Graduate Honors Convocation

Graduate and Professional Student Honors Convocation

This invitation-only event celebrates the achievements of graduate and professional students who have distinguished themselves through research, service and leadership. Invitations will be mailed out in March.

Wednesday, April 8, 2026
Connolly Ballroom, Alumni Hall
5-6:30 p.m.

Featured Speaker: Kimberlee Eberle-Sudré

Kimberlee Eberle-Sudré serves as chief of staff to Chancellor Joan Gabel at the University of Pittsburgh, advising the chancellor and working closely with senior leadership to ensure institutional priorities are clearly defined, aligned and effectively implemented across Pitt. In this role, she works closely with the chancellor and senior leadership team to anticipate change, identify opportunities and help guide the University’s strategic direction.

Before returning to Pitt, Eberle-Sudré served as program director of education at the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, where she led the revitalization of the Academy’s education portfolio. Her leadership resulted in the launch of the Commission on Opportunities After High School and the expansion of the Academy’s signature Higher Education Forum in Aspen. Previously, at the Association of American Universities, Eberle-Sudré directed a broad portfolio that included membership policy and processes, policy research and other initiatives supporting the nation’s leading research universities.

With deep experience in higher education policy, Eberle-Sudré has held roles across the federal, state and institutional levels, including positions with EdTrust, the Maryland Higher Education Commission, the U.S. Department of Education, Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Kansas.

Eberle-Sudré earned a BA from Wittenberg University, an MS from the University of Kansas, and a PhD from the University of Pittsburgh.

2026 Graduate and Professional Student Awardees

Arranged alphabetically by school and then by student last name. Click gray bar to see each school's honorees.

Kenneth P. Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences

Gessica May Adornato
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Klara Andersson
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Manuel Calongos
National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (NSF-DDRIG)

Zachary Canter
Department of Defense Science, Mathematics Research for Transformation (SMART) Fellowship

Morgan Cassidy
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Lauren Chronister
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Monica Daniels
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Lydia Davis
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Jessica Diaz
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Natalia Duarte Mayorga
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Erin Duricy
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Emily Eklund
National Science Foundation Doctoral Dissertation Research Improvement Grant (NSF-DDRIG)

Ketura Elie
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Alicia Endress
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Tasniem Fetian
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Seth Fremin
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Julia Gajewski-Nemes
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Elijah Hall
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Wenjie Huang
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Riley Jouppi
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Christian Knox
Department of Defense Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Fellowship

Kayla Kraeuter
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Rachael Kramp
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellows Program

Anumita Kumari
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Crystal Lara-Santos
Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) Gilliam Fellows Program
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Gabriela Lee
International Youth Library Research Fellowship

Keren Lee
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Janina Lopez
The Will Barnett Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship

Alison Mahoney
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Eliza Marsh
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Grace Mattson
ARCS Scholar Awards

Courtney Medina
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Daniel Melo Porras
Fulbright Scholarship

Boris Mesits
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Emma Messinger
Wenner-Gren Fellowship

Jennifer Miller
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Claire Mock
ARCS Scholar Awards

Briana Moncayo
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Lisandra (Lissie) Morales
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Hunter Moyler
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Cecilia Muzika-Minteer
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

Hossein Nakhaei
Mellon/ACLS Dissertation Innovation Fellowship
Smithsonian Predoctoral Fellowship

Paula Orozco-Espinel
Newcombe Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship

Kathryn Pataki
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Suraj Patel
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Punwath Prum
Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) Fellowship

Patrick Quintero
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Anthony Ramirez
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Tessa Rhinehart
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Angelina Rodriguez
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Eloy Romero
Latin American Social and Public Policy Fellowship (LASPPF)

Anthony Schneider
Department of Defense Science, Mathematics and Research for Transformation (SMART) Fellowship

Katherine Sharp
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Vishnu Soni
ARCS Scholar Awards

Claire Stout
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Luc Dinh-Khuong Ta
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Natalia Valderrama Quinteros
Fulbright Scholarship

Luciano Venegas Millar
Fulbright Scholarship

Morgan Vernado
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Jaime Vornlocher
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Stella Wadiru
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Dylan Wells
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Masateru Yamatani
Fulbright Scholarship

