Student Awards
2024 Christ College Student Awards
The Student Commencement Speaker for one of the two commencement ceremonies was our own Jillian Seeger ’24 for the College of Arts & Sciences. Carolina Bowen ’24 also spoke at the baccalaureate service in the Chapel of the Resurrection.
The Valparaiso University Alumni Association (VUAA) Distinguished Student Award recognizes graduating seniors from each of Valpo’s undergraduate colleges who model scholarly achievement, leadership, service, and character. Maiah Deogracias ’24 was selected to represent Christ College. Another pair of CC dual citizens, Grace Aurand ’24 and Cylia Srmek ’24, were selected to represent the College of Arts & Sciences. CC Scholars Simeon Ehm ’24; Isabella Dietrich ’24; and Caleb VanArragon ’23, ’24 M.S. were selected to represent the Colleges of Engineering, Nursing and Health Professions, and the Graduate Studies program, respectively.
The Student Affairs Outstanding Leadership and Service Award recognizes the depth and breadth of the leadership and service provided to the University and/or local community by graduating seniors. The awardees included CC Scholars Martha Aponbiede ’24, Nathan Janke ’24, Nikki Coryell ’24, Shiya Kamra ’24, Micah D’Arcangelo ’24, Allison Plachta ’24, Henry DeBruin ’24, Jillian Seeger ’24, and Maiah Deogracias ’24.
The Calling and Purpose in Society (CAPS) Fellowship Award recognizes students’ commitment to service in community and to understanding their vocation as a way to better the world. The CC awardees include Jasmine Collins ’25, Corey McClure ’25, Katherine Naylor ’25, Aidan Obermueller ’25, Korbin Opfer ’26, Lucia Otten ’25, Gabby Unzicker ’25, Grace Roberts ’25, and Noemi Vela ’25. All fellows will complete reflective internships with service organizations this summer.
Alumni Payton Hodson ’22 and Momin Mirza ’22, ’24 M.A. were selected for the Fulbright U.S. Student Program. Payton will be teaching abroad in Ecuador, while Momin will be teaching in the Canary Islands near Spain.
Maiah Deogracias ’24 has been selected as an Orr Fellow for 2024-2026.
Phi Beta Kappa
As America’s most prestigious academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa has celebrated excellence in the liberal arts & sciences and championed free thought since 1776. CC students Erin Bigler ’25, Maiah Deogracias ’24, Aidan Obermueller ’25, Dani Schulz ’26, and Quinlan Scott ’25 were among the 2024 inductees. Dean Jennifer Prough ’91 was also inducted as an alumna member.
The Valparaiso University Alumni Association (VUAA) Distinguished Student Award recognizes graduating seniors from each of Valpo’s undergraduate colleges who model scholarly achievement, leadership, service, and character. Allie Cyr ’23 was selected to represent Christ College. A trio of CC dual citizens, Lillian Gramza ’23, Kaitlyn Jedrzejowski ’23, and Joy Kassel ’23, were selected to represent the College of Arts & Sciences. Allison Plachta ’24 was selected to represent the College of Business.
The Student Affairs Outstanding Leadership and Service Award recognizes the depth and breadth of the leadership and service provided to the University and/or local community by graduating seniors. CC awardees were Anand Agrawal ’23, Faith Briars ’23, Ryan Dziatkowiec ’23, Skylar Gertonson ’23, Anna Mason ’23, Derrick Minnick ’23, Iso Ogli ’23, Jackie Sepulveda ’23, and Caleb VanArragon ’23.
The Calling and Purpose in Society (CAPS) Fellowship Award recognizes students’ commitment to service in community and to understanding their vocation as a way to better the world. The CC awardees include Grace Aurand ’24, Kylie Bowlds ’23, Maiah Deogracias ’24, Mikayla Flanagan ’24, Adam Monnette ’25, and Cylia Srmek ’24. All fellows will complete reflective internships with service organizations this summer.
Kate Eisenhutt ’22 was named a Fulbright Scholar. Kate will be teaching abroad in Germany.
CC Scholars Elizabeth Park ’23 and Caleb VanArragon ’23 tied for the Laurel Award, which is bestowed upon the graduating senior Valpo scholar-athlete with highest cumulative grade point average.
Phi Beta Kappa
As America’s most prestigious academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa has celebrated excellence in the liberal arts & sciences and championed free thought since 1776. CC students Elias Anderson ’23, James Baur ’22, Allie Cyr ’23, Micah D’Arcangelo ’24, Rachel Dewitt ’23, Ryan Dziatkowiec ’23, Kate Eisenhutt ’22, and Kristen Flaws ’23 were among the 2023 inductees. Mel Piehl ’68 provided the address.
The Student Commencement Speaker for one of the two commencement ceremonies was our own Ben Jacobs ’22 for the College of Arts & Sciences.
The 2022 Institute of Leadership & Service (ILAS) Calling and Character Student Prize was awarded to Nick Skrobul ’22.
