Discover the 2026 outstanding graduates
Ula Adamska is recognized for her involvement in the Latin American and Latinx Studies Center (LALSC). Adamska volunteered to lead the Graduate Cluster of the LALSC, helping to develop research presentations and sessions. This summer, she will be doing fieldwork for her dissertation in the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. In the future, Adamska hopes to use her degree to mentor students, advocate for land-based communities and improve intercultural understanding.
MComm'26
Andrew Ajamian is recognized by the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering with an Academic Engagement Award and Research Award as an Outstanding Undergraduate Student. Next fall, Ajamian will be pursuing a doctorate at the University of Michigan in computer science and engineering, conducting research at the intersection of computer architecture and networks.
ElCompEngr'26
Doctoral student Muhammad Ali is recognized for his engaging research at the intersection of artificial intelligence and broadcast journalism. Ali is committed to teaching future generations of students to work with these technologies and become smart consumers of news who are aware of AI’s inroads into the nightly news.
PhDJour'26
Josie Armstrong is recognized by the ATLAS Institute as the 2026 Outstanding Undergraduate Student Award winner. For the past two years, Armstrong has worked as a learning assistant (LA) for coding and web design courses at the ATLAS Institute. As an LA, Armstrong found a passion for teaching and pedagogy, and now researches LA pedagogy and program structure under Anthony Pinter. Through their research and work as an LA, Armstrong hopes to support future generations of students and LAs at the ATLAS Institute.
CTD, Cine'26
Jamison Barcelona received a Graduating Leader of the Year Award from 鶹ѰBoulder’s Center for Leadership. A McNair Scholar who also received a College of Engineering and Applied Science Research Award, Barcelona researches polymer physics and quantum field theory, with additional interests in philosophy and literature.
ChemEngr, EngrPhys'26
Alison Bloomfield is recognized by the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering with a Perseverance Award as an Outstanding Undergraduate Student. After graduation, Bloomfield will be spending three months solo traveling through Southeast Asia before beginning a role in research and development with Medtronic. Alison is excited to work on technology that directly impacts people's health, safety or quality of life.
ElCompEngr'26
Oliver Browne is recognized by the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering with a Global Engagement Award as an Outstanding Undergraduate Student. After a summer of travel, Browne will continue his education at 鶹ѰBoulder with a master's in electrical and computer engineering. Someday, Browne hopes to solve complex and meaningful problems around the world.
ElEngr'26
Paolo Chavez Calvadores, graduating with a master's in teacher leadership, received the School of Education's Outstanding Community Engagement Award for Master's Students for his sustained commitments to teaching practices that cultivate compassion and dignity among his colleagues, students and the broader communities. For a decade, he has been a science teacher in rural Northern Colorado, where he teaches physical science, biology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, zoology and forensics in his small district.
MEdu'26
Carson Carere is a Boettcher Foundation Scholar receiving his degree in business administration with an emphasis in finance. After graduation, Carere will spend the summer traveling before beginning his position in the financial analyst program at Partners Group in Denver in the fall. Carson held internships in private equity and investment banking during his time at Leeds and co-led a Leeds Student Government project that brought Deion Sanders to Leeds to discuss personal branding and connect with business students.
Bus'26
Ari Quezada Caro received the College of Engineering and Applied Science Community Impact and Research Awards. He has been deeply involved in the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE), serving as treasurer. Caro also developed workshops, provided one-on-one mentorship and supported peers with resumes, interviews and career decisions. Through Día de Ciencias, he helped design and lead STEM programming for middle school students. His research spans multiple labs, including work in the Biological Engineering Laboratory with Professor Timothy Whitehead, where he developed protein-based biosensors using engineered yeast to improve detection of harmful substances in water. Caro also conducted research in the Hernandez Aerobiology & Disinfection Laboratory with Professor Mark Hernandez, studying how classroom air quality impacts respiratory illness in elementary schools.
ChemEngr'26
Zach Chagnon is recognized by the Critical Media Practices Department as a William W. White Outstanding Senior, an honor that recognizes students based on academics, professional achievement and service to the college. In addition to an impressive portfolio of documentary work, Zach produced a narrative film for his capstone called "Blót," which means "ritual" in Old Norse, a tie in with his Nordic studies minor. The film explores the importance of communal connection through sensory and social experience.
