DETROIT (5/10/2024) -- The University of Detroit Mercy saw a number of student-athletes recognized at the annual Honors Convocation in late March.

Detroit Mercy track and field senior MacKenzie Patterson was named the Co-Valedictorian. The Valedictorian is the student who has demonstrated academic excellence by achieving a 3.8 or higher GPA, University involvement, service and leadership. The awardee has the honor of delivering the valedictory address at the University commencement ceremony on May 11.

The University Honors Program at Detroit Mercy
The University Honors Program at University of Detroit Mercy serves the Colleges of Business Administration, Engineering & Science, Liberal Arts & Education and the School of Architecture. The program strives to integrate the intellectual, spiritual, ethical and social development of its members by fostering a community of scholarly excellence, encouraging exploration of the larger world beyond the classroom and promoting compassionate service to society at large and to persons in need. Students graduating from the Honors Program may graduate as Presidential Scholars, Honors Scholars Cum Laude or Honors Scholars.
Presidential Scholar

Students who have completed the Honors Program curriculum, volunteered a minimum of 100 hours of community service and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.75.
Erin Letourneau – College of Liberal Arts & Education - Dance Team 
Jacob Yasso – College of Liberal Arts & Education - Dance Team

Kappa Gamma Pi

Membership in Kappa Gamma Pi, the national Catholic college graduate honor society, is awarded to students who exemplify excellence in leadership, scholarship, faith and service.
 
College of Engineering & Science
MacKenzie Patterson – Track & Field
 
Institute for Leadership & Service 1995 Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) Leadership Pin and Leadership Medallion
The ELP is designed to educate, engage, and empower all Detroit Mercy students. Using the Social Change model, the ELP offers the opportunity to explore student leadership potential and abilities through involvement in programs, events, and activities that include learning, leadership, spirituality, mentoring, and service on and off campus. An asterisk indicates the student is earning a Minor in Leadership
 
Leadership Pin Award Candidates
College of Engineering and Science
Irene Murua – Mathematics Major – Actuarial Science Minor* - Basketball
MacKenzie Patterson – Biology Major* - Track & Field
 
College of Engineering and Science
Leadership Medallion Award Candidates
These students have met the requirements of the Leadership Pin and have additional involvement in student organizations, spirituality retreats, completed leadership coursework, mentoring, and 200 hours of community service.
Irene Murua – Mathematics Major – Actuarial Science Minor* - Basketball
MacKenzie Patterson – Biology Major* - Track & Field
 
Graduate Student Awards
Department Excellence in Intelligence Analysis Award
Presented to a student who is completing a Master of Science in Intelligence Analysis and whose work in the program has shown dedication and competence at the highest level.
Kiah Nuessgen - Lacrosse
 
Sir Robert Peel Award
Presented for excellence in graduate studies in Criminal Justice and for distinguished service within the field.
Dana Vitale - Softball
 
Undergraduate Student Awards
Edmund Miller, S.J., Service Award
Presented to a graduating senior in the College of Liberal Arts & Education for outstanding service to the College. The recipient's name is also inscribed on a plaque in Briggs Building.
Jacob Yasso – Dance Team
 
Howard Walsh Memorial Award
Presented to the English major who has demonstrated the greatest proficiency in English language and literature. The award was founded in 1927 by Annie Doheny Walsh.
Erin Letourneau – Dance Team
 
Social Work Award
Presented annually to the graduating senior with the highest overall grade point average with demonstrated leadership.
Kaila Hemphill – Track & Field
 
Dean's Gold Key Award
Presented annually to honor freshmen with at least 15 hours in residence who have achieved a 4.0 grade point average, sophomores and juniors with 30 or more hours in residence who have achieved at least a 3.9 grade point average and seniors with 30 or more hours in residence who have achieved at least a 3.8 grade point average.
 
