By Chelsea Zhao
Dominican University celebrates the achievements of outstanding seniors of 44 departments/disciplines.
Dominican Star reached out to all the department chair on the selection criteria. According to the six department chairs who replied, the accreditation was mainly determined by GPA with considerations of professor recommendation and community engagement.
Further factors are also taken into account, such as outstanding independent research for psychology majors, sustained social justice leadership for Social Justice and Civic Engagement minors, internship for biology/natural science/environmental science majors, educational contribution for English majors and dispositional excellence for education majors.
The Star also reached out to the Outstanding seniors on their thoughts upon receiving the award, their post-graduation plans, and Dominican’s unique role in their educational pursuits. Here are their responses:
Augie Magnelli
“I am truly blessed to be able to complete my degree at Dominican University. The staff in the Brennan School of Business have been supportive, life-changing mentors who helped me grow into a professional and realize my career aspirations. I am beyond grateful to my professors who sparked my desire to learn and equipped me with the knowledge I need to succeed. It is an honor to be recognized and I will carry the values of the institution with me as I begin my career in public accounting upon graduation.”
Yelyzaveta (Liza) Paskevych
I was surprised for a few reasons, the biggest being that I graduated in December, I had no idea I was still eligible for any awards, or that there were any awards! I was actually stuck in Colorado because of a snowstorm so that email announcing the award was the biggest surprise. Nevertheless, I am very honored and still shocked.
Graduating at the end of Fall semester felt very weird, and also in the middle of a pandemic. I turned in my last final online and just sat there unsure of what to do next. The next step for me was law school! So the next day, I started working on my LSAT, and applying to law schools. I have to give a huge shoutout to Professor Homan and Dolence for helping me out immensely with the whole process. After graduating I felt lost and unsure of how I was to apply to law school, but DU has amazing staff that are always willing to help current and past students, which I am so grateful for.
I have already been accepted by a few and still waiting on more responses!
Overall, I am very grateful for everything DU has offered me and for the opportunities it has opened up for me!
Erica Martinez
After Dominican, I will be attending DePaul University College of Law in downtown Chicago. From there, I hope to find a job near my hometown of Shorewood, IL and begin practicing law. I am mostly interested in contract, criminal, and real estate law.
When I found out that I was the Outstanding Senior of the Political Science Department, I was very surprised. I did not know that this nomination existed, so I simply thanked my professors, Professor Homan and Professor Dolence, for this great honor.
I believe that Dominican University has helped me in my educational pursuits with the great professors that I was fortunate enough to meet. In all of my classes, the professors always strived to challenge our thinking, to see each situation from a different perspective. That is a great lesson that I will continue to practice on whatever obstacle comes my way. Despite this significant wisdom, there was one key message that Professor Dolence once told me which was that a college education is not simply to pass the classes, graduate, and get a job, the great thing about college education that most people forget is that we are instilled with the proper tools to continue learning and searching for the truth. That, I believe, is a great message that, with time, we forget. One should never stop wondering, asking, exploring, and learning, it is the only way that we can flourish in life.
Mariah Cole
I am grateful for the educational opportunities Dominican has provided me with. Many of the professors I had were nice. There are some that left lasting impressions on me, and I will remember them forever for different reasons. I did not know about Black World Studies when I came to Dominican. The courses I took allowed me to get a more in depth understanding about black people across the diaspora. I am grateful to be named an outstanding senior because I’ve worked hard. In August 2021, I will enter Loyola University’s Accelerated Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing program. I plan to become a Registered Nurse and later a Nurse Practitioner.
Laura Shaw
Dominican University has helped me pursue my educational goals in various ways. The University has opened countless opportunities for me to develop my professional and academic skills. My professors have not only given me the tools to analyze complex issues on a higher level, but have also pushed me to be critical in my own opinions and understanding of the world.
