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As the academic year draws to a close, Mount Saint Mary’s University celebrated one of its most cherished traditions, the Mary’s Day Awards. The annual ceremony honors undergraduate students whose academic excellence, leadership and commitment to service have distinguished them within the Mount community. Faculty, students, staff and families came together to recognize achievements across disciplines and reflect on a year of growth and accomplishment.

In his opening remarks, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Adam Weyhaupt, PhD, emphasized both the significance of the occasion and the collective pride shared by the University.

“On behalf of the staff and faculty at Mount Saint Mary’s, we thank you for the privilege of walking beside you on your college journey, and we are so proud to have watched your growth, your accomplishments, your perseverance and your willingness to share your gifts with this community,” said Provost Weyhaupt.

Throughout the ceremony, students were recognized with departmental honors, special program distinctions and the University’s highest accolades, including the Presidential Awards. Weyhaupt noted that Mary’s Day serves not only as a celebration of achievement, but as a reflection of the values that define a Mount education. “This is a moment to recognize not only what our students have accomplished, but who they have become — leaders, scholars and individuals committed to making a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond,” he said.

Congratulations to all the Mary’s Day 2026 award recipients recognized below. 

PRESIDENTIAL AWARDS &²Ô²ú²õ±è;

President’s Award: 

This award goes to a student who is involved in the total university environment and has benefited or been changed by the university experience. Breadth of interests, leadership growth, academic integrity, commitment to learning, and a commitment to use their knowledge to better their community and the world, are included in the criteria.  Additionally, recipients need to be known for generosity of spirit and personal warmth.

• Michelle Tran (Posthumous award)  
• Karely Molina Martinez 
• Nichole Bondocoy 

Le Puy Award

Named for Le Puy, France, the place of origin of our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, this award recognizes a student who transferred to Mount Saint Mary’s University and has had a positive impact on the college through activities on and off campus.

• Lady Baadia Jones
• Leslie Martinez-Soto
• Priscilla Tso 

Distinguished Community Service Award: 

This award is given to a student who has distinguished herself by enthusiastically participating in on-campus events and in her local community or parish through volunteer work or political activism.

• Karely Molina Martinez 

Courage Award:

This award honors students who withstood significant personal challenges during their years at the Mount, and responded with the grace, perseverance and exceptional courage that made it possible to earn a baccalaureate degree.

• Natalie Garcia Quezada 
• Mel Murillo

The Magnificat Award:  

This award goes to a student who demonstrates a commitment to living her life in solidarity with the poor and marginalized:

• Julia Cendejas 

 ACADEMIC DEPARTMENT AWARDS

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

 The Outstanding Student in General Biology Award recognizes first and second year students who show remarkable aptitude in biological studies:   

• Ava Jean Shalhoub
• Ivy Kamilah Mera
• Taylor Phuong Anh Nguyen
• Julie Hernandez
• Kalia Aulelei Wooden
• Sol'e Yumani Williams

The Outstanding Commitment to Biological Research Award goes to seven students who spend countless hours in a laboratory to investigate the world around them:

• Michaella Schroder
• Savannah Michel
• Priscilla Tso
• Parker Evans
• Nichole Bondocoy
• Alina Chen
• Astrid Ouolo

The Biology Department would like to recognize the following students for their service to their peers and the department. The Outstanding Peer Mentor or Supplemental Instructor Award goes to:

• Nichole Bondocoy
• Brooke Rust

The following Outstanding Graduating Seniors in Biology are honored for persevering through rigorous coursework to attain their bachelor’s in science degree:

• Nichole Bondocoy
• Franchesca Maldonado
• Priscilla Tso
• Parker Evans

EDUCTION

The Doris Schiffilea Harris Education Scholarship funds a future elementary teacher’s continued study at the Mount. This year’s recipients are:

• Elena Sanchez
• Mayra Morales

The award for Academic Achievement in Liberal Studies goes to:

• Abigail Reyes

The Sister Dolorosa Credential Scholarship is awarded to:

• Emily Canales

The award for Academic Achievement in the field of Child Development goes to:

• Odalys D. Gutierrez-Buenrostro
• Olivia Liu

The award for Excellence in Academics & Student Teaching, Elementary goes to:

• Noemi Arteaga
• Isabella Juarez

The award for Excellence in Academics & Student Teaching, Secondary goes to:

• Charyse Haoson  

HISTORY, POLITICAL SCIENCE, GLOBAL POLITICS AND HEALTHCARE POLICY 

The Dr. Joan M. Todd Award for Excellence, honoring graduating students who demonstrate excellence in the study of history, goes to:

