Each year, the University of Arizona recognizes a group of graduating students for their extraordinary perseverance and leadership in the pursuit of academic success at the Centennial Achievement Awards. This year, nine students – including two undergraduates – were honored Dec. 9 at a ceremony hosted in Old Main.

"Each of these students embodies the spirit of the University of Arizona: resilience, service and an unwavering commitment to learning," said President Suresh Garimella. "Their journeys inspire us, and their stories strengthen the Wildcat community."

Each year, a committee comprised of faculty, staff and peers select a group of graduating students to be recognized with the Centennial Achievement Awards for their exceptional contributions and notable accomplishments. Student Affairs established the award in 1984 and partnered with the Graduate College three years later to include graduate students.

"The achievements earned by each of these students should be a powerful reminder of what is possible when dedication meets opportunity," said Provost and Chief Academic Officer Patricia Prelock. "Your success reflects not only your hard work, but the vision we share for every student: to feel supported, to thrive in their studies and to build a future filled with purpose and joy."

This year's Centennial Achievement Award winners:

Jennitza Barreras
Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education and Spanish
Despite facing setbacks to her academic journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, Barreras returned to the U of A in 2022 with renewed focus and a sense of purpose. Since then, she has taken on leadership and service roles across campus as student council treasurer, social media chair, peer mentor and Spanish tutor – ensuring she can help as many fellow students as possible achieve their goals.

Spencer Metz
Bachelor of Arts in Law
After the passing of his father, Metz faced a difficult decision: transfer to a school closer to home or continue at the U of A for his remaining two years. He chose to stay, crediting the strong community and support systems he's established. As a senior, Metz serves on the Undergraduate Advisory Cabinet, the Bobcats Senior Honorary, and as co-chair of the U of A's All Leadership Council. He is also the head citation editor of the newly launched Arizona Undergraduate Law Review and secretary of the Jewish Pre-Law Association.

Alyssa Prichard
Master of Science in Business Analytics; MBA
Known by her peers as an innovative technologist and a dedicated leader, Prichard has distinguished herself as a noteworthy Wildcat in the business analytics field. As president of the Full-Time MBA Student Association, she leads initiatives that enhance the student experience and foster community within the program – and helps undergraduates as a graduate teaching assistant for statistics.

Anthony Singleton
Master of Arts in Higher Education
Singleton's passion for higher education began during his undergraduate education, where he discovered the joy of guiding students through their own academic journeys. As a Wildcat, he has immersed himself in the community, working as the graduate assistant for the MLK Culture and Engagement Hub, helping plan the Tucson MLK Day Celebration and launching the 2025 Summer LIT Program, which introduced 25 high school students to college life through a three-day immersive leadership experience.

Mourad Abdennebi
Doctorate in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching
Originally from Morocco, Abdennebi grew up in a richly multilingual environment shaped by Arabic, Tamazight, French and Spanish. As a Wildcat, he has served for three years as a graduate teaching associate in Arabic, contributing to curriculum development and cultural programming for the Arabic Flagship Program. His research investigates the cognitive and neural mechanisms that support adult second language learning, with a particular focus on vocabulary acquisition through multisensory input, embodied learning, gesture and visual stimulation.

Angus Leydic
Doctorate in Second Language Acquisition and Teaching
A first-generation American and a first-generation college graduate, Leydic has developed a multicultural perspective that informs research aimed at improving the lives of minoritized people, with a current focus on LGBTQ+ people within larger social institutions. While at the U of A, they have served as the graduate student liaison to the SLAT Executive Council, held graduate assistant positions in the English Writing Program, the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, and the Department of Public and Applied Humanities, and worked as a peer mentor.

Raymond Owino
Doctorate in Natural Resources
Born and raised in Kenya, Owino's journey to the field of natural resources and wildlife conservation has been defined by persistence, adaptability and a deep love for nature. What began as volunteer work has blossomed into a burgeoning career conducting field work and serving as a teaching assistant for several undergraduate and graduate courses, including wildlife ecology, conservation and management, population ecology, and ecological surveys and sampling. His doctoral research focuses on the ecology and conservation of giraffes in human-dominated landscapes in East Africa.

Jennifer Shim
Juris Doctor
In her final year at the James E. Rogers College of Law, Shim serves as note editor for the Arizona Law Review and as an Arizona Law ambassador. She has also served as president of the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association and the JAG Vanguard Society, as well as a student practitioner in the Veterans' Advocacy Law Clinic and the Children's Rights and Gender Justice Workshop. Shim was selected for a post-graduation clerkship with the Hon. John Hinderaker at the U.S. District Court in Tucson.

Jazzie Terrell
Doctorate in Rhetoric, Composition and the Teaching of English
Inspired by their father, Terrell translates real-world experiences into the classroom environment with teaching and research on community education, feminist teaching methods, disability studies and technical writing, with particular attention to how digital tools can serve marginalized communities. They currently work as a graduate teaching associate teaching writing courses from basic and advanced composition to technical and business writing. Their dissertation centers a portfolio project around archival recovery, digital literacy and zines.

Undergraduate awardees receive a $250 stipend, while graduate awardees receive $500. All awardees also receive an engraved plaque.