News

2020 Commencement Awards

June 16, 2020

The College of Arts and Sciences is proud to honor the recipients of the 2020 Student Awards, Departmental Awards, Department Honors, and Student Executive Council Teacher, Advisor, and Staff Member of the Year, and our graduating members of the Student Executive Council.

As we were unable to host our annual awards ceremony, in addition to this list, we offer more information about them, along with photos, on the 2020 Student Awards page, here.

2020 College of Arts and Sciences Student Awards

Brenalee Campbell, Richard P. Hickey Award

Honors the memory of Dr. Richard P. Hickey, professor of English, a beloved and respected teacher at Seattle University from 1947 until his death in 1968.

Jess Juanich, LeRoux Leadership Award

Recognizes the graduating student(s) who has demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities, shown academic excellence, and performed significant service to the College. The recipients personify in character and in action the qualities of a liberal education, which constitute the "spirit" of our College. Selection is made by a faculty panel. The award honors the memory of Fr. William L Roux, S.J. who served as Dean of the College.

Liliane Kamikazi, Leadership and Professional Engagement Award

Recognizes the graduating student in the College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Programs who has demonstrated exceptional leadership abilities and professional engagement. The recipient is an innovative forward thinker, making new roads in their chosen field. Their professional development efforts contribute to the vibrant educational experience in their graduate program.

John Roe, Wallace Loh Academic Excellence Award

Given to the outstanding graduating student in the College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Programs. Selection is based upon exceptional graduate work in the classroom. Qualification evidenced by paper/article submission, conference presentations, fellowship or scholarship awards, and interdisciplinary scholarship work. The award honors the impact that Dr. Wallace Loh had upon graduate programs in the College of Arts and Sciences. Dr. Loh served as Dean of the college from 1999-2008. Under his leadership, four Arts and Sciences graduate programs were created.

ChrisTiana ObeySumner, MNPL, Social Justice and Community Engagement Award

Recognizes the graduating student in the College of Arts and Sciences Graduate Programs who has demonstrated a deep commitment to social justice and community engagement. The recipient has gone above and beyond in their service to others, carrying with them the founding principles of a Jesuit education, making choices as a leader for a just and humane world.

Departmental Awards and Honors

Departmental awards recognize academic achievement and scholastic excellence across the many disciplines in the College of Arts and Sciences. Majoring with Departmental Honors offers an opportunity for motivated and capable students to engage in extensive interaction with faculty and complete challenging directed study projects and research in their major.

Anthropology and Sociology

  • V Espitia, Fr. Eugene Buechel, S.J. Award
  • Lauren Lee, Fr. Joseph-Francois Lafitau, S.J. Society Award
  • Ricki Lieu, Anthropology Award
  • Orianna Joi Muñoz, Segundo Montes Mozo
  • Kate Opre, Peronteau Award
  • Departmental Honors: V Espitia, Max Melendez

Art and Art History

  • John Huang, Anthony Buhr Award
  • Meilani Mandery, Anthony Buhr Award
  • Dev McCauley, Anthony Buhr Award
  • Megan Royce, Anthony Buhr Award
  • Department Honors: Grace Vieaux

Communication

  • Kelly Hunt, John Talevich Award
  • Emma Landsman, John Talevich Award
  • Chhavi Mehra, John Talevich Award

Criminal Justice

  • Mariana Renteria Hernandez, Fr. Michael Kelliher, S.J. Award
  • Cierrah Loveness, Eugene Corr Ethics & Service in Criminal Justice Award
  • Emily Pacunski, Fr. Michael Kelliher, S.J. Award

English/Creative Writing

  • Sarah Dipprey, Fr. Alex MacDonald, S.J. Award
  • Andrea Fox, Fr. Alex MacDonald, S.J. Award
  • Annette Maxon, Fr. Alex MacDonald, S.J. Award
  • Department Honors: Mark Bautista, Emily Brown, Sydney Haas, Grace Hoglund, Hana Kirchoff, Lauren Louie, Annette Maxon, Ryan Thelin, Jonathan Zuill

Environmental Studies

  • Amelia Serafin, Hazel Wolf Award
  • Anthony Bowmer, Fr. Alex MacDonald, S.J. Award

Film Studies

History

  • Sarah Howd, Fr. Joseph Donovan, S.J. Award
  • Jessica Jacobs, Fr. Joseph Donovan, S.J. Award
  • Thomas Thayer, Fr. Joseph Donovan, S.J. Award
  • Isabel Wagner, Madsen Leadership and Public Service Award
  • Falen Wilkes, Fr. Joseph Donovan, S.J. Award
  • Department Honors: Hana Cooper, Emily Ludwig, Craig Verniest, Isabel Wagner, Falen Wilkes

