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

The university's 162nd Commencement ceremony will be held at Casino Del Sol Stadium on Friday, May 15, 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 student award winners were selected based on their determination, notable achievements and positive contributions to their families and communities. Student Affairs manages the application and nomination process for awardees, and hosts a spring reception to celebrate their achievements.

Provost Award

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

Image

Grant Palmer is graduating summa cum laude with honors from the College of Medicine – Tucson with a Bachelor of Science in medicine and a minor in biochemistry. Raised in rural Arizona, Palmer developed an early understanding of the health care disparities facing underserved communities – an experience that shaped both his academic path and his long-term commitment to rural medicine.

Palmer began his higher education at Eastern Arizona College, where he graduated with a 4.0 GPA and was named a First-Tier All-Arizona Academic Team member and Coca-Cola Gold Academic Team Scholar. After transferring to the University of Arizona, he continued his record of academic excellence, maintaining a 4.0 GPA while balancing rigorous coursework, research, leadership, and employment as a nationally registered EMT.

Throughout his time at the university, Palmer has remained dedicated to serving underserved populations across Arizona. As an EMT in the Gila Valley, and previously with San Carlos Apache EMS/Fire, he has provided emergency care in rural and tribal communities where access to health care is often limited, including assisting with response efforts during the 2024 San Carlos Watch Fire. His clinical work reflects a strong commitment to communities that face geographic and economic barriers to care.

Palmer is bilingual in English and Spanish and incorporates his language skills into his service work. As a leader with Street Medicine Tucson, he supports outreach efforts for unsheltered individuals while contributing to bilingual patient education and engagement. He also serves on the executive board of the Transfer Advisory Board of Students, where he mentors fellow transfer students and advocates for their academic success within the W. A. Franke Honors College.

Robie Gold Medals

The Robie Gold Medals honor Wendell T. Robie, Class of 1917, and Inez Benzie Robie, Class of 1916, who established the award. The medals recognize two students who exemplify personal integrity, initiative and a breadth of interests.

Image

Braelyn Huff is graduating summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in economics and in politics, philosophy, economics, and law. Originally from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Huff is a first-generation college student whose experiences shaped her strong commitment to financial wellness and education. During high school, she managed a Subway restaurant full time to help save for college and set the goal of completing her degree in three years. The support and opportunities that made her college journey possible inspired her dedication to helping others navigate financial access and opportunity.

As a lead Take Charge Cat ambassador, Huff has delivered lessons on budgeting, credit management and investing to hundreds of middle and high school students. She has also contributed to financial literacy education on campus by assisting with workshops on taxes and financial wellness and helping develop new educational curricula for students and young adults. In her role as a college readiness associate with the Tucson Metropolitan Commission, Huff supported students across Arizona in completing the FAFSA, accessing scholarships, and understanding financial aid offers.

Huff also has made significant contributions to undergraduate research and scholarship. As editor-in-chief and a founding member of the Arizona Undergraduate Law Review, she helped create a platform for undergraduates to explore and debate complex legal topics and theories. In December, she published her own article, "Double Moral Hazard and the Student Loan Crisis." She also worked as a research assistant to Saura Masconale, analyzing the causes of rising executive pay and the worker-CEO wage gap, with a focus on the economic implications of transparency as a legal remedy. In her honors thesis, Huff examined the law and economics of menstrual product taxation and the role of policy in addressing period poverty.

Huff's scholarships include the Gerald J. Swanson Endowed Scholarship for Excellence in Economics, the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences Innovative Circle Scholarship, the Kirk and Yvette Drummond Scholarship, and the Corson Family Endowed Scholarship.

After graduation, Huff plans to pursue a joint economics doctoral degree and Juris Doctor. She is particularly interested in questions surrounding the efficiency and equity of corporate law, labor rights, and the development of human capital. Huff hopes to become a professor and contribute research that advances economic opportunity while fostering curiosity and critical thinking in future generations.

Image

Gabriel Trinidad is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in physiology and medical sciences, with minors in Spanish and biochemistry. Born and raised in Tucson, Trinidad is a first-generation college student from the city's west side whose experiences have shaped his commitment to health equity and service.