• Leslie Martinez 

The Departmental Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Political Science, honoring graduating students who demonstrate exemplary dedication to this field of study, goes to:

• Isabela Pineda
• Sonrisa Lopez
• Tajelle Freeman
• Hope Luna
• Crystal Cisneros

Dr. Joan M. Todd was a professor of ancient history in the 1960s. This award, named after her, honors graduating students who demonstrate excellence in the study of history:

• Emily Wong 

The Sister Rose Catherine Clifford Award for Excellence in Political Science, recognizing a student who shares the same admirable qualities of determination and perseverance toward excellence within the realm of Political Science, goes to: 

• Brooke Fadipe 

The Sister Rose Catherine Clifford Award for Excellence in Political Science, recognizing a student who shares the same admirable qualities of determination and perseverance toward excellence within the realm of Political Science, goes to:

• Madison Wong
• Stephanie Ahorro  

Awarded by the International Law Firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, a Pre-Law Scholarship is presented to students in recognition of their potential for the study of law as evidenced by their outstanding scholarship and performance in either mock trial or moot court. 

• Ava Martin
• Siena Ramirez
• Vanessa Toledano

The Helen G Boutrous Award honors students who have demonstrated excellence in advocacy, activism and leadership within the department, university and our communities.  

• Tajelle Freeman
• Isabela Pineda  

The Global Women in STEM and Policy Undergraduate Research Training Honors Program trains cohorts of undergraduate women to conduct basic and applied research in both the sciences and social sciences -with a focus on global and interdisciplinary approaches. This program is a reflection of the Mount’s mission and strategic plan to empower women, engage in a global environment, and increase undergraduate research opportunities. In the last few years students examined modifiable causes of cancer around the world. They have traveled to Kenya, Peru, India, and other countries to interview community members and healthcare providers, and analyzed the results. We would like to recognize our 7th cohort of students in this program: 

• Nichole Bondocoy
• Deysi Sandoval
• Priscilla Tso
• Tajelle Freeman
• Hasinaraj Kaur

Under the leadership of Ë®¹ûÅÉ Pre-law Program, we offer students the opportunity to participate in our Mock Trial team. Mock trial is a simulation of trial course proceedings in which students must present their case before a panel of judges who question the students about the facts and law of their case. Congratulations to this year’s Mock Trial team members:

• Hope Luna- Team Captain
• Crystal Cisneros
• Leslie Martinez
• Yadira Piñon
• Isabela Pineda
• Sonrisa Lopez
• Tajelle Freeman
• Amie Valle
• Vanessa Toledano
• Dayanara Cameras

We also have our Ë®¹ûÅÉ Moot Court Team which consists of oral arguments and legal brief writing competitions in which undergraduate students take on the role of attorneys in a fictional appellate case and present before a panel of judges who question the students about the facts and law of their case. Congratulations to the students who participated in our Moot court team this year:

• Isabela Pineda-Team Captain
• Tajelle Freeman
• Brooke Fadipe
• Blaise Rodriguez
• Nadia Hamarneh
• Ava Martin
• Leslie Martinez
• Hope Luna
• Yadira Piñon
• Michelle Sierra
• Siena Ramirez
• Rania Kamel
• Sonrisa Lopez
• Kaylee Ramirez
• Ireland Garcia
• Genesis Sanchez

The Belva Lockwood Award for Excellence in Moot Court, named for the first woman to be admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, honors graduating students who have demonstrated a unique commitment to the study of law and to developing the skills of critical thinking, analytical inquiry, and oral advocacy necessary to succeed in moot court competition.  This year’s award goes to:

• Isabela Pineda
• Tajelle Freeman
• Brooke Fadipe

 The Departmental Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Healthcare Policy goes to:

• Alma Celedon
• Daisy Ontiveros
• Lesley Mercado
• Erica Mae Valdellon
• Blessing Teah
• Brianna Beltran

MUSIC

The Excellence in Music Performance Award celebrates students who have consistently made a strong contribution to the music department performances during their time at the Mount. 

