91Â鶹ӳ» began Commencement season this morning as students, faculty, and staff gathered in Shove Memorial Chapel to recognize and honor the extraordinary campus members during Honors Convocation. Chaplain Kate Holbrook presented the invocation and Elder-in-Residence Debbie Howell led the land acknowledgement for the annual tradition which marks the end of the 151st academic year.
Over 200 awards were presented to students, faculty, and staff from all areas of campus life, including academic performance, teaching, research, athletics, art, and more. Each academic department presented multiple awards for notable students and All-College awards were given to students exemplifying key traits of 91Â鶹ӳ»’s core values.
Interim President Dr. Manya Whitaker presented the Presidential Awards to Allyson Pena ’27 (Dreamkeeper Award), Skye McCrimmon ’25 (J. Juan Reid Award), Curtis Miller Hale ’25 (Van Diest Award), Healy Bledsoe ’25 (Laura Golden Award), and Psalm Delaney ’24 and Kayla Shelley ’26 (African American Youth Leadership Conference Community Enhancement Prize).
Along with awards bestowed by different campus departments, the 91Â鶹ӳ» Student Government Association (91Â鶹ӳ»SGA) presented their four annual awards. Mackenzie Wagner ’25 was named the 91Â鶹ӳ»SGA Involved Student of the Year, an award given to a student who has demonstrated outstanding involvement in and service to the 91Â鶹ӳ» community. Melanie Robertson ’26, EmRhys Jenkins ’26, and Aden Berry ’27 accepted the 91Â鶹ӳ»SGA Involved Student Organization of the Year on behalf of Allies of Unhoused Youth. This award is given to a student organization that students deem has made the greatest impact on the 91Â鶹ӳ» community. Student Engagement Coordinator Sarah Elsey received the Bob Pizzi Outstanding Advisor of the Year Memorial Award and Dr. Neena Grover, Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, received the Lloyd E. Worner Teacher of the Year Award.
Joshua McFeeters ’25 presented the Blue Key Award to Assistant Professor of Physics Dr. Adam Light.
See the full list of 2025 Honors Convocation awards and recipients.
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