Through the extracurricular activities Dominican has offered me, such as research assistant, presenting my research at multiple conferences, and the Washington Internship Institute, I have been able to craft my time management, research, writing and public speaking skills. Overall, I feel confident that Dominican has prepared me to take on the next academic or professional endeavor.
As an Outstanding Senior of Class 2021 I am deeply thankful for my family, professors, and friends for supporting me and making my undergraduate experience indescribably meaningful and memorable. I am incredibly blessed and honored to be the International Relations & Diplomacy outstanding senior. It feels gratifying to be recognized for the hard work I have put in during my time at Dominican. I am exceptionally grateful to receive this award.
Following graduation, I plan to continue my educational career at Johns Hopkins University where I will be pursuing a MA in International Relations.
Gillian Jones
Dominican University has allowed me to follow my passions and explore different opportunities within my future career path. I have been able to network, grow and build upon my knowledge in order to graduate as a more well-rounded individual.
I really have no words to describe how thankful I am to the Fashion Department for this honor. It feels amazing to have my hard work recognized and I can not thank each of the professors enough for their teachings and support. I have truly loved being a part of the Fashion program every second, and I can’t wait to take what I have learned and apply it towards my future career!
After graduation, I will be moving to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to begin my career at Kohl’s Corporate in the Buying Offices. I will be entering the Merchandise Trainee program in August.
Amanda Jenkins
When I learned I had been nominated as an outstanding senior for this year, I was elated! It’s almost hard to fathom that I could be worthy of such a thing, but it’s so rewarding to see that all my hard work has paid off in this way.
I have always had aspirations to work in conservation. In my latter years of high school, I struggled with health problems that plagued me long after graduation. During that time, I never thought I would return to school, let alone have any shot at achieving my career goals. Being able to heal, continue my education at Dominican, make the Dean’s list, and now being nominated as an outstanding senior and successfully graduating has been a surreal whirlwind. I wouldn’t change it for anything!
My time at Dominican has helped me grow not only in my education and professional development, but also as a person. I have learned and experienced so much and have truly seen my wildest dreams be realized. I am so thankful to my advisor, my amazing professors, the PLTL team, and the whole Dominican community for helping me get farther than I ever imagined I could. I’m not sure where the future will take me, but thanks to Dominican, I know that no matter what comes my way, I’ll be able to rise to the occasion.
“Our truest life is when we are in our dreams awake.” -Henry David Thoreau
Andrew Mariotti
“The first time I visited Dominican, I immediately felt a sense of home and belonging. This feeling has lasted over the course of my four years. The faculty here at Dominican has always been so welcoming and approachable. They never tired of answering my questions and always challenged me to do my best.
Dominican has definitely prepared me for my future. I came in as a freshman undecided on a major. I am confident in the choice I made to seek a degree in Communication Studies with a minor in Social Media. I have been fortunate to have professors who motivated me and went above and beyond to guarantee my success. I wish to personally thank each and every one of them for always being there for me.
I am very honored to be the Outstanding Senior in Communication Studies for the Class of 2021. I would like to thank my family for their support and for keeping me motivated throughout my four years at Dominican. I am appreciative of all the help I have received to get me this award and prepare me for the future. Hard work really does pay off. It is an honor I will never forget.
Upon graduation, my hope is to start a career in radio or social media. I am confident Dominican had prepared me for my future endeavors.
I will always cherish my four years here at Dominican. To me, it will always be home!!!”
Lauren Hansford
I am so honored to be recognized as the Outstanding Senior in Painting! It took me a long time to choose art although it has always been a part of my life but being at Dominican definitely played a large part in helping me make that decision. My professors, specifically Jeffery Cote de Luna, Frank Spidale and Noelle Allen-Wright have helped me more than they know.
