Student Academic, Service, and Leadership Awards Convocation
The Student Academic, Service, and Leadership Awards Convocation recognizes candidates for graduation who have flourished within the threefold purpose of the University as expressed in the preamble to the University’s mission statement: the encouragement of learning, the education of the whole person, and the service of faith and the promotion of justice. Student honorees have risen to the challenge of the Jesuit and Marymount traditions and have, by their example, enriched our educational community.
Senior Awards
Yinka Akinlade
Class of 2024 Valedictorian
One student from the graduating class is chosen to say farewell on behalf of the graduating class on Commencement Day. The Valedictorian achieves a minimum 3.7 grade point average after at least sixty graded semester hours in residence at the university and is selected on the basis of a speech presented to the Valedictorian Selection Committee, a delegation of faculty, administration, and students representative of the university.
Lyza Weisman
University Scholar of the Year
This award is chosen from the College and School Scholars who entered the university as a first-year student and has achieved the highest grade point average and the most outstanding academic record of the Class of 2024. This is the most prestigious academic honor awarded to an undergraduate by LMU.
Drew Hartz
The Ignatian Award
The Ignatian Award is a tradition shared by many Jesuit educational institutions. While each school chooses its own criteria and may offer the award to students, alumni, or even members of the greater community, the varying forms of the award are united by their function of recognizing outstanding service in the Jesuit tradition. LMU’s Ignatian Awardee is chosen out of the distinguished men who are awarded a Presidential Citation. The awardee has been selected by a committee of faculty and administrators for selfless service, ethical leadership, and academic excellence.
Iliana Chen
The Marian Award
The Marian Award is a tradition unique to LMU overseen by members of the Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, the sisters affiliated with LMU through the merger with Marymount College. This award has evolved to complement the Ignatian Award by recognizing one woman amongst the Presidential Citation awardee who has proven to be a model of service, leadership, and academic achievement.
Erin Yang
The Donald P. Merrifield, S.J. Intercultural Award
The Donald P. Merrifield, S.J. Award is given to the outstanding senior who has contributed to interculturalism on campus and beyond. Donald P. Merrifield, S.J., dedicated his life to this university. He diligently served as an agent of change and contributed substantially to the university's heritage of cultural consciousness and progressive social action.
Drew Hartz and Megan Mingo
The Robert Graham, S.J. Alumni Award
The Robert Graham, S.J. Alumni Award is the most prestigious service and leadership award. It is named for Father Graham, a Jesuit, who was LMU alumni relations director for nearly 20 years. He is the founder of what is known today as the University Advancement. Conferred by the Alumni Association, the award is presented to two outstanding seniors who, during their tenure at the university, have excelled in areas of service and leadership.
Anabel Lynch
The James Loughran, S.J. Service Award
The James Loughran Award recognizes the outstanding senior who, during the course of his or her college tenure, has best exemplified the Jesuit and Marymount ideals of hard work and generosity and has made a significant impact in the local community, primarily through off-campus service.
Drew Hartz
The Magis Award
Magis, which in Latin means “the more,” is a profound and deeply personal Jesuit concept. It embodies the act of discerning the best choice in a given situation, striving for the better, and seeking excellence. The Magis Award is a special and distinct honor that is not awarded each year. It is reserved for unique contributions to our community and often propelled by singular passion and grit.
Catherine Channell, Jeremy Valle, Brandi Avila, and Melissa Stevens
The Arrupe Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Award
The Arrupe Award for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is selected by the University Intercultural Council who evaluates candidates based on the significance of academic contributions in DEI focused areas, how the student has furthered LMU’s understanding of DEI in the broader LMU community, and future and aspirational plans post-graduation. The namesake for this award honors Jesuit Superior General Father Pedro Arrupe, S.J., who worked tirelessly for the promotion of justice in the service of faith.
Program Scholars
The Program Scholars are recognized as having achieved the most outstanding academic records in their respective majors. Each of these bachelor’s degree candidates has completed at least sixty graded semester hours in residence at the university.
2024 Awardees
Abraham Moore Odell
Adrian Wasylewski
Alexandra LaMonica
America Molgado
Anastasia Akimkina
Anders Frankenberger
Andrew Hartz
Angelo Santi
Ann James
Anna Kalvelage
Anthony Alvarez
Ashley Buschhorn
Aria Fulton
Ariana Pingarron
Arlette Morales
Armen Konialian
Audrey Covington
Augustus Gedney
Azalia Jerez
Beatrice Choroser
Bianca Valentin
Brian Macdonald
Caden Swain
Caitlyn Kiehn
Caroline Andrews
Catherine Channell
Chelsea Passamano
Claire Hunter
Colin Moon
Dana Tarasavage
David McCullough
Dominic Czarnota
Emily Suthar
Francesca Conte
Gabriella Alleyne
Gisele Casanova
Grace Lai
Hax Sarabi
Ian Kirby
Iliana Chen
Isabella Richards
Jackson Grienauer
Jamie Kidd
Jason Douglas
Jennifer Skinner
Jonathan Hakman Asoulin
Joseph Harrison
Joshua Petteruti
Justin Hynes
Karalani Elena Gjerman
Khaled AlEssa
Laetitia Fisher
Lance Tokubo
Laura Fern
Leoluca Cannuscio
Lyza Weisman
Maximillian Nicolais
Megan Mingo
Melissa Stevens
Michaela Cahill
Miles Breen
Nakisa Nassirpour
Nancy Magana
Nehanda Kuumba
Nicholas Osborn
Nicole Lloyd
Olivia Waldorf
Oscar Torres
Patricia Huitzil
Patrick Hall
Peter Villhard Jr
Rachel Jacobs
Rachel Guzzetti
Rebecca Frye
Regina Gonzales
Salim Elsayegh
Scott Andersen
Spencer Villani
Syuen Chia
Wenqi Zhao
Wyatt Lefkowitz
Zaleya Galvan
Zara Dabdoub
College and School Scholars
These scholars are determined to have the most rigor in their program while obtaining among the highest grade point averages within their respective colleges and schools.
