Get to Know the 2026 VUAA Distinguished Student Award Recipients!

Since 1986, the Valparaiso University Alumni Association (VUAA) has recognized graduating students with Distinguished Student Awards from each of Valpo's colleges. These students are said to embody the ideals of scholarship, leadership, service, and character. This year's recipients were celebrated with the provost, deans, faculty, and their families at a luncheon ahead of graduation.

2025 Awards

2026 Distinguished Student Award Recipients

Christ College: Roman Van Meter '26

College of Arts and Sciences: Abigail Burton '26, Christina DeGard '26, Claire Riva '26, and Hannah Kostka '27

College of Business: Julia Sullivan '26

College of Engineering: Anthony Martin '26

College of Nursing and Health Professionals: Ariel Farrar '26 and Kailyn Benoit '26

Graduate Studies: Adam Reinsma '26 M.S.

Past Distinguished Student Award Recipients

The annual Valparaiso University Alumni Association recognizes graduating students of distinction from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, Engineering, and Nursing and Health Professions; Christ College — The Honors College; the Law School; and graduate studies and continuing education. These students embody ideals of scholarship, leadership, service, and character.

2025-2020 Recipients

2025 – Kudakwashe Chikonyora
2025 – Noah Durlam
2025 – Anna Fay
2025 – Sophie Paige Grube
2025 – Mark A. LaMotte
2025 – Aidan Obermueller
2025 – Noemi Araceli Vela
2025 – Samantha Warren
2025 – Hamza Zia

2024 – Grace Aurand
2024 – Owen Bockman
2024 – Maiah Deogracias
2024 – Isabella Dietrich
2024 – Simeon Ehm
2024 – Sarah Esterby
2024 – Katie Masano Hill
2024 – Meshach Melton
2024 – Cylia Srmek
2024 – Caleb VanArragon

2023 – Grace Edwards
2023 – Kaitlyn Jedrzejowski
2023 – Joy Antoinette Kassel
2023 – Lillian Gramza
2023 – Allison Plachta
2023 – Allison Cyr
2023 – Hannah Nelson
2023 – Olivia Czerwonka

2022 – Eric Burkholder
2022 – Maddie Henry
2022 – Cassandra McMorrow
2022 – Ashley Oyer
2022 – Mark Lorenz
2022 – Jakob C. Wiegand
2022 – Alex Hurtig
2022 – Dakota Kampmeier

2021 – Matthew Aberman
2021 – Jacob Nadolsky
2021 – Brayden Pollvogt
2021 – Jenna Rifai
2021 – Maggie Schaller
2021 – Eric Blassick
2021 – Lillia Pogue
2021 – Jenna Johnston
2021 – Ehren Braun

2020 – Carly Armor
2020 – Annika Brown
2020 – Samantha Burgett
2020 – Zachary Felty
2020 – Adali Johnson
2020 – Eseosasere Okundaye
2020 – Jacob Roth
2020 – Carmen Vincent
2020 – Lydia DeMoss
2020 – Michael Donovan
2020 – Elizabeth Brewer
2020 – Ty Snarr
2020 – Katherine Germann
2020 – Joshua Sievert
2020 – Misty Hatch
2020 – Kaitlyn Murphy
2020 – Aaron Robbins

2019-2010 Recipients

2019 – Nicholas Cesario
2019 – Lily Kapitan
2019 – Jonah Koetke
2019 – Elisabeth Noland
2019 – Katherine Carlson
2019 – Casey Main
2019 – Rachel Dodson
2019 – Janelle Bouman
2019 – Alesha McClanahan
2019 – Kyle Farris

2018 – Joshua Felty
2018 – Amalia Gemelas
2018 – Megan Gilliam
2018 – Kendall Kartaly
2018 – Hannah Koby
2018 – Aaron Mehner
2018 – Maia Moore
2018 – Emily Owens
2018 – Grace Rogers
2018 – Stephen Sekoulopoulos
2018 – Hussein Shahine
2018 – Li Shen
2018 – Krista Stribling

