Academic Honors and Awards Winners

UNDERGRADUATE AWARD WINNERS

COLLEGE AWARDS

Isabella Josephine Santavicca
Valedictorian—Awarded to the student who most embodies the essence of the graduating class through distinguished academic achievement, leadership, and meaningful involvement in the SMC community. This student is given the honor of delivering the valedictory address at the commencement ceremony.

Sofía Cuevas Dorador
De La Salle—Named in honor of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools, awarded annually by the College, in memory of J. A. Graves of the class of 1872, to the student in the senior class holding the highest record for scholarship and general excellence. This award is the highest honor at Saint Mary’s College.

Learn more about Isabella and Sofía and what earned them these prestigious awards.

CAMPUS COMMUNITY AWARDS

Angela Garcia
John Dennis Award—Named in honor of the beloved professor, High Potential Program Director, and mentor to many students throughout his 29 years of service at Saint Mary’s College. Awarded to a graduating senior in the High Potential Program for embodying the characteristics of scholarship, service, community, and leadership.

Kyle Bowen
George R. McKeon Male Scholar-Athlete Award—Named in memory of the noted Bay Area developer who built McKeon Pavilion, now known as UCU Pavilion. George R. McKeon supported the student-athlete experience both on and off the field, helping Gaels succeed as competitors in the classroom and in their sport. Awarded to a male student distinguished both as an outstanding athlete and scholar.

Rayna Stanziano
George R. McKeon Female Scholar-Athlete Award—Named in memory of the noted Bay Area developer who built McKeon Pavilion, now known as UCU Pavilion. George R. McKeon supported the student-athlete experience both on and off the field, helping Gaels succeed as competitors in the classroom and in their sport. Awarded to a female student distinguished both as an outstanding athlete and scholar.

Lauren Kearney
George Robert Milliken Award—Named by William J. Milliken in memory of his brother. Recognizes a graduating senior distinguished for unselfish devotion to student affairs.

Caitlin Schweller
Brother Mel Anderson, FSC, Mission and Ministry Award—Named in honor of the 26th and longest serving president of Saint Mary’s College. Awarded to a graduating senior for outstanding commitment to the Lasallian vision of ministry for and with the Saint Mary’s College community.  

Rachel Carrillo
Sister Clare Wagstaffe, CHS, PHD, AFSC Ministry Award—Named in honor of this Sister—and proud affiliated member of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools—who provided an unforgettable ministry of welcome, presence, encouragement, and inclusion at Saint Mary’s College for almost 25 years. This award is presented to a graduating senior for outstanding commitment to the Lasallian tenet to build an inclusive community “touching the hearts of those you serve” at Saint Mary’s College.

SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AWARDS

Mariella Crudele
Brother U. Jerome Griffin Award—Named in honor of the revered professor of economics and dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration at Saint Mary’s College for 14 years. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the School of Economics and Business Administration.

Annika Henthorn    
Henry Rand Hatfield Award—Named for the noted humanist and scholar, noted humanist and scholar who was also the first full-time accounting professor in the United States. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an Accounting major.

Gabriela Beatriz Tevez
Earl W. Smith Award—Named in honor of a famous Bay Area contractor, former regent of the College, and founder of the Earl W. Smith Endowed Chair in Business Administration. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Business Administration major.

Sofia Cuevas Dorador
Adam Smith Award—Named in memory of the 18th-century Scottish philosopher and economist. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an Economics major.

SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS AWARDS

Nash Anderson
James L. Hagerty Award—Named in honor of the illustrious professor of philosophy at Saint Mary’s College for 37 years and alumnus of the class of 1919. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the School of Liberal Arts.

Sabrina Krenn
Margaret Mead Award—Named after the noted cultural anthropologist and social activist credited with bringing anthropological insights on issues such as women’s rights, race relations, and world hunger to the U.S. public. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an anthropology major.

Colin Poling
Brother Kyran Aviani Award—Named in honor of the noted artist and professor of Art at Saint Mary’s College 1954–68. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a major in Art or Art History.

