51ºÚÁÏÍø honored student achievement, leadership, and service during the 2026 Academic Awards and Recognition Convocation, held April 21 in Harper-McNeeley Auditorium at the Myles Center for the Arts. The ceremony, presided over by President Chris A. Wood, recognized outstanding accomplishments across academic disciplines while celebrating the broader impact students, faculty, and staff have made on the campus community.
Departmental Achievement Awards
Students from across the College were recognized for excellence within their academic programs. Honorees in Biology, Environmental Science, and Sustainability included Jaden B. Bender, Alyssa M. Haynes, Shelby Marsh, and Lauren Twyman, with Emma K. Engle receiving the Robert E. Urban Memorial Award.
In Business and Entrepreneurship, honorees were David A. Bailey, Filippo Buffo, Alyson Miller, Melisa Ozsar, Tyler A. McCune, Samuel A. Rached, Catalina Salas Ortega, and Julia Vieira. Chemistry students Brooke J. Jacobs and Taytum Walls were recognized, with Jacobs also earning the Dr. Charles E. Albert Memorial Prize in Chemistry.
Additional honorees included Morgan T. Rogers and Ana L. Ubalde in Communication; Jocelyn P. Burnside, Alyssa J. Moss, Wesley T. Strawderman, and Lydia S. Wamsley in Education; and Savanna G. Hardman, Marina Saviceva-Noti, and Damian R. Stevenson in English and Foreign Language, Religion and Philosophy. Julia Vieira received the Tatiana Jardetzky Scholarship in Foreign Languages and Cultures.
Creative Arts honorees included Madeline L. Edicola, Greydon M. Fischer, and Nicole M. Schumacher. In History, Emma Gioia and Jacklyn Howell were recognized, while Peyton M. Friel received the James H. Swanton Prize in History. Mathematics and Physics honorees included Marcos Pacheco Padilla and Wesley T. Strawderman.
Nursing students recognized included Hillary L. Channell, Autumn Plauger, Aleah L. Sharp, Mary G. Beverage, and Macaden Taylor across ASN and BSN levels. In Psychology, Human Services, Political Science, and Criminology, honorees included Alena R. Armstrong, Erin Laubscher, and Melisa Ozsar, with Marina Saviceva-Noti recognized in Political Science. Bella G. Beaver received the Dorothy F. Roberts Achievement Prize, and Criminology honorees included Avelyn Anderson, Kristia Kouppi, and Shelley E. Steff.
Sport Science honorees included Samy Burd, Francisco L. Kreik, Daphne C. McCann, Jacob Milligan, Justus Petersilie, and Ian M. Wood, with Courtney F. Luikart receiving the Minnick-McCoy Award.
Special Awards and Honors
Several prestigious awards highlighted excellence beyond the classroom. The Faculty Senior Award was presented to Julia Vieira, recognizing a senior who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement and intellectual leadership. The Dean’s Award was awarded to Willow Ferguson, while Junior Marshals Aiden Lloyd and Rafaela Moreira were selected to represent the junior class during commencement ceremonies.
Julia Vieira was also recognized with the L. Newton Thomas Sr. Memorial Scholarship. The Freeman J. Daniels Academic Achievement Awards honored Rafaela Moreira as the top junior, Donna McCauley as the top sophomore, and Christopher Wirahadipoernomo as the top freshman.
The Charles H. Potter II Scholarship Award was presented to JayC G. Morlog for outstanding leadership within the campus community. The Campus Impact Award was awarded to Deimante B. Antoine in recognition of meaningful contributions to campus life.
Outstanding Junior 51ºÚÁÏÍø Awards were presented to Damian R. Stevenson and Maybellene M. Ledesma, while Outstanding Senior 51ºÚÁÏÍø Awards were awarded to Connor R. Hyde and Alexis M. Herndon for their significant contributions outside the classroom.
Among the College’s highest honors, the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award was presented to Sidney Ann Megna, and the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award was awarded to Samuel Antonio Rached. These awards recognize individuals who exemplify a spirit of service, character, and commitment to others.