CritMedia'26
Hayden Chedid is recognized by the Journalism Department as a William W. White Outstanding Senior, an honor that recognizes students based on academics, professional achievement and service to the college. After transferring to 鶹ѰBoulder, Chedid became editor-in-chief of the campus fashion magazine Roam Boulder, in addition to conducting investigative journalism and an internship with The Borgen Project. In her work writing articles about foreign aid, Chedid was made more aware of the responsibility that comes with journalism and the impact of storytelling.
Jour'26
Rocco Cieslak maintained a 4.0 GPA while completing his degree in three years and completed over 20 credit hours of pre-medical coursework alongside his business studies. Cieslak worked in real estate, wealth management and tech consulting, gaining experience in deal sourcing, valuation, sales and negotiation, and private market investing while at Leeds. He also pitched 26 North Private Equity to the Boulder Investment Group alongside Josh Harris, co-founder of Apollo Global Management. Cieslak received the Academic Excellence Award and the Chancellor’s Recognition Award for earning a 4.0 GPA throughout his entire college career, was named to the Dean’s List six times, and was selected for the National Society of Leadership and Success, Beta Gamma Sigma and the Honors Program. After graduation, he will begin his career in commercial real estate at Matthews Real Estate Investment Services, with long-term plans to transition into real estate private equity and ultimately found his own firm.
Bus'26
Genevieve Clow is graduating with a doctorate in atmospheric and oceanic sciences. During her time at 鶹ѰBoulder, she studied marine phytoplankton populations on a global scale using earth system models and satellite observations of chlorophyll. She, her advisor Nicole Lovenduski and other collaborators published “The utility of simulated ocean chlorophyll observations: a case study with the Chlorophyll Observation Simulator Package (version 1) in CESMv2.2” in 2024. She also helped to organize the ATOC SEEDS program, which connects graduate student volunteers with local K–8 schools for hands-on Earth science demonstrations.
PhDAtmos'26
Jessica Connell has participated in research with three different groups at 鶹ѰBoulder. She began in the Nabity group in aerospace engineering, working on improving carbon dioxide capture and filtration for life support systems, such as those used on the International Space Station. She then joined the Weimer lab, where she explored the use of concentrated sunlight to produce sustainable fuels. Most recently, Connell joined the Shields lab to complete her senior thesis, focusing on improving quantitative biodistribution methods to support cancer treatment research. In addition to her research, Connell has served as a chemical engineering course assistant for the past year and a half. She has also been an active member of oSTEM, an LGBTQ+ STEM student organization, for four years and a board member for three.
ChemBioEngr'26
Arjun Dalwadi is recognized by the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering with a Research Award as an Outstanding Undergraduate Student. Dalwadi been a member of Gyenis Quantum Lab for two years, where he developed an upgraded cryogenic microwave sample holder for use in characterization and measurement of superconducting quantum devices and investigated the electrodynamics behind inductive coupling between a qubit and its bias line. Dalwadi will be starting the doctorate program in quantum science and engineering at Princeton University this fall.
ElCompEngr'26
Kate Davis is recognized by the Information Science Department as a William W. White Outstanding Senior, an honor that recognizes students based on academics, professional achievement and service to the college. As an art practices minor, Davis uses ceramics to tell stories through data, using qualitative methods to understand data and human stories, then encoding that into the qualities of ceramics—its texture, form, color. Currently, Davis is working on a piece showcasing the experience of home loss from the 2012 Waldo Canyon fire.
InfoSci'26
Jean De Servien-Kenwood has honored his late wife's wish in returning to 鶹ѰBoulder to complete his doctoral degree in French after 60 years away. The 91-year-old scholar completed his dissertation examining four of Georges Bernanos novels, exploring spiritual struggles, grace and the tug between good and evil.
PhDFren'26
Connor Desrosiers is recognized by the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering with a Research Award as an Outstanding Undergraduate Student. Desrosiers' research at JILA centered on projects in quantum optics and photonics. This fall, Desrosiers will be pursuing a doctorate in electrical engineering and computer science at MIT, where he plans to work in the field of integrated photonics.
ElEngr'26
When 鶹ѰBoulder transitioned to a new Wi-Fi system early this semester, students, faculty and staff had Averie Dow to thank for designing the eye-catching posters informing users of the change and action they needed to take. As a 鶹ѰOffice of Information Technology team member, Dow was familiar with the system and eager to make the transition as user-friendly as possible, utilizing her expertise in graphic design and technology.
