University of the Ozarks administrators and faculty presented the University’s top academic and division awards for the 2025-26 academic year during the 69th annual Honors Day ceremony, held Wednesday afternoon in the Walton Fine Arts Center.
Nataly Paulina Vindas Calderon was named the recipient of the 2026 Wiley Lin Hurie Memorial Award, presented to the outstanding senior in the graduating class as voted on by the faculty. The Hurie Award is named in honor of the long-time president of the University and is the highest honor given to an Ozarks student. From Coto Brus, Costa Rica, Vindas is a finance and marketing major who will graduate with Summa Cum Laude honors later this month. She has served in various positions with the Entrepreneurship Club, including as president this year. She has also been active in the Hispanic Students Association and has participated in the Innovation and Sustainable Entrepreneurship Summer Program in Mexico City and the Aspire Leaders Program of the Harvard Business School.
The award winners in the Division of Humanities and Fine Arts included, the Amanda Alders Pike Art Award – Kate Baptiste and Keyannah Roberts; Outstanding Student in English – Katelyn Willets; Outstanding Student in History – Emma Kuykendall; Outstanding Student in Music – Carol Yesivel Samaniego Montenegro; Outstanding Student in Religion – Brady Rocole; Outstanding Student in Spanish – Finn Todd; Outstanding Student in Philosophy – Cristhel Junieth Mejia Rosales; and Outstanding Student in Theatre – Ryleeann Hill.
The awards in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics included, the Mildred Cox Chapman Outstanding Student in Biology – Jessie Wright; Outstanding Student in Health Science – Morgan Haupt; Outstanding Student in Psychology – Dominique Daina Ellen Lotmore; the Dr. Buddy Smith Outstanding Student in Mathematics – Prudence Majoni; Outstanding Student in Chemistry – Vaderly Yasmin Vegas Casas; and Outstanding Student in Computer Science – Sergio Traitel.
The awards in the Division of Social Sciences included, Outstanding Student in Accounting – Fredony Petit; Outstanding Student in Finance – Nataly Paulina Vindas Calderon; Outstanding Student in Marketing – Morgan Janique Turnquest; Outstanding Student in Political Science – Dea Latika Hepburn; Outstanding Student in Management – Daniel Del Moral Diaz; the Michael Laughter Outstanding Communication Student Award – Estefania Bautista Lopez and Saad El Waziki; the Robert Berry Fulton Award in Communication – Jalissa Sierra Hollingsworth; Outstanding Student in Elementary Education – Camryn Kapics; Outstanding Student in Secondary Education – Carlos Salinas; and Outstanding Student in Physical Education – Hayden Rofkahr.
The University also announced the winners of the annual A.R.C.H. competition during the ceremony. In the category of Poster Presentations, Vaderly Yasmin Vega Casas took first place, Celeste Danielle Parker was second, and Cierra Ivanna Turnquest was third. In the category of Visual Arts Display, Kate Baptiste was first, followed by Stacie Roberts in second and Maria Valeria Estrada Cordero in third. In the Oral Presentations category, Skylar Holloway won first place, Nataly Paulina Vindas Calderon was second, and Jacquelinne Esmeralda Retana Teshe was third.
In addition, the University announced swimmer Jessie Wright as the 2026 Female Athlete of the Year and wrestler Ka’Ron Lewis as the 2026 Male Athlete of the Year. The Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year was Chloe Weathers and the Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year was Joseph Guidry.
The RA of the Year Award went to Dominique Daina Ellen Lotmore; the Organization of the Year went to the Yele Dance Club; the All-Campus Event of the Year went to the Sexual Health and Wellness Fair hosted by the Queer Student Association; the Officer of the Year went to William Guillen Rivas and the George Harris Sherlock Award for University Service was presented to graduating senior Lili Garcia.
Topics: Academics