Undergraduate Awards

Christopher Harris

Valedictorian

Awarded to the student having the highest academic achievements of the graduating class.

Kathryn Magee

De La Salle

Named in honor of Saint John Baptist de La Salle, the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools and patron saint of teachers. Awarded in the memory of J.A. Graves of the Class of 1872 to the graduating senior with the highest record for scholarship and general excellence.

Malia Allison

James L. Hagerty

Named in honor of the illustrious professor of Philosophy at Saint Mary’s College for 37 years and alumnus of the Class of 1919. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the School of Liberal Arts.

Kiera Armintrout

Brother U. Jerome Griffin

Named in honor of the revered Brother Jerome Griffin, who was a professor of Economics and dean of the School of Economics and Business Administration at Saint Mary’s College for 14 years. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the School of Economics and Business Administration.

Mae-Breanna Salinas

Arthur S. Campbell

Named in honor of the notable professor of Biology who taught at Saint Mary’s College from 1926 to 1961. Awarded to the graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the School of Science.

Annaliese Martinez

George Robert Milliken

Named by William J. Milliken in memory of his brother. Recognizes a graduating senior who has exemplified the College’s values through action. The award honors a student who has epitomized “the best of leadership” within our community and whose influence, ideals, and involvement will leave a lasting, positive impression on the College.

Abigayle Mitchell

George R. McKeon

This award is named in memory of the noted Bay Area developer and long time donor of the College and Gael Athletics. George R. McKeon supported the student-athlete experience both on and off the field, helping the Gaels succeed as competitors in the classroom and in their sport. Awarded to one male and one female student distinguished both as an outstanding athlete and scholar.

Ian Robertson

Brother Mel Anderson, FSC

Named in honor of the 26th and longest-serving president of Saint Mary’s College. Awarded to a graduating senior for outstanding commitment to fostering Lasallian leadership and ministry in the Saint Mary’s College community.

Jacob Santini

George R. McKeon

This award is named in memory of the noted Bay Area developer and long time donor of the College and Gael Athletics. George R. McKeon supported the student-athlete experience both on and off the field, helping the Gaels succeed as competitors in the classroom and in their sport. Awarded to one male and one female student distinguished both as an outstanding athlete and scholar.

Maile Shelley

Sister Clare Wagstaff, CHS, Ph.D., AFSC Ministry

Named in honor of a Sister (and proud affiliated member of the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools) who provided an unforgettable ministry of welcome, presence, encouragement, and inclusion at Saint Marys College for almost 25 years. This award is presented to a graduating senior for outstanding commitment to the Lasallian tenet to build an inclusive community and "touching the hearts of those you serve" at Saint Mary's College.

Malia Allison

Professor Ben Frankel

Named in honor of Ben Frankel, who taught History at Saint Mary’s College for 50 years and inspired students to stretch their minds and inhabit the past as they prepare to transform the future. Awarded to a graduating senior with the highest scholastic record in the History major.

Emily Cai

Henry Rand Hatfield

Named for the noted humanist, scholar, and Accounting educator, also the first full-time Accounting professor in the United States. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an Accounting major.

Niel Caldwell

Mens Sana In Corpore Sano

Named to honor Juvenal’s Latin phrase that captures the essence of a modern liberal arts education. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Kinesiology major.

Alyx Carpenter

Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz

Named for the 17th century poet, philosopher, and defender of women’s right to education. Awarded to the graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in Women’s and Gender Studies.

Isabel Cohen

Julie A. Pryde

Named in honor of this member of the class of 1987 who was most instrumental in establishing the Allied Health Science Program at Saint Mary’s College. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Health Sciences major.

Sophia Courtemarche

Louis LeFevre

Named in honor of this alumnus of the class of 1913, professor and chairman of the Department of History at Saint Mary’s College for 35 years. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Performing Arts major.

Trent Greenman

Brother Alfred Brousseau

Named in honor of the renowned professor of Mathematics and Physics who taught at Saint Mary’s from 1930 to 1941 and 1959 to 1978, whose special passions included the study of Fibonacci numbers and California wildflowers. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Mathematics & Computer Science major.