Lennon Zhang
Latin American Social and Public Policy Fellowship (LASPPF)

Alexander Zinsmaier
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Gabriella Zuccolotto
Future Investigators in NASA Earth and Space Science and Technology (FINESST) Fellowship

Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business

Zena Kesselman
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Belinda Marcus
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship

School of Computing and Information

Maneesh Bilalpur
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Ye Deng
Elizabeth U. Baranger Predoctoral Fellowship

Werner Hager
Rickover Fellowship in Nuclear Engineering

Griffin Hurt
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Manurag Khullar
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Quinn Wolter
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship

School of Dental Medicine

Yejin Cho
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

School of Education

Eman Alharbi
Saudi Government Scholarship

Essa Almutairi
Saudi Government Scholarship

Taghreed Alrehaili
Saudi Government Scholarship

Mohammed Khaled Alsuwaylih
Saudi Government Scholarship

Ayman Asiri
Saudi Government Scholarship

Keanna Cash
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Charlie Diaz
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Gerard Dorve-Lewis
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Carolina Garcia-Dominguez
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Naeisha McClain
Fulbright Scholarship

Alicia Oglesby
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Baili Park
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Alaysia Plair-Easton
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Jennifer Ponce Cori
Latin American Social and Public Policy Fellowship (LASPPF)

Rachel Sanders
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Caleb Sewell
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Tetsuya Yamada
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Alecia Young
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship

Swanson School of Engineering

Alyssa  Arminan
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Jacqueline Avila
ARCS Scholar Awards

Durwash Badr
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Casey Cargill
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Christopher Cover
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Manuel Duran
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Ian Eder
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Zachary Egolf
Rickover Fellowship in Nuclear Engineering

Lily Farmerie
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (DOD-NDSEG)

Adam Forrest
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Jazlyn Gallego
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Soumalya Ghosh
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Anne Gormaley
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Taylor Hobbs
National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program (DOD-NDSEG)

Adelle Holder
ARCS Scholar Awards

Katherine Kerr
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Shannon Lamb
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Annabelle Lint
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Wenyun Lu
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Jennifer Mak
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Meagan Makarcyzk
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Keerthana Manikandan
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Matthew Margeson
University Nuclear Leadership Program Fellowship 

Katarina Martinet
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Sofia Milone
ARCS Scholar Awards

Xuanyu (Leon) Min
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Sharada Narayanan
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Jemima Ederewoma Ohwobete
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Amanda Pellegrino
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Veronika Purek
Fulbright Scholarship

Katelin Rahn
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Keera Rhoads
ARCS Scholar Awards

Brittany Rodriguez
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Remi Shittu
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

William Spirnock
University Nuclear Leadership Program Fellowship

Isaiah Thompson
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Barbaro Zulueta
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences

Abdulmohsen Alroumi
Saudi Government Scholarship

Katia Bruno
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Paola Esquivel
Fulbright Scholarship

Emily Goldberg
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Lizzie Hary
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Elizabeth Mormer
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Adrianne Smiley
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Candace van der Stelt
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

School of Law

Olha Horodniuk
Fulbright Scholarship

Tsean Michael
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Mark Okocha
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Rukayat Sulaiman
Horace Mann Bond - Leslie Pinckney Hill Scholarship

Laras Susanti    
Fulbright Scholarship

School of Medicine

Talia Adi
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Ibrahim Ahmed
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Sarah Alsaad
Kuwait Government Scholarship

Georgia Rae Atkins
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Rebecca Bhik-Ghanie
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Mitchell Bishop
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Isabel Bleimeister
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Adam Brandner
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Emmy Brown
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Hannah Bumgarner
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Hannah Butterfield
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Neil Carleton
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Abby Carney
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Allison Casey
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Britt Chamberlain
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Alexander Chang
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Mona Chatrizeh
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Nathalie Chen
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Rebecca Cole
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Nicole Colussi
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Grace Conway
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Onaje Cunningham
Horace Mann Bond - Leslie Pinckney Hill Scholarship

Connor Dufort
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Morgan Egnot
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Luisa Escobar-Robledo
Fulbright Scholarship

Carly Fabian
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Emma Flynn
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

George Gabriel
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Taylor Gatesman
Individual Predoctoral to Postdoctoral Fellow Transition Award (F99)