I am so grateful for them and for Dominican’s small yet strong art department and community. I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to create multiple independent study courses and work with my professors to push myself even further with different materials, more ambitious compositions, or getting to experiment with new techniques. They have also been my guide through college not only helping me become a better artist but helping direct me in life and be someone to talk to about my plans after Dominican. The support and direction I have received from being a painting student at Dominican is so amazing and I will always be grateful for it. I am so glad that I changed my major my sophomore year and started on this track. My plans after school will be to wait a few months before I apply again to Art school, and I will work and make art. I am excited to explore the kind of artwork I will be making outside of my academic instruction, but I feel ready to take these next steps after finishing my degree here. Again, I am so honored to be recognized, thank you, and congratulations to everyone else in the other disciplines!
Maggie McClure
Dominican has provided me with the opportunity to cultivate relationships with amazing professors who helped me continue my education despite the Art History major being discontinued during my junior year. It saddens me knowing I will be the last Art History major at Dominican, but I’m grateful for the award and recognition of my studies.
After graduation, I’m returning home to California to work for a few years and then plan on applying to graduate school to pursue further education in Art History or Museum Studies. I hope to work in a museum in my future.
Lauren Johnson
Dominican University is my second home, and I am blessed to have professors who have shaped me into the passionate, conscious educator I am today. Dominican provided me with many firsts: my first job, my first internship and even my first time being out of the country! None of those accomplishments could have been executed without the support of my professors from the Education, Theology, and History departments.
It felt very validating to receive Outstanding Senior in History. The past four years of hard work and love towards my major feel realized. The hardships of having several chronic illnesses and coping with the pandemic really makes this award all the more special to me. I can confidently say that Dominican truly put me on the best path to continue bettering myself into my professional career. In the near future, I am seeking to teach Middle School Social Studies. However, my journey at Dominican is not ending in May. I eventually want to pursue a M.S. in Special Education from Dominican.
Meghan Conroy
I am incredibly grateful and honored to receive the Outstanding Senior in English award for the class of 2021. Dominican University has made my learning experience personal and engaging, and I have been blessed to receive a number of opportunities that have helped me grow as both a writer and a person.
The DU community has been welcoming and supportive from day one, which has allowed for me to build relationships with a lot of wonderful classmates and professors. My time at DU has been invaluable, and it has given me the tools and the confidence I need to take the next step toward graduate school.
Alice Gicela
Dominican University has provided a quality education for my future career in nursing. The professors in the department have years of experience in their expertise. Seeing their passions unfold motivates me to search for a field where I will also experience that.
It is an honor to be recognized by the nursing director, Dr. Bland, for this achievement. I can only hope that my journey here at Dominican University has inspired other students to fulfill their educational goals.
I plan on diligently studying for the NCLEX with a friend from the program. During this, I am planning to find volunteer opportunities to care for cats in shelters and possibly help administer more COVID-19 vaccinations!
Catalina Reyes
“I am not saying you will find the meaning of life in other people. I am saying that other people are the life to which you provide the meaning.” –Neil Hilborn, Our Numbered Days
I am truly honored to be named Outstanding Senior for my department. I am a BPS to MSW student. When I started at Dominican in 2019 at the age of 32, I had not been in school for almost ten years and was nervous about what my experience would be like.
I am so fortunate to have had such supportive professors and advisors, and I am proud to say that I have excelled in both my BPS and MSW programs. I will graduate with my bachelor’s degree this year and I intend to graduate with my master’s degree in social work next Spring, with a concentration in gerontology and the hopes of becoming a hospice social worker.
I want to thank everyone who encouraged and supported me, especially my fiancé, Adrian, and our three beautiful children: Matthew, Oliver, and Audrey. I could not have done this without you, and I am forever grateful to all of you.
Alan Garcia
Having the confidence that DU professors will always take the time to make sure you understand the material goes a long way. S
ome of my professors and faculty members have taken on mentor roles that have opened up great opportunities and had a huge impact on important career decisions. This school offers every opportunity to become part of a tight-knit community and I’m lucky to have taken advantage of it.
