Sherman, Texas -- Austin College celebrated the accomplishments of its students during the annual Honors Convocation, held in Wynne Chapel, Clifford J. Grum Sanctuary on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
The Honors Convocation highlights the achievements of Austin College students through the presentation of more than 100 endowed scholarships and awards. The students are chosen by faculty to represent academic excellence in departments across the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences. Some scholarships have existed for decades, having been established by donors in memory of faculty, family, or fellow alumni.
Division deans Dr. Robert W. Cape Jr., Michael Higgs, and Dr. Renee A. Countryman, along with departmental chairs, presented the students’ awards.
Following is a list of student award recipients, in alphabetical order, along with their awards:
Yasmin Aguirre received The John Peyton and Mary Louise Shoap Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Modern Languages.
Shambhavvi Anand received Departmental Honors in Biology.
Katie Beckman received The Reverend David A. Sharp Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Music and Religious Life.
Malia Brauer received The Wendy Adams ’91 Memorial Endowed Award for an Outstanding Student in Theatre.
Jetta Broquard received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Breanna Brown received The Hope Ridings Miller Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Humanities, The Catherine Rosalie Fincher Kucera Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in English or History, and The Mary Edna Finch Bryson Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in the Austin Teacher Program.
Leena Brown received The Scott H. Boyd, M.D., Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Psychology and The Charles Curtis McKinney Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Psychology.
Avery Caballero received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Emma Cain received The P. S. Wharton Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry and The Christopher L. Elliott Memorial Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Political Science.
Devon Carrillo received Departmental Honors in Chemistry.
Josie Cernero received The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics.
Art Clayton received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Karsyn Clouse received The Stephen Dudley and Lillie S. Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in the Sciences.
Isaac Cervantes received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Sarah Clingman received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Coral Cohen received The Bernice and Sara Rebecca Honea Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education, The Janet Froese Nelson Teaching Award, and The Temple Foundation Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education.
Ivo Dabelić received The Verta Eckman Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Music.
Sam Davenport-Herbst received The Will Mann Richardson Prize for Outstanding Scholarship and Service.
Emma Davidson received The Frank Mayborn Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Journalism and The Jerry Lincecum and Peggy Redshaw Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in English.
Lauren Davis received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Megan Dibello received The Karen Toda Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Art and Health Sciences.
Caleb Donahue received The Bonnie J. Beardsley Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication and The Margaret Zauk Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Music.
Daisy Donjuan was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Grace Downing received The Minnette C. Shipley Endowed Award for an Outstanding Student in Art.
Sarvani Durbhakula received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Danelle Dwomo-Bediako received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Pedro Echeverria received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance and was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Etni Matias Espinoza received The Jim ’53 and Ruth Hardy ’55 Award for an Outstanding First-Generation Student.
Kien Essey received The Folbre Prize for an Outstanding Student in History.
Thalia Estes received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Dominique Evans was selected to conduct immersive research through the AustralUS Collaborative Program.
Morgan Evans received The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics.
Joey Ford received The John Cameron Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in French.
Blaine Gackle received The Thomas W. Folbre Jr. Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in History.
Jasmine Galdamez was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Merrilee Gallagher received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Bianca Gallegos received Departmental Honors in English.
Greyson Gaworecki was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Emma Gibson was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Ava Gillis received The Grace Dupree Ridings Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Literature.
Jayni Gogineni was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Tanya Gonzalez was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Samantha Graham received The Charles “Bo” Miller Scholar/Athlete Award for an Outstanding Athlete who Excels in Academics.
Jack Graman received the Alpha Chi H. Y. Benedict Fellowship and was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Pragna Gundupalli received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance and The Dr. Arthur Springall Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies.
Cameron Hammond received The Mary Foulks Gourley and Lloyd E. Gourley Prize for an Outstanding Student in Physics.
Danielle Hargrove received The Gerald H. Hinkle Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Philosophy.
Nathan Harris received The Will Mann Richardson Prize for Outstanding Scholarship and Service.