The Valparaiso University Alumni Association (VUAA) Distinguished Student Award recognizes graduating seniors from each of Valpo’s undergraduate colleges who model scholarly achievement, leadership, service, and character. Jakob Wiegand ’22 was selected to represent Christ College. Another pair of CC dual citizens, Maddie Henry ’22 and Cassandra McMorrow ’22, were selected to represent the College of Arts & Sciences. Finally, one more dual citizen, Dakota Kampmeier ’22, was selected to represent the College of Nursing and Health Professions.
The Student Affairs Outstanding Leadership and Service Award recognizes the depth and breadth of the leadership and service provided to the University and/or local community by graduating seniors. CC awardees were Ben Jacobs ’22, Dakota Kampmeier ’22, Sarah Messerschmidt ’22, and Dawson Penshorn ’22.
The Calling and Purpose in Society (CAPS) Fellowship Award recognizes students’ commitment to service in community and to understanding their vocation as a way to better the world. The CC awardees include Philip Bolton ’23, Katharina Depenthal ’22, Isabella Dietrich ’24, Katie Endres ’23, Emily Fletcher ’24, Tobias Hill ’23, and Isabelle Kalil ’23. All fellows will complete reflective internships with service organizations this summer.
The Dr. Robert D. Palumbo Award for engineering research and commitment to the arts was given to Chris Ruble ’22.
Eleanor Wegener ’22 was awarded a Fulbright grant for the next academic year and will serve as a English Teaching Assistant to Germany. Ben Jacobs ’22 was named a semi-finalist and alternate for an English Teaching Assistantship to France.
Payton Hodson ’23 has been selected as an Orr Fellow for 2022-2024.
Finally, many CC students were selected for the most respected national honor societies — one technology-focused and the other emphasizing the humanities:
Tau Beta Pi
Founded in 1885, Tau Beta Pi is recognized as the preeminent, national engineering honor society and the only one representing all engineering fields and disciplines. Christ College senior inductees included David Engstrom ’22, Chris Ruble ’22, and Jakob Wiegand ’22.
Phi Beta Kappa
As America’s most prestigious academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa has celebrated excellence in the liberal arts & sciences and championed free thought since 1776. Senior CC inductees were Vicki Arevalo ’22, Maddie Henry ’22, Payton Hodson ’22, Alyssa Jarabek ’22, Zoe Lucas ’22, Julia Marhenke ’22, Sarah Messerschmidt ’22, Eleanor Wegener ’22, and Claire Weseman ’22.
Two of the six Student Commencement Speakers were from Christ College: Jenna Rifai ’21 for the College of Arts & Sciences, and Anna Raimondi ’21 for the College of Engineering.
The Valparaiso University Alumni Association (VUAA) Distinguished Student Award recognizes graduating seniors from each of Valpo’s undergraduate colleges who model scholarly achievement, leadership, and character. Jenna Rifai ’21 and Jenna Johnston ’21 were selected to represent Christ College. Another dual citizen of CC, Jacob Nadolsky ’21, was chosen to represent the College of Arts & Sciences. The board also decided to recognize Jenna Rifai’s nomination from the College of Arts & Sciences with an award, making her the first and only recipient to represent both CC and another college.
The Student Affairs Outstanding Leadership and Service Award recognizes the depth and breadth of the leadership and service provided to the University and/or local community. CC awardees are Brennan Dettmann ’21, Jacob Nadolsky ’21, and Taylor Nesselroad ’21.
The Calling & Character Student Essay Prize, sponsored by the Institute for Leadership and Service, was awarded to Miranda Engholm ’21, with Jacob Nadolsky ’21 earning an honorable mention.
The Calling and Purpose in Society (CAPS) Fellow Award recognizes students’ commitment to service in community and understanding their vocation as a way to better the world. Miranda Engholm ’21 and Jacob Nadolsky ’21 are CC senior awardees, who will do reflective summer internships with service organizations.
Finally, many CC students were selected for the most respected national honor societies — one technology focused and the other humanities focused:
Tau Beta Pi
Founded in 1885, Tau Beta Pi is recognized as the preeminent, national engineering honor society and the only one representing all engineering fields and disciplines. Christ College senior inductees include Anna Raimondi ’21, Lindsey Tryban ’21, and Drew Witte ’21.
Phi Beta Kappa
As America’s most prestigious academic honor society, Phi Beta Kappa has celebrated excellence in the liberal arts & sciences and championed free thought since 1776. Senior CC inductees are Anna Bedalov ’21, Grace Biermann ’21, Sarah Bortz ’21, Noelle Canty ’21, Raquel Chavez ’21, Brennan Dettmann ’21, Miranda Engholm ’21, Jenna Johnston ’21, Monique Le Donne ’21, Maria Marzullo ’21, Jacob Nadolsky ’21, Marie Dix ’20, Emily Friedman ’21, Lexi Gault ’21, and Ella Speckhard ’20.