Senior of the Year Award

Regan Bobich

Regan Bobich of Upland, Calif., is majoring in musical theatre with a minor in dance and received a vocal performance certificate from the music department. Regan has excelled academically while actively contributing to campus life. She has been involved in various organizations, including Theta Alpha Phi, the Honors Program, Blue Vocal Jazz and Late Night Blues. Additionally, she has starred in numerous on-campus productions such as “Legally Blonde”, “Life of Galileo” and “No Exit”. Not only has she been very involved with the music and theatre departments, but she is also a dedicated member of the women’s golf team. “In both the realms of theatre and golf, I have done my best to foster a welcoming community where everyone feels as though they can be themselves.” Regan envisions continuing her passions by working as a golf coach during the day while auditioning for productions in the Chicago area.

Madison Breck

Madison Breck of Carol Stream, Ill., is majoring in nursing with minors in Spanish and psychology. Madison has demonstrated her leadership skills by serving as president to the Student Nurses Association and the Honors Program. She was also actively involved in Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Mu Gamma and Kappa Kappa Gamma. “Attending this university has allowed me to maximize my scholarly potential and explore subjects that I am fascinated in, as well as those that I am not so familiar with. This has made me a more well-rounded person to adeptly navigate my future profession as a nurse.” Additionally, she had the opportunity to study abroad for a semester at the University College Dublin in Dublin, Ireland, which further enhanced her nursing skills. She aspires to work as an intensive care nurse. She hopes to gain a couple of years of experience before attending graduate school to become a certified nurse anesthetist.

Martin Diaz

Martin Diaz of Plano, Ill., is a first-generation student majoring in finance. He has demonstrated academic excellence while serving as an active member in the campus community. He showcased his leadership abilities as head resident advisor in West Hall, co-president of the School of Business Club and a member of Delta Mu Delta. Additionally, Martin is a dedicated student athlete and has participated on the men’s cross country and men’s track and field teams for all four years. Not only did he serve on campus, but he also served our country as an Illinois Army National Guard in the rank of specialist, which was very impactful to his academic success. “Throughout my time at Elmhurst, I have actively participated in various student organizations, facilitated open dialogues on diversity and promoted mutual respect and empathy. This has fostered a strong sense of belonging among my peers, and I take pride in having contributed to a welcoming and supportive community.” After graduation, he will continue to run his own company, which he has been managing for the past four years. He will also be working at a commodities brokerage to gain firsthand experience in financial markets.

Lucia Gaviria Vesga

Lucia Gaviria Vesga of Medellín, Colombia, is an international student pursuing degrees in finance and economics with a minor in international business. Lucia’s journey at Elmhurst started in 2021 and she quickly made an impact on the campus community. Her leadership skills are evident through the positions she has held over the past four years including resident advisor and president/founding member of Girl Up. She has also been a part of various organizations such as Delta Mu Delta, Phi Mu and Union Board. While she excelled outside the classroom, she was determined to learn more about her profession. She completed the mentorship program through the School of Business in which she was able to shadow an executive from BMO for an entire year. “During the past four years, Elmhurst has intellectually prepared me to be a well-rounded individual with lots of knowledge in the theories behind economics and finance. I’ve made an effort to go above and beyond in classes and extracurricular activities to prepare for the real world.” After graduation, she hopes to continue pursuing her passions and work at a bank in the Chicago area.

Sarah Hansen

Sarah Hansen of Marion, Iowa, is majoring in world language education (k-12) and Spanish while minoring in psychology. Throughout her four years, she excelled academically and is a part of numerous academic organizations such as Alpha Mu Gamma, Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi and the Honors Program. She was involved in the Elmhurst University Dance Company, Varsity Strings and Special Olympics, where she served as president. While her commitment to campus is evident through her involvement, she also had opportunities to learn outside the classroom through mentoring and study abroad including programs to Madrid, Spain and Buenos Aires, Argentina. “Elmhurst University’s focus on social justice throughout our education program has led to an emphasis on social justice in my own teaching philosophy, such as culturally relevant materials and lessons, celebrating diverse backgrounds and advocating for emerging bilingual programs that promote bilingualism and biculturalism rather than those that strip students of their languages and cultures.” Sarah aspires to obtain an elementary world language or dual language position for the 2025-2026 school year and an ESL/bilingual endorsement.

Sadie Leigh Hartmann

Sadie Leigh Hartmann of Oak Lawn, Ill., is pursuing a degree in secondary English education. She has exhibited her leadership abilities by holding a variety of roles on campus, such as orientation student leader (OSL) coordinator and president of Every Nation Campus. “Serving as an orientation student leader has helped me grow immensely. Guiding new students through their transition to college strengthened my leadership, communication and adaptability—skills that will prepare me to be a middle school teacher.” She is also a student athlete and participated on the women’s track and field team all four years. Additionally, Sadie is involved with Kappa Delta Pi, Chi Alpha Sigma, Sigma Tau Delta and Best Buddies. After graduation, she will teach middle school English language arts for at least five years at a school of need in Illinois.