Peter Houchin received The Daniel L. and Martha P. Nuckols Award for an Outstanding Student in Economics.
Jordan Hudgins received The Charles “Bo” Miller Scholar/Athlete Award for an Outstanding Athlete who Excels in Academics.
Jessica Hunt received The Grace Dupree Ridings Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Literature.
Macey Johnson received Departmental Honors in Media Studies.
SJ Johnson received The Clara Zauk Binkley and James Binkley Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Foreign Languages in German.
Maggie Jones received The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education and The Temple Foundation Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education.
Taylor Jones received The Hatton W. Sumners Scholarship for academic excellence, civic responsibility, and potential for leadership.
Haley Kessell received The Anna Laura Page Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Music.
Nayan Kondapalli received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Abby Larkin received The Peggy Redshaw and Jerry Lincecum Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Biology and The Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Erwin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies.
Renata Loyo Perez received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Sophia Lytle received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Maritza Maldonado received The Hatton W. Sumners Scholarship for academic excellence, civic responsibility, and potential for leadership.
Lexi Martin received The M.D. “Bud” Bryant Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Biology and The Anna L. Anderson Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences.
Matti Martinez received The S.D. Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in English.
John-Michael Mata received The Dr. Thomas Baker Memorial Endowed Academic Honors Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education and The Temple Foundation Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education.
Bailey McCreary received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Kassidy McCullough received The Russell V. Rogers Sr. Memorial Scholarship Fund for an Outstanding Student Studying for the Ministry.
Kaden McFarland received The William B. “Bill” Davis Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education and The Temple Foundation Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education.
Emma McLemore received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance, The Christopher L. Elliott Memorial Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Political Science, and was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Cameron McIver received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Avory Miller received The Thomas Edgar and Kathryn Heard Craig Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics.
Layla Mireles received The Lois Jenkins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in English.
Erica Moyo received The Jace Powell ’09 Award for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Law and The Dorothy Abernathy Memorial Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership in the Church.
Hannah Mullens received The Bonnie J. Beardsley Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication.
Isaac Myung received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Jack Nelson received The Sig Lawson Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education.
Taylor Nemeth received The Paul W. Beardsley Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication.
Joseph Nguyen received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Addysen Norbeck received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Amarachi Ohiaeri received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance and The Henry L. and Laura H. Shoap Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences.
Ashley Olmos received The Clara Zauk Binkley and James Binkley Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Foreign Languages in Spanish.
Kayn Onggosanusi received The Lemuel Scarbrough Jr. Summer Research Fellowship in Psychology to support faculty-sponsored research.
Lily Ordońez received The Alfred Lafayette Ridings Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences.
Autumn Outen received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Jeannine Paredes received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Sarae Perez received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership.
Isidore Peterson received The E. Don and Ann R. Williams Endowed Scholarship in Mathematics and Computer Science.
Leyna Pham received The Shellene Kelley Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Computer Science.
Madeline Pieper received The E. H. Black Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education.
Lexi Pietrasik was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Jorge Pineda received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Marcia Pinto received The Brittain Memorial Biology Student Research Award for an Outstanding Student in Biology.
Emma Potts received The Howard McCarley Biology Student Research Award for an Outstanding Student in Biology and The Emily A. Coe Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Exercise and Sport Science or Education.
Ethan Proctor received The Jess Barrett, Romans 5:8 Memorial Award for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics in Honor of Dr. David Griffith.
Stephen Proft received The E. Don and Ann R. Williams Endowed Scholarship in Mathematics and Computer Science.
Sam Rainey received The Wilbur Powell Computer Science Award for an Outstanding Student in Computer Science and The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics.
Erika Ramirez was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Abbey Rennaker was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Katherine Riemer received The George L. Landolt Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry.
Leila Rivera received The Scott H. Boyd, M.D., Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Psychology.
Emily Rodriguez was selected to conduct immersive research through the AustralUS Collaborative Program.
Erica Romm received Departmental Honors in English.