Interdisciplinary Liberal Studies

  • Sara Marsicano, John Henry Cardinal Newman Award
  • Monica McKeown, Noel J. Brown Award
  • Andrew Orita, Noel J. Brown Award
  • Natalie Ramos, Noel J. Brown Award
  • Department Honors: Colleen Cronnelly, Lucas Christensen, Monica McKeown, Emma Nielsen, Michael Ninen, Andrew Orita, Julia Schwab, Daniella Thomas

International Studies

Institute of Public Service

  • Samantha Wilson, Woodrow Wilson Award
  • Ethan Schmitt, Sarah M. Speck, MD Award

Kinesiology

Matteo Ricci Institute

  • Austin Bailey, Matteo Ricci Institute Award for Excellence in Humanities
  • Alexa Montenegro, Matteo Ricci Institute Service and Leadership Award

Military Science

  • Christine Villanueva, Patrick H. Brady Award
  • Madeline Walsh, Patrick H. Brady Award
  • Ticia Wildasin, Patrick H. Brady Award

Modern Languages and Cultures

  • McKenna Therese Bates, Michels Family Award
  • Ellie Zavala, Michels Family Award, Modern Languages and Cultures and Fr. Louis Gaffney, S.J. Award

Performing Arts and Arts Leadership

  • Allison Alderman, Anthony Buhr Award
  • Emily Brown, Anthony Buhr Award
  • Anna Iwasaki, Anthony Buhr Award
  • Rebecca Pult, Anthony Buhr Award
  • Alexis Rastovich, Anthony Buhr Award
  • Departmental Honors: Anna Iwasaki

Philosophy

  • Logan D. Breitweiser, Fr. James Reichmann, S.J. Award
  • Falen Wilkes, Fr. James Reichmann, S.J. Award, Philosophy

Political Science

  • Sophia Beierle, Dr. Jewel Prestage Award, Political Science
  • Benjamin Hamblin, Dr. Jewel Prestage Award, Political Science
  • Aryon Shahidzadeh, Dr. Jewel Prestage Award, Political Science
  • Departmental Honors: Jillian Andreottola, Sophia Annest, Molly Brown, Aidan Courtney, Siena Cross, James Donaldson

Psychology

  • Heather Benjamin, Fr. Louis Gaffney, S.J. Award
  • Anni Dee Christensen, Fr. Louis Gaffney, S.J. Award
  • Maya Jamaleddine, Fr. Louis Gaffney, S.J. Award
  • Annelise Loveless, Dr. Thomas Cunningham Award
  • Gillian Monty, Fr. Louis Gaffney, S.J. Award
  • Michael Trask, Dr. Thomas Cunningham award
  • Ellie Zavala, Fr. Louis Gaffney, S.J. Award

Social Work

  • Jo Bechtold, Taylene Watson, MSW Social Justice Award
  • Emily Pacunski, Dr. Madeline Lovell Academic Excellence Award
  • Departmental Honors: Hatcher Chapman, Katharine Opre

Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

  • Leah Dooley, Susan L. Secker Award
  • Falen Wilkes, Susan L. Secker Award
  • Departmental Honors: Natalie Castillo, Leah Dooley, Falen Wilkes

Student Executive Council Awards

Each year, the Student Executive Council invites all students in the College of Arts and Sciences to nominate the teachers, advisors and staff members that have made a significant impact on their education and life. This award honors a Professor, Academic Advisor, and Staff member for exceptional contributions made towards the intellectual and personal growth of Seattle University students.

  • Jennifer Schulz, PhD, Teacher of the Year
  • Roxy Hornbeck, MFA, Advisor of the Year
  • Kate Reynolds, Staff Member of the Year

Student Executive Council, Graduating Seniors

The Arts & Sciences Student Executive Council is a student advisory board to the Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. The undergraduate students each represent a different department or program in the College as well as the student body as a whole. The representatives act as the students’ voice to those who can make change happen in the College and in each department and program, working as a link between students, the Dean, and the leadership of each department.

  • Kenley Brinton, Matteo Ricci Representative
  • Molly Brown, At-Large Representative
  • Leah Dooley, SEC Chair and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies Representative
  • Alexa Gross, Modern Languages and Cultures Representative
  • Laurel Mack-Wilson, Communication Representative
  • Eleri Mahoney, Psychology Representative
  • Isabella Rivera, SEC Chair and Performing Arts and Arts Leadership Representative
  • Andrew Roach, Military Science Representative