Each spring, faculty in the College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) come together to select an outstanding student in their program to receive the honor of being named as their program award winner at the CEHD Degree Celebration. Graduating students selected for this award embody the very best of their program: they excel in their studies; they demonstrate leadership in classes and internships; and they have a genuine and tenacious passion for their discipline.
Read below to view the complete list of 2025 Outstanding Student Award recipients across our programs, and join us in congratulating them on Instagram!
Jump ahead:
View the master’s and bachelor’s awards in the School of Education (SOED), the School of Kinesiology (KINE), and the School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management (SRTM):
Doctor of Philosophy in Education Award
School of Education
Outstanding Dissertation Award:
Reagan Mergen
Master’s and Bachelor’s Awards
School of Education
Advanced Studies in Teaching and Learning:
Lauren Baumeister (Literacy PK-12)
Noel Blakeney (Physical Education)
Mitchell Buell (STEM)
Cara Mayberry (Gifted Education)
Kenya Miles (Diversity and Exceptionality in PK-12 Schools)
Nancy Schaeffer (Individualized)
Counseling
Amirah Delwin (School Counseling)
Molar Lisco (Clinical Mental Health)
Early Childhood Education for Diverse Learners
Fatima Farooq (Undergraduate)
Manoa Raharinaivo (Graduate)
Early Childhood Special Education
Emma Amoako
Education Leadership
Kaiden Lewis
Educational Psychology
Luke Gilman (Learning, Cognition, and Motivation)
Elementary Education
Perla Gonzalez (Graduate)
Angeline Tran (Undergraduate)
John R. Linn Memorial Award for Outstanding Student Athlete
Tyler Kocak (Graduate)
Learning Technologies
Mary Halick (Instructional Design and Technology)
Literacy
Katherine (Katie) Krauss
Mathematics Education Leadership
Gina Quirk (K-8 Math Specialist Program)
Secondary Education
Madison Bubolz (English)
Cassie Frederick Sigaran (Mathematics)
Ivan Mirinski (Science)
Dominique Steele (Social Studies)
Special Education
Gabriel (Gabe) James Freckmann (Graduate – Blindness and Visual Impairments, K-12)
Janelle Hite (Graduate – Adaptive Curriculum, K-12)
Lydia Kraiger (Undergraduate)
Kayla Merlino (Applied Behavior Analysis)
Monica Reaves (Autism Spectrum Disorders Certificate)
Jason Aaron Smith (Graduate)
John David Washburn (Assistive Technology)
Teaching Culturally and Linguistically Diverse and Exceptional Leaders
Mariam Aburdeineh (English as a Second Language)
Tony DeGregorio Memorial Award for the Outstanding Student in Health and Physical Education
Shannon Lee
School of Kinesiology
Janet J. Lozar Commemorative Award for the Outstanding Student in Athletic Training
Emi Reindle
John R. Linn Memorial Award for Outstanding Student Athlete
Alexander (Alex) Lombardo (Undergraduate)
Kinesiology
Mackenzie Barrowman (Graduate)
School of Sport, Recreation, and Tourism Management
Charley Casserly Award for the Outstanding Student in Sport Management
Jacquelyn Marie A. Suegay
Sport and Recreation Studies
Jay Lozano
Thomas L. Goodale Award for the Outstanding Student in Recreation Management
Bella Trimner (Parks and Outdoor Recreation)
Natalie Yellowitz (Therapeutic Recreation)
Tourism and Events Management
Natalie Strait