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.
2023 Awardees
Obioma Ugorji
Class of 2023 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.
Layla Rainosek
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 2023. This is the most prestigious academic honor awarded to an undergraduate by LMU.
Tomasz (Tomi) Kufel
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.
Claribel Alcantar
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.
Nona Pittman
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.
Christina Noravian and Gabi Jeakle
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.
Ayana O'Brien
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.
Maya Kalach
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.
Alaysia Barker-Vaughn,
Jordan Fray,
Cole Cook, and
Mark Peter Lopez
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.
2023 Awardees
Jules Abella
Abdulwahab Almathen
Mohammed Alrabeeah
Kelli Andrade
Karen Arizmendi
Gwyneth Bechunas
Erin Bender
Ellen Blackmer
Ashley Blalock
Amber Bliss
Sage Boyd
Baxter Chase
Samantha Cheng
Mason Cooney
Halley Dante
Michelle Dell
Terrin Joseph Dooley
Keren Eshed
Julia Fardsalehi
Nelea Fong
Jordan Fray
Marieann Garzon
Samuel Gazarian
Natalie Gifford
Jessica Griggs
Shivani Gowda
Christopher Guerra
Carolyn Harmon
Nathan Hayes
Danielle Hjerpe
Emily Hillebrandt
Xueqing (Catherine) Hu
Giana Hubbard
Daisy Huerta
Kelly Hugo
William Judy
Heidi Johnson
Zoe Katzen
Vivian Kwang
Jacob Longini
Quetzali Lopez
Ruth Luna
Sam (Sandra Faye) Luna
Hao Luong
Lily Maddox
Anacan Mangelsdorf
Rachel Meilak
Christopher McCarthy
Michael McCarthy
Ryan McCue
Rachel Meilak
Donya Moghtader
Rebecca Neuren
Chinelo Okafor
Dana Marie Olson
Leonardo Dominguez Ortega
Jake Pappas
Kaitlyn Park
Sekou Parker
Loviisa Pasternak
Kierstin Perkins
Lauren Phillips
Nona Pittman
Alexander Rabushka
Layla Rainosek
Karina Richman
Natalie Riddick
Claribel Romo
Tamar Rotstein
Lindley Saffeir
Saad Salman
Madelaine Sarisky
Claire Shepard
Abigail Smith
Aidan Smith-Fagan
Emil Sol
Ana Gomez Soto
Lily Spirtos
Mary Anne Tucker
Emily Uhland
Juan Uribe
Steven Walker
Liam Wall
Jordan White
Mollie Williams
Conner Wilson
Ian Woo
Donovan Yoshida
Daniel Zonni
College and School Scholars
These scholars are determined to have the most rigor of their program while obtaining among the highest grade point average within their respective College and School. The School of Education Scholar is selected from the graduating seniors who have indicated a future interest in teaching by majoring in Liberal Studies within the Bellarmine College of Liberal Arts and/or minoring with the School of Education.
2023 Awardees
Julia Fardsalehi
Jordan Fray
Danielle Hjerpe
Heidi Johnson
Emily Kuklinski
Ryan McCue
Sekou Parker
Liam Wall
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.”
2023 Awardees
Claribel Alcantar
Karina Arenas
Gwyneth Bechunas
Aishwarya Bhutkar
Ben Brookbanks
Christina Cesnik
Halley Dante
Rachael Fisher
Liam FitzGerald
Mariel Fuentes
Veronica Gomez
Brisa Gutierrez
Daisy Huerta
Tomasz (Tomi) Kufel
Julia Lemmon
Amira Mahomed
Jullian Montes-Pearson
Ariel Nelson
Christina Noravian
Ayana O'Brien
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.
2023 Senior Awardees
Claribel Alcantar
Alaysia Barker-Vaughn
Warren Binder
Raymond CangKimVo
Lauren Cassiano
Christina Cesnik
Brisa Gutierrez
Rukhbaan Hayer
Kennedi Hewitt
Yukana Inoue
Andrea Libby
Sarah Lu
Kendall Nether
Saúl Rascón Salazar
Ashley Salisbury
Jane Tse
Obioma Ugorji
Ruby Walker
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.
2023 Junior Awardees
Aria Fulton
Gabriel Gutierrez
Drew Hartz
Heidi Ly
Gabriel Mouritzen
Declan North
Aidan Pidgeon
Makena Robison
Natalie Skaggs
Aiden Spagnoli
Sarah-Jane Thomson
Jeremy Valle
Lyza Weisman
Bailey Woinarowicz
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.
2023 Sophomore Awardees
Caroline Bernal
Gavin Butts
Rachel Dennin
Haley Hogan
Andrea Payre Madrigal
Ethan Stabile
Alexander Villanueva
Jennifer Woo
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.
2023 First-Year Awardees
Exodus Broussard
Ethan Carter
Nicholas Gustafson
Amani Rivers
Audrey Ann Wood
Student Life Awards
Emily Solomon
Ambassador of the Year
Celebrates the international character of our student body by recognizing the student whose contributions have advanced an awareness of the university's membership in the global community.
Sarah Lu and Emin Torlic
Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Top male and female athletes who demonstrate academic achievement, outstanding citizenship, and success in a varsity sport.
Ben Brookbanks
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.
Claire Shin
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.
Madeleine Kilroy
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
The Book Nook
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.
African Student Association
Student Organization of the Year
Student organization that made positive contributions to the campus community and is a model for other organizations.
Crimson Circle Service Organization
Lori Stanley
Practice Ignatian Values Award
Chi Delta Theta
Lisa Faremouth Weber
Integrate, Mind, Body, and Spirit Award
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Tau Kappa Chapter
Maryellen Serratos
Commit to Service and Justice Award
El Espejo Mentoring Program
Lala Minassian
Become a Global Citizen Award
Han Tao
Francisco Calderon
Live a Life of Purpose Award