Nearly 80 students were honored for their leadership, scholarship and service at the annual College of Liberal Arts Awards Ceremony, held Thursday, April 24, in the Concert Hall at the Dorothy Young Center for the Arts.
Hosted by Dean Ryan Hinrichs, the ceremony recognized students across a wide range of academic disciplines, from studio art and business to neuroscience and political science.
Students were nominated by Drew faculty and staff who have supported them throughout their academic journeys.
Although President Hilary Link was scheduled to attend the ceremony, she was unable to be present due to a last-minute family emergency. Provost Jessica Lakin addressed the crowd in her place, congratulating students on their accomplishments and encouraging them to continue making an impact beyond Drew.
Associate Deans Jinee Lokaneeta and Jill Cermele were also present at the ceremony, supporting Hinrichs and the faculty members who presented awards to students.
Awards were presented across departments including the arts, sciences, humanities, social sciences and business. Family members were invited to attend the event to celebrate alongside students.
Among the honorees were several students who were recognized with multiple awards for their outstanding contributions across academic and leadership categories.
Brendan Mullany (’25) received both the Winifred Baldwin Award and the Novartis Award in Computer Science.
Jared Simonetti (’25) was recognized with the Novartis Award in Computer Science and the Jane Brown and Albert Norton Wettstein Award.
Jen Arias (’25) received the Winifred Baldwin Award and the James A. McClintock Award for Excellence in Psychology – Science of Psychology.
Cameryn Brown (’25) earned both the Ewing Distinguished Political Science Major Award and the Hardin Award.
Grace Ballard (’25) received the President’s Award in Theatre Arts and the Chauncey Lester and Elsie Stewart Benedict Memorial Award.
Sudenaz Yilmaz (’25) was honored with both the Stanley Prescott Hooper Memorial Award in Art History and the Jane Brown and Albert Norton Wettstein Award.
Alexa Kerr (’25) and Seth Okumura (’25) each received the Albert Norton Wettstein Award and the Robert Fisher Oxnam Ensemble Studio Theatre Award in Playwriting.
Several members of The Drew Acorn’s editorial team were also among this year’s award recipients.
Current editor-in-chief Sierra Walker (’25) received the Winifred Baldwin Award, while former editor-in-chief Nicole Sydor (C’24, G’26) earned both the Slipper-McClintock Award and the John G. Berg Jr. Memorial Award.
“It was truly a privilege to be recognized for my past achievements and the promise my future holds,” said Walker. “It was even more special that I also got to watch my friends and other members of the Acorn win other awards for all their hard work.”
Current assistant opinions editor Benjamin Castro (’25) received the Transfer Student Senior Impact Award.
Jocelyn Freeman (’25) and Dominique Cobb (’25), current writers for The Acorn, were recognized with the Leavell-Oberg Award in History and the Marketing Award, respectively.
“It was an honor to receive such an award because I didn’t start out as a Drew student,” said Cobb. “It’s really nice to be recognized for the time and effort that I’ve put in, especially within my field of study.”
Dean Hinrichs concluded the ceremony by thanking Lokaneeta, Cermele, Katey DePinto of Launch, the Concert Hall staff and the Dean’s Office staff—Michele Comandini, Anne Callaghan and Katie Murray—for their behind-the-scenes efforts in coordinating the event.
Additionally, Hinrichs invited students, families, faculty and staff to the reception which followed in the rotunda.
The ceremony served as a reminder that success is not just about academics, but also about leadership, perseverance and impact within the community. Congratulations to all the honorees!
Benjamin Castro is a senior double majoring in business and marketing.
