SXU Holds 2025 Scarlet and Gray Awards
Saint Xavier University (SXU) recently held the annual Scarlet and Gray Awards, which honor outstanding student leaders, organizations, and achievements in service and extracurricular involvements. Held in McGuire Hall, the annual tradition is beloved by the community, who connect in celebration of our high-achieving students.
Awards are given from areas including Admission, Campus Ministry, the Career Development Center, Center for Learning and Student Support, Belonging and Engagement, Student Advising Center, Student Employment, Student Media, TRIO and Student Life, with the highest honors of the evening awarded by the vice president for Student Life, Dean of Students, and Saint Xavier University's president.
"On behalf of the Office of Student Involvement, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to all of the nominees and winners of this year's Scarlet and Gray Awards. These awards, presented each spring, are a cherished tradition at Saint Xavier University, where students, faculty and staff come together to celebrate and formally recognize the outstanding achievements of our students in leadership, service, and extracurricular involvement," said Blanca Correa, director of Student Involvement.
Student employees are essential to the operations of Saint Xavier University, and their hard work helps the campus thrive. The Student Employee of the Year Award and Rising Star Award celebrate exemplars of service excellence that live the University's mission and core values.
Award Winner: Elizabeth George
Rising Star: Jorie Daway
The Mercy Award for Ministry is presented to a student who has served with dedication, witnessed their own faith while fostering the faith of others, and lived with integrity and compassion in outstanding ways.
Award Winner: Anahi Hernandez
The Great Commission Award is inspired by the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus gives the "Great Commission" to His followers, asking them to go far and wide to spread the Gospel and make new disciples of all peoples and all nations.
Award Winners: Z Blachowski and Brandon Vazquez
The RSO Officer of the Year Award is presented to an executive board member who displays outstanding academic achievement, values diversity and motivates and inspires others to exemplify integrity in all words and actions.
Award Winner: Dannia Ruiz
The RSO Program of the Year Award is based on the RSO's mission, how it incorporates the core values of SXU, and how the program makes outstanding contributions to the University community.
Award Winners: Latine Fest hosted by Unidos
The RSO Advisor of the Year Award is presented to a faculty or staff member who serves as an RSO advisor with dedication to and interest in the success and activities of the RSO while encouraging the University's standards of excellence.
Award Winner: Karen Salgado
The RSO of the Year Award is presented to an RSO who has made an outstanding contribution to overall campus life, with evidence of successful programming, successful membership development, responsible and creative use of resources, and best campus presence.
Award Winner: National Student Speech Language Hearing Association
The Outstanding Peer Academic Tutor of the Year Award recognizes the service excellence of a dedicated, knowledgeable, sought-after tutor who helps peers to be successful.
Award Winners: Ella Kargle and Michael Knox
The Outstanding Writing Consultant of the Year Award recognizes a student who serves as proxy to faculty, mentor to other writing consultants and all-around resource to peers, trained to view, organize and proofread writing across the curriculum.
Award Winner: Dean Tsoumbakopoulos and Gustavo Cruz
The Student Ambassador of the Year Award recognizes an outstanding student from the Student Ambassador program who is a committed representative with a positive attitude, strong ability to engage with students and families, welcoming nature and overall positivity.
Award Winners: Lizbeth Rodriguez, Megan Gillson and Monica Darrow
The TRIO Money Magnet Award is given to a student who has shown determination to make their own college experience affordable by pursuing and obtaining scholarships.
Award Winners: Demetrius Blue and Karam Jaber
The TRIO Culture Award is presented to someone who helps to keep the climate of the SSP office positive and upbeat, demonstrates exceptional hospitality, and has shown outstanding representation of the TRIO program.
Award Winners: Crystalyn Villareal and David Vazquez
The TRIO Persistence in Graduation Award is given to a graduating senior who has worked to overcome challenges and has shown personal and academic growth and truly exemplifies the quality of persistence.