InfoSci'26
Each year, the Colorado Engineering Council invites academic engineering departments and societies to nominate graduating seniors who embody the values of academic excellence, personal integrity, professionalism and community service to be considered for the council's Silver Medal. This year's 鶹ѰBoulder winner is mechanical engineering major Asaiah Gifford, who also received college awards for Community Impact, Culture Impact and Global Engagement.
MechEngr'26
Loraine Smith Glidewell has earned her doctorate in teacher learning, research and practice from the School of Education, where she earned the Outstanding Teaching Award. Glidewell's enthusiasm, sharp professional vision and commitment to preparing future rural educators make her an exceptional instructor and rising education scholar. Glidewell was selected for this award for her ability to design powerful learning experiences, build strong classroom communities and support teacher candidates in ways that leave them feeling seen, motivated and profoundly engaged.
PhDEdu'26
Jinjae Han graduates this spring with a major in middle and high school teaching with an emphasis in secondary humanities. She has received the School of Education Outstanding Undergraduate Contribution to Community Engagement Award. Han enjoys growing interdisciplinary connections, and, during her time at CU, she regularly attended extracurricular ethnic studies events on campus and engaged with communities outside of 鶹Ѱto grow and learn.
Edu'26
Collette Heskett is graduating this spring with the Outstanding Capstone/Practitioner Inquiry Project Award for her innovative graduate capstone project. Using innovative strategies and an intervention method originally developed here at 鶹ѰBoulder, Heskett's capstone study showed that students in her treatment groups were more likely to pay attention to each other in collaborative activities, advancing critical thinking skills with respect to AI literacy and providing simple and promising strategies for broader implementation.
MEdu'26
Alexis “Lex” Hunter graduates this spring with a doctorate in learning sciences and human development from the School of Education. She has received the school’s Outstanding Graduate Award in Community Engagement for her visionary and ethical community-engaged scholarship, which centers relationality, reciprocity and the wisdom of Black and Latine youth and communities. Hunter was selected for this award for her leadership in participatory action research, her commitment to collective care and her transformative contributions to university-community partnerships.
PhDEdu'26
Bridger Jackson graduates this spring with the School of Education Outstanding MA+ Graduate Contribution to Teaching Award for his commitment to purposeful, student-centered teaching and his meaningful contributions to his classroom community. Jackson creates learning experiences for his classroom that engage students in caring and meaningful ways, positioning him to continue to make a lasting impact in education.
MEdu'26
Hannah Kijner led 鶹ѰBoulder's chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA), which gave her the chance to represent the university at the national ICON conference. Kijner was part of a team that collaborated with the PRSSA team from Colorado State University to raise approximately $10,000 toward the trip. Kijner is looking forward to fostering the relationships she's built from the conference and continuing to set herself apart in the professional space.
StComm'26
Turner Land was selected as the 2026 University Libraries Outstanding Student Graduate, celebrating his years of exceptional service and leadership that have left a lasting impact across the libraries. As one of the University Libraries’ most experienced student employees, Land took on a mentorship role, guiding new student workers and helping them understand circulation policies and day-to-day operations.
Ling, IntAf'26
Lauren Lopez is recognized by the Media Studies Department as a William W. White Outstanding Senior, an honor that recognizes students based on academics, professional achievement and service to the college. On top of that achievement, Lopez was selected as the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information as the Outstanding Spring Graduate. In just three years, Lopez has held four on-campus jobs, completed an honors thesis and is graduating summa cum laude.
Comm'26
Tori Martin, graduating with a master's in educational foundations, policy and practice from the School of Education, has received the school’s Outstanding MA Capstone Award for producing an exceptionally rigorous and theoretically sophisticated capstone that reframes how we understand inequity in Colorado’s school choice systems. Her innovative cross‑district policy analysis, grounded in cutting‑edge research and an original coding framework, offers powerful insights into how admissions policies can perpetuate or disrupt opportunity hoarding and educational injustice.
MEdu'26
Among numerous other honors, Arianna McCarty received three College of Engineering and Applied Science awards: Outstanding Undergraduate of the College, an Academic Engagement Award and a Research Award. She served in seven course assistant roles during her time at CU. McCarty's research spans three laboratories and four published papers, from studying the respiratory microbiome at 鶹ѰAnschutz to engineering heart tissue models in the Burdick Biomaterials and Biofabrication Laboratory to better understand cardiac damage after heart attacks. Beyond the lab, McCarty has given back through work as an EMT, volunteering with Engineers Without Borders and leadership roles with the Boettcher Foundation and Goldwater Scholar Council—reflecting her commitment to community and impact.
