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They are scholars, community leaders, advocates and mentors. They have published books, led campus initiatives, conducted research, mentored high school students, and persevered through challenges. On May 3, Mount Saint Mary’s University honored these remarkable baccalaureate students at Mary’s Day 2025 — an annual tradition that celebrates those who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, leadership and service during their time at the Mount.

This year’s ceremony recognized 97 students with departmental awards, Honors Program distinctions and the University’s highest accolades: the Presidential Awards. From policy internships and creative research to campus leadership and community engagement, the honorees have made lasting contributions to the Mount — and are poised to make an impact beyond it.

Among those honored was Shirley Espinoza ’25, recipient of the President’s Award, the Outstanding Honors Scholar and the Outstanding Scholar in Social Work awards. Earlier this year, she was also named Mount Saint Mary’s 2025 Unstoppable Scholar. As a Community Student Ambassador manager, Shirley supported high school students while excelling in her honors coursework, conducting research and participating in statewide advocacy. Recently accepted into the USC Master of Social Work program, Shirley views these recognitions as milestones in her journey of resilience and growth.

“These awards are a reminder that I can achieve anything, even when faced with adversity,” she shared. “They reflect my growth as a student, leader and individual — and show others that success is possible, even in uncertain times,” said Shirley.

Biochemistry major Bailee Gil ’25, who received multiple awards in the sciences, shared that being honored was “extremely motivating.” “As a STEM student, your academic and personal life start to blend after a certain point,” she said. “To have my hard work recognized by the Mount — and to share that moment with my family — was incredibly meaningful.”

The ceremony also highlighted the support systems that made success possible. Many students named mentors and faculty who helped them find their voice and pursue new opportunities. “The Mount has graciously opened several doors of opportunity for me — whether it was joining a research lab, gaining tutoring experience, or planning my future. The Mount gave me options and resources that I may not have gotten at a different university,” said Bailee, who plans to pursue a PhD and a career in science.

Another honoree, Keithleen J. Fernandez ’25, received both the Le Puy and Premio Cervantes Awards in recognition of her academic excellence, leadership and resilience. A transfer student and student parent with a 4.0 GPA, she has served as a Student Government Senator and President of the ADthenians club, leading the team to a standout performance at a national advertising competition. Keithleen will continue her academic journey this fall as she begins the MBA program at Cornell University’s SC Johnson College of Business. “These accomplishments are a testament to the incredible guidance I have received,” she said. “The Mount helped me find the confidence to lead with purpose.”

Mary’s Day was not only a celebration of student achievement, but also of the community that helps make it possible — the faculty, mentors, peers and family members who inspire and uplift.

Congratulations to all the Mary’s Day 2025 award winners recognized below.

Presidential Awards

President’s Award: 

This award goes to a student who is involved in the total university environment and has benefited or been changed by the university experience.  Breadth of interests, leadership growth, academic integrity, commitment to learning, and a commitment to use their knowledge to better their community and the world, are included in the criteria.  Additionally, recipients need to be known for generosity of spirit and personal warmth.

• Shirley Espinoza

Le Puy Award

Named for Le Puy, France, the place of origin of our founders, the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, this award recognizes a student who transferred to Mount Saint Mary’s University and has had a positive impact on the college through activities on and off campus.

• Keithleen J. Fernandez

 Sister Rebecca Doan award:

This honor, named for the seventh President of Mount Saint Mary’s, is awarded to the outstanding baccalaureate student who began her academic career at the Doheny campus. This student is recognized for excellence in the areas of academic achievement, service to others and quality of character.

• Leslie Anita Musacco

Distinguished Community Service Award: 

This award is given to a student who has distinguished herself by enthusiastically participating in on-campus events and in her local community or parish through volunteer work or political activism.

• Karina Berber

Courage Award:

This award honors students who withstood significant personal challenges during their years at the Mount, and responded with the grace, perseverance and exceptional courage that made it possible to earn a baccalaureate degree.

• Cindy Nunez
• Hailey Braddock
• Katheryn Lozano

Academic Department Awards

Business Administration

The Excellent Mount Student Department of Business Administration: International Business Award:

• Xiomara Cortes

The Excellent Mount Student Department of Business Administration: Accounting Award:

• Claudia Geliste

The Excellent Mount Student Department of Business Administration: Management Award:

• Denise Joseph

The Excellent Mount Student Department of Business Administration: Overall Award:

• Julissa Gonzalez

The Excellent Mount Student Department of Business Administration: Marketing Award.

• Viviana Citalan

Education

The Doris Schiffilea Harris Education Scholarship funds a future elementary teacher’s continued study at the Mount. This year’s recipient is:

• Stephanie Rodriguez

The award for Academic Achievement in Liberal Studies goes to:

• Kaylynn Johnson

The Sister Dolorosa Credential Scholarship is awarded to:

• Kiran Tauh

The award for Academic Achievement in the field of Child Development goes to:

• Marie Carrillo

The award for Excellence in Academics & Student Teaching goes to:

• Michelle Tzul

History, Political Science, Global Politics and Healthcare Policy

The Dr. Joan M. Todd Award for Excellence, honoring graduating students who demonstrate excellence in the study of history, goes to:

• Stephanie Ahorro
• Crystal Cisneros
• Alma Celedon
• Tajelle Freeman
• Madison Wong

The Departmental Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Political Science, honoring graduating students who demonstrate exemplary dedication to this field of study, goes to:

• Brooke Fadipe
• Ashley Villatoro
• Helena Rodriguez Rocco
• Katherine Perez

The Sister Rose Catherine Clifford Award for Excellence in Political Science, recognizing a student who shares the same admirable qualities of determination and perseverance toward excellence within the realm of Political Science, goes to:

• Alani Ibarra

The award for Excellence in Scholarship in Global Politics, recognizing students for outstanding scholarly work in global politics and international relations, goes to:

• Maria Najar
• Nicole Fifield

Awarded by the International Law Firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, a Pre-Law Scholarship is presented to students in recognition of their potential for the study of law as evidenced by their outstanding scholarship and performance in either mock trial or moot court.