Lucas Wei-Ming Chung    
Byron Bryant Award—Named in memory of a  longstanding professor of English and founder of the Department of Communication who taught at Saint Mary’s College 1955–84. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Communication major.

Maya Isabel Dahlbacka
Brother Leo Meehan Award—Named in honor of this poet, writer, orator, and professor of English who taught at Saint Mary’s College 1908–41. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an English major.

Camila Ruth Krenn
Professor Ben Frankel Award—Named in honor of this professor who taught history at Saint Mary’s College for 50 years and inspired students to stretch their minds and inhabit the past as they prepare to transform the future. Awarded to a graduating senior with the highest scholastic record in the History major.

Madeline Fletcher
Mens Sana in Corpore Sano Award—Named to honor Juvenal’s Latin phrase (translated as “a healthy mind in a healthy body”) that captures the essence of a modern liberal arts education. Awarded to graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a kinesiology major.

Elena Prisco
Louis LeFevre Award—Named in honor of this alumnus of the class of 1913, professor, and chairman of the Department of History at Saint Mary’s College for 35 years. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Performing Arts major.

Nicholas Saloma
St. Albertus Magnus Award—Named for the extraordinary 13th-century scientist, philosopher, theologian, and doctor of the Church. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Philosophy major.

Sofia Cuevas Dorador
Thurgood Marshall Award—Named for the Supreme Court justice who courageously employed the law to promote racial and social equality. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Politics major.

Kirsti Evelyn Ericksen
Jane Addams Award—Named for the sociologist and social activist who co-founded Hull House and in 1931 became the first U.S. woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding record as a Sociology major.

Abigail Lucia Robles
Dante Award—Named for the renowned 13th-century Italian statesman and poet, author of the The Divine Comedy. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a World Languages and Cultures major.

Nash Anderson
Dag Hammarskjöld Award—Named for the Swedish diplomat who was Secretary-General of the United Nations 1953–61 and 1961 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an International Area Studies major.

Molly Gilbert
Saint Thomas Aquinas Award—Named for the celebrated 13th-century philosopher, theologian, and doctor of the Church. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the Integral Program.

Taylor Perea
bell hooks Award—Named for the inspirational writer, feminist scholar, and public intellectual who advocated for social justice. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Justice, Community, and Leadership major.

Lauren Kearney
Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Award—Named for the 17th-century poet, philosopher, and defender of women’s right to education. Awarded to the graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in Women’s and Gender Studies.

SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AWARDS

Joseph K. Garrett
Arthur S. Campbell Award—Named in honor of the notable professor of Biology who taught at Saint Mary’s College 1926–61. Awarded to the graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the School of Science.

Eliana S. Asfini    
Julie A. Pryde Award—Named in honor of this member of the class of 1987 who was most instrumental in establishing the Health Science Program at Saint Mary’s College. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Health Sciences major.

Gregory Michael Brighton
Carlos Freitas Award—Named in honor of this alumnus of the class of 1925, former regent of the College, and noted Bay Area jurist. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Biology major.

John Isaiah Cruz Jimenez    
Linus Pauling Award—Named in honor of one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and recipient of the Nobel Prize in chemistry and the Nobel Peace Prize. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Biochemistry major.

Laura Trapero Sanz    
Grace Hopper Award—Named in honor of the Computer Scientist who was a pioneer of computer programming and devised the theory of machine-independent programming languages. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Computer Science major.

Joseph K. Garrett
Joseph P. McKenna Award—Named in honor of noted alumnus and benefactor of Saint Mary’s College, this award is given to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Chemistry major.

Jonas Irvine Bass    
Winona LaDuke Award—Named in honor of the Native American activist, economist, and author, who devoted her life to advocating for Indigenous control of Native American homelands, natural resources, and cultural practices. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an Environmental Studies major.