Freshmen
David Swab – Golf
 
Sophomores
Taylor Kondel – Golf
 
Juniors
Natalie Kenny – Dance Team
Joshua Otten – Track & Field
 
Seniors
Alexa Krauth – Track & Field
Erin Letourneau – Dance Team
Jacob Yasso - Dance Team
 
Dean's Award
Presented to undergraduate students who are not Dean's Gold Key awardees and who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better through Term I of this academic year
 
Freshmen
Mackenzie Marshall – Lacrosse
Sophia Miller – Fencing
Helana Napiorkowski – Cross Country/Track & Field
Lance Poole – Lacrosse
Grace Steffes – Track & Field
 
Sophomores
Evan DeVito – Lacrosse
Cole Hostetler – Golf
Gracelyn Peebles – Track & Field
Viktor Sulc – Soccer
Molly Upton – Softball
 
Juniors
Raeed Monnan – Track & Field
Sydnie Redovich – Golf
 
Seniors
Ella Brandt – Lacrosse
Annika Corcoran – Basketball
Lucia Fleta Robles – Basketball
Emma Trawally Porta – Basketball
 
College of Engineering & Science
Engineering & Science Scholar Award
Criteria All students who receive the Scholar Certificate Award or the Scholar Key Award have a minimum GPA of 3.75 at the end of the fall term prior to the Honors Convocation. Scholar Certificate Awards Freshmen with 12-29.9 credit hours and a 3.75 to 3.99 GPA. Sophomores with 30-59.9 credit hours and a 3.75 to 3.89 GPA. Juniors with 60-89.9 credit hours and a 3.75 to 3.79 GPA. Seniors with 90 or more credit hours and a 3.75 to 3.79 GPA
 
Freshmen
Alaina Burns – Cross Country/Track & Field
Ryan Moody – Soccer
Arturo Rangel – Fencing
Brigita Sumskas – Track & Field
 
Sophomores
Erin Balbontin – Lacrosse
Alyssa Jarvis – Lacrosse
Cooper St. Clair - Lacrosse
Christian Tucker – Lacrosse
 
Seniors
Evan Eding – Track & Field
Kenny Lashaway – Cross Country/Track & Field
Alek Mauro – Golf
Nina Pizzo – Cross Country/Track & Field
 
Scholar Key Awards
Freshmen with 12-29.9 credit hours and a 4.0 GPA. Sophomores with 30-59.9 credit hours and a 3.9 or higher GPA. Juniors with 60-89.9 credit hours and a 3.8 or higher GPA. Seniors with 90 or more credit hours and a 3.8 or higher GPA.
 
Sophomores
Kyla Charlebois – Golf
Hailee-Mae Eldred – Dance Team
 
Juniors
Josephene Dertinger – Pep Band
Jenna Holt – Softball
Savanah Solomon – Cheer Team
 
Seniors
Leah Bodnar – Lacrosse
Nicholas Fringer – Cross Country/Track & Field
Baldeep Gill – Soccer
Irene Murua – Basketball
MacKenzie Patterson – Track & Field
Jackson Towers – Soccer
 
Thomas C. Hanson Scholastic Achievement Award
Awarded to the senior Civil or Environmental Engineering student in the urban-environmental option having the highest GPA.
Tia Jokic – Soccer
 
Felbarth Memorial Award
Presented to the first year Engineering student with the highest grade in Engineering Graphics who has attained the highest GPA in their studies. This award is presented in honor of Professor Wayne Felbarth who mentored students in engineering graphics for 33 years.
Arturo Rangel – Fencing
 
John J. Uicker Award
Presented to the Mechanical Engineering student having the highest scholastic standing in upper division courses. John J. Uicker began his career at the College as an instructor in 1941 before becoming professor and acting dean. He retired as professor emeritus in 1973.
Leah Bodnar – Lacrosse
 
Research Excellence Rising-Star Award
Presented to an undergraduate student from the College of Engineering & Science who has demonstrated promise and an aptitude for undergraduate research at Detroit Mercy.
Carvin Coleman – Track & Field
 
College of Health Professions & McAuley School of Nursing
Maia Platt Leadership Award
This award is given to a student who exemplifies the qualities that Dr. Platt modeled in the Health Services Department for many years. This student demonstrates a strong work ethic and an extraordinary attention to detail. The student demonstrates integrity and perseverance while overcoming many obstacles and continuing to reach goals in exceedingly difficult circumstances.
Aisha Potts-Tyre – Track & Field
 
Mercy Heritage Scholarship Award
The Mercy Heritage Scholarship is awarded to a full-time sophomore, junior or senior Nursing student with outstanding academic achievement, demonstrating dedication to the nursing profession and service to the community.
Zoe Morris – Track & Field
 
Dean's Scholar Award
Undergraduate In recognition of scholastic achievement with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 for a minimum of 30 credit hours of undergraduate course work completed at Detroit Mercy while earning first undergraduate degree.
 
