CNSM Commencement Award Recipients for 2024

Published April 25, 2024

The College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics is proud of each and every one of our graduating students. We know that you are truly the best and the brightest. We are excited to recognize this milestone in your professional development and we cheer you as you begin your next chapter.

The faculty of the College are proud to announce the following commencement award recipients for the graduating class of 2024.

Graduate Dean's List of University Scholars and Artists

The top 1% of CNSM graduate students (up to 4 students) pursuing a graduate degree may be named to the Graduate Dean's List of University Scholars and Artists.

  • Deanna Diaz, M.S. Physics
  • Emily Marquez, M.S. Chemistry
  • Sergio Madrigal Mora, M.S. Biology
  • Megan Ward-Baranyay, M.S. Geology
Image
Deanna Diaz, M.S. Physics
Image
Emily Marquez, M.S. Chemistry
Image
Sergio Madrigal Mora, M.S. Biology
Image
Megan Ward-Baranyay, M.S. Geology

Outstanding College Masters Graduates

Richard D. Green Dean's Graduate Scholar Award

Recognizing that the excellence of CNSM graduate students extends to all CNSM departments, the Richard D. Green Dean Outstanding Graduate Scholar List complements the Graduate Dean's List of University Scholars and Artists so that the two awards together acknowledge one top CNSM graduate student in each department.

  • Will Buckley, M.S. Science Education – Secondary Science Education
Image
Will Buckley, M.S. Science Education – Secondary Science Education

Outstanding Thesis Awards

CNSM recognizes up to six truly outstanding theses, one possible in each department.

  • Emily Spurgeon, M.S. Biology
  • Sargis (Sako) Srapyan, M.S. Biochemistry
  • Megan Ward-Baranyay, M.S. Geology
  • Teresa Le, M.S. Applied Statistics
  • Ryan Mizukami, M.S. Physics
  • Alyssa Bjorkquist, M.S. Science Education – Informal Science Education
Image
Emily Spurgeon, M.S. Biology
Image
Megan Ward-Baranyay, M.S. Geology
Image
Teresa Le, M.S. Applied Statistics
Image
Alyssa Bjorkquist, M.S. Science Education – Informal Science Education

Departmental Honors

With the approval of the dean of the college, departments may elect to award departmental honors to their baccalaureate graduates based on GPA and/or other criteria determined by the department. Departmental honors are usually reserved for students whose outstanding performance is not otherwise recognized by university or college awards.

In recognition of outstanding graduate student achievements, departments may honor graduating Master's degree candidates by special recognition in the annual commencement ceremonies. Departmental Graduate Student Honors are usually reserved for post-baccalaureate students not otherwise recognized by university or college awards. These honors are normally conferred for excellence in and contributions to the discipline, including outstanding seminar papers, artistic exhibitions, special achievements in field work, and service in university committees and functions, as well as participation in scholarly and professional organizations resulting from student research.

Biological Sciences

  • Malak Abdelhamid, B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
  • Zyrille Abela, B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
  • Madeleine Andre, B.S. Biology
  • Nathaniel Barker, B.S. Marine Biology
  • Katherine Forman, B.S. Biology
  • Ana Hernandez King, B.S. Marine Biology
  • Emily Iosyfovych, B.S. Biology
  • Tristan Le, B.S. Microbiology
  • Julia Nguyen, B.S. Biology
  • Vanessa Plong, B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
  • Lauren Priest, B.S. Biology
  • Julia Rizkallah, B.S. Biology - Education
  • Jennifer Song, B.S. Microbiology
  • Valerie Tran, B.S. Biology
  • Andrew Vu, B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
  • Samuel Wu, B.S. Marine Biology
  • Jocelyn Leon, M.S. Microbiology
  • Zach Merson, M.S. Biology
  • Jayde Zimmerman, M.S. Biology
Image
Zyrille Abela, B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
Image
Nathaniel Barker, B.S. Marine Biology
Image
Katherine Forman, B.S. Biology
Image
Tristan Le, B.S. Microbiology
Image
Julia Nguyen, B.S. Biology
Image
Vanessa Plong, B.S. Biology – Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
Image
Lauren Priest, B.S. Biology
Image
Julia Rizkallah, B.S. Biology – Education
Image
Jennifer Song, B.S. Microbiology
Image
Valerie Tran, B.S. Biology
Image
Andrew Vu, B.S. Biology – Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
Image
Samuel Wu, B.S. Marine Biology
Image
Jocelyn Leon, M.S. Microbiology
Image
Zach Merson, M.S. Biology
Image
Jayde Zimmerman, M.S. Biology

