The University of Arizona will recognize seven graduating seniors during Commencement for their extraordinary accomplishments both in and out of the classroom.

The university's 160th Commencement ceremony will be held at Arizona Stadium on Friday, May 10, at 7:30 p.m. A full schedule and more information about this year's ceremony are available on the Commencement website.

Nominated by faculty and peers, this year's seven student award winners were selected based on their determination, notable achievements and positive contributions to their families and communities.

Provost Award

The Provost Award goes to an outstanding graduating student who transferred to the university from an Arizona community college. Criteria for the award include perseverance and commitment to academic studies, contributions to the university community, and above-average scholastic ability, citizenship and leadership.

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Taylor Cavallaro is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in plant sciences and a minor in French. Cavallaro was born and raised in Campbell, California. 

His journey in science has been nontraditional. Cavallaro's life changed when a traumatic experience threatened his life and his sanity. He moved to Sedona, where a slower pace of life and connection with nature allowed Cavallaro to confront his pain and develop resilience and self-awareness. 

Cavallaro enrolled at Coconino Community College at age 27 with hopes of becoming a scientist – a choice inspired by his curiosity and love for the natural world. After two years at Coconino, Cavallaro had gone from high school dropout to 4.0 student. He transferred to the university amid the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Cavallaro has built a strong portfolio of research, service and leadership experience during his time at UArizona. As a Campus Arboretum student worker, he served in stewardship and research of the campus' historical plant collections. As a preceptor in a foundational biochemistry course, he helped his fellow Wildcats succeed. Working in the lab of Betsy Arnold, professor in the School of Plant Sciences, he contributed to multiple research projects while serving as a peer mentor to other students. 

In July, Cavallaro and Arnold traveled to the Arctic to conduct fieldwork as part of the U.S. National Science Foundation Research Experience for Undergraduates program. In November, he presented the findings of his self-led project at a national meeting. He also will be a co-author and lead author of forthcoming scientific papers. 

After graduation, Cavallaro will attend Stanford University as a doctoral student in the Department of Biology. He aspires to become a professor who makes a difference in the world, and to foster an environment where diverse perspectives drive innovative and exciting research. 

Robie Gold Medal

The Robie Gold Medal honors those who demonstrate personal integrity, initiative, cooperation, enthusiasm, willingness to give more than required, and a love of God and country.

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Shinhye Chloe Park is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry.

Born and raised in South Korea, Shinhye's transformative journey began with her relocation to Tucson during her early teens. As a newly arrived immigrant, she navigated the challenges of adapting to a new language and culture. Following her family's return to Korea after three years, Shinhye ventured back to Tucson alone at 17, driven by her passion for education. She began her academic journey at Pima Community College before transferring to the university.

Shinhye's passion for mentorship and community service grew from her own experience with dedicated mentors who recognized her resilience. She has served as a chemistry and biochemistry ambassador, a peer mentor, and preceptor for multiple courses. Shinhye also has volunteered at the Diaper Bank of Southern Arizona and donated handcrafted chemo caps to Bag It Cancer. She also participated in the Undergraduate Biology Research Program's pen pal program to spark scientific curiosity in younger students. She has shared her research on KXCI 91.3, Tucson's community radio station.

Since the summer of 2021, Shinhye has been a member of Dr. Anita Koshy's lab in the College of Medicine – Tucson, investigating the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and its mechanism for prolonged persistence in the brain. After graduation, Shinhye intends to publish her project while working as a research technician in the Koshy lab.

Shinhye is the 2024 Biochemistry Outstanding Senior and has been awarded the 2023 Galileo Circle Scholarship, an Arizona Health Opportunities Pathways to Excellence Scholarship, an Arizona's Science, Engineering, and Math Scholars scholarship and a Lee and Vera Jones Endowment Scholarship. She also made the Dean's List with Distinction.

Shinhye envisions a career dedicated to equitable access to health care and bridging the gap between scientific research and clinical practice, integrating patient care, academic medicine and research.

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Noah Weaver is graduating with a double major in physiology and medical sciences from the College of Medicine – Tucson and public health from the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health. He also is graduating with a double minor in Spanish and biochemistry.

Weaver was born in Palm Springs, California, but grew up in Iowa City, Iowa. When Weaver decided to attend UArizona in 2020, his family also decided to move across the country and make Tucson their new home.