ChemBioEngr'26
Graduating with a Bachelor of Music degree in composition and a Certificate in Music Technology, Holly McMahon is the College of Music’s 2025-26 recipient of a Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award in recognition of her high level of musical and academic excellence, demonstrated leadership and service, and contributions to an inclusive community.
Mus'26
Valeria Mendoza Frutos graduates this spring after a nontraditional collegiate experience. Frutos began her education at 鶹ѰBoulder in 2020 but took a break when she needed to prioritize her family. She came back to 鶹ѰBoulder with the assistance of the Finish What You Started program, a federal support initiative administered by the Division of Continuing Education. After years of dedication and perseverance, Frutos will receive her degree as a first-generation college graduate with the hope of someday returning to pursue a law degree and the knowledge that anything is possible.
Span'26
Rico Nelson is the recipient of the Milo S. Ketchum Award, which recognizes outstanding graduates in civil or architectural engineering for academic excellence and meaningful engagement beyond the classroom. A Kiewit Design-Build Scholar and course assistant for first-year engineering students, Nelson has distinguished himself through both scholarship and mentorship. He is also a member of the National Society of Black Engineers. Nelson's impact extends beyond campus, from mentoring youth in local ministry to engaging in restorative justice work in South Africa—contributing to communities both locally and globally.
CivEngr'26
Kaoutar El Ouadi is recognized by the Media Studies Department as a William W. White Outstanding Senior, an honor that recognizes students based on academics, professional achievement and service to the college. Ouadi was able to translate her deep love of music into an internship with the Fox Theatre in Boulder, a beloved local landmark hosting concerts, plays, comedy shows and more.
MediaSt, PolSci'26
While working toward his bachelor’s degree, Hunter Pratt founded Astronomy on Tap Boulder, an event where scientists present space topics in a comfortable, social environment to educate and spark interest in community members. Pratt also launched the astronomy podcast "Open Orbit," broadcast through 鶹ѰBoulder's Radio 1190.
AstroPhys'26
After defending his doctorate in chemical and biological engineering, Ritu Raj graduates as the recipient of the department’s highest honor, the Max Peters Outstanding Graduate Student Award. His research on microscale transport and microrobotics explores how microparticles move using chemical, magnetic and acoustic fields, advancing applications in both fundamental science and emerging technologies. In his time here, Raj earned an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, authored or co-authored eight papers (including publications in Small, ACS Nano and Soft Matter), gave 25-plus talks and posters, served as the lead TA and co-instructor for Heat & Mass Transfer with outstanding teaching evaluations, mentored five undergraduates who have gone on to great positions after graduation, and provided extensive service to the university and community.
ChemBioEngr'26
Krithik Ranjan graduates with a doctorate in creative technology and design at the ATLAS Institute. Ranjan is a designer, researcher and educator passionate about imagining and developing innovative technologies to support people’s creative technology interactions. In his research, he develops and studies environments for creating and learning with computers that support open-ended creativity and tinkering across domains.
PhDCTD'26
Jessi Sachs has been a member of various campus publications and was a fellow of the competitive Carnegie-Knight News21 Fellowship hosted by Arizona State University’s Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Sachs' story, written alongside Ann Marie Vanderveen (Jour’25), about medical deportations was picked up by multiple outlets, including The Associated Press.
Jour'26
In the Bowman Research Group, Kate Seymour develops computer models to predict how light-activated plastics (photopolymers) form and harden during manufacturing. Her work addresses a key gap in existing models, helping reduce costly trial and error. Photopolymers are used in products such as dental fillings, contact lenses and 3D-printed medical devices. By improving how these materials are predicted and designed, Seymour's work can help researchers develop them more efficiently, lowering costs and accelerating the development of new health care technologies.
ChemEngr,Chem'26
Alyssa Shappee graduates this spring with a major in middle and high school teaching with an emphasis in science. She has received the School of Education Outstanding Undergraduate Contribution to Teaching Award. Shappee's passion for teaching science was evident through her thoughtful classroom observations, lesson planning and mentor feedback through her student teaching experience. Next year, Shappee will teach high school science as well as coach the high school dance team.
