DETROIT (4/14/2026) -- A few weeks ago, the University of Detroit Mercy held its annual Honors Convocation to celebrate the academic and leadership achievements of Detroit Mercy students who have excelled in their coursework, extracurricular, co-curricular, and service efforts in the communities they live in. 

A number of student-athletes and spirit squad members were honored, including a few who received some major awards from their school.

Below is a list of awards that the Titans were honored with.

Presidential Scholars
(Students who have completed the Honors Program curriculum, volunteered a minimum of 100 hours of community-engaged service and achieved a minimum GPA of 3.75)
Joshua Otten (Cross country/Track & Field) – College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences

Leadership Pin Award Candidates
(Ongoing involvement in student organizations, spirituality workshops, leadership workshops, mentoring, and 100 hours of community service)

College of Engineering and Science
Brigita Sumskas (Track & Field) – Chemistry, Psychology

College of Business Administration
Vincent Levesque  (Golf) – Business

School of Architecture & Community Development
Taylor Myers (Cross Country/Track & Field) – Architecture

Leadership Medallion Award Candidates
(These students have met the requirements of the Leadership Pin and have additional involvement in student organizations, spirituality retreats, completed leadership coursework, mentoring, and 200 hours of community service)

College of Engineering and Science
Brigita Sumskas (Track & Field) – Chemistry, Psychology

School of Architecture & Community Development
Taylor Myers (Cross Country/Track & Field) – Architecture


College Of Business Administration

Accounting Award
(Presented to a graduating senior in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in Accounting)
Danica Paesano (Soccer) – Graduate

Beta Alpha Psi Award
(Given by the Alpha Xi Chapter to its graduating member who has earned the highest scholastic average in his or her total undergraduate program)
Joshua Hoenscheid (Pep Band) – Graduate

Alpha Iota Delta Award
(Given by the Delta Mu Chapter to a graduating senior and a graduate student in Decision Sciences and Information Systems in recognition of academic achievement, commitment to service and ethical and moral standards)
Avery Paul (Softball) – Undergraduate
Joshua Hoenscheid (Pep Band) – Graduate

Decision Sciences Award
(Presented to a graduating senior and a graduate student who demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement in Decision Sciences and show exceptional promise as scholars in this field)
Joshua Neary (Track & Field) – Undergraduate

Marketing Award
(Presented to a graduating senior and to a graduate student in Marketing who have demonstrated outstanding scholastic achievement and show exceptional promise as scholars in this field)
Avery Paul (Softball) – Undergraduate

Business Administration Award
(Presented by the Dean of the College of Business Administration to graduating students in recognition of outstanding academic achievement in the College)
Joshua Neary (Track & Field) 

Dean's Award
(Given to graduating seniors having an exemplary record of student leadership and service to the College of Business Administration)
Ayva Schmalz (Cross Country/Track & Field)

College of Business Administration Dean's Honor Certificate
(Presented annually by the Dean of the College of Business Administration to undergraduate students who have earned at least a 3.5 cumulative grade-point-average for all previous work taken at Detroit Mercy)

Senior
Allison Basye (Basketball)
Jada Clark (Track & Field)
Zander Crooks (Soccer)
Clayton Lafayette (Soccer)
Joshua Neary (Track & Field) 
John Nino (Soccer)
Clayton Lafayette (Soccer)
Avery Paul (Softball)
Spencer Powe (Soccer)
Louis Simon (Soccer)
Vincent Stockton (Soccer)

Junior
Claire Borge (Softball)
Sean Donahue (Lacrosse)
Matt Firth (Lacrosse)
Leila Lanier (Soccer)
Nathan Mysiorek (Fencing)
Ethan Oblak (Golf)
John Palomino (Soccer)
Mateo Phillips (Soccer)
Drew Pierson (Soccer)
David Swab (Golf)
Kayla Wize (Track & Field) 

Sophomore
Addison Ayris (Soccer)
Ryan Belanger (Cross country/Track & Field)
Natalie Dye (Soccer)
Allison Fluker (Softball)
Jack Gonzalez (Track & Field) 
Ian Greenwell (Lacrosse)
Nicholas Johnson (Track & Field) 
Morgan Jones (Golf)
Aubrey Mery (Cross Country/Track & Field)
TJ Nadeau (Basketball)
Andrew Parker (Lacrosse)
Mason Sokolowski (Golf)
Samuel Speen (Soccer)
Audrey Williams (Track & Field) 
Caleb Wynn (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Travis Zeleji (Soccer)

Freshman
Zak Abdalla (Basketball)
Dylan Belliveau (Lacrosse)
Abbi Bernhardt (Lacrosse)
Jacob Czarnota (Lacrosse)
Emma Henry (Soccer)
Mano Karjian (Soccer)
Kiely Robinson (Soccer)
Hannah Schlachter (Softball)
Spencer Shearer (Golf)
Sam Sickinger (Soccer)
JJ Simasko Jr. (Pep Band)
Auden Stauffer (Soccer)
Luke Zajdel (Lacrosse)

Engineering & Science Scholar Award
(Criteria All students who receive the Scholar Certificate Award or the Scholar Key Award have a minimum GPA of 3.75 at the end of the fall term prior to the Honors Convocation. Freshmen must 12-29.9 credit hours and a 3.75 to 3.99 GPA; Sophomores requirements are 30-59.9 credit hours and a 3.75 to 3.89 GPA; Juniors must have 60-89.9 credit hours and a 3.75 to 3.79 GPA and Seniors need 90 or more credit hours and a 3.75 to 3.79 GP)