Chemistry and Biochemistry

  • Francisco Bedolla, B.A. Biochemistry
  • Ahmad Mardini, B.A. Biochemistry
  • Daichi Nakatini, B.S. Chemistry
  • Martina Pedrina, B.S. Chemistry
  • Paris Phan, B.S. Biochemistry
  • Candy Dang, M.S. Chemistry
  • Magdalene Ebenezer, M.S. Biochemistry
  • Laura Shin, M.S. Biochemistry
Image
Ahmad Mardini, B.A. Biochemistry
Image
Paris Phan, B.S. Biochemistry
Image
Candy Dang, M.S. Chemistry
Image
Magdalene Ebenezer, M.S. Biochemistry
Image
Laura Shin, M.S. Biochemistry

Earth Science

  • Candice DeAnda, B.S. Geology
  • Alex Scandore, B.S. Geology
  • Polito Walters, B.S. Geology
  • Megan Ward-Baranyay, M.S. Geology
Image
Candice DeAnda, B.S. Geology
Image
Alex Scandore, B.S. Geology
Image
Megan Ward-Baranyay, M.S. Geology

Environmental Science and Policy

  • Corbin Chantravat, B.S. Environmental Science and Policy
  • Yvonne Tran, B.S. Environmental Science and Policy
  • Lauren Van, B.S. Environmental Science and Policy
Image
Corbin Chantravat, B.S. Environmental Science and Policy
Image
Yvonne Tran, B.S. Environmental Science and Policy
Image
Lauren Van, B.S. Environmental Science and Policy

Mathematics and Statistics

  • Laura Castillo, B.S. Mathematics - Mathematics Education
  • Elizabeth Forgang, B.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
  • Alice Huynh, B.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
  • Andrew Nguyen, B.S. Mathematics - Mathematics Education
  • Nicholas Shiery, B.S. Applied Statistics
  • Melissa Arazate Zavala, B.S. Mathematics
  • Hani Nguyen, M.S. Applied Statistics
  • Tiffany Joy McGinnis, M.S. Mathematics - Mathematics Education for Secondary School Teachers
  • Luis Moreno Juarez, M.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
  • Kaila Nooryzadeh, M.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
Image
Andrew Nguyen, B.S. Mathematics – Mathematics Education
Image
Alice Huynh, B.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
Image
Nicholas Shiery
Nicholas Shiery, B.S. Applied Statistics
Image
Melissa Arazate Zavala, B.S. Mathematics
Image
Tiffany Joy McGinnis, M.S. Mathematics - Mathematics Education for Secondary School Teachers
Image
Luis Moreno Juarez, M.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
Image
Kaila Nooryzadeh, M.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics

Physics and Astronomy

  • Christian Castruita, B.S. Physics
  • Maria Ghassan Maalouf, B.S. Physics; B.S. Mathematics
  • Matthew James Maldonado, B.S. Physics
  • Derek Wingard, M.S. Physics
  • Armando Reynoso, Jr., M.S. Physics
  • Daniel Torres, M.S. Physics
Image
Maria Ghassan Maalouf, B.S. Physics; B.S. Mathematics
Image
Matthew James Maldonado, B.S. Physics
Image
Derek Wingard, M.S. Physics

Science Education

  • Elizabeth Zavala, M.S. Science Education – TK-12 Science Education

Outstanding College Baccalaureate Graduates

Richard D. Green Dean's Award

This award recognizes CNSM outstanding graduating baccalaureate students, one undergraduate student per department.

  • Sarah Kasem, B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
  • Karama Al-Ubidy, B.S. Biochemistry
  • Lena Wilson, B.S. Geology
  • Maria Ghassan Maalouf, B.S. Mathematics; B.S. Physics
  • Benajamin Taylor Estabrooks, B.S. Physics; B.S. Mathematics
Image
Sarah Kasem, B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
Image
Karama Al-Ubidy, B.S. Biochemistry
Image
Lena Wilson, B.S. Geology
Image
Maria Ghassan Maalouf, B.S. Mathematics; B.S. Physics
Image
Benajamin Taylor Estabrooks, B.S. Physics; B.S. Mathematics

Richard D. Green Dean's Outstanding Student Teacher in Science

  • Quan Nguyen, Single Subject Credential – Chemistry
    B.S. Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles
Image
Quan Nguyen, Single Subject Credential – Chemistry