The College of Sciences held its annual Senior Recognition Event on May 7 to celebrate graduating students who made meaningful contributions to their departments and the college as a whole. Among the students recognized were Solomon Scholars, those who held leadership roles through the Sciences Ambassadors program and the Sciences Council, and the departmental and college-level recipients of the Outstanding Senior Awards.

With over 130 people in attendance, the event brought together students, families, friends, faculty and staff to celebrate the students’ academic achievements, leadership, service and perseverance. 

Noah Siekierski, a mathematics graduate, won the Outstanding Research Award, which recognizes a student who has added significantly to the body of knowledge in their research discipline.

John Miller, a mathematics graduate, won the Outstanding Scholarship Award in recognition of his extraordinary academic engagement. 

Emily Phillips, a biological Sciences graduate, won the Yusor Abu-Salha Senior Award for Outstanding Community Engagement for her accomplishments in the realm of service.

Adelaide Nebeker, a mathematics graduate, won the Outstanding Transfer Student Award, which honors a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding engagement with the NC State or local community, scholarship or leadership.  

Katie Kaake, a physics and astronomy graduate, won the Outstanding Resilience Award for persisting through significant hardship to achieve at a high level personally and academically. 

The event also recognized the departmental winners of each award: 

Outstanding Research

• Mason Donehoo (Statistics)
• Breyton Hill (Biological Sciences)
• Erin Monteith (Chemistry)
• Robert Ramos (Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences)
• Noah Siekierski (Mathematics)
• Thomas Thornton (Physics and Astronomy)

Outstanding Scholarship

• Cade Brady (Chemistry)
• Liam Doak (Physics and Astronomy)
• Rachel Edwards (Biological Sciences)
• John Miller (Mathematics)
• Gianna Newton (Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences)
• Sophia Woodson (Statistics)

Yusor Abu-Salha Senior Award for Outstanding Community Engagement

• Eli Carico (Statistics)
• Nora Hicks (Physics and Astronomy)
• Anuja Koirala (Chemistry)
• Adelaide Nebeker (Mathematics)
• Emily Phillips (Biological Sciences)

Outstanding Transfer Student

• Jordan Clayton (Biological Sciences)
• Carl Emerson (Statistics)
• Ethan Johnson (Marine, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences)
• Adelaide Nebeker (Mathematics)
• Jorge Quintana-Maldonado (Physics and Astronomy)

Outstanding Resilience

• Emma Norris (Biological Sciences)
• Katie Kaake (Physics and Astronomy)
• Grace McNair (Chemistry)
• Adelaide Nebeker (Mathematics)

Graduating students who were involved in College of Sciences Student Ambassadors, Solomon Scholars and Sciences Council students were also recognized at the event:

College of Sciences Student Ambassadors

• Leia Baek
• Cade Brady
• Eli Carico
• Celeste Cerrato Canales (Fall 2026)
• Rachel Edwards
• Ranganath GoPalraj
• Taylor Hill
• Giovanna Horta
• Katie Kaake
• Anuja Koirala
• Portia Lartey
• Gracie McNair
• Emma Norris
• Brandon Nunez Aldana
• Emma Ogden
• Emily Phillips
• Anna Pope (Fall 2026)
• Lydia Valentino

Solomon Scholars

• Eli Carico
• Holly Delgado
• Diana Gomez
• Nora Hicks
• Gianna Newton
• Chase Osias
• Greyson Orr
• Jacob Roof
• Savannah Smith

Sciences Council

• Tristan Plummer, President