College Honors 10 Outstanding Seniors For High Academic And Professional Achievement

With spring graduation dates approaching, the College of Arts and Sciences presents 10 students with the Outstanding Graduating Senior Award, recognizing those who embody the Aggie Core Values and have achieved academic and professional excellence during their time at Texas A&M. Each student was nominated by faculty and staff. 

“With a college as diverse as ours, excellence in content areas is abundant,” said Dr. Terri Pantuso, associate dean for assessment and curricular matters and instructional associate professor in the Department of English. “However, many of our students excel beyond the classroom and embody all the Aggie Core Values as ambassadors in their communities and for our country. We are proud to celebrate these outstanding students and are honored to have them represent the finest of what a degree from the College of Arts and Sciences has to offer.” 

Below are the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Graduating Seniors.

Jackson Baker is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in history and anthropology on the archaeology track. Throughout his college career he has been a member of the Texas A&M Corps of Cadets Company I-1, which has provided him with opportunities to develop his leadership skills, including receiving his Corps brass as a freshman cadet. The Corps brass, which represents unity and strength, was awarded to Baker following the Corps Brass Culmination, an event that represents the completion of three intense training phases. Baker is passionate about advancing his knowledge about the past and fosters this through his degree plan and involvement in the Department of History. He has spent time as a student worker for the Center for the Study of First Americans, a history research intern and a volunteer archaeologist, experiences that allowed him to build strong professional connections and deepen his skills through hands-on, real-world learning. Baker has been involved with the Anthropology Graduate and Undergraduate Mentorship Program and the Undergraduate Research Scholars Thesis Program and plans to continue his education at Texas A&M by earning his master’s degree in history.  

Ana Gou is an international studies and Spanish major with a minor in communication. Passionate about gaining international perspectives, Gou has spent her years at Texas A&M traveling and broadening knowledge through on-campus leadership and educational travel opportunities. She received a full scholarship to study abroad in Spain, where she expanded her Spanish-speaking and comprehension skills. Gou enjoys mentoring others and has done so through her involvement in the Brazos Valley as an ESL teacher, with Teach for America and as an undergraduate teacher’s assistant for COMM 345. Gou is most proud of her internship with Sen. John Cornyn in Washington, D.C., which she completed through the Public Policy Internship Program. Through the internship, Gou gained firsthand professional experience in the policy process at the national level. Gou credits the program with equipping her with new perspectives and communication skills. Throughout her college career, Gou has been involved in several on-campus organizations including membership in Freshman Leading in Acceptance, Kindness, and Equality (FLAKE), the MSC L.T. Jordan ILAP internship program and as a peer note-taker with the Division of Student Affairs’ Disability Resources.  

Megan Hardy will graduate with a Bachelor of Science in chemistry and a minor in biology. As a student, Hardy has prioritized forming close relationships with her peers while advancing her knowledge through research and mentorship. As a Peer-Led Team Learning Leader, she has collaborated with individuals from diverse backgrounds, assisting with chemistry classes and supporting other students. Passionate about her faith, she has been involved with Impact Retreat as a counselor and co-chair and as a member of Aggie Cru and Declaration Church. As a chemistry major, Hardy has completed research under Dr. Alison Fout and alongside her mentor, Hsien-Liang Cho, which deepened her appreciation for science and helped her develop a tenacious approach to solving problems. She enjoys giving back to the community and spends time volunteering at Hope Pregnancy Center and as a mentor at Kemp-Carver Elementary School. Hardy will attend medical school at The University of Texas at Tyler to pursue becoming a primary care physician.

Joohan Kim is earning his Bachelor of Science in chemistry on a biological-chemistry track. Kim spent his college years conducting research and holding mentorship positions. He began researching chemistry as a freshman while working in Dr. Xin Yan’s research lab and since then has completed several summer research internships. He participated in internships at The McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston, The UTHealth Long School of Medicine in San Antonio, The UTHealth School of Public Health and UT Southwestern Medical Center. Kim was selected for a fully funded, 10-week research internship, which led him to present his work at the regional American Chemical Society meeting in fall 2024. Kim volunteers with Save Our Streets Ministries and as a peer teaching leader for a freshman chemistry course. He plans to work as a medical scribe and research assistant at UT Southwestern Medical Center before applying for medical school. 

Katie Kopf will receive a Bachelor of Arts in psychology with minors in Spanish and philosophy. Kopf enjoys helping others, learning languages and expressing herself creatively. She has grown these passions through involvement in student organizations and academic opportunities. As a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Center’s John 15 organization, Aggie School Volunteers and the Mexican Student Association, Kopf has connected with students from diverse backgrounds, forming close friendships and a strong sense of community. She has also prioritized her academic development through involvement in Dr. Joshua Hicks’ Existential Psychology Collaboratory and Dr. Stephanie C. Payne’s Distracted Driving Lab. Studying psychology has deepened her understanding of human behavior, allowing her to develop strong analytical and people skills. She also attributes her two minors to broadening her perspective and strengthening her communication abilities and critical-thinking skills. Kopf has garnered several mentorship roles, including being a PsycMentor and a senior resident adviser, which have given her the opportunity to connect with and support students academically and personally. Upon graduation, she hopes to continue working in the field of psychology. 

