences, she created opportunities for students from all backgrounds and supported youth from under-resourced communities. She served in student government and advocated statewide through the UNC Association of Student Governments to improve campus resources and student support services.

“To me, community is a collective heartbeat. It’s how we show up and use the tools at our disposal to rebuild,” Adachi said. “From Talley’s student government suite, to policy tables in the Capitol, I’ve sought to serve out of responsibility to those who came before me and those who will come after. Community is not just something we find, it’s something we build, heal, and uplift.” As a Park Scholar, she continues to give back as a Park Ambassador and member of the Park Legacy Committee. “The Park Scholars program gave me a seat at the table, so I’ve made it my mission to make the table accessible for others,” she said.

Adachi’s commitment extends beyond domestic service. She interned with the U.S. Department of State, partnering with human rights organizations on humanitarian crises across the African continent and with a refugee resettlement agency to help families apply for resettlement documents, public benefits, and secure temporary housing. She also traveled to the Dominican Republic to build rainwater harvesting systems in rural areas to battle water insecurity.

Nicholas J. Cooke

Nicholas transformed personal adversity into a platform for empowering others, particularly first-generation students navigating higher education. As the Founding President of Pre-Law Education And Diversity (PLEAD), he created workshops, speaker series with attorneys and judges, and one-on-one mentorship opportunities for students from underserved backgrounds pursuing legal careers. He also served as a Student Senator in Student Government.

“To me, community service is not just about volunteering time—it’s about investing in the profound possibility of others,” Nicholas said. “It’s an expression of empathy in action, a commitment rooted deeply in understanding that the trajectory of our lives is influenced by the connections we make, often in quiet moments of shared understanding.”

His commitment extends internationally through his work as a Public Affairs Associate for the U.S. Embassy of Belize, where he mentored Belizean students and guided them toward opportunities in higher education in the United States. Nicholas also conducted research under Dr. Clifford Griffin for the Attitudinal Study of Atomic Power, analyzing attitudes toward small modular nuclear energy solutions in the Caribbean—work that sought tangible solutions for island nations balancing environmental sustainability and economic stability.

“Whether advocating through policy, conducting research to inform equitable judicial representation, or directly mentoring students navigating the intricacies of academia, service remains the heartbeat of my academic and professional journey,” Nicholas said.

To the Next Chapter

Adachi and Nicholas are excellent examples of NC State students’ commitment to the greater good and at-large community of the university. For both Adachi and Nicholas, NC State has been more than just a school, but a community to improve — both of these exceptional students saw problems they felt passionate about, and got to work solving them. Though their time as undergraduates was short, their legacy will live on through the organizations they transformed and their advocacy both on and off campus. Both of these students embodied the NC State motto of Think and Do. 

Adachi graduated summa cum laude with her B.A. in Political Science and will attend Columbia University as a student in their Master of International Affairs program. She will specialize in human rights and international security in Africa and the Middle East.

Nicholas graduated magna cum laude with a B.A. in Political Science and will be attending Howard University School of Law in the fall. He was recognized as a Leader of the Pack 2024 Finalist and selected as the sole graduating senior awarded the Abraham Holtzman Award, which recognizes extraordinary involvement as a student within the College of Humanities and Social Sciences. 

The William J. Block Award recognizes graduating students from the School of Public and International Affairs who have demonstrated exceptional community service, public engagement and a record of academic achievement. It was created in honor of William J. Block, who had a long and distinguished career at NC State. A popular professor, he chaired the political science department, created the public administration department, served as chair of the faculty senate, and was active in his community and city politics. His commitment to his students and the larger community was profound. After he retired in 1984, Professor Block continued to advise students for many years.