Mardig Alajajian – Soccer
Grace Brutto – Soccer
Vanessa Fernandez – Lacrosse
Anne Komoroski – Cheer Team
Meredith Leavell – Lacrosse
Zoe Morris – Track & Field
Adriana Mroz - Soccer
Soraya Puerto-Khalil – Soccer
Erica Toupin – Soccer
 
College of Business Administration
Accounting Award
Presented to a graduating senior in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in Accounting.
Joshua Hoenscheid – Undergraduate – Pep Band
 
Beta Alpha Psi Award
Given by the Alpha Xi Chapter to its graduating member who has earned the highest scholastic average in his or her total undergraduate program.
Joshua Hoenscheid – Pep Band
 
Alpha Iota Delta Award
Given by the Delta Mu Chapter to a graduating senior and to a graduate student in Decision Sciences and Information Systems in recognition of academic achievement, commitment to service and ethical and moral standards.
Sophie Davis – Undergraduate – Lacrosse
 
Business Law Award
Presented to a Business Law graduating senior who demonstrates outstanding scholastic achievement and shows exceptional promise as a scholar in this field.
Paige Myers – Soccer
 
Management Award
Presented to a graduating senior and to a graduate student who demonstrate outstanding scholastic achievement in Management and show exceptional promise as scholars in this field.
Cole Gellatly – Undergraduate - Lacrosse
 
Business Administration Award
Presented by the Dean of the College of Business Administration to graduating students in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in the College.
Fisher Hudak - Soccer
Paige Myers – Soccer
 
Fitzgerald Award
Given in the name of Lloyd E. Fitzgerald, Dean of the College of Commerce and Finance from 1935-63, to the graduating senior designated as having the optimum record of scholarship, student leadership and service to the University.
Joshua Hoenscheid – Pep Band
 
Dean's Honor Certificate
Presented annually by the Dean of the College of Business Administration to undergraduate students who have earned at least a 3.5 cumulative grade-point-average for all previous work taken at Detroit Mercy.
 
Freshmen
Claire Borg – Softball
Sean Donahue – Lacrosse
Mike Ferguson – Track & Field
Robert Galan – Track & Field
Nicholas Johnson – Track & Field
Ethan Oblak – Golf
Drew Pierson – Soccer
Mason Sokolowski - Soccer
David Swab - Soccer
Kayla Wize – Track & Field
 
Sophomores
Jada Clark – Track & Field
Logan Flaherty - Lacrosse
Clayton Lafayette – Soccer
Casey McCarthy - Soccer
Nathan Mysiorek – Fencing
Joshua Neary – Cross Country/Track & Field
John Nino – Soccer
Avery Paul - Softball
Mateo Phillips – Soccer
Vincent Stockton - Soccer
Brynn White – Soccer
 
Juniors
Aidan Bishop – Lacrosse
Alex Diac – Soccer
Sean Henige - Lacrosse
Raeed Monnan – Track & Field
Danica Paesano – Soccer
Tobin Schwannecke – Basketball
 
Seniors
Sophie Davis – Lacrosse
Cole Gellatly – Lacrosse
Nolan Graalman – Lacrosse
Joshua Hoenscheid – Pep Band
Fisher Hudak – Soccer
Simon Jones – Track & Field
Connor Joyce – Cross Country/Track & Field
Paige Myers – Soccer
Andri Myftari – Soccer
Gabe Sucevic – Lacrosse
Cecelia Vergara – Lacrosse
Luke Winters - Soccer