The Lois Latham Award for Teaching Excellence was presented to Dr. Sarah Garrison, honoring her dedication to student learning and academic mentorship. Jane Corey was named Staff Emerita in recognition of her years of service, and Stephanie Haynes, College Registrar, received the Robin Price Award for Staff Excellence for her outstanding contributions to the College community.
Academic Distinction: President’s List and Dean’s List
51ºÚÁÏÍø also celebrated academic excellence across the student body through the Fall 2025 President’s List and Dean’s List.
President’s List – Fall 2025 Semester
Students earning a 4.0 GPA while completing at least 12 credit hours
Sidney Apanowicz, Christyna Armijo, Jonathan Armijos, Alena Armstrong, David Bailey, Nicholas Barrickman, Nayo Barroso, Bella Beaver, Zoe Belshan, Jaden Bender, Mary Beverage, Jackson Bigwood, Carrie Bonner, Cameron Branham, Filippo Buffo, Samy Burd, Jocelyn Burnside, Taylor Cable, Melanie Caldwell, Hillary Channell, Lindsay Clendenen, Erin Collins, Olivia Cook, Gabriela Crespo, John Croyle, Erin Dettinger, Alexander Dickinson, Caio Dourado Dias Braga, Jacob Dowdy, Tanner Eaves, Alfred Elfstrom, Joetta Elkins, Lydia Falkenstein, Greydon Fischer, Trinity Fleming, Deylana Forrest, Peyton Friel, Malia Galan, Timo Gerach, Cooper Gibson, Victoria Gill, Emma Gioia, Emiliana Golac, Guia Gomez, Makenzie Gregory, Jillian Griffin, Yiftah Harari, Umut Hatunoglu, Alyssa Haynes, Meg Henkle, Alexis Hewitt, Lisa Hinchman, Julian Hitt, Julianne Hobson, Brooke Jacobs, Aries Jennings, Luka Kalinic, Louay Kassel, Amber Kesling, Simon Kiekebeld, Tiffany King, Kristia Kouppi, Laufey Kristinsdottir, Fabienne Lahn, Erin Laubscher, Rafaela Leao Cota Moreira, Aiden Lloyd, Lauren Lockwood, Brooklyn Long, Francisco Lopez Kreik, Benjamin Luengo, Courtney Luikart, Mackenzie Lyons, Zoe Mackey, Shelby Marsh, Sergio Martinez Laborda, Willow Martz, Daphne McCann, Kelsolynn McCullough, Tyler McCune, Grant Mealey, Sidney Megna, Kade Melton, Alyson Miller, Jacob Milligan, Madison Mims, Kelsea Moore, Alyssa Moss, Taylor Mudd, Jack Murphy, Chasidy Murray, Victoria Noonan, Christopher Osborn, Leonardo Oshiro, Melisa Ozsar, Gabriela Pacheco Acevedo, Landon Paulson, Jeanne Pelissier, Justus Petersilie, Charles Phillips, Autumn Plauger, Sydney Prince, Gustavo Queiroz, Marcus Rader, Maya Rayman, Ariana Rectenwald, Varshith Reddy Marreddy, Jaela Reid, Natasha Rivero-Deighan, Raylynn Roberts, Keira Robinson, Lorena Ruiz-Rubio, Brody Rumon, Reagan Saab, Catalina Salas Ortega, Kyra Sauerwein, Nicole Schumacher, Lincoln Scott, Bethany Settle, Rohan Shah, Aleah Sharp, Alyssa Sharp, Rylan Sharp, Thomas Shaver, Bracie Sheets, Ava Sherman, Amber Short, Rochelle Shoulders, Manuella Silva Cogliatti, Kiara Sisler, Mackenzie Skidmore, Ruby Smith, Miranda Smith, Rachel Snedden, Jan Spehar, Shelley Steff, Charla Stemple, Edward Stephens-Truman, Ke’ya Stevens, Wesley Strawderman, Alyssa Stump, Sydnie Tate, Carla Tegner, Rebecca Tellez, Cathrynne Tenney, Tommaso Tofani, Lauren Twyman, Ana Ubalde, Julia Vasconcelos Vieira, Bailey Verkouteren, Sierra Walesheck, Haden Wamsley, Cayden Warfield, Rebekah Warren, Allyssa Waybright, Victoria Webster, Lilly Wentzler, Hannah White, Josephine Whorton, Emmalyn Whyte, Spencer Willey, Kimberly Winoker, Christopher Wirahadipoernomo, Joel Wise, Karmen Wolverton, Ian Wood.