I feel very blessed for this recognition, but even more thankful for the experiences gained collaborating with my classmates over the years. I have gotten to know a lot of my fellow Marketing majors and there are lots of people who deserve this title.
I plan on coming back this Fall to earn my MBA at Dominican, as well as continuing a job search in the field of Marketing.
Henry Ptack
While I have only technically attended Dominican University for the last two years, it quickly made an impact on me: academically, professionally and personally. Preceding my own academic career here, I visited quite frequently to see one of my best friends and my girlfriend, the latter of which I can now happily say is my fiancé.
From the jump, I met wonderful faculty and staff that did everything in their power to put me in the best position to succeed. Specifically, everyone in the Brennan School of Business truly cared about preparing me for the world in which I am entering and helped me make the most of any available opportunities. This only elevates the amount of gratitude I have for them selecting me as the Outstanding Senior in Finance. It just feels affirming that nothing I did went unnoticed, and that I could achieve so much in my abbreviated time. Post-graduation I have several job interviews and tentative offers currently ongoing. Ideally, I wish to convert to a full-time role with my current internship though. Whichever way in life I go, I know Dominican University played a crucial part in getting me there… and I cannot thank everyone involved enough.
Guadalupe Barron
Dominican University has given me many opportunities to grow as a student and as a future educator. I am thankful for all my supportive professors, peers and countless experiences throughout my four years at Dominican.
It is an honor to be recognized as the Outstanding Senior in Elementary Education for the class of 2021. This award goes to show that my hard work and efforts have not gone unnoticed. I would not have been able to accomplish so much without the endless support and guidance from my family, educators and friends!
I look forward to being known as Ms. Barron starting in August, as I begin my journey as an elementary school teacher!
Julia Horn
At Dominican University I met the most amazing people. These dear professors and friends are the reasons I am writing this reflection in the acceptance of a great honor, and in the hopes that they will see this and know the depth of their impact on my life.
To avoid a long-winded list of examples, which would utterly fail to capture the significance of the past five years, I will simply say this: they helped me to live a strong feeling that was previously indefinable to me: a yearning for something more. I wanted answers, but they taught me to live with the questions. I wanted to learn, but they shared wisdom. I wanted to conquer every challenge, but they showed me the grace in failure. I wanted to survive, but I thrived.
Thank you, professors, for taking the time for me, teaching me beyond the scope of normal classes, and showing me what I can do. Thank you, friends, for sharing beautiful moments of every kind with me, making me a better person, and standing as shining examples of goodness in the world. Thank you, all my loved ones, for being the reasons I came to DU, believing in me even in the hardest of times, and allowing me to share my life with yours.
You have all gotten me to this point where I can move on with an ache of melancholy in my heart, which belongs there just as much as the triumphant joy. I will never be able to say this enough: thank you!
Lucy Bax
Dominican has been an amazing place to spend the last four years. I have not only learned so much about myself and all sorts of topics, but I learned that economics was something that I was good at and interested in (thanks to ECON 102 with Professor Schmitz!).
I feel truly honored to be chosen as the outstanding senior in economics. The years have dragged on and flown by, and it feels amazing to have my hard work pay off in this way. Of course, I need to thank my economics professors (Professor Schmitz, Professor Condon, Professor Odell, and Professor Alonzi) and all the other amazing educators I’ve had the pleasure of learning from. And I truly wouldn’t be where I am without the emotional support of my friends and family. Thank you!!!
Monica Duron
I feel honored to have been recognized as an outstanding senior here at Dominican University. It is rewarding to know that I was able to contribute to the community that has made my undergraduate experience better than I could have ever imagined.
Being a first-generation student, I had little idea of what to expect or how I would go about getting the most of my education. Dominican created the welcoming and supportive environment that made it possible for me to succeed in my courses as well as grow as an individual.