• Stephanie Herrera  

Awarded to music minor students in recognition of outstanding contributions to the Music Department, the Outstanding Music Minor Award goes to:  

• Subhekshya Nepal 

Students from all disciplines are recognized for their exceptional contribution to the Music Department ensembles at Mount Saint Mary’s. The following students are receiving an award for their excellent performance in Music Ensemble- Mount Bridge Orchestra: 

• Abigail Gutierrez
• Maria Movsisyan
• Subhekshya Nepal

The following students are recognized for their exceptional contributions to the Mount Chorus and are recipients of the Music Ensemble Award: 

• Angelina Leon
• Valerie Alvarado
• Taylor Nguyen
• Mia Zara Blanco
• Alexia Vogdanou
• Rania Kamel

Awarded each year to seniors who have exhibited exemplary work in music performance or research, the Department of Music Faculty Award goes to: 

• Lalibela Faraba
• Sydney Landis
• Daniela Ontivero

NURSING 

The Eugenie B. Hannon Nursing Award, recognizing a student who is deeply involved in co-curricular activities, showed stellar leadership capabilities by using the problem solving process and is a prominent role model for her peers in the nursing program, goes to: 

• Sugey Beltran Castillo 

 The Nursing Spirit Award, which recognizes the academic excellence, community service and leadership involvement of students, goes to:

• Andie Batac Ordona 

 The Professional Nurse Award, recognizing a student who is a role model for his peers, and who impacts fellow nursing students by personifying a professional nursing character throughout the program, goes to:

• Rogelio Mujica  

The Sister Callista Roy Award, presented to the student who exhibits excellence in nursing processes in a variety of settings, goes to: 

• Lady Jones 

 The Nursing Student Leader Award, honoring students who demonstrate excellent leadership, goes to:

• Stephanie Abadines Ahorro  

PHYSICAL SCIENCES AND MATHEMATICS  

The Outstanding Progress in Research Award, recognizing students who show an aptitude for research in the physical sciences, goes to:

• Lyila Vilches
• Angeles Corona
• Jennifer Gonzalez
• Isabella Gevorkyan
• Izgi Ozel
• Maria Movsisyan
• Jessica Ascencio

The award for Outstanding Departmental Service goes to:

• Franchesca Maldonado
• Brooke Rust
• Deysi Sandoval

The Achievement in Research Award, presented to students who have demonstrated an ability to both convey and defend their scientific research, goes to:

• Brooke Rust
• Valeriia Herasymenko
• Gwendolyn (Hope) Crawford
• Andrea Garcia
• Janay Velazquez
• Kiana Cotto 

 The Daniel Stogryn Award for Excellence in Research, in memory of Dr. Daniel Stogryn, a chemistry professor from 1979 to 1998, goes to:

• Franchesca Maldonado
• Natalie Garcia-Quezada
• Natalie Valles

 The Academic Excellence in the Physical Sciences Award, presented to students who perform to the highest academic standards of this department, goes to: 

• Kayla Zena
• Andrea
• Bailee Gil

The Excellence in Supplemental Instruction Award goes to:

• Franchesca Maldonado
• Brooke Rust
• Nichole Bondocoy
• Andrea Garcia

The Exceptional Research in Computational Chemistry Award goes to:

• Jocelyn Ruiz
• Anamaria Robles
• Bailee Gil

The Outstanding Students in General Chemistry Award, recognizing students who demonstrate consistent outstanding work in general chemistry, goes to: 

• Ivy Mera
• Taylor Nguyen

The Outstanding Interdisciplinary Research Award goes to:

• Franchesca Maldonado
• Natalie Garcia-Quezada

PSYCHOLOGY

The Outstanding Psychological Researcher Award, given to students who have made significant additions to psychological research, goes to:

• Elizabeth Arroyo 
• Natalia Penarrieta  

The Excellence in Psychological Studies Award goes to:

• Emily Felix
• Ashley Hocket Quiroz
• Natalee Dalah

SOCIAL WORK 

The Outstanding Scholar in Social Work award recognizes distinguished achievement in students who demonstrated academic excellence and integrity in this field. 

• Evelin Barba
• Sophia Cortes
• Nicole Jimenez
• Karely Molina Martinez
• Tiya Parasseril

SOCIOLOGY AND CRIMINOLOGY

The Outstanding Scholar in Sociology Award goes to:

• Sarah Luna

The Outstanding Scholar in Criminology Award, presented to a student who excelled in their coursework in Criminology, goes to: 

• Esmeralda Cruz Martinez 

The Outstanding Scholar in Geographic Information Sciences Award, presented to a student in recognition of her outstanding academic performance in this specialized field, goes to: 

• Eilah Najera Perez 

THE HONORS PROGRAM

The Honors Program at Mount Saint Mary's University recognizes academic excellence and provides high-achieving students with opportunities for increased academic rigor to be intellectually challenged in an engaging and nurturing environment. This year’s Honors Program Scholars are:

• Nichole Quengua Bondocoy   
• Monserrat Alyssa Castro  
• Karely Molina Martinez  
• Samara Sarai Avila 
• Paige White