ASU Names 2026 Presidential Award Winner and Top Graduates

SAN ANGELO, TX - Isabel Gilbert, a biology major from Montana City, Mont., has been selected to receive Angelo State University's 2026 Presidential Award as the top graduate in her class, while five other ASU graduating seniors have been selected for 2026 Distinguished Student Awards from their respective academic colleges.

Gilbert will be recognized at ASU's May 15-16 commencement ceremonies, along with the five Distinguished Student Award honorees. The Distinguished Student Award recipients are:

• Ashton Murry of San Angelo - Archer College of Health and Human Services
• Nicora Coleman of Burleson - College of Arts and Humanities
• Kianna Ortiz of Amarillo - College of Education
• Elizabeth "Lizzie" Scales of Kerrville - College of Science and Engineering
• Kimberly Tatiana Alvarez of San Angelo - Norris-Vincent College of Business.

ASU's Academic Excellence Committee hosted an awards ceremony May 4 in the Houston Harte University Center to honor all the award recipients and nominees. Each was presented a recognition plaque by Dr. Don Topliff, provost and vice president for academic affairs.

Isabel Gilbert was nominated by the Department of Biology. A biology major with chemistry minor, she will graduate with Highest University Honors after completing the Honors Program curriculum with thesis option. Her academic performance earned induction into the Alpha Chi national honor society and Beta Beta Beta national biological honor society. She held offices in Alpha Chi and the Honors Student Association, served as an Honors Program mentor for three years, and earned the Honors Program Director's Award. Additionally, she served as a student board member and volunteer for the Friends of San Angelo State Park, a volunteer in the Angelo State Natural History Collections, and a Texas state parks ambassador at Davis Mountains State Park.

Also excelling in undergraduate research, Gilbert earned an Undergraduate Faculty-Mentored Research Grant to study environmental DNA detection and monitoring of aquatic invasive plants, and she presented her findings at Botany 2026, the Alpha Chi National Convention and the Great Plains Honors Council Conference. Additionally, she secured several highly-competitive external placements, including a research apprenticeship at Shoals Marine Laboratory (SML) on Appledore Island, Maine, and a National Collegiate Honors Council Chesapeake Bay Stewardship Civic Seminar in Virginia. At SML, she contributed to projects on hagfish metabolism and algal biodiversity, and she later presented elements of that research at both the National Collegiate Honors Council Conference and the Great Plains Honors Council Conference.

Gilbert will continue her studies in the Master of Science in marine ecosystem management program at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland in preparation for a career as a conservation scientist specializing in marine ecosystem management.

Ashton Murry was nominated by the Department of Psychology. A San Angelo Central High School graduate, he is double majoring in psychology and criminal justice. He is an active member of the Psychology Club, Law Enforcement Club and Eva Camunez Tucker Up and Coming Scholars Program. He conducted research into empathic perception and student wellness at Angelo State, which he presented at the ASU Undergraduate Research Symposium, and also conducted research into mindfulness and contemplative practices. Murry will enter Angelo State's Master of Science in counseling psychology program this fall in preparation for a career as a licensed professional counselor for mental health.

Nicora Coleman was nominated by the Natalie Zan Ryan Department of English and Modern Languages. A December 2025 summa cum laude graduate, the Burleson native earned a Bachelor of Arts in English with secondary teacher certification. She also earned membership in the Alpha Mu Gamma national foreign languages honor society and Sigma Tau Delta national English honor society. She participated in the Lead Like a Ram program, served as a For His Glory fellowship leader, and coedited ASU's spring 2025 Oasis art and literary magazine. She conducted a yearlong research project supported by a Faculty-Mentored Undergraduate Research Grant to analyze library anxiety among undergraduate student patrons of ASU's Porter-Henderson Library, and she presented her findings at the ASU Undergraduate Research Symposium. Coleman plans to enroll in the Master of Science in library science program at the University of North Texas this fall.