Trinidad's deep connection to Tucson has guided both his academic pursuits and his dedication to supporting underserved populations. Throughout his undergraduate career at the University of Arizona, he has sought opportunities to expand access to quality health care while contributing to community-centered research.

On campus, Trinidad has served as a two-semester preceptor for PSIO 202, helping fellow students master complex physiology concepts while fostering confidence and a sense of belonging in the classroom. His commitment to community-engaged research is also reflected in his work with Nosotros Comprometidos a Su Salud in the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, where he conducts FibroScan assessments and contributes to research on hepatic steatosis and liver fibrosis in Hispanic communities.

Beyond campus, Trinidad has spent nearly four years as a medical assistant at El Rio Community Health Center, providing compassionate care to underserved patients across Tucson. In collaboration with El Rio, Nosotros, and Arizona Liver Health, he helped support an initiative to bring liver FibroScan screenings directly into El Rio clinics, expanding access to early detection for patients who face barriers to specialty care.

Trinidad is a multi-semester recipient of the Dean's List with Distinction award. His work as a preceptor, research assistant, and community health worker reflects his dedication to advancing health equity and serving the community that raised him.

After graduation, Trinidad plans to take a gap year to continue working at El Rio, remain involved in liver-health research, and prepare for medical school. His long-term goal is to become a primary care physician specializing in addiction medicine, providing compassionate, culturally informed care to underserved communities in Tucson.

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 U of A executive vice president, which include active, enthusiastic participation in campus life, and dedicated service to the university and community.

Image

Alicia Salazar Contreras is graduating with dual degrees in speech, language, and hearing sciences and Spanish from the University of Arizona. A first-generation Hispanic student born and raised in Tucson, Salazar Contreras has witnessed firsthand the gaps in resources available to Spanish-speaking communities, particularly for individuals in need of speech and language services. These experiences inspired her commitment to advocating for her community and working to expand research and clinical representation for Spanish-speaking populations in the United States.

During her time as an undergraduate, Salazar Contreras participated in research as both a McNair and FUERZA Scholar. Through this work, she helped develop Sopa de Pescado, a Spanish-language diagnostic passage designed to support the differential diagnosis of motor speech disorders. Created with Spanish speakers in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands in mind, the passage aims to encourage more culturally and linguistically responsive clinical practices.

Beyond research, Salazar Contreras has demonstrated a strong commitment to service. She served as an interpreting lead team member for ARSOBO, a humanitarian aid organization based in Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, that provides free monthly audiological services to individuals in need. She also completed a year-long internship with the Tucson Unified School District, where she assisted a bilingual speech-language pathologist in providing services for bilingual children throughout the Tucson area.

After graduation, Salazar Contreras plans to pursue a master's degree in speech-language pathology and become a clinically certified bilingual speech-language pathologist. Her goal is to support and advocate for underserved Spanish-English bilingual communities in Tucson by providing culturally responsive speech and language services.

Image

Lane Vazquez Luna is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in biochemistry with a minor in classics. A Hispanic first-generation college student from El Mirage, Arizona, Vazquez Luna found a home in Tucson, where he developed a deep commitment to service, inclusion, and mentorship at the University of Arizona.

Early in his undergraduate career, Vazquez Luna immersed himself in service opportunities across campus and Tucson. Through the university's pre-health club MexZona, he volunteered at a community clinic where he provided translation support to Spanish-speaking patients. This experience sparked his passion for patient care and strengthened his commitment to serving underrepresented communities. He also volunteered with the Campus Pantry to address food insecurity, and with Campus Health's Stressbusters program, promoting mental health and helping reduce stress among college students.

Vazquez Luna's academic interests led him to become a preceptor for a biochemical laboratory techniques course under the mentorship of Dr. Juliana Sacoman. In this role, he helped guide aspiring biochemists through foundational laboratory methods and supported multiple cohorts of students as they developed skills essential for research and scientific careers.