Kate Rossley received Departmental Honors in Neuroscience.
Rachel Sadler received The Virginia Love and Bill Freeman Creativity in Teaching Award.
Maya Salazar received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Noah Samuel was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Matthew Schmidt received The Stephen F. Austin Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in History and The John S. and Rachel Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Religious Studies.
Joshua Servellon received The Bradshaw Frederick Armendt Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry.
Zara Shah received The Hatton W. Sumners Scholarship for academic excellence, civic responsibility, and potential for leadership.
Rania Zoya Shaik received Departmental Honors in Anthropology.
Mattie Shrader received The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Classics and The Stephen F. Austin Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in History.
Laura Simental received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Emma Sinclair was selected to conduct immersive research through the AustralUS Collaborative Program.
Simran Singh received Departmental Honors in Public Health.
Kilroy Short received The William B. Steele, Genevieve Wakefield Steele, and Sue Steele Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Liberal Arts, The Jayne C. Chamberlin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies, and was selected to conduct immersive research through the Asia-Pacific Scholars Program.
Sam Spencer received Departmental Honors in Neuroscience.
Ria Srivastava received The Hanschen Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies.
Lauren Stark received Departmental Honors in History, The Janet Froese Nelson Teaching Award, The Nancy Schenewerk Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education, and The Temple Foundation Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education
Gia Stebley received The Foster Award for an Outstanding Student in Music.
Kat Stein received The Hatton W. Sumners Scholarship for academic excellence, civic responsibility, and potential for leadership.
Catherine Stepaniak received The P. S. Wharton Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry and The Suzanna B. and Joe M. Norwood Endowed Award for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies.
Amelia Stewart received The Laura H. Shoap Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Music.
Kalyn Stinson received The Bill Kugle Memorial Honors Convocation Award for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics.
Jackson Stirnweis received The Lemuel Scarbrough Jr. Summer Research Fellowship in Political Science to support faculty-sponsored research, The Hope Ridings Miller Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in American History, and The Joaquin Johnson Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Law.
Chiara Streiff was selected to conduct immersive research through the AustralUS Collaborative Program.
Lydia Stuart received The Dr. Ruby Nell Ruth Ormon Award for Outstanding Women in Chemistry.
Artie Tarin received The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholarship for commitment to community service in addition to outstanding academic performance.
Chris Teichmann received Departmental Honors in Biology.
Matthew Todd received The Jess Barrett, Romans 5:8 Memorial Award for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics in Honor of Dr. David Griffith.
Aidan Toombs received The Anne Lorraine Dennis Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry and The Dr. Paul Geers Award for Excellence in Pre-Medical Achievement.
Scarlett Ucci received The Hope Ridings Miller Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Journalism.
Dany Woodbury received The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Classics.
Maryam Zeeshan received The William B. Steele, Genevieve Wakefield Steele, and Sue Steele Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Liberal Arts, The John S. and Rachel Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Religious Studies, The Andy and Narcadean Buckner Biology Student Research Award for an Outstanding Student in Biology, and The Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Erwin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies.
Members of the College’s 16 national and international honor societies were also recognized at the Honors Convocation. The College houses chapters of Phi Beta Kappa, national undergraduate honor society; Alpha Chi, national college honor society; Alpha Lambda Delta, national first-year honor society; Alpha Psi Omega, national theatre honor society; Beta Beta Beta, national biological honor society; Chi Alpha Sigma, national college athlete honor society; Delta Phi Alpha, national German honor society; Eta Sigma Phi, honor society for classical studies; Omicron Delta Epsilon, international honor society of economics; Phi Alpha Theta, national history honor society; Pi Delta Phi, national French honor society; Pi Sigma Alpha, national political science honor society; Psi Chi, international honor society in psychology; Sigma Delta Pi, national collegiate Hispanic honor society; Sigma Pi Sigma, physics honor society; Sigma Tau Delta, international English honor society.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, pre-professional foundations, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 45 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow an 11:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.