Christopher Harris

Thurgood Marshall

Named for the African American Supreme Court justice who courageously employed the law to promote racial and social equality. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Politics major.

Katherine Kahler

Adam Smith

Named in memory of the 18th century Scottish philosopher and economist. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an Economics major.

Rylee Lautrup

Carlos Freitas

Named in honor of this alumnus of the class of 1925, a former regent of the College and noted Bay Area jurist. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Biology major.

Cesar Ledesma

Professor Hisham Ahmed Award

Named in honor of Professor Hisham Ahmed’s courageous life and outstanding career. The award goes to a Politics major who has obtained a Saint Mary’s Bachelor of Arts degree while demonstrating academic achievement and success in overcoming adversity. This award is given in recognition and celebration of the special courage in adversity that characterizes the life and work of our colleague and friend Hisham Ahmed.

Kathryn Magee

Galileo Galilei

Named for the scholar whose research revolutionized the way human beings see their place in the cosmos. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Physics and Astronomy major.

Annaliese Martinez

Brother Leo Meehan, FSC

Named in honor of this famous professor of English, poet, writer, and orator who taught at Saint Mary’s College from 1908 to 1941. Awarded to the graduating seniors with outstanding scholastic records as English majors.

Katelyn McCarthy

St. John XIII Award

Named for the beloved 20th century Pope, most noted for convening the Second Vatican Council, the most historic event in the Church in modern times. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Theology and Religious Studies major.

Alondra Mendoza

Earl W. Smith

Named in honor of a famous Bay Area contractor, former regent of the College, and founder of the Earl W. Smith Endowed Chair in Business Administration. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Business Administration major.

Abigayle Mitchell

Dag Hammarskjold

Named for the Swedish diplomat who was Secretary-General of the United Nations from 1953 to 1961 and 1961 Nobel Peace Prize Laureate. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an International Area Studies major.

Amanda Moser

Brother Kyran Aviani, FSC

Named in honor of the beloved Brother Kyran, noted artist and professor of art at Saint Mary’s College from 1954 to1968. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an art/art history major.

Nikki Phan

Margaret Mead

Named after the noted cultural anthropologist and social activist credited with bringing anthropological insights on issues such as women’s rights, race relations, and world hunger to the American public. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as an Anthropology major.

Alyssa Plummer

Linus Pauling Award

Named in honor of one of the most influential scientists of the 20th century and recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry and Peace. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Biochemistry major.

Julia Racioppo

Byron Bryant

Named in memory of a longstanding professor of English and founder of the Department of Communication who taught at Saint Mary’s College from 1955 to 1984. Awarded to the graduating seniors with outstanding scholastic records as Communication majors.

Mae-Breanna Salinas

Frederick Whelan

Named in memory of the late Frederick Whelan, professor and chairman of the Department of Psychology at Saint Mary’s College for 14 years. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Psychology major.

Galilea Silva

Dante

Named for the renowned 13th century Italian statesman and poet, author of The Divine Comedy, the greatest work of poetic literature in the Western world. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a World Languages and Cultures major.

Sin Fronteras

Named for the vision of a world without borders that promotes recognition of and respect for interconnected peoples and cultures who stand in solidarity, with the belief that another world is possible. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in Ethnic Studies.

Emmanuel Simon

Saint Albertus Magnus

Named for the extraordinary 13th century scientist, philosopher, theologian, and doctor of the Church. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Philosophy major.

Taylor Welsh

bell hooks

Named for the inspirational writer, feminist scholar, and public intellectual who advocates for social justice. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record as a Justice, Community, and Leadership major.

Jane Addams

Named for the sociologist and social activist who co-founded the Hull House and was the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, in 1931. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding record as a Sociology major.

Veronika Worth

Saint Thomas Aquinas

Named for the celebrated 13th century philosopher, theologian, and doctor of the Church. Awarded to a graduating senior with an outstanding scholastic record in the Integral Program.