Gregory Wayne Hess    
Brother Alfred Brousseau Award—Named after the renowned professor of mathematics and physics who taught at Saint Mary’s 1930–41 and 1959–78, whose special passions included the study of Fibonacci numbers and California wildflowers. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Mathematics and Computer Science major.

Justin Jerome    
Galileo Galilei Award—Named for the scholar whose research revolutionized the way human beings see their place in the cosmos. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Physics and Astronomy major.

Ashley Marie Hernandez
Frederick Whelan Award—Named in memory of the professor and chairman of the Department of Psychology at Saint Mary’s College for 14 years. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Psychology major.

GRADUATE AWARD WINNERS

KALMANOVITZ SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AWARDS

Kaiyun Chen
Outstanding Master’s Degree Project Award—Awarded to a graduating student whose culminating work reflects academic excellence and is deemed to have potential to advance and/or positively impact the profession or discipline.

Holly Hart-Joshi
Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Research—Awarded to a student whose dissertation research reflects academic excellence and is deemed to have potential to advance the profession and/or positively impact the field of educational leadership.

Cristiana Rivera
Outstanding Student Award: COUNSELING—Awarded to a student from the Counseling Department receiving a credential or degree whose academics reflect excellence and whose personal and professional contributions to the program exemplify the mission of the Kalmanovitz School of Education.

Christian Free
Outstanding Student Award: TEACHER EDUCATION—Awarded to a student from the Teacher Education Department receiving a credential or degree whose academics reflect excellence and whose personal and professional contributions to the program exemplify the mission of the Kalmanovitz School of Education.

Monica Donato
Outstanding Student Award: LEADERSHIP—Awarded to a student from the Leadership Department receiving a credential or degree whose academics reflect excellence and whose personal and professional contributions to the program exemplify the mission of the Kalmanovitz School of Education.

SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS AND BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION AWARDS

Yiwen Zhu
Master of Science in Business Analytics—Awarded to the student who achieved the most outstanding scholastic record in the Master of Science in Business Analytics Program.

Trace Travers    
Master of Science in Accounting—Awarded to the student who achieved the most outstanding scholastic record in the Master of Science in Accounting Program.

Mallorie Simmons
Professional MBA—Awarded to the student who achieved the most outstanding scholastic record in the Master of Business Administration Professional MBA Program.

Katrina-Mari Derikito Mayol
Executive MBA—Awarded to the student who achieved the most outstanding scholastic record in the Master of Business Administration Executive MBA Program.

Jason Graveley
Master of Science in Finance—Awarded to the student who achieved the most outstanding scholastic record in the Master of Science in Finance Program.

Amy West    
Master of Science in Management & Technology—Awarded to the student who achieved the most outstanding scholastic record in the Master of Science in Management & Technology.

Corine Herrmann    
Online MBA—Awarded to the student who achieved the most outstanding scholastic record in the Master of Business Administration Online MBA Program.

Curtis Moldenhauer    
Executive DBA—Awarded to the student who achieved the most outstanding scholastic record in the Doctorate of Business Administration Executive DBA Program.

SCHOOL OF LIBERAL ARTS AWARDS

Emily Ferbet      
The Iris Award—Recognizing general excellence in graduate studies in Communication, this award is named after the Greek goddess Iris, who is associated with communication, messages, the rainbow, and new endeavors.

Samantha T. Matsumoto     
Embodied Engagement Award—This award recognizes excellence in commitment to and embodiment of somatic applications for health, education, and social justice.

Emily Hicks     
Excellence in Graduate Kinesiology Award—Awarded to a student who demonstrates general excellence in graduate studies of Kinesiology.

Melinda Soderling    
LEAP Award for Outstanding Scholarship, Citizenship, and Artistry—Awarded to a graduating LEAP student who demonstrates a dedication to academic scholarship, citizenship within the LEAP community, and the embodiment of the LEAP Program’s mission and ethos.

Kehinde Badiru
The Brenda Hillman Award—Named after the MFA in Creative Writing’s founder and guiding spirit, this award honors a graduating MFA student for their outstanding literary work and inspiring community spirit.