Award Winners: Bryan Escudero and Kiara White
The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Outstanding Service Award stands on four pillars: leadership, academic, recognition and service.
Award Winners: Jotham Israel and Blanca Correa
The Leader Among Leaders Award recognizes a resident assistant who has shown exemplary leadership and support to their fellow staff as a mentor.
Award Winner: Johnnetta Washington
The Rookie of the Year Award recognizes a resident assistant who finds innovative ways to engage with the community and make a positive and significant contribution to the residence life team.
Award Winner: Paris Brown
The Cougar Peer Mentor Award and Cougar Peer Rising Star Award are presented to someone who finds innovative ways to connect their peers while demonstrating leadership and ongoing support.
Award Winners: Brieanna Ford and Athena Speck
Rising Stars: Marco Gonzalez and Elizabeth George
The UHS – Spirit of the Halls Award is given to a residence assistant with spirit, energy and enthusiasm, always willing to lend a helping hand.
Award Winner: Denari Gassion
The Cougar Spirit Award is presented to an outstanding first-year sophomore or recent transfer who has made the most of their first semesters at SXU, demonstrating outstanding academic performance and exceptional co-curricular involvement.
Award Winner: Elizabeth George
The Emerging Scholars Program promotes the retention and academic success of African American students at Saint Xavier University. The Rising Star, Breakout Scholar and Outstanding Scholar awards are presented to students who demonstrate leadership, social and community involvement, and cultural awareness.
Rising Stars: Aaliyah Anderson and Kelvin McCullough
Breakout Scholars: Faruq Sulaimon and Elizabeth George
Outstanding Scholars: Hillary Shipp and Gavin Dudley
The SXU Scholars Sin Límites program is an organization that serves Latinx students. The Rising Star, Breakout Scholar and Outstanding Scholar awards are presented to students who demonstrate the seven pillars of excellence: service, mentorship, retention/completion, professionalism, scholarship, leadership, and cultural exposure.
Rising Star: Kevin Estrada
Breakout Scholar: Michelle Coronado
Outstanding Scholars: Yair Tapia and Gabriel Ojeda
The Ambassador of Belonging Award is presented to a student who truly champions Saint Xavier’s core value of diversity, fostering a climate that is open and welcoming to diverse people, ideas and perspectives; promoting a constructive discourse on the nature of diversity; and engaging faculty, staff and students in activities that promote the University's core values.
Award Winners: Arlene Silva and Vanessa Serna
The Gabriel Vaught Student Broadcaster of the Year Award is presented to integral members of the WXAV staff who have helped oversee the overall growth and development of the student-run radio station at Saint Xavier.
Award Winner: Natalie Chibe
The Xavierite Student Journalist of the Year Award is presented to a student who has guided the development and distribution of the Xavierite.
Award Winners: Emma Gabrys and Athena Reum
The Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award is a presented to a student who thereby becomes a student laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois, an award bestowed upon by the governor.
Award Winner: Gavin Dudley
The Vice President's Award for Student Life and Leadership was established to honor student leaders who have served in a significant leadership capacity, made outstanding contributions to the quality of campus life and who have made a positive impact to the culture of SXU.
Award Winners: Johnnetta Washington and Majid Matariyeh
The President's Award for Distinguished Service and Leadership recognizes a student who authentically lives the core values of SXU's Mercy mission through their daily work. The award recipient serves the SXU community with the spirit of humility by putting the needs of other students first.
Award Winner: Diego Perez
Arthur J. Schmitt Scholar of the Year: Ella Kargle
Arthur J. Schmitt Rising Star: Diego Perez
"The Scarlet and Gray Awards Ceremony is a highlight of the academic year—an evening we all look forward to with great pride and admiration. It is truly inspiring to witness the impact our students make both on campus and in the broader community through their dedication, passion, and commitment to excellence. We wish our 2025 graduates continued success and fulfillment as they take the next steps in their journeys. They leave behind a legacy of leadership and service, and we are confident that they will continue to make a difference wherever life takes them," said Correa.