Dean’s Honored Graduate is the highest honor awarded to graduating seniors in the College of Natural Sciences. It is restricted to fewer than one percent of the graduating class of the college during an academic year. Dean’s Honored Graduates are nominated by departments and then selected by vote of a faculty committee. Factors considered in the voting are excellence in the classroom as well as substantial achievement in scientific research, an independent intellectual pursuit, or exceptional service and leadership to the college and university.

Recognition of Dean’s Honored Graduate status includes a book award and framed certificate, seating on stage at graduation, a brunch and recognition ceremony hosted by the dean, and recognition on a plaque located on the first floor of W.C. Hogg.

2012 Dean's Honored Graduates

Aditi Raye Allen, Astronomy
Genevieve Allen, Honors Biology
Shannon Anjelica Allport, Biology
Mai Ngoc Dao, Biochemistry Honors and Microbiology
Jennifer Lee Ellis, Physics Honors and Astronomy Honors
Dylan Jay Estep, Biochemistry Honors
Karen Julia Gustafsson, Human Development and Family Sciences
Lon Ingram, Computer Science
Evan Koch, Biology Honors
Steve Lu, Biology Honors and Biochemistry Honors
Christine Manthuruthil, Biology Honors
Eileen R. Martin, Mathematics Honors and Physics
Michael Joseph Mccoyd, Computer Science
George F. Miller, Astronomy Honors
Melanie Frances Molina, Biology Honors and Spanish Honors
Joanna Grace Smith, Computer Science
Alyx Stevens, Astronomy
Caitlin Ann Taylor, Biology Honors and Biochemistry Honors
Matthew Tien, Biochemistry Honors
Kaitlin Whelan, Nutrition
Seth Paul Whitsitt, Physics

Read descriptions and see photos of each of our 2012 honored graduates.

2011 Dean's Honored Graduates

Misha Aurella Blizard, Biological Sciences
Gina Maria Calabrese, Biological Sciences
Miranda Denise Colletta, Biological Sciences
Julia H. Ding, Biological Sciences
Jeffrey Donahue, Computer Science
Gabriel J. Elpers, Physics
Miles Ray Fontenot, Biological Sciences
Justin Allen Johnson, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Deep Mohanty, Biological Sciences
Sandra Christine Noonan, Human Development and Family Sciences
Ivaylo Popov, Computer Science
Elaine Marie Sedenberg, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Sean Simmons, Mathematics
Krista Lynne Smith, Astronomy
Aaron Seo, Biological Sciences
Daniel P. Tabor, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Rebecca Elizabeth Thomson, Human Development and Family Sciences
David Wahler, Computer Science
Matthew Welborn, Chemistry and Biochemistry

2010 Dean's Honored Graduates

Viswatej Avutu
Luis Alberto Barrera (commencement speaker)
Vicki Chang
Lynne Chantranupong (commencement speaker)
Peter Cho
Marissa Nichole Duswalt
Grace Eckhoff
Jay Jinsing Falk
Sydney Allison Jones
Patrick Nathan Lawlor
Vincent Fu-Dung Liu
Devin Matthews
Lee Patrick McCuller
Amy Pohodich
Ryan Riddle
Adam Setapen
Lucia Dora Simonelli
John Wright
Jennifer Anne Wygoda