2024 Awardees
Adrian Wasylewski - Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, Engineering
America Molgado - School of Education, Outstanding Graduate Student of the Year
Annabel Swangard - School of Film and Television, Undergraduate Student of the Year
Aria Fulton - School of Education, Undergraduate Scholar of the Year
Catherine Channell - Frank R. Seaver College of Science and Engineering, Mathematics and Science
Colin Moon - College of Business Administration
John Norton - School of Film and Television, Graduate Student of the Year
Lyza Weisman - Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts, The Erlandson Award
Rachel Guzzetti - College of Communication and Fine Arts
Presidential Citations
Presidential Citations are awarded by the president to the graduating seniors nominated by the academic community and selected by a committee of faculty and administration for outstanding academic record, leadership, and service. The awardees have earned this distinction by demonstrating their commitment to the university mission in their own unique ways, and they are all commended today for embodying the university’s goal to create “persons for and with others.”
2024 Awardees
Amy Carlyle
Catherine Channell
Iliana Chen
Audrey Covington
Claire Davis
Sara Eberle
Osiris Guinea Zepeda
Drew Hartz
Clare Houston
Rocky Jacobs
Ashlee Newton
Aidan Pidgeon
Jacqueline Raetz-Vigon
Yoselin Ramirez Lopez
Makena Robison
Jonnae Serrano
Janie Thomson
Jeremy Valle
Abbey Wineglass
Bailey Woinarowicz
Raymunde McKay, R.S.H.M. Award
Raymunde McKay, R.S.H.M., was the former president of Marymount College and her leadership was instrumental in the merger of Loyola University and Marymount College in 1973. This award is given in her honor and presented to graduating seniors in recognition of their outstanding leadership throughout their undergraduate careers.
2024 Senior Awardees
Abigail Shaw
Aidan Pidgeon
Amy Carlyle
Anabel (Ana) Lynch
Anna Doherty
Bailey Woinarowicz
Catherine Channell
Christina Dodd
Claire Davis
Clare Houston
Elisabeth Gothelf
Iliana Chen
Jacqueline Raetz-Vigon
Janie Thomson
Khaled AlEssa
Makena Robison
Rachel Dulski
Sara Lighthart
Alfred Kilp, S.J. Award
The Kilp Award is given to third-year students who, in the past year, have demonstrated a high degree of service and promise for continued involvement in co-curricular leadership.
2024 Junior Awardees
Brooke Pegues
Caroline Bernal
Cleo Pollinger
Danny Halle
Ethan Stabile
Exodus Broussard
Gavin Butts
Haley Hogan
Haley Huntington
Izabelle Romero
Julia Souza Ramos Novis
Natalie Hogenboom
Olivia Kelleher
Seema Kayali
Renee L. Harrangue, Ph.D. Award
Renee Harrangue, Ph.D., came to Marymount College in 1958. Her longstanding service to both Marymount College and LMU is varied and impressive. She was dean of Marymount College and served as the first provost of LMU, professor, and director of the Marymount Institute. This award honors the unique accomplishments of our second-year students and encourages their continued involvement in campus life, service, and leadership.
2024 Sophomore Awardees
Alyssa Gutierrez
Audrey Wood
Faisal Alhogail
Isabella May
Jeron Alford
Julia Kowalski
Juliana Roman
Lauren Campbell
Louis Wang
Peg Dolan, R.S.H.M. Award
Peg Dolan, R.S.H.M., served the LMU community for over 30 years, providing spiritual guidance and counseling to students, faculty, staff, and alumni as director of Campus Ministry, a resident chaplain, and as the alumni chaplain. The Peg Dolan, R.S.H.M. Award is given to first-year students who have demonstrated service, leadership, and exceptional promise to remain involved throughout their tenure at the university.
2024 First-Year Awardees
Christopher Melchor
Milka Zekarias
Sophia An
Victor Caceres
Student Life Awards
Jack Menghini and Skyla Santacruz
Student Employee of the Year
This award recognizes a standout individual who has demonstrated exemplary performance, reliability, and initiative in their on-campus role. Through their hard work and commitment, they have made significant contributions to our campus community.
Jaryd Veserat
Delta Upsilon
Fraternity Member of the Year
Recognizes one student for their contributions to the fraternity community for valued service within their chapter and exemplary leadership within the university community.
Haley Brewer
Collegiate Panhellenic Council
Sorority Member of the Year
Recognizes one student for their contributions to the sorority community for valued service within their chapter and exemplary leadership within the university community.
Claire Davis, Alpha Chi
Brence Platner, Beta Theta Pi
Interfraternal Scholar of the Year
Bestowed upon one student who has achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and has made significant leadership contributions to the fraternity and sorority community.
Student EXP and Graduate Awards
EurAsian Lions
New Outstanding Organization of the Year
A new student organization that made positive contributions to the campus community and is a model for other organizations.
Isang Bansa
Student Organization of the Year
A student organization that made positive contributions to the campus community and is a model for other organizations.
Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority
Warren Binder
Practice Ignatian Values Award
Gryphon Circle Service Organization
Jessica Sardina
Integrate, Mind, Body, and Spirit Award
Brothers of Consciousness
Emily Ward
Commit to Service and Justice Award
South Asian Student Association
Heather Schacher
Become a Global Citizen Award
The Horror House Theatre Club
Elizabeth Cardoso Vera
Live a Life of Purpose Award