SMC Seal for placeholder image

Ryan Sinclair Shepherd

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing: Fiction

SMC Seal for placeholder image

Courtney Metz

Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing: Fiction

Taylor Welsh

Bachelor of Arts: Justice, Community, and Leadership: General & Sociology

Honors

Summa Cum Laude
bell hooks
Jane Addams

Hometown

Walnut Creek, California

Award Bio

Taylor Welsh is a Sociology and Justice, Community, Leadership double major. Taylor views her time at Saint Mary's as a unique opportunity to cultivate her understanding of praxis-based approaches to social change. As a result, she has concentrated primarily on criminal justice reform in her sociological research. At Saint Mary’s, she co-founded the SMC Sustainability Blog as a Sustainability intern, which provided her with the opportunity to attend Al Gore’s Climate Reality Leadership Conference; worked on the 4+1 Master's in Leadership Committee; and was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Delta International Sociology Honor Society. Additionally, Taylor serves as vice president of the Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society and is a Guyette Leadership Fellow. Upon graduating, Taylor hopes to pursue a career in the nonprofit industry to work in animal welfare and species conservation.

My Greatest Supporters

My mom, who has always helped me through the ups and downs in life and has been my role model. My dad, who has inspired me to persevere through hardships. My partner, Izzy Diaz, who supports me in everything I do and always believes in me. My family - Stew, Cole, Kai, Sydney, Abby, and Andrew - who always make me laugh and have a place for me at the table.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

In my first semester at Saint Mary's, I met who is now my partner of three years in my first seminar class. I couldn't be more thankful for being placed in the same class as him and will never forget Professor Jessie Turner's Seminar 01!

My Next Chapter

After graduating, I plan to pursue a career in the non-profit industry. I am passionate about animal welfare, species conservation, and prison/legal reform and hope to focus my work in these interests. For the following year, I have accepted a position with MyEd Prep, a high school preparation and college advising company. In the future, I am interested in pursuing a PhD in Sociology!

Clubs and Activities

Vice President of Phi Kappa Phi Academic Honor Society
Alpha Kappa Delta Sociological Honor Society Inductee
Guyette Leadership Fellow
SMC Sustainability Blog Co-Founder
Climate Reality Leadership Campus Corps Co-Director
Dean's Academic List Member

Favorite Quote

"I want to do something splendid... I don't know what, but I'm on the watch for it, and mean to astonish you all, some day."
— Louisa May Alcott

Sophia Courtemarche

Bachelor of Arts: Theatre Technical and Dance

Honors

Cum Laude
Louis LeFevre

Hometown

Huntington Beach, California

Award Bio

Sophia Courtemarche is a Technical Theatre & Design and Dance split major hailing from Southern California. Sophia has served the SMC community through involvement with New Student Orientation, the Mission and Ministry Center, and Student Involvement and Leadership. She is extremely grateful to the Performing Arts faculty for supporting her over the last four years and honoring her with this award.

My Greatest Supporters

I want to thank my mom for always supporting me through every up and down these four years. Thank you so much to Deanna and Cathy for your support and encouragement in my many major changes and letting me cry in your offices when times got tough. I am so grateful for everything and will miss the SMC community deeply.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

At the Paint the SMC during Weekend of Welcome my first year, this guy ran up to me with a handful of paint and left his hand print on my brand new white St. Mary's baseball cap. I was so annoyed and never knew who the person was. Fast forward to senior year and that guy is now my best friend. Shoutout Geoffrey Ulysses Geissinger!

Clubs and Activities

New Student and Family Programs: Orientation Leader, Weekend of Welcome Leader
Mission and Ministry Center: Lasallian Peer Minister of Faith Sharing Communities
Student Involvement and Leadership: Student Engagement and Activity Leader
Performing Arts Department: Saint Mary's College Dance Company, Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival Irene Ryan Nomination, LeFevre Award

Favorite Quote

"The truth is, we are in uncharted waters."
— Vision, WandaVision

Samantha Newman

Bachelor of Arts: English

Honors

Magna Cum Laude

Hometown

San Clemente, California

Clubs and Activities

Student Coalition Against Abuse & Rape (SCAAR)
The Lounge
riverrun Literary Magazine
PRIDE
River of Words at the Center for Environmental Literacy
The Center for Women & Gender Equity

Benjamin Rings

Bachelor of Science: Business Administration: Business Analytics

Honors

Cum Laude

Hometown

Alameda, California

My Greatest Supporters

My boyfriend Adam, my friends: especially Kyle, Bear, and Matt. My cats: Kanga, Max, and O'Keefe.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

Hiking up to the Tree of Life; KSMC

My Next Chapter

Raising kittens and working in a field I'm passionate about.

