TCU’s Celebration of University Leadership is an annual awards ceremony that honors and celebrates students who have displayed outstanding leadership on campus and in the community. This event recognizes individuals and organizations who have made a meaningful impact through service, innovation, and leadership.

Event Info
Date: April 13, 2026
Time: 5:30 PM
Location: Tucker Family Ballroom

This formal, invite-only event brings together selected students, faculty, staff, and guests to recognize the incredible contributions of TCU students. Attendees will experience a program highlighting nominees and award recipients across a variety of categories.

About the Awards
The Celebration of University Leadership features a range of awards that recognize excellence in:

  • Student leadership
  • Community engagement
  • Organizational impact
  • Innovation and initiative

Each award highlights the dedication and achievements of students who go above and beyond to shape the TCU community.

Meet The Nominees

More than 20 years ago, the idea for a scholarship grew out of a Clark Society Board meeting as a way to both directly impact students and promote awareness of the society. Clark Scholars, who have been nominated by faculty and staff, represent TCU with the highest degree of character, leadership and sense of service.

The 2026 recipients are listed below.

Dominic Byles Nate McCashland Reagan Spickard
Jordan Eastty Linette Del Val Medrano Tyler Straley
Titus Fagan Sarai Morales Fuentes Cao Sam Tran
Shobe Manuel Beau Simmons Trang Phuong Vu

The DAISY in Training Award recognizes nursing students for the above-and-beyond care and compassion shown to patients, celebrating what it truly means to be a nurse. We honor the nurse-patient connection that makes all the difference to patients and their families in their healthcare experience and that makes great nurses truly great.

Dania Ahmed Isaac Herrera Simba Nyangaresi
Beatriz Arroyo Zac Howerton Dulce Sancen
Quinn Calhoun Brynn Huskey Sara Scott
Paige Douglass - Recipient Eddy Marioni Kiersten Weiler
Ella Farrell Avery Grace Messner Catherine Westover

Religious Organization of the Year – TCU Wesley
Religious Life Leadership Award: Roshini Ruben
Footsteps of Social Justice Award: Katie Robb

Jean J. & William E. Tucker Award for Leadership & Service
This award honors a graduating student who has contributed in meaningful ways to both the local and campus communities through significant service and leadership roles. Additionally, recipients must have served as a role model to others in the tradition of Chancellor and Mrs. Tucker.

Alex Dam – Recipient

The Mission Statement Scholarship honors rising seniors who have demonstrated what it means to be an educated individual, ethical leader, responsible citizen, and member of the global community.

Bobby Deftos Cao (Sam) Tran Madison Price
Johané Fritz Kinsey Ganson Oliver Mandel

Honors a student organization that successfully planned and executed an event that fostered engagement, inclusivity, and connection within the TCU community.

African Student Organization TCU Management Club
TCU Catholic Illuminate TCU Frogs for Wildlife
Good Neighbor Initiative International Justice Mission TCU Student Nursing Association
Italian Club - Recipient Strike Down Cancer The Christian Talk

The TCU Religious Organization of the Year Award is an award presented to a TCU religious organization that has been intentional in their efforts to provide the campus community with opportunities for spiritual growth, offered service opportunities where students can care for others both on and off campus, and collaborate with other TCU organizations to serve the needs of the broader campus community.

TCU Catholic FOCUS Living in Love
Sigma Phi Lambda Orthodox Christian Fellowship TCU Wesley

The Religious Life Leadership Award focuses on a leader in TCU’s Religious & Spiritual Life Department who provides leadership, direction, and positively impacts the religious & spiritual climate on our campus. This award is for leaders who have a deep commitment to their faith, an understanding of their own tradition, and its relationship to the campus and the community.

Hailey Gallegos Sydney Long Johane Fritz
Roshni Ruben Joya Ogier
Eleni Simatacolos Matthew Bailey

The Footsteps Award for Social Justice Leadership is an award presented to those who have worked to better their community and their world through social activism, grassroots organizing, and social justice education. It especially honors those that follow the thoughtful footsteps of other great leaders for social change such as the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Mahatma Gandhi, Dorothy Day, and countless others.

Katie Robb Johane Fritz

The following awards are given to students making impactful contributions to the Office of Student Identity & Engagement.

Pride Award
This award recognizes an individual or individuals for their exceptional contributions in promoting awareness of issues in the LGBTQ community and creating an inclusive campus for all gender identities and expressions.

