The LMU community, Lion families, and friends gathered on Friday, April 25, 2025, in Sacred Heart Chapel to celebrate student achievements in academics, service, and leadership during the third annual Student Academic, Service, and Leadership Awards (SASLA). The event recognized more than 200 awards presented to individual students and registered student organizations who have demonstrated exceptional academic excellence and leadership, honoring first-year students, graduating seniors, and graduate students. These students exemplify the ideals of Jesuit and Marymount traditions. The event live stream is available here.
“When we speak about ‘educating the whole person,’ and cultivating within students the Ignatian desire for the magis – that restless pursuit of more – we are talking about the students who are, in equal measures, scholars, advocates, and leaders, building upon their academic excellence by distinguishing themselves within the university community and beyond,” said President Timothy Law Snyder, Ph.D.
Seniors and graduates in the Class of 2025 were recognized with the university’s highest honors, including:
Isabella Kaur Chhina ’25 was selected from the graduating class as the Valedictorian and will address the Class of 2025 during the 113th Undergraduate Commencement Exercises on Saturday, May 17. The Valedictorian has maintained a minimum 3.7 grade point average after at least 60 graded semester hours in residence at the university and is selected based on a speech presented to the Valedictorian Selection Committee, a delegation of faculty, administration, and students.
Elisabeth Gothelf ’25 received the University Scholar of the Year award, presented to a four-year undergraduate who is determined to have achieved the best overall academic record of the graduating class. Gothelf is also a Program Scholar for both sociology and theatre arts, received a Presidential Citation, and is the LMU College of Communications and Fines Arts College Scholar.
Four students, Ananya Desai, McKenzie Reese, Sofia Rossi, and Kia Johnson, received the Arrupe Inclusive Excellence and Social Justice Awards, reserved for graduating seniors and graduate students who have shown a record of explicit work with diversity, equity, and inclusion issues. The award is named in honor of Jesuit Superior General Pedro Arrupe, S.J., who worked tirelessly to promote justice in the service of faith. The University Intercultural Council selects the awardees, who select students who demonstrate robust academic achievement and outstanding contributions to inclusive excellence and social justice.
Julia Souza Ramos Novis ’25 received the Donald Merrifield, S.J. Award, a Raymunde McKay, R.S.H.M. Award, and the Ambassador of the Year, who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to our campus community and embodies the virtues of international diplomacy. She displays genuine compassion and a commitment to faith and justice, facilitating important cultural discussions with understanding. Her daily acts of leadership inspire others to strive for a more equitable and inclusive world. A multi-year resident and house manager of LMU’s Global House, she has also served on the executive board of the Belles Service Organization and participated in numerous international immersions. As an Intercultural Facilitator, she has guided some of our campus’s most sensitive cultural discussions in a thoughtful and compassionate manner, seeking to foster understanding. She has served as an inspiration by her example and continue striving for a world where equity and inclusion become ideals and realities.
The final awards of the program included the Marian, Loughran, Ignatian, Magis, and the Robert Graham, S.J. Alumni Awards:
Stephanie Benson ’25 received the 2025 Marian Award, a Presidential Citation, and a McKay Award for creating a space for diverse identities, focusing on theatre arts and dance. Her combined thesis highlights the struggle for justice and the hope that can inspire future progress. As president of the Gryphon Circle Service Organization, they partnered with the National Dance Education Organization to host performances at Marycrest Manor. During her leadership, they revived Gryphon Games, expanded Education Month, and initiated a banned books advocacy week. This student also co-choreographed for the Del Rey Players, led multiple retreats, and significantly contributed to LGBT Student Services and Campus Ministry, helping to establish a new LGBTQ+ retreat.
Michael Hennessy ’25 received the 2025 Ignatian Award, the Father James Loughran Award for community service, a Presidential Citation, and a McKay Award for making significant contributions by assisting neighbors with physical disabilities through the construction of assistive devices, completing three engineering internships, and leading a sustainability initiative to promote renewable energy on campus. As a servant leader, they have actively sought and created opportunities for impactful involvement both on and off campus through collaboration with local organizations to bridge the gap between campus activities and social justice efforts This recipient also led an Alternative Breaks immersion trip focused on permaculture in Puerto Rico. As the president of their service organization, the organization completed over 3,000 hours of service, the highest number of hours completed by Sursum Corda in an academic year.
Exodus Broussard ’25 was named the 2025 Magis Award recipient, received a McKay Award, a Presidential Citation, and president of this year’s Student Organization of the Year, Brothers of Consciousness. Broussard exemplifies strong character and compassion while remaining dedicated to community engagement. On campus, they have served as an Intercultural Facilitator, a Campus Ministry’s Ignacio Companions program leader, a Tomodachi Inouye Scholar, and a member of The Learning Community. Their commitment to servant leadership is evident, and they truly embody what it means to be a person for and with others. They are an artist pursuing a degree in animation, aspiring to bring the stories of underrepresented individuals to life through their work. As a student organization president, they have successfully led their community to significant growth while serving both on and off campus.
Haley Grant ’25 received the Robert Graham, S.J. Alumni Award and plans to pursue art, marriage, and family therapy. She has dedicated herself to lifelong learning and social justice. She volunteers each week in LMU’s Food Pantry with the Sursum Corda Service Organization and engages in issues around food justice. As a co-director of this year’s Special Games, she was instrumental in developing the focus of the student-led committee and helped advance best practices for adaptive play that will make a positive impact on Special Games for years to come. Outside of LMU, this recipient teaches through ARTsmart at Westside Global Awareness Magnet School and also serves as vice president of the Surfrider Foundation.
Haley Huntington ’25 received the Robert Graham, S.J. Alumni Award for exceptional leadership at LMU while extensively volunteering in the Los Angeles community. A Christian Life Community small group leader and vice president of service for the Creare Service Organization, this student was recognized last year as a junior with the Riordan Award for their dedication to serving the Al Wooten Center in Inglewood. Recently, she led a new Ignacio Companions trip to Kenya to connect with local college students and develop an exchange program. Despite her commitments, she has maintained high academic performance in biology and plans to pursue a career in medicine.
The 2025 SASLA convocation also included awards for Program Scholars, College and School Scholars, Presidential Citations, the Raymundo McKay R.S.H.M. awards to graduating seniors, Alfred Kilp, S.J. awards for juniors, Renee L. Harrangue, Ph.D. awards for sophomores, Peg Dolan, R.S.H.M. awards for first-year students, Student Life awards, Student EXP and Graduate Student EXP Awards. The complete list of recipients can be viewed here.
