During commencement season, The Citadel recognizes members of the graduating class who excelled during their time at the college, as well as some of the outstanding faculty who helped educate them.

Each year, The Citadel Graduate College celebrates student and faculty excellence in areas of academics, leadership and service during the annual CGC Awards Ceremony.

On Thursday, May 7, more than 20 students and educators were recognized during the 2026 CGC Awards Ceremony in Capers Hall prior to the 2026 Commencement ceremonies.

Award recipients include:

Graduate Student Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership:

Damirelys Perez

The graduate student award recognizes an exceptional student that has demonstrated academic excellence and leadership while at The Citadel.

Degree Completion Program Student Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership:

Alexander Pratt

The evening undergraduate student award recognizes an exceptional student that has demonstrated both academic excellence and leadership while at The Citadel.

Veteran Student Success Center Award for Academic Excellence and Leadership:

Jesse McClure

The veteran student award recognizes an exceptional student that has demonstrated both academic excellence and leadership while at The Citadel.

Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Graduate College

Dr. Eva Singleton

The faculty award was created to recognize a distinguished faculty member that has made outstanding contributions to graduate education on campus.

Faculty Award for Outstanding Contributions to the Degree Completion Program:

Dr. Stephanie Laughton

The faculty award was created to recognize a distinguished faculty member that has made outstanding contributions to the Degree Completion Program.

Hirshey Awards

Teacher Education: Sara Vechinski

Education Leadership: Nathalie Bennett

Counselor Education: Caroline Flowers

Literacy Education: Christin Tonkel

Higher Education Leadership: William Roebuck

STEM Med: Kimberly Dixon

The Hirshey Awards are presented each spring to both graduate and cadet students exemplifying excellence in education in honor of Charles Hirshey, Ph.D., the head of The Citadel Department of Education from 1969 to 1979. Hirshey is a pioneer of graduate education in the Lowcountry and a founding member of what is now The Citadel Graduate College.

Aline M. Mahan Award

Kelsey Sibley

The Aline M. Mahan Award is presented annually to graduates who have demonstrated an outstanding record of scholarship, technical skill and community service in the school psychology program at The Citadel.

J. Patrick Leverett Award

Damirelys Perez

The J. Patrick Leverett Award is presented to the year’s outstanding graduate of the Department of Psychology’s master’s degree program in clinical counseling. This award honors Professor Pat Leverett, who served as a faculty member in the department for 10 years.

MBA Student of the Year

Scott Bourquin

The MBA Outstanding Student of the Year Award is determined by a vote of faculty members who teach in the MBA program. It is presented to a graduate who has demonstrated an exceptional record of academic achievement and principled leadership within the MBA program.

MBA Faculty Member of the Year

Dr. Susan Wright

The MBA Faculty Member of the Year Award is determined by a vote of Citadel MBA students and is presented to a faculty member who has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the education of their students.

Business Degree Completion Program Student of the Year

Charles Miller

The award is presented to an undergraduate student who has demonstrated an exceptional record of academic achievement and principled leadership within the program. The award is determined by a vote of faculty members who teach in the evening Degree Completion Program.

Business Degree Completion Program Faculty of the Year

Dr. Walter Rosado

Determined by a vote of the evening undergraduate students, The Tommy and Victoria Baker School of Business recognizes the accomplishments of one of our evening undergraduate professors with the award.

Swain Family School of Science and Mathematics Outstanding Student

Mariah Lowry

Department of Leadership Studies Lieutenant General John Rosa Award

Michael Tribula

Each year, the Department of Leadership Studies confers the Lieutenant General John W. Rosa Award upon the top-performing Master of Science in Leadership student. This award recognizes outstanding academic achievement, student engagement and scholarly excellence in Leadership Studies.

Master of Science in Engineering Student of the Year

LT Jonathan D. Plant, USN

Col. Charles Lindbergh Award – Most Outstanding Student in the Degree Completion Program in Civil/Construction Engineering

Alexander Pratt

Electrical Engineering Students of the Year

Bennett Bucher

Elliott Cihlar

Computer Engineering Student of the Year

Tajjay Jackson

Department of Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Student of the Year

Branden Jefferson

M.S. Project Management Outstanding Student of the Year

William E. Weber