Weaver was the co-president of UA Medical Directive, a university club for pre-health students. He helped create a high school and medical school outreach program, providing UArizona students the opportunity to lend advice to high school students from underserved communities and to connect UArizona students with medical students and students pursuing other careers in health care.

Weaver wants to work with underserved populations to address pressing health disparities and is specifically focused on how to increase access to healthy food options for low-socioeconomic communities in South Tucson and the state of Arizona. During his time at UArizona, Weaver served as an Arizona Ambassador, Pre Health Ambassador, and Physiology and Public Health mentor. He also worked as a tutor at the Strategic Alternative Learning Techniques, or SALT, Center and was awarded the Outstanding Tutor Award. 

Weaver's leadership in MexZona, an organization that leads monthly clinics in Mexico, solidified his love for public health and desire to work in global health initiatives. He is a weekly volunteer at the Z Mansion, a Tucson shelter that provides food, clothes and medical care to people experiencing homelessness. He also has been a weekly volunteer at the university's Campus Pantry, helping to lessen food insecurity on campus. 

Weaver is a lead research assistant at the Memory Development and Disorders Lab, where he conducts research on how swimming affects cardiovascular function in people with Down syndrome and typically developing individuals. 

Weaver's honors during his time at UArizona include the Heather Lenkin Honors College Scholarship in 2022 and 2023, the Anne E. (Betty) Atwater Scholarship for Undergraduate Education for 2022-23, the Liverman Scholars Program for 2021-22, and the SALT Center Outstanding Tutor Award for 2021-22. Weaver will attend the College of Medicine – Tucson in the fall, where he hopes to pursue a specialty in pediatrics.

Robert Logan Nugent Award

The Robert Logan Nugent Award goes to students who display a record of accomplishments that exemplifies the high ideals of Robert Logan Nugent, a former University of Arizona executive vice president.

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Andrew Prouty is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in physiology and medical sciences with honors. He grew up in Chandler, Arizona, alongside two younger siblings.

During his four years at the university, Prouty has been a leader in the W.A. Franke Honors College. After serving as a mentor for two years in the Partnerships Through Honors, or PATH, Mentorship Program, Prouty became the program lead for the PATH Mentor Development and Leadership Curriculum. Prouty also led teams of students in developing multiple proposals focused on promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives in the Franke Honors College, with a special emphasis on expanding LGBTQ+ support and increasing the accessibility of higher education. Prouty will graduate with the Civic Leadership Certificate from the Franke Honors College.

Prouty has committed himself to a lifetime of service in medicine. As a certified community health specialist, he works alongside medical professionals to deliver health care to individuals experiencing homelessness in Tucson at the WORKship Project at the Z Mansion. After recovering from a traumatic brain injury, Andrew worked as a clinical intern at SPARCC medical clinic to facilitate the active rehabilitation of other TBI patients. Additionally, he worked with physicians to conduct clinical research focused on better understanding objective predictors of persistent post-concussion symptoms.

Prouty has  served on several university committees, including the Franke dean search committee, the Margaret M. Briehl and Dennis T. Ray Five Star Faculty Award committee, and the Franke Honors Common Reading committee.

Prouty is a recipient of the Vaughan Honors Leadership Award for exhibiting extraordinary leadership potential in health care settings. He has also received multiple awards from the Partnerships Through Honors Mentorship Program for his transformative mentorship and engagement.

Prouty will pursue a medical degree at the College of Medicine – Tucson.

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Larissa Lazaro Roncador is graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and a minor in human development and family sciences. She is an international student from Brazil, born and raised in Brasilia.

Prior to attending the university, Roncador attended Austin Community College, from which she transferred with honors. In Austin, Roncador was vice president of Phi Theta Kappa-Alpha Gamma Phi and received the 2022 All-Texas Academic Team Award. She was also a recipient of the Phi Theta Kappa scholarship at UArizona.

Roncador participated in a symposium/conference with the UArizona Department of Spanish and Portuguese. She also participated in research at the Human Memory Lab, where she received mentorship and support from clinical associate professor of psychology Matthew Grilli. There, she learned about conducting scientific research and exploring developments in psychological science. Roncador also worked as a preceptor with Payal Khosla, associate professor of practice of human development and family science, where she learned about community building and leadership roles.