Clubs and Activities

KSMC
National Society for Leadership and Success

Favorite Quote

Concentrate on what you want to say to yourself and your friends. Follow your inner moonlight; don't hide the madness. You say what you want to say when you don't care who's listening.
— Allen Ginsberg

Sean Hennigan

Bachelor of Science: Psychology

Minor

Creative Writing

Honors

Summa Cum Laude

Hometown

Oakland, California

My Greatest Supporters

To Many to Count:
My Friends - Across the many schools and programs I’ve attended
My Parents and Sister - Who never stopped supporting or believing in me
My Grandparents - Who I consider more like second parents
My Cousins - All of whom I love like siblings above distant relatives
My Professors and Teachers - Who inspired me to keep going even when I felt I couldn't
Everyone Else - Thank you all!

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

So hard to choose just one, although the night the power went out was quite the adventure! From late night trips for food, desperate to recharge our phones, to venturing into new areas of campus and experiencing new and exciting things with new friends I never expected I would have, it was certainly a night to remember!

My Next Chapter

I look forward to a summer of traveling and reconciling old friendships with those I’ve been separated from as a result of the pandemic. With the eventual plan of returning to academia for graduate school, I will actively look for a job, internship, or volunteer opportunity to occupy my time during my gap year.

Clubs and Activities

D20
Diversity Organization Council
Gael Force
Gael Gaming
Gael Pantry
International Club
Mental Health Club
Phi Kappa Phi
PRIDE
Psi Chi
Psychology Club

Favorite Quote

"''I wish it need not have happened in my time,' said Frodo.
'So do I,' said Gandalf, 'and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.'"
— J.R.R. Tolkien
SMC Seal for placeholder image

Manal Sadek

Bachelor of Science: Biology

Minor

Chemistry

Hometown

Walnut Creek, California

Madeleine Alt

Bachelor of Science: Psychology

Minor

Women's and Gender Studies

Honors

Cum Laude

Hometown

Tracy, California

My Greatest Supporters

The Intercultural Center has been the source of so much love and support throughout my time at SMC. From the professional staff to the friends I made while working there, the IC will always hold a special place in my heart. My professors in the Psych and WaGS departments have also encouraged my academic and personal growth, and I feel grateful to have had so many amazing role models.

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

The Diversity Retreat in Fall '19 is one of my favorite memories because I had the opportunity to gather in community with folks from various spaces on campus and reflect on our goals. By the end of that weekend, I felt supported and inspired to take on the rest of the year.

My Next Chapter

I am looking forward to developing a career in the field of psychology with the hopes of attending grad school to become a counselor someday. Thankfully, I have found a post-grad job that aligns with my goals in psychology and I am eager to start this next chapter of my life.

Favorite Quote

"Do your best with everything: loving and working and seeing the beauty in the world. Because it still exists no matter how grey things can feel. It’s not the whole truth."
— Victoria Legrand

Mayson Lord

Bachelor of Arts: English: Creative Writing

Minor

Women's and Gender Studies

Honors

Cum Laude

Hometown

Orangevale, CA

My Greatest Supporters

My little sister Juliet, my parents, Rosemary Graham & all my other professors, Sharon Sobotta.
Not to mention my girlfriend, my friends, and everyone in PRIDE!

Favorite Saint Mary's Memory

Hanging out and studying in North Claeys' 1st floor lounge with friends, working on essays at 2am at a solitary cubicle by the bookstacks on the library's 2nd floor, napping on the CWGE's couches, late night talks in Dryden and iTea.

My Next Chapter

Hoping to go into publishing, editing, or nonprofit work! I also hope to write a book or make a visual novel, to get my stories out there into the world.

Clubs and Activities

PRIDE
CWGE
The Collegian
riverrun
D20
SCAAR

Favorite Quote

“The important thing is not how long you live, it's what you accomplish with your life. While I live, I want to shine. I want to prove that I exist. If I could do something really important, that would definitely carry on into the future. .... And so, if I were to disappear… I think all that I have accomplished will go on. That is— That would mean— that [my spirit's] living, right?"
— Grovyle, Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Explorers of Sky