Dean’s List – Fall 2025 Semester
Students earning a GPA between 3.6 and 3.99 while completing at least 12 credit hours
Saige Abbott, Rylee Anderson, Emma Andrews, Lydia Andrzejuk, Tessa Banasiak, Marissa Barajas, April Belcher, Britney Bond, Addison Boram, Nicole Bramble, Braelyn Brenneman, Grace Bronkella, Sophia Brown, Zachary Calef-Boring, Brenda Castro, Joao Vitor Cavaletti, Devon Channell, Penelope Chavez, Addyson Cogar, Jackson Cogar, Nicholas Colarossi, Kristin Coleman, Taylor Cooper, Allison Cuellar, Cortney Dobbs, Madeline Edicola, Kaitlyn England, Isaac Ferguson, Preslee Fincham, Savannah Foley, London Frame, Madison Frazier, Gabriel Glover, Madison Godwin, Alexia Gonzales, Carson Gorby, Luke Grilliot, Diana Gutierrez, Jacob Hamrick, Gavin Hardister, Savanna Hardman, Brock Harlow, Quinn Hazelett, Faith Heater, Axel Hedreux, Haiden Hedrick, Morgan Hill, Jacklyn Howell, Connor Hyde, Samantha Jarvis, Justin Kearney, Fallyn Kelley, Saylor Kneeland, Dylan Leadbetter, Maybellene Ledesma, Avery Linthicum, Jeremy Lis Rojas, Gabriel Machala, Aidan Maldonado, Tiffany Manning, Juan Martinez Hess, Benjamin McComas, Isabell McCormick, Addison McDonald, Jolie McGaughan, Aidan Miller, Payton Miller, Tomas Miyagi, Hannes Morell, Aiden Morey, Mackenzie Mullan, Cameron Murray, Brooke Nicklaus, Liebe Oosthuizen, Jacob Orr, Andrea Pannell, Kaitlyn Parker, Kendall Pellot Carrasquillo, Rachel Petrice, Kenzie Phillips, Ariona Plumley, Lillyan Plumley, Logan Powell, Emma Prater, Savannah Quave, Samuel Rached, Dallas Rasmussen, Corbin Reilly, Charlie Ressler, Rafael Revenga, Walter Ridgley, Gavin Rodriguez-Cayro, Tomas Rumanko, Briyana Sapp, Marina Saviceva-Noti, Mark Shelley, Bethany Shumway, Nathaniel Silvus, Debra Smith, Madison Smith, Chiebuka Soribe, Tristan Starks, Colten Stasny, Tom Strohschein, Jaelynne Surface, Maximillia Sutherland, Garrett Swecker, Charles Taylor, Nathaniel Taylor, Sierra Taylor, Maiah Teter, Isabelle Thomas, Darren Tjen, Jill Van der Velde, Fletcher Van Heuven, Anthony Vera, Jackson Waggy, Cade Walters, Jarrett Walters, Lydia Wamsley, MacKendrick Weber, Cameryn Wheeler, Zoey White, Charlie Whitsed, Max Wildbore, Abigail Wilfong, John Wilkins, Viktor Yanev, Jose Zavala, Sasha Zirkle.
Looking Ahead
The ceremony also recognized students selected for the Morrison-Novakovic Center for Faith and Public Policy, as well as graduating seniors continuing their education at institutions across the country. Academic honor societies, including Alpha Delta Nu, Chi Beta Phi, Delta Alpha Pi, Kappa Delta Pi, and Sigma Theta Tau, were also acknowledged for their commitment to scholarship and service.
As the academic year draws to a close, the 2026 Academic Awards and Recognition Convocation served as a powerful reminder of the dedication, talent, and impact of the 51ºÚÁÏÍø community, both inside and outside the classroom.