Sophomores
Colin Murray (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Nicholas Yaquinto (Cross Country/Track & Field)

Juniors
Ava Bandi (Lacrosse)
Alaina Burns (Cross Country/Track & Field)

Seniors
Jane Peck (Lacrosse)
Cooper St. Clair (Lacrosse)

Scholar Key Awards
(This honor is for Freshmen with 12-29.9 credit hours and a 4.0 GPA; Sophomores with 30-59.9 credit hours and a 3.9 or higher GPA; Juniors with 60-89.9 credit hours and a 3.8 or higher GPA and Seniors with 90 or more credit hours and a 3.8 or higher GPA)

Freshman
Joey DeCasas (Track & Field)
Savannah Schultz (Softball)

Sophomores
Mya Mascaro (Soccer)
Camryn Pepper (Soccer)

Juniors
Marisa Cantu (Cheer)
Marley Cashin (Cheer)
Rianna Shrewsberry (Soccer)
Natalia Sobh (Soccer)
Molly Upton (Softball)

Seniors
Josephene Dertinger (Pep Band)
Hailee-Mae Eldred (Dance)
Alyssa Jarvis (Lacrosse)
Batoul Mortada (Pep Band)
Arturo Rangel (Fencing)
Ryan Sanborn (Soccer)
Savanah Solomon (Cheer)
Christian Tucker (Lacrosse)

John J. Uicker Award
(Presented to the Mechanical Engineering student having the highest scholastic standing in upper division courses. John J. Uicker began his career at the College as an instructor in 1941 before becoming professor and acting dean. He retired as professor emeritus in 1973)
Arturo Rangel (Fencing)


College of Health Professions

Joseph O'Reilly Scholarship
(Scholarships are awarded to students in good academic standing in the Physician Assistant Program with preference given to students with a minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA)
Savanah Solomon (Cheer)

Mercy Heritage Scholarship Award
(The Mercy Heritage Scholarship is awarded to a full-time sophomore, junior or senior Nursing student with outstanding academic achievement, demonstrating dedication to the nursing profession and service to the community)
Teagan Ferrington (Soccer)

Summative Leadership Awards
(Selected by faculty and awarded to the student who exemplifies the mission of the University and the McAuley School of Nursing through excellence in academics, leadership in clinical practice and community service. The awards are named for esteemed leaders in professional nursing education and practice)

Catherine McAuley Award Prelicensure Program
Erica Toupin (Soccer)

Janet M. Baiardi Nursing Award
(This is awarded to a Master's Entry Advanced Generalist Nursing student who demonstrates the guiding values of the McAuley School of Nursing as exemplified by Dr. Janet M. Baiardi)
Constantina Sinani (Track & Field)

Dean's Scholar Award
(Undergraduate In recognition of scholastic achievement with a cumulative GPA of 3.75 for a minimum of 30 credit hours of undergraduate course work completed at Detroit Mercy while earning first undergraduate degree)

Grace Brutto
Meredith Leavell (Soccer)
Soraya Puerto-Khalil (Soccer)
Avary Sacdalan (Lacrosse)


College of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences

Clarence J. McLeod Award
(Presented in memory of Congressman Clarence J. McLeod to a junior with the highest academic average after five semesters in the College of Humanities, Arts & Social Sciences)
Lance Poole (Lacrosse)

Economics Award
(Presented to a student majoring in Economics or Financial Economics who shows exceptional promise in the field)
Gabe Figueroa (Pep Band)

John J. Muller Psychology Award
(Presented to an outstanding undergraduate to pursue an advanced degree in psychology)
Taylor Kondel (Golf)

Dean's Gold Key Award
(Presented annually to honor freshmen with at least 15 hours in residence who have achieved a 4.0 grade point average, sophomores and juniors with 30 or more hours in residence who have achieved at least a 3.9 grade point average and seniors with 30 or more hours in residence who have achieved at least a 3.8 grade point average)

Freshman
Sadie Kondel (Golf)

Sophomores
Aubrey Mery (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Aleah Tanguay (Softball)
Sophia Miller (Fencing)
Lance Poole (Lacrosse)
Grace Steffes (Track & Field)
Gabriella Tapp (Golf)
Tyler Vandierdonck (Cross Country/Track & Field)

Senior
Ayden Carter (Basketball)
Taylor Kondel (Golf)
Joshua Otten (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Viktor Sulc (Soccer)
Molly Upton (Softball)

Dean's Award
(Presented to undergraduate students who are not Dean's Gold Key awardees and who have earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better through Term I of this academic year)

Freshman
Tristan Crooks (Track & Field)
Lincoln Floyd (Soccer)
Kayle Jerore (Dance)
Cameron McMaster (Basketball)
Jaycee Reams (Softball)

Sophomores
Lucy Annese (Lacrosse)
Andrew Drakos (Track & Field)
Gabe Figueroa (Pep Band)
Madeline Hallman (Softball)
Mia Hubbell (Softball)
Dmytro Lichykaki (Cheer)

Juniors
Cole Hostetler (Golf)
Helana Napiorkowski (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Zach Rubicz (Cross Country/Track & Field)

Seniors
Ryleigh Carraway (Softball)
Lauren Creon (Softball)
Shana Dupin (Fencing)
Claire Hunt (Cross Country/Track & Field)
Sonny Johnson (Basketball)
Gracelyn Peebles (Track & Field)