MC celebrates outstanding students at annual student awards ceremony
Renowned students at Maryville College were recognized for their academic excellence and personal achievements during the annual Celebration of Student Achievement on April 10.
As the 2025-26 academic year comes to a close, Maryville College held its annual awards ceremony to honor students who have stood out within the campus community. The event, led by President Dr. Brian Coker along with faculty and staff, celebrated both academic success and student leadership.
Awards were given across academic divisions and student involvement, recognizing the hard work and dedication students have shown throughout the year.
Among the many honors presented, two of the most significant awards were the LeQuire Award and the Carl and Jean McDonald Outstanding Senior Award.
The LeQuire Award supports a student pursuing a career in the medical field and is awarded to a senior who demonstrates strong academic achievement and a commitment to health care. This year, Emily Miller (‘26) received the LeQuire Award.
Before presenting the award, Coker highlighted Miller’s accomplishments.
“This year’s recipient graduated in December with cum laude honors, earning a Bachelor of Science in biology with a minor in health and wellness promotion,” Coker said. “There is no doubt that she will make a profound impact in the health care field.”
Miller will continue her education this fall in the physician assistant program at Emory and Henry School of Health Sciences.
The most anticipated moment of the ceremony came with the announcement of the Outstanding Senior Award. Five finalists: Madison Smith, Chance Loveday, Annie Melhor, Josh Cornell and Rukhshona Isomova were recognized before the final recipient was revealed.
Finalists are selected through a process led by faculty and staff, who review nominees and choose a group of seniors to move forward before selecting one recipient.
This year, Josh Cornell was named the 2025-26 Outstanding Senior.
Each finalist was introduced by a faculty member who spoke about their achievements and contributions to campus life. Cornell was introduced by Dr. Mark O’Gorman.
“Josh’s choices of academic majors are accurate, given how involved he has been with student politics and the intersection of policy and the environment,” O’Gorman said.
As Cornell accepted the award, the room filled with applause, concluding the ceremony’s final and most significant honor.
The ceremony not only recognized academic success but also reflected the values at the heart of Maryville College. Students honored throughout the afternoon embodied the mission first set by founder Rev. Isaac Anderson, to “do good on the largest possible scale,” through their leadership, service and commitment to their community on and off campus.