As the end of the academic year approaches, several Seattle University academic organizations are announcing scholarship recipients and award winners, and Redhawk student-athletes have been earning their share of the honors.
Graduating senior Jacqui Wallis will see her trophy case fill quickly, as she will receive the John S. Ju Award, presented annually to a graduating science student who exhibits a profound joy and wonder at new ideas, a curiosity to pursue the unknown, and an ability to integrate and apply knowledge, as well as the Hickey Award from the College of Arts and Sciences and the Reichmann Award for having the highest GPA among philosophy majors.
Stephanie Verdoia, Wallis’s four-year teammate on the women’s soccer squad, will graduate with the highest GPA among political science majors. She will receive the Kennedy Award, named in honor of President John F. Kennedy, from the political science department.
Six student-athletes will receive the Thomas J. Bannan Scholarship for the 2015-16 year, as they have a minimum GPA of 3.5, have declared a major within the College of Science and Engineering, and a demonstrated commitment to serve both the University and the greater community. Larisa Brown (electrical and computer engineering), Kelsey Hopkins (civil and environmental engineering), Kristen James (biochemistry), Nathan McLaughlin (general science), Kirstin Schauble (electrical and computer engineering), and Abigail Wells (biology) were all recognized by the selection committee to receive the scholarship for next year.
Another prestigious scholarship handed out by Seattle University is the Naef Scholarship, given to selected juniors and seniors with at least a 3.4 GPA, demonstrated leadership potential, and the commitment to serve the University and wider community. Jennifer Cruz of the women’s rowing team and Elena Smith of the cross country and track and field teams are among the recipients of the Naef Scholarship for the 2015-16 academic year.
Cruz was also named an Ignatian Leader for 2015-16, as was Baxter Arguinchona of the cross country and track and field team. Sophie Curatilo received the Chief of Naval Operations Distinguished Graduate Award as well as the Nursing Leadership Award within her time serving in the Navy ROTC at the University of Washington.
For the second straight year, Gus Orlando of the men’s tennis team has received a major award from the Albers School of Business and Economics, as he was named the Junior of the Year. Orlando also earned induction into Beta Gamma Sigma, the academic honor society for business majors that includes the top 10 percent of junior and seniors in the Albers School, as did Kiana Kraft, Kyle Silva, and Kristin Stoffel.
The academic year will conclude this weekend with several events, starting Saturday, June 13, with the President’s Commencement Brunch and the Baccalaureate Mass, followed by the Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony Sunday morning, June 14, and the Graduate Commencement Ceremony Sunday afternoon, both taking place at KeyArena at Seattle Center.