2017 – Tina Allen-Abulhassan
2017 – Yamen Atassi
2017 – Adam Bruno
2017 – Jenna Fleming
2017 – Jess Hunter-Bowman
2017 – Rebekah Koehn
2017 – Lauren Marinko
2017 – Adilene Peynado
2017 – Kathleen Prahlow
2017 – Eric Smith

2016 – Christopher M. Barnes
2016 – Cogan Blackmon
2016 – Bryn Cooley
2016 – Angel Flores
2016 – Madalyn Harvey
2016 – Emily Knippenberg
2016 – Emily Mussio
2016 – Caryn Schmidt
2016 – Justin Szaday
2016 – Bethany Wiersma

2015 – Isaac Carr
2015 – Christina Crawley
2015 – Carmyn Hamblen
2015 – Hayden Hast
2015 – Kelsey Larson
2015 – Rylie Pearson
2015 – Julia Rogers
2015 – Caleb Rollins
2015 – Thomas Serratore
2015 – Paul Yox

2014 – Aaron Taylor Baldwin
2014 – Bailey Bottorff
2014 – Lakshmi Jayanthi
2014 – Kelsey Loden
2014 – Gregory Maher
2014 – Megan Marimen
2014 – Zach Merrill
2014 – James Repp
2014 – Katelyn Stermer
2014 – Amanda Werling

2013 – Kaitlin Forke
2013 – Jesse Fosheim
2013 – Halina Hopkins
2013 – Joshua Kalita
2013 – Benjamin Macy
2013 – Claire Mueller
2013 – Bryan Rogers
2013 – Andrew Stem
2013 – Anna Wiersma
2013 – Catherine Wingstrom
2013 – Natalie Zibolski

2012 – Laura Ehlen
2012 – Katie Genereux
2012 – Ashley Gilbert
2012 – Jacob Just
2012 – Holly Peterson
2012 – Aman Wolde
2012 – Stephanie York
2012 – Chelsea Zemen
2012 – Kyle Zobeck
2012 – Diane Zuber
2012 – Anne Zygadlo

2011 – Katie Davis
2011 – Emily German
2011 – Krysta Gumbiner
2011 – Patricia Korzeniewski
2011 – Stephen Odegard
2011 – Timothy Olson
2011 – Kenneth Perkins
2011 – Amelia Peterson
2011 – Anna Urish
2011 – Emily Von Qualen
2011 – Mandy Waszak

2010 – Randol Alexander
2010 – Dane Butts
2010 – Hannah Johnson
2010 – Zachary King
2010 – Jaclyn Kondratko
2010 – Kathryn McEnery
2010 – Jonathan Rudy
2010 – Adam Rundh
2010 – Kathryn Schmidt
2010 – Julie Wingstrom

2009-2000 Recipients

2009 – Teri Borys
2009 – Elizabeth Coyne
2009 – Lauren DeGarmo
2009 – Sally Forsythe
2009 – Lindsay Jarosak
2009 – Jenna Johnson
2009 – Bonnie Keane
2009 – Paul Kulwinski
2009 – Rebecca Lohrmann
2009 – Robert Schroeder

2008 – Mahdi Abulhasana
2008 – Jessica Doerrfeld
2008 – Megan Duckworth
2008 – Rickey Glover
2008 – Kendre Israel
2008 – Robert Pampel
2008 – Jessica Recchia
2008 – Noah Schroeder
2008 – Angeles Velasco-Carmona
2008 – Joshua Wood

2007 – Sarah Benczik
2007 – Katie Benjamin
2007 – Jennifer Butz
2007 – Mary Caskey
2007 – Sarah Cottrell
2007 – Joel Dreessen
2007 – Kevin Ford
2007 – Benjamin Krause
2007 – Ross Moret
2007 – Joel Troxel