Daniela Gil
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Jacob Gillis
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Jordan Gregory
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Alison Guyer
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Devin Harsch
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Jasmine Hect
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Alice Jiang
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Maria Fernanda Juarez Anaya
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Dana Julian
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Anusha Kalavacharla
ARCS Scholar Awards

Keith Kaufman
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Saroj Khadka
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship

Anna Kirillova
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Alessandra Larimer-Picciani
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Caroline Larkin
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Brandon Lehrich
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Adam Lenart
Fulbright Scholarship

Jack Little
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Jie Bin Liu
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Joseph Maggiore
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Jamal Maloney
Horace Mann Bond - Leslie Pinckney Hill Scholarship

Andre Martel Matos
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Michael McClincy
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Jessica Medrano
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Christopher Merkel
ARCS Scholar Awards

Joshua Montano
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Ignazio Niosi
Fulbright Scholarship

Olivia Parks
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Catherine Phelps
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Rachel Rice
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

April Rich
National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship Program

Sofya Savransky
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Nathan Schneider
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Ankit Sharma
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Kellie Spahr
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Amanda Suda
KidneyCure Predoctoral Fellowship Award

Stavroula Tassi
Fulbright Scholarship

Christine Tin
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Jordan Warunek
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Claire Weckerly
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

Lindsay Wilson
ARCS Scholar Awards

Halah Winner
ARCS Scholar Awards

Kenta Yamamoto
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Tyler Yasaka
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F30)

Jason Yeung
ARCS Scholar Awards

School of Nursing

Katrina Carr
ARCS Scholar Awards

Coco (Yue) Dong
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Abigail Lustyik
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship and ARCS Scholar Awards

Jamie Reddinger
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Hector Salazar
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

School of Pharmacy

Maria Camila Gaier Petruccelli
Fulbright Scholarship

Yin Zhu
Ruth L. Kirschstein Predoctoral Individual National Research Service Award (F31)

School of Public and International Affairs

Christopher Bekavac
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

John Danvers
David. L. Boren Fellowship

Andini Daulay
Fulbright Scholarship

Rianne Elsadig
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

Hazel Flores
Latin American Social and Public Policy Fellowship (LASPPF)

Eric Gondella
Latin American Social and Public Policy Fellowship (LASPPF)
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

Matthew Hickey
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

Elaina (Claire) Hopkins
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

Ashley (Wae Jan) Khor
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Xingyue (Sarah) King
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

Dominick Lee
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

Ryan Lindner
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

Isak Misini
Fulbright Scholarship

Kristina Rajakovich
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

Elsadig Rianne
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

Milena Rylatt
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS)

School of Public Health

Alice Arcury-Quandt
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship 

Sarah Avina
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship  

Afshin Bahramy
American Heart Association Predoctoral Fellowship 

Holmes Elon
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship  

France Glenson 
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship  

Autiyonna Johnson
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship  

Lucia Martinez Cruz
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship

Sonia Persaud
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship  

Hannah Schwarz
Foreign Language & Area Studies Fellowship (FLAS) 

Arpita Tripathi
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship 

Victoria Wyant
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship  

Elynna Youm
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship 

School of Social Work

Cecily Davis
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Alex Fixler
Society for Social Work and Research (SSWR) Doctoral Fellows Award 

Benjamin Karenke
Fulbright Scholarship

Thelda Sarpong
K. Leroy Irvis Fellowship 

Tess Schleitwiler
Provost's Dissertation Completion Fellowship

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Graduate Honors Convocation?

The Graduate Honors Convocation celebrates the achievements of graduate and professional students who have distinguished themselves through research, service and leadership. 

When is the Graduate Honors Convocation?

The Graduate Honors Convocation is being held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, beginning at 5 p.m.

Where will the convocation be held?

It will be held in the Connolly Ballroom in Alumni Hall, located at 4227 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.

Who can attend the convocation?

The Graduate Honors Convocation is by invitation only.

Should I wear regalia?

Regalia is not a part of this ceremony, and it should not be worn at the event.

Where can I park?

Paid parking is available in Soldiers and Sailor Memorial Parking Garage and at various University-operated garages on campus. Parking is also available at the metered spaces around Alumni Hall.