Class of 2023 Honored at Undergraduate Student Awards Ceremony | Colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business and Education
Pacific University’s colleges of Arts & Sciences, Business and Education celebrated its 2023 undergraduate students on May 17, bestowing recognitions on some of its top graduating students.
Students completing their respective programs earned bachelor’s degrees three days later at Pacific’s May Commencement, after studying more than 60 different majors and minors.
Jaye Cee Whitehead ’00, College of Arts & Sciences acting dean and the awards ceremony moderator, kicked off the event by reminiscing about when she sat in the same seats as a Pacific graduate 23 years ago.
Class of 2023 Awardees
- Sophia Tong ’23, Outstanding Contribution to Student Life, Equity
- Cortney Pfeaster ’23, Outstanding Contribution to Student Life, Campus Community
- Kamalani Quindica ’23, Outstanding Contribution to Student Life, Campus Community
- Esmeralda Alvarez Velazquez ’23, Outstanding Contribution to Student Life, Student Development
- Breanna Hernandez ’23, Outstanding Contribution to Student Life, Student Development
- Kylie Tanouye ’23, Outstanding Contribution to Student Life, Student Development
- Janelle Maligaya ’23, Outstanding Service Award, College of Business
- Clare Yang ’23, Outstanding Senior in Natural Science Award, School of Natural Sciences
- Sara Alvarez Olvera ’23, Outstanding Senior in Social Science Award, Politics & Government
- Duc Khong ’23, Tom McCall Center for Civic Engagement Award, Civic Engagement
- Alexis Walker ’23, Outstanding Senior in the Arts, Outstanding Service to the Department of Music, Outstanding Vocalist in Music, Arts & Humanities
- Majestik De Luz ’23, Outstanding Senior in the Humanities and the recipient of The Lesley M. Hallick Award for Leadership and Service
- Olivia Oetker ’23, Outstanding Senior in Dance, Arts & Humanities
- Jazmine Henning ’23, Co-Outstanding Senior in Literature, Arts & Humanities
- Sophia Henke ’23, Co-Outstanding Senior in Literature, Arts & Humanities
- Kaleb Makimoto ’23, Outstanding Senior in Editing and Publishing, Arts & Humanities
- Lila Gay ’23, Outstanding Senior in Japanese, Arts & Humanities
- Hunter Slatten ’23, Outstanding Senior in German Studies, Arts & Humanities
- Payton Broussard ’23, Outstanding Senior in French, Arts & Humanities
- Emily Rutkowski ’23, Outstanding Senior in Journalism, Arts & Humanities
- Kailani Pinon ’23, Co-Outstanding Senior in Graphic Design, Arts & Humanities
- Annie Berry ’23, Co-Outstanding Senior in Graphic Design, Arts & Humanities
- Patrick Muskat ’23, Outstanding Senior in Film/Video, Arts & Humanities
- Josh Joireman ’23, Outstanding Senior in Multimedia, Arts & Humanities
- Abby Weinman ’23, Brad Blair Award for Theatre Performance in The Importance of Being Earnest, Barbara Story Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Theatre Program, Arts & Humanities
- Christy Jeunemann ’23, Outstanding Service to the Department of Music, Arts & Humanities
- Jewell Allgaier ’23, Outstanding Senior in Music Therapy, Arts & Humanities
- Sydney Phillips ’23, Outstanding Senior in Music Education, Arts & Humanities
- Dezmon Moon ’23, Outstanding Vocalist in Music, Arts & Humanities
- Caitlyn Burgin ’23, Outstanding Instrumentalist in Music, Arts & Humanities
- Lily Fugita ’23, Mary Fehrs Award for Gender and Sexuality Studies
- Cleo Whalen ’23, Mary Fehrs Award for Gender and Sexuality Studies
Mark Bailey, College of Education professor and Child Learning and Development Center director, recognized all of the graduates to be as Outstanding Seniors in Education & Learning for demonstrating the pillars of Pacific University’s mission.
“Think, Care, Create, Pursue Justice: Please take what you have learned during your time here and go forth to make a difference in our world,” he said.
“That is what commencement is all about, it is your new beginning. Congratulations to all our seniors in Education and Learning, each of you is outstanding in your own way.”
Jaye Cee Whitehead wrapped up the awards ceremony with the presentation of the Fulbright Scholarship, the Dean’s Academic Achievement award, and the Class of 2023 Valedictorian.
- Maliah Jobe ’23, Fulbright Scholar
- Tiffany Bayudan ’23, Dean’s Academic Achievement
- Dalton Sikes ’23, Class of 2023 Valedictorian and Outstanding Senior in Creative Writing, Arts & Humanities
Pacific University’s College of Arts & Sciences offers a suite of undergraduate programs in the liberal arts and sciences, as well as graduate programs in writing, nonprofit leadership and social work.
The College of Business at Pacific University Oregon offers students undergraduate business degrees in accounting, finance, management, international business, and marketing, as well as an MBA degree program.
Pacific’s College of Education offers dynamic, hands-on undergraduate and graduate programs. We provide programs for future and current teachers to earn licensure, endorsements, advanced degrees, as well as to expand their expertise and become experts in education.