Edu'26
Rupashi Sood is recognized by the College of Engineering and Applied Science with a Research Award. Her research in the Hind Lab examines how immune cells interact with blood vessels during inflammation. Sood's work aims to better understand autoimmune diseases and support the development of treatments that reduce harmful inflammation without compromising the body’s defenses.
ChemBioEngr'26
Lola Stanley was selected as the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information's Outstanding Fall Graduate. For Stanley, who transferred to 鶹ѰBoulder from the University of Texas at Austin, the journey to graduation has been marked by balance, focus and a commitment to showing up—both in the classroom and on the soccer field. Her college experiences have given her a better understanding of the power of setting goals and achieving them.
Comm'25
Leah Szabo leveraged her expertise in public relations and communications to land an internship with HBO Max. She was ultimately invited to remain in the internship for longer than the anticipated period, due to her strong work ethic and adaptability. At 鶹ѰBoulder, Szabo also served as president for the campus chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America.
StComm'26
Stephanie Torres is recognized by the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering with a Community Impact Award as an Outstanding Undergraduate Student. After graduation, Torres plans to work as an intern with AE Design over the summer and transition into a full-time role in industry by the fall. She is looking forward to gaining hands-on experience and continuing to expand her skillset—excited to apply what she learns in a real-world setting.
ElCompEngr'26
Brook Vann graduates this spring with a doctorate in media production. They have worked with faculty from both the College of Communication, Media, Design and Information and Dartmouth on two digital research projects with an emphasis on social justice, featuring the Pulse nightclub shooting and a eugenics campaign North Carolina embarked on a century ago. Additionally, they represented 鶹ѰBoulder at a national teaching conference last fall.
PhDCritMedia'26
The College of Music named Luka Vezmar the 2026 Outstanding Graduating Senior, based on a strong record of scholarship, musicianship and an emerging record of service and leadership. Majoring in both composition and oboe performance, Vezmar was doubly engaged in the program, while also performing with the Bar Before Quintet. Vezmar composed pieces for the College of Music Chamber Winds as well as commissions for Chase the Music, bringing inspiration to children battling critical illnesses with music written and performed just for them.
Mus'26
Evie Warner is recognized by the Environmental Design Department as a William W. White Outstanding Senior, an honor that recognizes students based on academics, professional achievement and service to the college. In addition to her community work outside class as a proud bee booster, Warner served as secretary and treasurer of the Industrial Designers Society of America chapter at 鶹ѰBoulder.
EnvDes'26
Edward Wawrzynek is recognized by the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering with a Research Award as an Outstanding Undergraduate Student. Wawrzynek spent one year working in the High Speed Digital Engineering Group and two years in the Antenna Research Group at 鶹ѰBoulder. His work centers on electromagnetics, the fundamental physics that describes how electric and magnetic fields behave and how they support wave propagation. The application of electromagnetics to engineering problems is essential for the design of wireless devices, ranging across communications, sensing, navigation and biomedical.
ElEngr'26
Leon Weigert is recognized by the Department of Electrical, Computer and Energy Engineering with an Academic Engagement Award as an Outstanding Undergraduate Student. His research combined electrical engineering and mathematics to better understand how systems behave, observing hardware and machine learning models. This fall, Weigert will pursue a master's in computational systems engineering at Carnegie Mellon University, focusing on machine learning, dynamical systems and hardware.
ElEngr'26
Esperanza Zárate graduates this spring with a major in elementary education and has received the School of Education Outstanding Contributions to Leadership in Education Award and Outstanding Overall Undergraduate Award. A leader within the School of Education, Zárate launched 鶹ѰBoulder’s new chapter of the Bilingual Education Student Organization, a national organization with chapters across the country. Zárate's commitment and passion for bilingual education shines through her work with emergent bilingual students and their families, and she will continue her work next year as a sixth-grade teacher at a dual language school in Colorado.
Edu'26
What the Class of 2026 wants you to know
Read words of wisdom from some of the many talented and innovative students who are graduating and starting on their next adventures. As they become Forever Buffs, they leave their inspirational legacies—with advice and reflection—for those who follow.
Read more commencement stories
- A non-traditional student found his purpose in the cosmos. Now he helps his community do the same.
- Colorado Law student graduates with 573 public service hours
- ‘Good evening, I’m an A.I., and this is your nightly news’ (CMDI)
- Pedaling Toward the Future: Celebrating Our Spring 2026 Buffalo Bicycle Classic Graduates
Editor's note:See alist of degree abbreviations.