SXU Hosts 2026 Scarlet and Gray Awards
Saint Xavier University (SXU) recently held the annual Scarlet and Gray Awards, which honors 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, 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.
"Along with the Office of Student Life, I want to congratulate each of this year's Scarlet and Gray Awards nominees and recipients," said Blanca Correa, director of Student Activities. "The awards are a meaningful spring tradition at Saint Xavier University and give our community an opportunity to recognize the remarkable accomplishments of our students in leadership, service and campus involvement. It is always inspiring to celebrate the dedication and positive impact our students have across the University and beyond. As we honor the 2026 recipients, we also celebrate the example they have set through their commitment, character and service. We are excited to see all they will accomplish in the future."
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: Hailey Ruehle
Rising Star: Edgar Gutierrez
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 Winners: Ahmed Judeh and Afifa Fokaha
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: BSU Fashion Show
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: Giuliana Islas
The RSO of the Year Award is presented to an RSO that 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: Polish Student 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: Katelyn Ulanowski and David Vazquez
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: Morgan Ulanowski and Kyndra Sims
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: Analia Trevino and Matty Salgado
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: Destiny Davis and Janiya Young
The TRIO Culture Award is presented to someone who helps to keep the climate of the TRIO office positive and upbeat, demonstrates exceptional hospitality, and has shown outstanding representation of the TRIO program.
Award Winners: Jarvis Partee and Joel Lopez
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: Anthony Howard and Luis Favela
The National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH) Outstanding Service Award stands on four pillars: leadership, academic, recognition and service.
Award Winner: Nancy Nanfeldt
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: Taylor McDonald
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: Tanyia McClure and Elizabeth George
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: Kayeann Ventura and Amilia Isais
Rising Stars: Zenaba Alassani and Sophia Thomas
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: Laila Perkins
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: Drake Hayes
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: Elizabeth George and Michelle Coronado
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: Hezekiah Miller
The Xavierite Student Journalist of the Year Award is presented to a student who has guided the development and distribution of the Xavierite.
Award Winner: John McNamara
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: Chaylan Palmer
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 Winner: Michelle Coronado
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: Aine Kelly
Arthur J. Schmitt Scholar of the Year: Kathryn Kina
Arthur J. Schmitt Rising Star: Aine Kelly
"We must strive to do ordinary things extraordinarily well." Catherine McAuley, founder of the Sisters of Mercy, used this phrase to inspire her sisters to service. In that spirit, the Catherine McAuley Award is presented by Saint Xavier University to recognize one student each year who has contributed to the University's mission.
Award Winner: Niobi Cunningham
The Cougar Scholars Awards recognize students who put Mercy into action and are driven to make a positive impact on their communities and will undoubtedly make the world a better place.
Outstanding Service: Deonte Czubiak and Karla Covarrubias
Leadership in Action: Elizabeth George and Arlene Silva
Organizational Impact: Aniya Travis
Emerging Leader: Sofia Perez
"The Scarlet and Gray Awards are one of the most special traditions of the academic year at Saint Xavier University. It is a privilege to celebrate the passion, hard work and excellence shown by this year's nominees and winners. We also extend our best wishes to the Class of 2026 as they move forward, knowing they leave Saint Xavier with a strong legacy of leadership and meaningful contribution," said Correa.