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Celebration of Excellence recognizes top academic students

PLAINVIEW — ÁÔÆæÖØ¿ÚÊÓÆµ Baptist University honored its top academic students Thursday night, May 1, during the annual Celebration of Excellence ceremony in Trinity Chapel on the Plainview campus.

The ceremony recognized current members and graduating seniors in ÁÔÆæÖØ¿ÚÊÓÆµ’s Honors Program, special scholar cohorts, and students inducted into academic honor societies.

Jeffrey Vera, director of Alumni Relations and Career Services, opened the ceremony by welcoming university leadership, faculty, trustees, family members, and students to a night dedicated to celebrating academic achievement. Dr. Cindy McClenagan, Vice President of Academic Affairs, offered the invocation, expressing gratitude to God for the assembled talent and asking for continued guidance and light in students’ lives.

The ceremony began by recognizing the university’s Honors Program, led by Dr. Niler Pyeatt. The 2024-2025 Honors Program members are Marissa Armendariz, Elizabeth Berry, Koda Bigham, John Bray, Gabriella Chappa, Trinity Davis, Garrett DeYong, Noah Dyson, Arturo Flores, Narriah Gomez, Tyler Hartgrove, Kyson Hensarling, Seth Hernandez, Peyton North, Jazmin Ortega, Juanita Pardo, Anna Perez, Ariana Sanders, Mikayla Shires, and Lily Taylor.

Students in two distinguished scholar cohorts were also recognized. The Helen DeVitt Jones Scholars, selected from high-achieving Honors Program students, are Marissa Armendariz, Noah Dyson, and Lily Taylor. The Robert Noyce Scholars, who commit to teaching in STEM fields after graduation, include Edmundo Avalos, Alice Conely, Natalie Hinojosa, Callie Humphrey, and Emily Sigala. Alice Conely was recognized as a 2025 graduate of the Noyce program.

Students were then recognized for their induction into or graduation from the following academic honor societies:

Alpha Chi
Inductees: Sebastian Balderas, John Bray, Ellen Duffey, Aaron Debus, Noah Dyson, Azalia Lozano, Ashley Ortiz Montoya, Anna Perez, Mariia Syzonenk, Erin Trevino, and Jadyn Trusler.
Graduates: Alice Conely, Benjamin Lubker, Taylor Ramage, Adrianna Rich, David Snellgrove, Joshua Tucker, David Wippler, and Ryan Wood.

Alpha Mu Gamma
Inductees: Ilgin Cacaron, Trinity Davis, Victoria Hallman, Dominic Navarro, and Kailee Sanchez.
Graduate: Brandon Williams II.

Alpha Phi Sigma
Inductees: Lavsil Asomalu, Jeremy Bolligar, Christopher Dixon, Abcde Garcia, Ashley Ortiz Montoya, Hope Savali, Naoialagi Senio, Payton Sholander, David Snellgrove, Ron Toleafoa, and Arianna Zubia.
Graduates: Lavsil Asomalu, Abcde Garcia, Christopher Dixon, Hope Savali, David Snellgrove, Ron Toleafoa, and Arianna Zubia.

Kappa Delta Pi
Inductees: Andrea Baeza, Gabriel Garcia, Annalicia Hernandez, Dominic Navarro, Jack Schneider, Hannah Souter, and Kendal Tucker.
Graduates: Calista Garces, Cooper Trolinger, Codi Wiley

Phi Alpha Theta
Inductees: Calista Garces and David Snellgrove.
Graduates: Calista Garces and David Snellgrove.

Psi Chi
Inductees: John Bray, Gabriella Chapa, Cayman Ivins, Jadyn Trusler, and Arianna Zubia.
Graduates: Gabreya Garcia, Cayman Ivins, and Arianna Zubia.

Sigma Beta Delta
Inductees: Kacen Layne Anthony, Gavin Armijo, Adriana Christine Armstrong, Aaron Debus, Tatum Feigle, Landon Garcia-Floyd, Andy May, Francis Motsi, Alex Neri, Mohammed Amin Rahmoune, Christina Esther Sandlin, Joshua Sylliaasen, and Niklas Thiel.
Graduates: Gavin Armijo, Jose Colina, Hingis Moremi, Malaiki Owens, Brayden Peyton, Amber Poorbaugh, Rennan Sousa, Edwin Wiesner, David Wippler, Ryan Wood, Landon Garcia-Floyd, and Megan Nestor.

Sigma Tau Delta
Inductees: Mia Gray, Carlee Heidebrecht, Emma Roberts, Kailee Sanchez, Teddy Ssejjemba, and Lily Taylor.
Graduates: Aspen de Herrera, Ava Pinter, and Cooper Trolinger.

Sigma Theta Tau
Inductees: Cruz Canales, Emorie Cobb, Karah Grimes, Fan Guo, Reuben Hottel, Christy Luttrell, Ashley Machen, Mitchell Mielke, Gianna Millares, Hafsa Mohamed, Allison Owen, Christy Reasor, Kimberly Torres, and Carolyn Vidal.

Theta Alpha Kappa
Inductees: Matthew Alarcon, Marco Arturo Flores, Ashley Ortiz, Micah Rodriquez Vega, Tyvavion Russell, Ryan Wood, and Amelia Wright.
Graduates: Matthew Alarcon, Michael Davis, Raylee Flores, Brandon Mailey, Dawson Mailey, Austin Peel, Taylor Ramage, Tyvavion Russell, and Ryan Wood.

Before the event concluded, inductees were led in a formal time of commitment, during which they affirmed their dedication to the principles and purposes of their honor societies and to the mission of ÁÔÆæÖØ¿ÚÊÓÆµ Baptist University. Guests were invited to join honorees at reception that followed.