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Scholars Celebrates Citation and Founders Circle Award Winners at Annual Ceremony

overhead photo of award winners

When the Citation class of 2023 entered the University of Maryland, they were already adjusting to a rapidly changing world being constantly reshaped by the Covid-19 global pandemic. One thing that didn’t change – their commitment to excellence in the classroom. All who successfully completed the requirements of their respective Scholars program received their official Scholars citation. But there were some that went above and beyond the expectations, leaving a lasting impact on the community.

Members of the Scholars class of 2023 were honored on October 26, 2023, at the annual College Park Scholars Citation Awards ceremony. Forty-four total upperclassmen, two from each program, were chosen by their respective program directors for outstanding achievement and outstanding citizenship. These students not only exemplified academic excellence but also were engaged community members impacting College Park and beyond.

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Arts program winners with certificates
Arts Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Arts
Outstanding Achievement Award - Jennifer Mangandi-Sibrian and Elena Poll
Citizenship Award - Sofia Castiblanco and Abigail Elliott
Business, Society and Economy award winners with certificates
BSE Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Business, Society and the Economy
Outstanding Achievement Award - Abbas Islaw and Jessica Matloub
Citizenship Award - Josh Cuff and Jonathan Rosemond
ETE winners with certificates
ETE Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Environment, Technology and Economy
Outstanding Achievement Award - Moumita Afrin and Sam Chang
Citizenship Award - Ryan McBride and Anthony Righter
Global Public Health winners with certificates
GPH Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Global Public Health
Outstanding Achievement Award - Ella McCloskey and Nikki Tajaddini
Citizenship Award - Jhennifer Celestino-Alva and Caitlin Price
International Studies winnners with certificates
IS Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Inernational Studies
Outstanding Achievement Award - Riley Blaugrund and Aryan Munot
Citizenship Award - Danielle Gershman and Aoy Staples
Justice and Legal Thought winners with certificates
JLT Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Justice and Legal Thought
Outstanding Achievement Award - Mahi Pandya and Anika Reddy
Citizenship Award - Kayla Bladzinski and Declann Kirby
Life Sciences award winners with certificates
LS Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Life Sciences
Outstanding Achievement Award - Marcia Contreras Morales and Danielle London
Citizenship Award - Arman Charkhabi and Sofia Villagomez
Media, Self and Society award winners with certificates
MSS Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Media, Self and Society
Outstanding Achievement Award - Carl Ermitano and Megan Valmidiano
Citizenship Award - Jon Dennis and Ryan Warrenfeltz
Public Leadership award winners with certificates
PL Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Public Leadership
Outstanding Achievement Award - Riya Boyapati and Lily Fleishmann
Citizenship Award - Miriam Oke and Grayson Vintz
SDU award winners with certificates
SDU Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Science, Discovery and the Universe
Outstanding Achievement Award - Maria Bottino and Mikael Nguyen
Citizenship Award - Sonja Hakala and Gwen Pobee
Science and Global Change award winners and certificates
SGC Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Science and Global Change
Outstanding Achievement Award - Kevin Whiten and Kevin Zheng
Citizenship Award - Sarah Han and Charlie Roberts
STS award winners with certificates
STS Outstanding Achievement and Citizenship Awardees
Science, Technology and Society
Outstanding Achievement Award - Eric Chang and Ashley Sharpe
Citizenship Award - Briti Nebhani and Arina Petrova

Nine additional students were selected to receive some of Scholars’ highest honors: six Founders Circle Awards plus the Meghan Price Scholarship for Leadership and Public Service, the Martha and Ira Berlin Legacy Fund Scholarship, and the Rebecca Basena Kampi Memorial Scholarship.

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kelly biglin and dr. maring
Meghan Price Scholarship for Leadership and Public Service
Kelly Biglin and Dr. Lis Maring, program director of Global Public Health
riley blaugrund and dr. stacy kosko
Ira Berlin Writing Award
Riley Blaugrund and Dr. Stacy Kosko, program director of International Studies
marcia morales contreras and dr. erin thomson
Nancy & Ira Shapiro Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award
Marcia Morales Contreras and Dr. Erin Thomson, associate director of Life Sciecnes
lily fleishman
Katherine McAdams Leadership Award
Lily Fleischmann, Public Leadership Scholar
kayla bladzinksi and dr. robert koulish
College Park Scholars Tri-Star Award
Kayla Bladzinksi and Dr. Robert Koulish, program director of Justice and Legal Thought

(Not present at the ceremony: Sean Kim, Arts - Martha & Ira Berlin Legacy Fund Scholarship; Caroline Thorne, International Studies - Rebecca Basena Kampi Memorial Scholarship; Makda Bekele, Environment, Technology and Economy - Phyllis Peres Award for Study Abroad; and Mars Brusgraff, Arts - Beth and John Pattison Award for Creativity)

Complete bios for each of the winners can be found in the virtual program book.

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