Abby Coen – Recipient

Bold Award
The Bold award recognizes students whose contributions to leadership and service go beyond words and the intentional actions they take to improve their own development as well as the community that surrounds them.

Blessing Musau – Recipient

Beacon of Belonging Award
This recognition honors a student whose leadership is defined not by title, but by the way they cultivate belonging and connection wherever they go.

Julybeth Enriquez – Recipient

Vanguard Bridge Builder Award
This honors a student leader who intentionally creates pathways of access, belonging, and opportunity for others.

Dynasty Coe – Recipient

The Senior Legacy Awards are designed to recognize students across the University who have made an outstanding impact on the campus. Graduating and continuing seniors are eligible to be nominated by their peers, faculty, and staff. Every student nominated is an extraordinary example of an ethical leader and responsible citizen.

Christine Abels - Recipient Sam Brownawell - Recipient Marcus Fan
Ellie Adamson - Recipient Abby Coen Moriah Fernandez - Recipient
Regan Albertson Caroline Conkle Lauren Garner
Saba Anjum- Recipient Judah Crawford Lilli Gonzales
Mar Ayala-Ortiz- Recipient Sarah Daly Ellie Griffin
Jaden Bates Alex Dam Jalyn Gryskiewicz
Tatum Harvey Maeve Molina Mark Sayegh
Alex Holder Chase Morrison Sameep Shah
Titus Hunter Chau Nguyen Afrin Shekh
Sam Hunter Abigail Owens - Recipient Anne Shubert
Brynn Huskey Natalie Pelan Alexis Stanley - Recipient
Brooklyn Hutson Kaitlin Peña - Recipient Joe Staubach
Daisy Li- Recipient Catherine Piskurich - Recipient Reagan Stephens - Recipient
Lance Lincoln Ezra Power Anslee Tatum
Adelaide Lovett- Recipient Skandha Rajnarayanan Claudia Urbina
Austen Matzig - Recipient Grace Rickey - Recipient Emily Wilson
Janea McCoy Ryan Sanders

The Pillar of University Leadership Awards are designed to recognize students across the University who have made an outstanding impact on the campus. First-year, sophomore, junior, and graduate students are eligible to be nominated by their peers, faculty, and staff. Every student nominated is an extraordinary example of an ethical leader and responsible citizen.

First-Year
Amelia Allen Kate McGuire Anne Douglas Nunnelley - Recipient
Ty Bayless Stephanie Martinez David Rozek - Recipient
Derek Haselhoff - Recipient Emmett Mitchell - Recipient
Sophomore
William Bonnett Owen Forsthoffer - Recipient Natalie Plascencia
Keyshawn Cahill - Recipient Aly Harbin - Recipient Robby Rasberry
Taryn Campbell - Recipient Miranda Hernandez - Recipient Madison Thompson
Sophia Carranza Tryn Kerandi Davis Wagnon - Recipient
Jackson Ford - Recipient Samantha Leos Mya Young
Junior
Jacque Balderas - Recipient Michelle Jordan Roshni Ruben - Recipient
Caleb Bartelson Izzy Landry - Recipient Sydnee Salcedo - Recipient
Jenna Brand - Recipient Claudia Langiulli Isabella Sullivan
Ana Bueso Romero - Recipient Nate McCashland - Recipient Kristy Tom
Emma Delgado Aidan Meek Corey Townsend
Novalie Flores - Recipient Chau Nguyen Cao "Sam" Tran - Recipient
Chloe Guidry Tam Nguyen Claire Troshynski
Marisol Gutierrez - Recipient Diego Ortiz-Segura Sophia Tunks
Jackie Ha Wyatt Peirson
Janae Jackson Natalie Pelan
Graduate Students
Andrew Armstrong - Recipient Ruston Farrington Ethan Ridenour
Raika Bourmand Caren Fayyad - Recipient Hannah Whorton
Wade Burchett Maegyn Grubbs
Caroline Conkle Angel Sheu - Recipient

The Service Legacy Award recognizes students who act as ethical leaders and responsible citizens through service and civic engagement. Recipients have generally been involved in developing new programs or initiatives that encourage students to think more proactively about their responsibility to the community.

Ellie Adamson Piper Haley Alyssa Schexnayder
Saba Anjum - Recipient Spencer Lanyon Angel Sheu
Sam Brownawell Lance Lincoln Cao "Sam" Tran
Alex Dam Nate McCashland Claudia Urbina - Recipient
Maegyn Grubbs Natalie Pelan