These past four years hold countless memories from the early morning lectures, the late nights in Noonan and even cleaning tanks in the Slug Lab. With each new experience I built amazing friendships and grew more eager to learn. Most of all, I am appreciative of the extraordinary professors I have had the privilege to learn from.
As for my plans after graduation, I hope to be accepted to medical school and become a physician. I want to address healthcare disparities at the source by working firsthand with underserved and marginalized communities.
Meyahueltzin Angeles
It is an honor to be the Outstanding Senior in Mathematics. As a Senior in high school, higher education was just a dream. At that point, being a recent immigrant from Mexico, not being fluent in English, and coming from a low-income family made it almost impossible to go to college. However, Dominican University saw me for who I was as a person and as a student. DU provided me with incredible resources and unique experiences. I am so thankful for all the staff and faculty that have guided me and supported me throughout my college years.
I am proud to say that I will be graduating as Mathematician and an Engineer. After graduation, I will be working as a Project Engineer in Chicago. I can’t wait to walk around the city and look at the Skyscrapers and think “Wow, my work makes this building stand and this city more beautiful.”
Thank you Dominican University for believing in me and recognizing my efforts and accomplishments.
Congratulations Class of 2021!
Samantha Hatfield
I am so honored and grateful to be chosen for this award out of the many qualified and amazing classmates I have. I have not only grown to love chemistry while at Dominican, but I have grown to love many peers, professors, teammates and coaches.
Being at Dominican has been one of the biggest blessings of my life and I am truly grateful to everyone who has been a part of my experience here. I’d like to especially thank my chemistry professors for helping me foster a love for chemistry that will carry me forward through graduate school and my career. My family has also been such a supportive rock for me as I have gone through my undergraduate degree, which I couldn’t be more grateful for.
I am very excited to continue my love for chemistry while attending Brigham Young University pursuing my PhD in chemistry. Though I may not be on campus anymore, I know that the connections I made at Dominican will last a lifetime.
| DEPARTMENT / DISCIPLINE | Awardee |
| Accounting | Agostino Magnelli |
| Art History | Margaret McClure |
| Biology | Julia Horn |
| Biology-Chemistry | Kassandra Babelonia |
| Black World Studies | Mariah Cole |
| Chemistry | Samantha Hatfield |
| Communication Studies | Andrew Mariotti |
| Computer Science | Julius Acar |
| Corporate Communication | Yelyzaveta Paskevych |
| Criminology | Yessenia Hernandez |
| Digital Journalism | Thomas Gibbons |
| Economics | Lucy Bax |
| Elementary Education | Guadalupe Barron |
| English | Meghan Conroy |
| Fashion Design | Joshua Ocampo |
| Fashion Merchandising | Gillian Jones |
| Finance | Henry Ptack |
| History | Lauren Johnson |
| Human Services | Catalina Reyes |
| Informatics | Jonathan Seals |
| International Business | Darek Szara |
| International Relations & Diplomacy | Laura Shaw |
| Legal Studies | Carla Cochran |
| Management | Claire Widseth |
| Marketing | Alan Garcia Baez |
| Mathematics | Meyahueltzin Angeles |
| Natural Science | Amanda Jenkins |
| Neuroscience | Monica Duron |
| Nursing | Alice Gicela |
| Nutrition and Dietetics | Ashley Wendle |
| Painting and Drawing | Lauren Hansford |
| Philosophy | Noah Groll |
| Photo Cinema | Natalie Stellato |
| Political Science | Erica Martinez |
| Psychology | Alfredo Loza |
| Secondary Education | Jacob Robert Johnson |
| Social Justice & Civic Engagement | Jonathan Seals |
| Social Media | Isabelle Schindler |
| Sociology | Nayla Colon |
| Spanish and Transcultural Studies | Jacob Robert Johnson |
| Special Education | Caroline Halperin |
| Study of Women and Gender | Carlos Benitez |
| Theatre Arts | Anna Thomas |
| Theology | Noah Groll |