After completing the course and developing a strong interest in protein chemistry, Vazquez Luna joined the McKay Laboratory in the College of Medicine – Tucson's Department of Ophthalmology and Vision Sciences. There, he conducted independent research on protein interactions related to glaucoma, with the goal of identifying potential drug targets and diagnostic tools. Under the mentorship of Dr. Brian McKay, Vazquez Luna presented his research at local and international conferences.

Mentorship has played a defining role in Vazquez Luna's journey, inspiring him to support others in the same way he was supported. He served as a mentor to incoming chemistry and biochemistry students, helping them navigate their transition to the university. He also mentored fellow scholars within his scholarship program, connecting students with resources and opportunities.

Vazquez Luna is a recipient of the Dorrance Scholarship, which supports first-generation college students and provides opportunities for global experiences and enrichment in the humanities. Through the university's Eye Care Initiative Club, he also participated in Western University of Health Sciences' Summer Health Professions Education Program, where he explored health disparities and health policy in optometry.

After graduation, Vazquez Luna plans to pursue a professional degree in optometry. He hopes to combine his interests in science, service, and policy to advocate for underserved communities and promote more equitable access to health care.

Merrill P. Freeman Medal

The Merrill P. Freeman Medal is named in honor of Merrill Freeman, who served the U of A as a regent and chancellor. The award goes to students who demonstrate outstanding moral character, dedicated service to campus and meaningful engagement with the community.

Image

Imon Contractor is an Army veteran and honors student at the Eller College of Management, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Science in operations and supply chain management. She has been recognized as the Eller Scholar of the Year and serves in multiple leadership roles focused on strengthening student community and engagement.

Before enrolling at the University of Arizona, Contractor attended the United States Military Academy at West Point and served as a signals intelligence analyst in the United States Army. In this role, she supported senior leaders through intelligence analysis and cross-unit coordination in high-pressure environments. Following her military service, she carried forward a strong sense of responsibility, discipline, and care for others – values that continue to shape the way she leads and serves.

At the U of A, Contractor has continued her commitment to service through leadership roles on the Eller College of Management Dean's Council and with the Association for Supply Chain Management, where she works to build inclusive, people-centered communities. Professionally, she completed a supply chain management internship with Knight-Swift Transportation, leading a capstone project that was implemented by the company and resulted in measurable operational improvements.

After graduation, Contractor will begin her career as a business management associate at General Mills and plans to pursue an MBA. She hopes to lead with empathy, integrity, and purpose, using business as a platform to serve others and create meaningful, lasting impact. Outside of her academic and professional pursuits, Contractor is also an endurance athlete, having completed an Ironman 70.3 and aspiring to complete a full Ironman in the future.

Image

Nicholas Davis is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in accounting. A first-generation college student from Cleveland, Tennessee, Davis has dedicated his time at the University of Arizona to academic excellence and service to the Tucson community.

Davis has made a meaningful impact through mentorship and nonprofit engagement, participating in service initiatives such as Feed My Starving Children, Serve Our City, and Light the Night, an event honoring individuals and families affected by blood cancers. His fundraising and community outreach has helped raise more than $500,000 for a local nonprofit and organized events throughout Arizona.

He has also served as a volunteer with the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program through United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, where he uses his accounting knowledge to help low- to moderate-income families in Tucson file their tax returns free of charge.

Davis has demonstrated strong academic achievement during his time at the university. He is a recipient of the Dean's List with Distinction award, the McCord Scholarship, and recognition as a Deloitte Foundation Scholar, along with additional honors from the W.A. Franke Honors College and the Eller College of Management.

He is an active member of the Accounting Student Association and Beta Alpha Psi, the international honor society for accounting and finance students. Through Beta Alpha Psi, Davis supports underclassmen as they navigate upper-division coursework and pursue internships with accounting firms. He also serves as an exam proctor and participates in the organization's community service initiatives. In addition, he is a student member of the Arizona Society of CPAs, where he connects with professionals across the state and gains insight into the accounting profession.

After graduation, Davis will complete an internship with Deloitte and begin graduate studies at Eller, where he will pursue a master's degree in accounting. He plans to become a certified public accountant and hopes to use his financial expertise to support nonprofit organizations and strengthen financial stewardship within the community.