• Crystal Cisneros
• Hope Luna
• Leslie Martinez
• Sonrisa Lopez

The Helen G Boutrous Award honors students who have demonstrated excellence in advocacy, activism and leadership within the department, university and our communities. 

• Maya Enciso
• Stephanie Ahorro

Language and Culture

The Premio Cervantes Award honors a student who strives for excellence in Spanish and Latin America studies:

• Keithleen J. Fernandez

The Spanish Honors Award is presented to a student who demonstrates outstanding academic excellence in Spanish and Latin American studies.

• Alexandra Marquez

The Prix Fleur de Lys Award, recognizing students who continue to strive for excellence in the French Language, goes to:

• Lillian Harrell
• Zoey Bunce

Music

The Excellence in Music Performance Award celebrates students who have consistently made a strong contribution to the music department performances during their time at the Mount.

• Sydney Landis
• Stephanie Herrera

The Department of Music Faculty Award honors graduating students who demonstrate exemplary dedication to this field of study.

• Diana Colmenares

Nursing

The Eugenie B. Hannon Nursing Award, recognizing a student who is deeply involved in co-curricular activities, showed stellar leadership capabilities by using the problem solving process and is a prominent role model for her peers in the nursing program, goes to:

• Jeannine Silva

The Nursing Spirit Award, which recognizes the academic excellence, community service and leadership involvement of students, goes to:

• Tamar Ryan

The Professional Nurse Award, recognizing a student who is a role model for his peers, and who impacts fellow nursing students by personifying a professional nursing character throughout the program, goes to:

• Jesse Fabian

The Sister Callista Roy Award, presented to the student who exhibits excellence in nursing processes in a variety of settings, goes to:

• Vanessa Prata

The Nursing Student Leader Award, honoring students who demonstrates excellent leadership, goes to:

• Anabella Hernandez
• Korina Hernandez

The Nursing Leadership Management Award, given to a student who shows promise in their pursuit of a becoming an outstanding manager within the field of nursing, goes to:

• Azam Pirouzi

The Senior Ceremony Speaker Award, which goes to the students who have been peer selected to represent the Nursing department’s graduating class at the annual Pinning and Commencement ceremonies, goes to:

• Jesse Fabian
• Roxana Soto 

Physical Sciences and Mathematics

The Outstanding Progress in Research Award, recognizing students who show an aptitude for research in the physical sciences, goes to:

• Brooke Rust
• Efrata Tesfaye
• Isabella Gevorkyan
• Kayla Zena
• Lilianna Suarez
• Lyila Vilches
• Natalia Senechal
• Natalie Villalon
• Olga Alvarez
• Valeria Herasymenko

The award for Outstanding Departmental Service goes to:

• Deysi Sandoval
• Madeleine Ramirez

The Outstanding Students in General Chemistry Award, recognizing students who demonstrate consistent outstanding work in general chemistry, goes to:

• Izgi Ozel
• Natalia Mitchell

The Achievement in Research Award, presented to students who have demonstrated an ability to both convey and defend their scientific research, goes to:

• Andrea Garcia
• Celeste Watkins
• Franchesca Maldonado
• Natalie Valles
• Katherine Pham
• Tania Cerezo

The Daniel Stogryn Award for Excellence in Research goes to:

• Alondra Guerra
• Bailee Gil

The Academic Excellence in the Physical Sciences Award, presented to students who perform to the highest academic standards of this department, goes to:

• Bailee Gil
• Andrea Garcia

The award for Excellence in Supplemental Instruction goes to:

• Alondra Guerra
• Bailee Gil
• Brooke Rust
• Celeste Watkins
• Deysi Sandoval
• Frenchesca Maldonado
• Janelle Zavaleta
• Julissa Cuevas
• Kayla Zena
• Natalie Valles
• Nichole Bondocoy
• Rabia Yasin

The Exceptional Research in Computational Chemistry Award goes to:

• Jocelyn Ruiz

Psychology

The Outstanding Leader in Psychology Award, which is presented to students who, over the course of their years at the Mount, demonstrated the highest excellence through coursework, leadership, and character, goes to:

• Malaina Vaden
• Elizabeth Arroyo

 Social Work

The Outstanding Scholar in Social Work award recognizes distinguished achievement in students who demonstrated academic excellence and integrity in this field.

• Alyssa Savala
• Shirley A. Espinoza
• Sarah Zepeda

Sociology and Criminology

The Outstanding Scholar in Sociology Award goes to:

• Katherine Bonilla
• Amy Hernandez

The Outstanding Scholar in Criminology Award, presented to a student who excelled in their coursework in Criminology, goes to:

• Alyssa Valdovinos

The Outstanding Scholar in Geographic Information Sciences Award, presented to a student in recognition of her outstanding academic performance in this specialized field, goes to:

• Lilianne Corral

The Honors Program

The Honors Program at Mount Saint Mary's University recognizes academic excellence and provides high-achieving students with opportunities for increased academic rigor to be intellectually challenged in an engaging and nurturing environment. This year’s Honors Program Scholars are:

• Michelle Cortes
• Shirley Espinoza
• Soleil Gonzalez
• Sarah Sanchez