- Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s “Pittsburgh’s 50 Finest” — 2001
- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s “Top 50 Cultural Forces in Pittsburgh” — 2002
- Democratic Leadership Council’s “100 New Democrats to Watch” — 2003
- Pittsburgh Magazine and PUMP’s “40 Under 40” — 2003
- Scholarship from International Economic Development Conference to
study regional governance at The Hague, Netherlands -2003
- US National Guard and Reserve Patriot Employer — 2004
- Pittsburgh Business Times’ “One to Watch” – 2004
- National Journal’s Hotline “PA Up & Comers” – 2004 and 2006
- Green Building Alliance Shades of Green Leadership Award — 2006
- Pittsburgh City Paper Best Political Activist – 2007
- Greater Pittsburgh Arts Council Chairman’s Work of Art Award — 2008
- Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition’s “Citizen of the Year” — 2008
- Scholarship from Pittsburgh Dialogue Foundation — Interfaith Study and
Peace, Turkey — June 2008
- Scholarship from Rotary International Group Student Exchange –
Regional Governance Study and Energy Policy, Norway — August-
September 2008
- Group Against Smog and Pollution’s “40 Environmental Heroes” — 2009
- Islamic Center of Pittsburgh’s Humanitarian Award — 2009
- PennFuture’s Green Power Leadership Award — 2010
- Turkish Cultural Center of Pittsburgh’s Dialogue Award — 2010