The 2025 College of Liberal Arts Awards Ceremony honors nearly 80 students
April 2025 – Drew University proudly recognized the excellence, dedication, and service of its students at the annual College of Liberal Arts Awards Ceremony, held in the Concert Hall of the Dorothy Young Center for the Arts.
Nearly 80 students were honored for their outstanding accomplishments, nominated by faculty and staff who have mentored and supported them throughout their academic journeys. The ceremony was hosted by Dean of Arts & Sciences Ryan Hinrichs, who encouraged students to reflect on the support behind their success.
“I want you to take a moment to thank everyone who helped you achieve the great accomplishments we are recognizing today,” said Hinrichs. “You should be proud of your successes at Drew University. You follow in the footsteps of many distinguished Drew alums who have gone on to achieve incredible things.”
University Provost Jessica Lakin also offered words of gratitude, acknowledging the families of the award recipients. “We are grateful that you shared them with us so that we could also learn, grow, and benefit from their wisdom, their passions, and their enthusiasm,” she said.
And the winners are:
Stanley Prescott Hooper Memorial Award in Studio Art
Dorian Salter
Stanley Prescott Hooper Memorial Award in Art History
Sudenaz Yilmaz
Slipper-McClintock Award
David Hoyt, Nicole Sydor
Winifred Baldwin Award
Jen Arias, Mira Cohen, Brendan Mullany, Sierra Walker
Novartis Award in Biochemistry
David Hoyt
Novartis Award in Biology
Budoor Al-Aydi
Novartis Award in Chemistry
Gideon Sullivan
Novartis Award in Computer Science
Brendan Mullany, Jared Simonetti
Anna-Lisa Barofsky Award in Biology
Maryann Dillon
Accounting Award
Dallas Lorenzetti, Matt Myers
Business Award
Xiao Li, Francesca O’Kleasky
Finance Award
Ben Cacoilo, Nicolas Curcio
Marketing Award
Dominique Cobb, Juliana Sarmiento
James Lyman McFadden Award
Bridget Willson
Shilpa Raval Memorial Award in Classics
James Sullivan
Allen Ware Rodes Memorial Award
Sarah Colucci
Jane Brown and Albert Norton Wettstein Award
Maryann Dillon, Anna Beth Lee, Brendan Mullany, Julia Satola, Jared Simonetti, Sudenaz Yilmaz
Transfer Student Academic Award
Elizabeth Caccavo
Transfer Student Senior Impact Award
Benjamin Castro
Donald J. Fariello Memorial Award
Marianela Pina De La Hoz
Economics Department Award
Joseph Rojek
Economics Department Service Award
Jose Barahona
Jerome Cranmer Award in Economic History
Genaro (Sal) Scavello
Academy of American Poets Award
Murphy (Isadora Pacheco) Fonseca
Christopher Goin Memorial Award
Laya Ranganathan
John G. Berg Jr. Memorial Award
Katie Carmichael, Nicole Sydor
Ralph R. and Ruth K. Johnson Shakespeare Award
Cecilia Lomanno
Robert Chapman Poetry Award
Michael Indovina
Peter Jennings Award
Rebecah Bashant
Elbridge and Edna Smith Award
Sarah Koblitz, Natalia Rakviashvili
Grace K. Weggeland Award
Kamila Polanco
Leavell-Oberg Award in History
Elliot Franklyn, Jocelyn Freeman, Katelyn Rohlf, Julia Satola
Irene and Simon Raicer Award for SHOAH Education
Anna Squindo
Walter F. and Alice Gorham Foundation, Inc. Award in Jewish Studies
Maya Samuelson
Irene Weyer Memorial Award
Elliott Franklyn
Steve A. Lemanski Award
Emily Camlet
Novartis Award in Mathematics
Ryan Kulyassa, Clifford Wijaya
Annual Awards in Music
Jenni Grafilo, Brynn McCarthy
Novartis Award in Neuroscience
Mira Cohen
Tracey J. Shors Neuroscience Award
Sabrina Fallas
Arnold S. Boxer Memorial Award in Physics
John McLaughlin
John F. Ollom Award in Physics
Giorgi Tsnobiladze
Marshall C. Harrington Award in Physics and Astronomy
Daniel Wu
Novartis Award in Physics
Donovan Dowling
Ewing Award for Leadership and Public Service
Muthoni Githinji, Luiza Vaskys Lim
Ewing Distinguished Political Science Major – Performance and Comprehension
Cameryn Brown
James Higgins Memorial Award
Ben Paley
Janet T. Siler Memorial Award – Best UN Paper
Enola Vicic-Hajdinjak
Janet T. Siler Memorial Award – Spirit of UN
Marissa Guajardo
Robert Fisher Oxnam Award
Mackenzie Pisani, Daniella Rosero
James A. McClintock Award for Excellence in Psychology – Principles and Ideals
Jo Cavallaro
James A. McClintock Award for Excellence in Psychology – Science of Psychology
Jen Arias
Psi Chi Community Service Award
Bella Lyons
Psi Chi Research Award
Daniela DaSilva, Bella Landino
The Jonathan W. Reader Award in Public Health
Grace Alejano
Dr. George deStevens Award for RISE Research
Ashley Totin
Sidney Udenfriend Award
Jonah Fine
James O’Kane Award
Kathryn Bsales
Class of 1983 Student Life Award
Natalia Rakviashvili
Hardin Award
Cameryn Brown
Albert Norton Wettstein Award
Alexa Kerr, Seth Okumura
Chauncey Lester and Elsie Stewart Benedict Memorial Award
Grace Ballard, Avery Burnap
Pearl Primus Award
Raya Smith
President’s Award in Theatre Arts
Grace Ballard
Robert Fisher Oxnam Ensemble Studio Theatre Award in Playwriting
Alexa Kerr, Seth Okumura
Rumi Award in Choreography
Bridget Ryan
Bessie Stak Schiffman Award for Excellence in Women’s Studies
Skylar Tanski
Raval Award in Women’s Studies & Humanities
Grace Gannon
Bessie Stak Schiffman Award for Excellence in Women’s Studies
Patrick Walsh
LBGTQ Student Activist Award
Alexa Gavenas
