CNSM Commencement Award Recipients for 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
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
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
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
- 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
- Anjali Johnson, B.S. Marine Biology
- Tristan Le, B.S. Microbiology
- Julia Nguyen, B.S. Biology
- Vanessa Plong, B.S. Biology - Molecular Cell Biology and Physiology
- Julia Rizkallah, B.S. Biology - Education
- Lauren Priest, B.S. Biology
- 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
Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Francisco Bedolla, B.A. Biochemistry
- Ahmad Mardini, B.A. Biochemistry
- Daichi Nakatini, B.S. Chemistry
- Marina Pedrina, B.S. Chemistry
- Paris Phan, B.S. Biochemistry
- Candy Dang, M.S. Chemistry
- Magdalene Ebenezer, M.S. Biochemistry
- Laura Shin, M.S. Biochemistry
Earth Science
- Alex Scandore, B.S. Geology
- Candice DeAnda, B.S. Geology
- Polito Walters, B.S. Geology
- 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
Mathematics and Statistics
- Laura Castillo, B.S. Mathematics - Mathematics Education
- Elizabeth Forgang, B.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
- Nicholas Shiery, B.S. Applied Statistics
- Andrew Nguyen, B.S. Mathematics - Mathematics Education
- Alice Huynh, B.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
- Melissa Arazate Zavala, B.S. Mathematics
- Tiffany Joy McGinnis, M.S. Mathematics - Mathematics Education for Secondary School Teachers
- Erick Hageo Castillo, M.S. Applied Statistics
- Luis Moreno Juarez, M.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
- Kaila Nooryzadeh, M.S. Mathematics - Applied Mathematics
- Safwat Rahman, 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
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
Richard D. Green Dean's Outstanding Student Teacher in Science
- Quan Nguyen, Single Subject Credential – Chemistry
B.S. Biochemistry, University of California, Los Angeles