Josiah Kwon is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in communication, a minor in economics and a certificate in strategic communication. Throughout his time at Texas A&M he has been involved in several nonprofit, professional and social organizations, including The Brazos Valley Coalition on Suicide Prevention, Lambda Pi Eta (Texas A&M chapter of the National Communication Association Honor Society) and Lambda Chi Alpha. He has also worked as a Texas A&M Aggie Spirit bus driver and an undergraduate teacher’s assistant for a communication course, which he credits with helping him strengthen his public relations and collaboration skills. As a communication major, he has developed a passion for visual design, which he pursues by working as a freelance designer and creating graphics for his organizations. His greatest accomplishment has been implementing a campaign for a local nonprofit initiative in COMM 321, where he led the research, audience targeting, strategic messaging and design processes within a group of students. Doing so gave Kwon professional experience and allowed him to use his skills to make a positive difference. After graduation, Kwon plans on moving to Austin and working at Accenture under the Texas Medicaid & Healthcare Partnership. 

Jayden Pellegrini will receive her Bachelor of Science in communication and a certificate in leadership and conflict management. She has been involved in several organizations focused on fostering a sense of community and support on campus, many of which have led to leadership positions. She has been a member, programs staff member and director of engagement for Freshmen Leaders in Education and Human Development, a member of the women’s organization Ryllies, and has been involved in Fish Camp, where she served as a counselor for two years and is currently a Fish Camp chair. Pellegrini has expanded upon her interpersonal skills through her communication courses, which have helped her become a better leader and critical thinker and has expanded her conflict-resolution and collaboration skills. She is most proud of her student involvement and taking advantage of every opportunity Texas A&M has to offer. Upon graduation, she will attend the Texas A&M School of Public Health to pursue a master’s degree in public health with a focus on health policy and management.  

Mariana Ruffo is graduating with both a Bachelor of Arts and master’s degrees in communication, with a minor in philosophy and a pre-law certification. Throughout her time in Aggieland, Ruffo embraced leadership and mentorship through student-led organizations like Freshman Exemplifying Aggie Spirit Together (FEAST), St. Mary’s Catholic Center’s John15 organization, Sophomores Leading and Motivating (SLAM), Fish Camp and Lambda Pi Eta. Within these organizations Ruffo became a student leader, serving as the Lambda Pi Eta Vice President and a Fish Camp Chair — an experience she describes as one of the most challenging and rewarding of her college career. Balancing her rigorous undergraduate and graduate studies while mentoring incoming students through these roles sharpened her skills in leadership, communication and time management. Ruffo has a strong passion for the field of communication which has allowed her to explore a wide range of interests while connecting with professors and peers who challenged her to grow intellectually and personally. After graduation, Ruffo plans to attend law school, where she hopes to use her education to advocate for individuals to feel seen and heard.  

Diego Sepulveda-Allen is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and history with a minor in Spanish and certifications in philosophy pre-law and legal history. He was co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Texas A&M Undergraduate Journal of Law & Society, which is part of the Office of Undergraduate Research. First published in April, the journal includes scholarly articles written by Texas A&M students in the areas of law, government and public policy. Sepulveda-Allen’s involvement with the journal has allowed him to form close professional relationships with other students, the publication’s board members and Texas A&M professors and faculty while advancing his own education in the field of law. His majors have equipped him with the ability to digest substantial amounts of information, craft evidence-based and well-reasoned arguments, all while engaging in respectful, critical discourse with others. After graduating, he plans on completing the Texas A&M History 3+2 program before attending law school to pursue a career as a legal professional or scholar.  

Madeline Sweany will be earning her Bachelor of Arts in communication with a minor in studio art. Originally from Austin, Sweany has been involved on campus as a peer writing and speaking consultant at the University Writing Center, the executive director of service for MSC Hospitality and an undergraduate teacher’s assistant for COMM 101. Sweany is enthusiastic about teaching and collaborating with students and faculty, which she discovered through her time with the University Writing Center, where she worked closely with students to create comprehensive plans to help them achieve their academic and professional goals. Sweany also partnered with the director of the Undergraduate Departmental Honors Program, where she assisted with redesigning COMM 101 to earn a writing intensive designation. Within her teacher’s assistant position, Sweany delivered weekly lectures and worked with a class to teach them impactful writing techniques and research strategies and helped them conduct research projects. Sweany attributes her academic success to her professors, who have created spaces where she has grown her collaborative, strategic and public relations skills. After graduating, Sweany hopes to move back to Austin and work with local organizations to create and execute strategic communication strategies.