As an international student, transfer student and first-generation student, Roncador experienced challenges such as culture shock, language limitations and navigating a new country alone. One of the resources that greatly affected Roncador's journey was the university's Thrive Center, where she worked as a community coordinator. There, Roncador was able to help and support many students in finding their community at the university. 

After graduation, Roncador plans to pursue a master's degree in children's counseling and get a step closer to helping children from marginalized groups in Brazil. 

Merrill P. Freeman Medal

The Merrill P. Freeman Medal is named in honor of Merrill Freeman, who served the University of Arizona as a regent and chancellor. Qualifications for the award include outstanding character.

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Nguyen Dang is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in food safety with a minor in microbiology in the College of Agriculture, Life and Environmental Sciences. An international student from Vietnam, he is the first and only person in his family to study abroad in the United States. Understanding the difficulties that other international students face, he decided to give back by joining the Global Ambassador program and co-facilitating different activities via the International Student Service to help students feel at home in Tucson.

Dang is a member of Omega Delta Phi Fraternity, where has been involved in many volunteer opportunities, such as Tucson Meet Yourself and Adopt-a-Street. From fall 2020 to spring 2023, he was involved in the Campus Pantry and Campus Closet, advocating for food and clothing security on campus. Also in spring 2023, he became the chair of the Equity Committee in Students for Sustainability. 

At the same time, he served as an undergraduate lab assistant in associate professor Sadhana Ravishankar's lab, where he assisted in a U.S. Department of Agriculture-funded project investigating the safety and quality of melons in 2021. He presented his research at the 2023 UArizona Food Safety Conference and participated in the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture-sponsored internship at the International Fresh Produce Association in the summer of 2023. 

He has been a peer mentor, helping guide incoming first-year students and students with academic challenges. He was also a tutor and preceptor for two upper-division courses in his college. He was also awarded the Global Wildcat Award, the Stanley M. Alcorn Memorial Scholarship and the Harry W. and Elsie M. Porterfield Scholarship and was named to the Dean's List multiple times. 

After graduation, Dang will pursue a master's degree in applied biosciences from UArizona and will continue his research in food science and food microbiology.

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Bao "Tintin" Nguyen is graduating summa cum laude with honors with a Bachelor of Science in physics, astronomy and mathematics. 

Growing up in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, Nguyen initially fell in love with astronomy after receiving a solar system toy model from his parents. The interest grew when he saw dazzling black hole visualizations in the sci-fi movie "Interstellar." In 2019, gazing at the first direct black hole image – the result of an international effort led by researchers at the UArizona Steward Observatory – he realized his desire to pursue astrophysics.

Under the mentorship of Chi-Kwan Chan, an associate astronomer at Steward Observatory, and former Stweard postdoc Pierre Christian, Nguyen investigated how the strong gravitational pull of black holes distorts light rays or forms hot glowing disks with matter spiraling into these cosmic behemoths. His effort on the observational signatures of super-spinning black holes culminated in a lead-author publication in The Astrophysical Journal and two talks at the American Physical Society conferences. He also spent summer 2023 as a research intern at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics. 

Nguyen is passionate about education and outreach in science, technology, engineering and math. He previously served as a teaching assistant in two calculus courses. He was a tutor in Mentorship and Education in Science for Tucson, an initiative to support Native American high school students in math courses. Currently, he serves as a leader in the Tucson Initiative for Minority Engagement in Science and Technology program and as a lead undergraduate research ambassador at the university.

Nguyen has been honored with the 2024 Excellence in Undergraduate Research Award by the astronomy department, the Galileo Circle Scholarship, the Weaver Award for Undergraduate Research in Physics, the David Lomen Excellence in Mathematics Award, the W.A. Franke Honors College's Richard Kissling Spirit of Inquiry Scholarship, the Global Wildcat Award, and the Undergraduate First Prize of the Data Visualization Challenge.

Nguyen plans to pursue a doctorate in astrophysics and hopes to continue mentoring undergraduates and volunteering in outreach initiatives to bring astronomy to the public. He eventually hopes to follow in the teaching footsteps of his grandparents by becoming a professor and improving access to astronomy education and research opportunities in his home country of Vietnam.