College Academic and Service Awards:

Valedictorian: 
Mary Kathleen Conlon
An award recognizing an individual student having the highest academic achievements of the graduating class. 

De La Salle Award:  
Marielle C. Gardner
Named in honor of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and patron saint of teacher. Awarded in the memory of J.A. Graves of the class of 1872, to the graduating senior with the highest record for scholarship and general excellence.

James L. Hagerty Award:
Marielle C. Gardner
Named in honor of the illustrious professor of philosophy at Saint Mary's College for 37 years and alumnus of the class of 1919. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the School of Liberal of Arts.

Arthur S. Campbell Award:  
Elisa Joy Capulong Rapadas
Named in honor of the notable professor of biology who taught at Saint Mary's College from 1926-1961. Awarded to the graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the School of Science.

Brother U. Jerome Griffin, FSC Award: 
Marielle Gabrielle Domingo Bernabe
Named in honor of the revered Brother Jerome Griffin, who was professor of economics and dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration at Saint Mary's College for 14 years. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record int he School of Economics and Business Administration.

Sister Clare Wagstaffe, CHS, PhD, AFSC, Mission and Ministry Award: 
Ameyalli Chavez & Andrew Brian Gai
Named in honor of a Sister (and proud affiliated member of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools) who provided an unforgettable ministry of welcome, presence, encouragement, and inclusion at Saint Mary's College for almost 25 years. This award is presented to a graduating senior for outstanding commitment to the Lasallian tenet to build an inclusive community "touching the hearts of those you serve" at Saint Mary's College. An award presented to a graduating senior for outstanding commitment to the Lasallian vision of ministry "to touch the hearts of those you serve" at Saint Mary's College.

George Robert Milliken Award:  
Jasmine Gratuito Sindico
Named by William J. Milliken in memory of his brother. Recognizes a graduating senior who has exemplified the College's values through action. The award honors a student who has epitomized "the best of leadership" within our community and whose influence, ideals, and involvement will leave a lasting, positive impression on the College.

George R. McKeon Male Scholar-Athlete Award: 
Stephen M. Dougherty
Named in memory of this noted Bay Area developer for whom the College's McKeon Basketball Pavilion is named. Awarded to a male student distinguished both as an outstanding athlete and scholar.

George R. McKeon Female Scholar-Athlete Award: 
Lindsey Miranda Knudsen
Named in memory of this noted Bay Area developer for whom the College's McKeon Basketball Pavilion is named. Awarded to a female student distinguished both as an outstanding athlete and scholar.

Departmental Awards

HENRY RAND HATFIELD AWARD
ANA KAREN CHENA DAVILA
Named for the noted humanist, scholar, and accounting educator, also the first fulltime accounting professor in the United States. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an accounting major.

MARGARET MEAD AWARD
CLAIRE CHALLANCIN
Named for the noted cultural anthropologist and social activist credited with bringing anthropological insights on issues such as women’s rights, race relations, and world hunger to the American public. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an anthropology/sociology major. 

BROTHER KYRAN AVIANI, FSC AWARD
SHELBY ANN CHAKMAKIAN
Named in honor of the beloved Brother Kyran, noted artist and professor of art at Saint Mary’s College from 1954-1968. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an art/art history major.

CARLOS FREITAS AWARD
ASHLYNN MARGARET YAP-CHIONGCO
Named in honor of this alumnus of the class of 1925; a former regent of the College and noted Bay Area jurist. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a biology major.

LINUS PAULING AWARD
SARAH KATHRYN WALLACE
Named in honor of one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and Peace. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a biochemistry major.

EARL W. SMITH AWARD
MASON QUINN LaBADIE
Named in honor of a famous Bay Area contractor, former regent of the College, and founder of the Earl W. Smith Endowed Chair in Business Administration. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a business administration major.

BYRON BRYANT AWARD
DEISY OCHOA MENDOZA & MORGANNE BRIANA WHALEY
Named in memory of a longstanding professor of English and founder of the Department of Communication who taught at Saint Mary’s College from 1955–1984. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a communication major.