2006 – Peter Brock
2006 – Helen Huggins
2006 – Kirsten Huth
2006 – Josephine Jent
2006 – Adam King
2006 – Julie Nickels
2006 – Katherine Peters
2006 – Anna Schumaker
2006 – Amy Stark
2006 – David Wheeler

2005 – Julie M. Arnold
2005 – Lindy B. Arwood
2005 – Jeffrey D. Biebighauser
2005 – Robert S. Copouls
2005 – Eleanor R. Goetsch
2005 – Alisha E. Hoffman
2005 – Philip J. McBride
2005 – Heidi L. Nathan
2005 – Kelly R. Parrish
2005 – Elizabeth L. Schroeder

2004 – Samantha Ahuja
2004 – Elizabeth Baden
2004 – Cathy DeVito
2004 – Elizabeth Galik (Wade)
2004 – Dana Hazen
2004 – Peter Hinck
2004 – Peter Hinck
2004 – Dustin Marciniak
2004 – Sage Miodov
2004 – Michael Sjoding

2003 – Michael Goede
2003 – Jill Harkness
2003 – Christina Heisser
2003 – Jessica N. Kerber
2003 – Laura K. Kruse
2003 – Kathryn J. Lanius
2003 – Benjamin Leese
2003 – Stephanie M. Loomis
2003 – Maren Van Otterloo
2003 – Tricia Armstrong White

2002 – Melissa M. Bailey
2002 – Stephanie M. Dotson
2002 – Matthew A. Landmeier
2002 – Liv B. Larson
2002 – Maryn M. P. Olson
2002 – Anita S. Patel
2002 – Julie E. Steinbrenner
2002 – Michael D. Story
2002 – Paul R. Wendt
2002 – Ryan A. Wolf

2001 – Heidi M. Burrell
2001 – Vanessa K. Burrows
2001 – Branka Kojic
2001 – Lorie K. Kolak
2001 – Justin M. Martell
2001 – Cassie J. Ricard
2001 – Robert C. Saler
2001 – Russ S. Schumacher
2001 – Paul M. Valenti
2001 – Joseph L. Wurzburger

2000 – Christine R. Cavalier
2000 – Jeremy S. Duff
2000 – Michael J. Jasaitis
2000 – Erica E. Kaufman
2000 – Mark E. Kerins
2000 – Susan E. Nichols
2000 – Matthew J. Provenzano
2000 – Peggy Rose Filipowicz
2000 – Jaime E. Shackel
2000 – Andrew J. Swiston

1999-1990 Recipients

1999 – Alison L. Eicher
1999 – Tara N. Frederich
1999 – Aaron A. Gin
1999 – Sarah E. Hamlin
1999 – Beth A. Keller
1999 – Paul C. Koch
1999 – Debbie M. Krutsinger
1999 – Andrew L. Makowski
1999 – Kerrie L. Morgan

1998 – David G. Adams
1998 – Lisa M. Boehm
1998 – Matthew M. Duffus
1998 – Bradley R. Jessen
1998 – Jeremy M. Linton
1998 – Martin N. Obermueller
1998 – Meghan Z. Podliska
1998 – Amanda W. Saler
1998 – Bethann M. Stuckey

1997 – Jonathan A. DeMik
1997 – Katherine A. Dueringer
1997 – Michelle L. Manke
1997 – Lorie Morgan
1997 – Sangeetha A. Rayapati
1997 – Jennifer B. Sachtleben
1997 – Joel M. Scheiwe
1997 – Larry G. Swets Jr.
1997 – Elizabeth A. Tatro

1996 – Rita D. Buitendorp
1996 – Chrysanthemum M.L. Davis
1996 – Kristen K. Dietrich
1996 – Steve K. Gjerde
1996 – Christopher M. Lehmann
1996 – Rebecca S. Menis
1996 – Lisa M. Miller
1996 – Tiffany L. Oelschlaeger
1996 – Albert D. Pionke
1996 – Jahna A. Pollock
1996 – Chad A. Schiefelbein
1996 – Travis J. Scholl
1996 – Jason J. Winkler