Lily Morgan

Lily Morgan of Villa Park, Ill., is majoring in communication with a minor in digital media. She transferred to Elmhurst in the Fall of 2023 and quickly became involved in our campus community, where she has exhibited great dedication through all of her extracurricular involvement. Her commitment to social responsibility and leadership is evident through her work serving as editor in chief of The Leader, Elmhurst’s student newspaper. “I strive to promote civic engagement with each issue of The Leader I publish, acting on my social responsibility to keep the public informed while advocating for social justice.” In addition to her campus involvement, Lily has demonstrated academic excellence as a member of Lambda Pi Eta and Omicron Delta Kappa, where she exemplifies passion for her field of study through her work as communication chair. Lily is dedicated to making a difference in her community and ensuring that there’s a seat for everyone at the table. After graduation, she plans to continue working full-time in the communication field, where she aspires to continue making a difference by helping others find their voice.

Venezia Munoz

Venezia Munoz of St. Charles, Ill., is a first-generation college student pursuing a major in marketing with a minor in communications. She has shown a deep commitment to campus life through her involvement in several organizations, including Union Board, Student Government Association, Girl Up and The Leader student newspaper. Additionally, Venezia serves as the head community advisor for ELSA (the Elmhurst Learning and Success Academy). Her dedication extends to the School of Business, where she has actively participated in Delta Mu Delta Honor Society and the Elmhurst University Business Club, holding the position of president for both organizations. Venezia also had the opportunity to study abroad, traveling to Malaysia and Singapore through the School of Business. “Elmhurst has shaped me not just as a student but as a storyteller. Through content creation and videography, whether capturing the cinematic beauty of campus events and the energy of sports, to the depth of thought-provoking documentaries, I’ve had the chance to explore and capture a wide variety of stories. Reflecting on my journey, I’ve realized that my mission is to create content that not only tells a story, but sparks change, inspires others and also captures the raw emotion and energy of the moment.” Looking ahead, Venezia aspires to grow her freelance videography and marketing business with a focus on supporting small businesses and helping them thrive.

Nakala Nadeau

Nakala Nadeau of Las Vegas, Nev., is a first-generation student pursuing a degree in exercise science with a minor in dance. She has been a dedicated varsity athlete on the women’s track and field team and served on the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. Not only is she involved in athletics, but she is also a part of the Black Student Union and an orientation student leader (OSL), which showcases her leadership skills. “Learning has always been a big part of my life and starting college has made that feeling stronger. Being a part of sports and other communities on campus is a value that is important to me. These values shape my future with Elmhurst University by staying in contact with the organizations and sports I was a part of.” After graduation, Nakala will be attending Midwestern University to obtain her doctorate in physical therapy.

Jorden Young-Gentry

Jorden Young-Gentry of Forest Park, Ill., is a first-generation student majoring in education. He started his Elmhurst journey in 2021, and he quickly made his mark across campus. He has been actively engaged in various organizations, including Kappa Delta Pi, Alpha Sigma Phi and the Student Government Association (SGA). Jorden demonstrated his leadership abilities through his roles as orientation student leader (OSL) coordinator and president of the Elmhurst’s Superhero Social Club. “I actively look for ways to empower people, making sure that different viewpoints are not just recognized but also honored. I see my future classroom as a vibrant space where students develop into considerate, caring adults who are ready to push for reform and make valuable contributions to society.” Alongside teaching, he plans to support his friend’s family wedding business, contributing to its growth with aspirations of turning it into an additional career opportunity.

• 2021: Amanda O’Brien
• 2022: Sonali Rajput
• 2023: Hiba Anees
• 2024: Eaden Hvarre

• 2020: Alexandria Schultz
• 2019: Riley Schweig
• 2018: Esther Pereira
• 2017: Erik Maranto
• 2016: Tyler Espino
• 2015:  Meredithe Mimlitz
• 2014: Marissa McLean
• 2013: Uchenna Ebiringah
• 2012: Jacob Meding
• 2011: Genesis Jelkes

• 2010: Elizabeth Harland
• 2009: Melissa Steirer
• 2008: Alexander Kefaloukos
• 2007: Brian Slackert
• 2006: Dain Gotto
• 2005: Isabel Bauer
• 2004: Joud Abdel Majeid
• 2003: Kelly VanGuilder
• 2002: Christopher Speil
• 2001: Angela Gianforte

• 2000: Analy Ponce
• 1999: Anastasia Buriegi
• 1998: Amy Ferraro
• 1997: Herb Washington Jr.
• 1996: John Barr
• 1995: Gretchen Gehrlein
• 1994: Stephanie Nawyn
• 1993: Eric Lindberg