Honors college announces 2023 Outstanding Graduates

Barrett, The Honors College at Arizona State University has announced its 2023 Outstanding Graduates.

These graduates, selected based on their contributions to ASU and the Barrett community, achievements in academics and research, and dedication to service and leadership, will be recognized at the Barrett convocation ceremony, set for 2 p.m., Monday, May 8, at the Desert Financial Arena in Tempe.  

The Barrett Outstanding Graduate this year is Autriya Maneshni, who is graduating with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Maneshni will carry the Barrett gonfalon into the arena to open the honors college convocation.

The student speaker for the ceremony will be Nathaniel Ross, a Barrett alum who graduated ASU with honors last December with bachelor’s degrees in biological sciences, political science, applied quantitative science and history. He will receive a Master of Science in society and biology this month. Ross was awarded the Rhodes Scholarship to pursue postgraduate studies at the University of Oxford.

Madeleine Zheng, Nicholas Ho and Claire Blaske were selected as Barrett’s Outstanding Graduates for Research. Zheng will receive bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry and Chinese; Ho will receive bachelor’s degrees in computer science and mathematics; and Blaske will receive a bachelor’s degree in astrophysics.

Lindsey Brannen, who is receiving a bachelor’s degree in industrial design, was named Barrett Outstanding Graduate for Creativity. Ruby Maderafont, who is receiving a bachelor’s degree in museum studies, was named the Barrett’s Outstanding Graduate for Service and Leadership.

“Barrett Honors College Outstanding Graduates are always just that: outstanding. This year’s Outstanding Graduates exemplify excellence not only in their fields of study but also in everything that they do. We are immensely proud of them and their contributions. We can’t wait to see the great things they will do in the future,” said Barrett Dean Tara Williams.

“Convocation is an exciting event where we celebrate our honors graduates and wish them well on their journeys into careers, graduate and professional schools, or other endeavors. They have had such positive impacts in the Barrett, The Honors College community and we know they will do the same wherever they go next,” Williams added.

Of note is that this year’s honors convocation will include the first cohort of students to participate in the Barrett Online program, which was established in fall 2021 with 48 ASU Online students and continued in fall 2022 with 80 new students.

Shawna Brechbill, a student from Northern California in the Starbucks College Achievement Plan at ASU, and Ryan Johnston, a Marine veteran, will be among the Barrett Online students attending convocation.

“Barrett Online, a full honors experience reimagined for the online environment, is allowing us to reach a new population of learners from throughout the U.S. and the world,” Williams said.