1996 – Rita D. Buitendorp
1996 – Chrysanthemum M.L. Davis
1996 – Kristen K. Dietrich
1996 – Steve K. Gjerde
1996 – Christopher M. Lehmann
1996 – Rebecca S. Menis
1996 – Lisa M. Miller
1996 – Tiffany L. Oelschlaeger
1996 – Albert D. Pionke
1996 – Jahna A. Pollock
1996 – Chad A. Schiefelbein
1996 – Travis J. Scholl
1996 – Jason J. Winkler

1994 – Debra A. Billings
1994 – Paul F. Cook
1994 – Alycia J. Erickson
1994 – Krista E. Fielman
1994 – David J. Leckie
1994 – Karla S. Lemmon
1994 – Jill J. Norton
1994 – Kenneth J. Oakes
1994 – Marc A. Riedl
1994 – Kristin A. Schwain

1992 – Sarah Daubendiek
1992 – Christine Drager
1992 – Victoria Flood
1992 – Gina Folta
1992 – Martin Hunter
1992 – Paul E. Krause
1992 – Amy Murphy
1992 – Julie Potts
1992 – Lois A. Prahlow
1992 – Jeanne C. Zuhn

1991 – Kimberly Carlton
1991 – Anna–Lisa Erickson
1991 – Matthew Flandermeyer
1991 – Marilyn Holscher
1991 – Gail Kanning
1991 – Stephanie A. Kapfer
1991 – Karen Leonard
1991 – Gregory Mohr
1991 – Thomas B. Nutter
1991 – Elaine Smirga

1990 – David G. Clark
1990 – Carol B. Jud
1990 – Kristi J. Laninga
1990 – Loralie Levenhagen
1990 – Jewel M. Market
1990 – Kari L. Rankin
1990 – Jeanette M. Rueter
1990 – Jeff J. Schilling
1990 – Douglas G. Schmucker

1989-1986 Recipients

1989 – Gwen M. Buerkle
1989 – Michael E. Deisher
1989 – Robert A. Fruend
1989 – Judith M. Gudeman
1989 – Kari M. Hanson
1989 – Paul C. Kapfer
1989 – Jeanine D. Notar
1989 – Deanine M. Paulson
1989 – Jayme S. Walker

1988 – Jean L. Doyle
1988 – Timothy H. Grafe
1988 – Jilleen A. Johnson
1988 – Michelle M. Kovac
1988 – Cynthia A. Oppliger
1988 – Deborah L. Petersen
1988 – Anne C. Press
1988 – William J. Rohde
1988 – Judith M. Swanson
1988 – Sarah R. Unger

1987 – Armand H. Antommaria
1987 – Dianne Davis
1987 – J. Paul J. Fackler Jr.
1987 – Julie Martin
1987 – Margaret Murphy
1987 – Ann Marie Priebe
1987 – Sandra J. Rosenthal
1987 – Lori Sundquist
1987 – Andrea Wagonblast
1987 – Richard F. Wolf Jr.

1986 – Steven J. Charvat
1986 – Eric A. Felton
1986 – Paul B. Haecker
1986 – Heidi M. Helms
1986 – Dawn E. Mosher
1986 – Laura Mutscher
1986 – Brian L. Piazza
1986 – Joseph A. Prahlow
1986 – Rebcca L. Vossler
1986 – Kimberly A. Walesh
1986 – Linda S. Whitton

Past Distinguished Student Award, Adult Scholars

The VUAA has awarded one Distinguished Student Award to an adult scholar each year. This award recognizes a nontraditional student (at least 25 years of age) earning his or her undergraduate degree from any of the Colleges.

2007 – Sandra Carpenter '07
2005 – Carol A. Maicher '04
2003 – Samantha Rudzinski '03 Hayes
2002 – Marcia M. Lenburg-Collier '02 Hobart
2001 – Susan L. Doria '00, '05 M.A.
2000 – Amber L. Deem '00 Mullikin
1999 – John D. Long '76