Kianna Ortiz was nominated by the Department of Teacher Education. She is an interdisciplinary studies major with early childhood through grade 6 teacher certification from Amarillo. She earned induction into the Kappa Delta Pi international education honor society and was elected president of the Student Government Association and 2025 Homecoming Queen. She was active in Greek Life as a member of the Alpha Phi sorority and the Order of Omega. She also completed the Lead Like a Ram program, participated in the Women's Health Club, and served as a Ram Wire influencer and New Student Orientation leader. Ortiz will enroll in Angelo State's Master of Science in counseling psychology program this fall with plans to become a licensed professional counselor serving college students.

Elizabeth "Lizzie" Scales was nominated by the Department of Agriculture. An animal science major from Kerrville with minors in Spanish and range and wildlife management, she will graduate with High University Honors through the ASU Honors Program. She earned induction into the Delta Tau Alpha national agricultural honor society, which she served as president, and she participated in the Recruiting Ag Majors (RAMS) organization, The Wildlife Society, For His Glory Women's Ministry and the Honors Student Association. She was an active member of the East Angelo Lions Club, serving a two-year term on its Board of Directors, and interned with the Texas A&M AgriLife Research and Extension Service. She presented research into relative crop yields and nutritional value of heirloom and modern wheat varieties at CANVAS 2025, placing second in the Undergraduate Research Poster category for cropping systems. She also presented elements of her research at the Great Plains Honors Council Conference and the ASU Undergraduate Research Symposium. Scales will pursue a Master of Science in wildlife, aquatic and wildlands science management at Texas Tech University in preparation for a career in agricultural research and consulting.

Kimberly Tatiana Alvarez was nominated by both the Department of Accounting, Economics and Finance and the Department of Management and Marketing. A San Angelo Central High School graduate, she is completing the Integrated Professional Accountancy degree program with majors in accounting and international business, as well as a Certificate in Banking through ASU's Excellence in Banking program. She earned induction into the Alpha Chi national honor society and Phi Kappa Phi national honor society, as well as the Beta Alpha Psi national accounting honor society and Beta Gamma Sigma international business honor society. She held offices in Beta Alpha Psi, Delta Sigma Pi and the Excellence in Banking organization. Additionally, she participated in the Eva Camunez Tucker Up and Coming Scholars Program and the Housley Leadership Program, interned at the Armstrong Backus & Co., LLP, accounting firm, and participated in the Most Europe study abroad program. After graduation, Alvarez plans to continue her work in public accounting and sit for the Certified Public Accountant Exam.

Additional Departmental Nominees:

Haylie Anicama, nominated by the Department of Visual and Performing Arts, is a studio art major with a graphic design concentration from San Angelo. She plans to pursue graduate studies and a career as an art or creative director in the advertising industry.

Raymond Brown, nominated by the Department of Physics and Geosciences, is a physics and mathematics double major from San Angelo. He has been accepted into the Ph.D. program in physics at Texas Tech University.

Jesus Campos, nominated by the David L. Hirschfeld Department of Engineering, is a mechanical engineering major from Grape Creek. He plans to work in systems engineering or industrial embedded systems before pursuing graduate studies in robotics.

Averie Moss MacPherson, nominated by the Department of Communication and Mass Media, is a communication major from Midland. She will pursue National Interpreter Certification through the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf after graduation, with plans to improve accessibility of news reporting for the deaf community.

Hailey Miller, nominated by the Department of Health Science Professions, is a health science professions major with public health concentration from San Angelo. She plans to pursue a career as a child life specialist supporting children and families during medical challenges.

Kechcheng Sreang, nominated by the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, is a chemistry major with biochemistry minor from Phnom Penh, Cambodia. She will pursue graduate studies in biotechnology and a career in pharmaceutical research.

Jude Stephens, nominated by the Dr. Arnoldo De Leon Department of History, is a history major from Cedar Park. He will continue graduate studies at Angelo State this fall and plans to later pursue graduate studies in library science.

Alexis Washington, nominated by the Department of Mathematics, is a double major in mathematics and chemistry from Porter. She plans to pursue a career as a chemist.