SAINT AUGUSTINE AWARD
CLAIRE CHALLANCIN
Named in honor of an early Christian theologian and philosopher from Numidia whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity and philosophy. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a major in the classical languages of Greek and Latin. 

ADAM SMITH AWARD
LINDSEY MIRANDA KNUDSEN
Named in memory of the 18th century Scottish philosopher and economist. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an economics major.

BROTHER LEO MEEHAN, FSC AWARD
MARY KATHLEEN CONLON & KIMIYA SABRINA SHOKRI
Named in honor of this famous professor of English, poet, writer and orator who taught at Saint Mary’s College from 1908–1941. Awarded to the graduating seniors with outstanding scholastic records as English majors.

JOHN MUIR AWARD
JAMES ROBERT MORRIS
Named in honor of the Scottish born American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of the U.S. wilderness. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an environmental sciences and studies major. 

JULIE A. PRYDE AWARD
FABIOLA ZARAGOZA
Named in honor of this member of the class of 1987 who was most instrumental in establishing the Allied Health Science Program at Saint Mary’s College. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a health sciences major.

PROFESSOR BEN FRANKEL AWARD
JACOB LOUIS ROBERTS
Named in honor of Ben Frankel, who taught history at Saint Mary’s College for 50 years and inspired students to stretch their minds and inhabit the past as they prepare to transform the future. Awarded to a graduating senior with the highest scholastic record in the history major.

SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS AWARD
MARIELLE C. GARDNER
Named for the celebrated 13th-century philosopher, theologian, and doctor of the church. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the Integral Program. 

DAG HAMMARSKJOLD AWARD
OLIVIA CATHERINE McKIBBIN BROPHY

Named for the Swedish diplomat who was Secretary of the United Nations from 1953-1961 and the 1961 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Awarded to a graduating senior with outstanding scholastic record in Global and Regional Studies program

MENS SANA IN CORPORE SANO AWARD
SARAH ELIZABETH CHASE
Named to honor Juvenal’s Latin phrase that captures the essence of a modern liberal arts education. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Kinesiology major.

BELL HOOKS AWARD
JULIA KATHERINE ZAMORA
Named for the inspirational writer, feminist scholar, and public intellectual who advocates for social justice. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Justice, Community, and Leadership major

DANTE AWARD
OLIVIA CATHERINE McKIBBIN BROPHY
Named for the renowned 13th-century Italian statesman and poet, author of The Divine Comedy, the greatest work of poetic literature in the Western world. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a world languages and cultures major. 

LOUIS LEFEVRE AWARD
MICAH ST. CLAIR SALLID
Named in honor of this alumnus of the class of 1913, professor, and chairman of the Department of History at Saint Mary’s College for 35 years. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a performing arts major.

THURGOOD MARSHALL AWARD
KRISTEN RACQUEL ROVAI
Named for the first African-American Supreme Court Justice, who courageously employed the law to promote racial and social equality.  Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a politics major.

FREDERICK WHELAN AWARD
ELISA JOY CAPULONG RAPADAS
Named in memory of the late Frederick Whelan, professor and chairman of the Department of Psychology at Saint Mary’s College for 14 years. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a psychology major.

JANE ADDAMS AWARD
JULIA KEIKO HOSHINO
Named for the sociologist and social activist who co-founded the Hull House and was the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding record as a sociology major.

SOR JUANA INES DE LA CRUZ AWARD
EMILY VAN LIEDEKERKE
Named for the 17th-century poet, philosopher, and defender of women’s right to education. Awarded to the graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in women’s and gender studies.

Academic Honors: Honors at Graduation

Summa Cum Laude: A student must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.85 for all college work.

Magna Cum Laude: A student must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.70 for all college work.

Cum Laude: A student must have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.50 for all college work.

To qualify for graduation with honors, transfer students must complete at least nine courses at Saint Mary’s with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50.