The University of South Florida Judy Genshaft Honors College celebrated the accomplishments of its spring 2026 graduates, awarding Honors medallions to 467 students across three campuses in recognition of completing the Honors College academic curriculum, as well as its research and experiential learning requirements.
The Honors graduate celebration ceremonies coincided with spring commencement celebrations across the university. USF's spring 2026 graduating class includes approximately 6,371 bachelor’s, 1,360 master’s, and 353 doctoral degree recipients, including 138 undergraduate students graduating with a perfect 4.0 GPA — 63 of whom are Honors students.
University-wide Celebration
The Honors celebrations began at the USF St. Petersburg campus, where 22 graduates received Honors medallions surrounded by family, friends, and faculty mentors. During her remarks, Campus Director and Assistant Dean Cayla Lanier reflected on the meaning behind the recognition students earned through their academic and personal growth.
“These medallions mean something,” Lanier said. “They represent determination, perseverance, belief in yourself and your abilities, and achievement.”
Next, graduates were honored at the USF Sarasota-Manatee campus. During an intimate ceremony honoring six graduates, Lanier highlighted graduates’ involvement in campus organizations, favorite Honors courses, hobbies, and accomplishments that shaped their experiences at USF.
Sarasota-Manatee graduates were also invited to revisit the stones they received during Convocation as first-year students — symbols Lanier said were meant to serve “as promises of this moment and good luck charms throughout their college careers.”
Dr. Lanier and USF Sarasota-Manatee Honors graduates pose with their Honors medallions.
During the ceremony, students brought their stones to the stage and placed them into a vase as a physical representation of the legacy they were leaving behind at USF.
The largest celebration ceremonies took place at the Tampa campus, where the college added an additional fifth ceremony this year to accommodate the growing graduating class. Each graduate received a personalized moment of recognition, with Endowed Honors Dean Charles Adams sharing highlights of their academic achievements, favorite Honors memories, thesis or capstone projects, leadership experiences, and future plans following graduation.
“These students came to USF determined to make the most of their college experience,” Adams said during the Tampa ceremony. “They’ve shown tremendous resilience and determination, and they have been willing to go above and beyond what’s required.”
From undergraduate research and capstone projects to leadership roles, internships, and service experiences, students were recognized not only for academic excellence, but also for the impact they made throughout their time at USF.
Meet Our Outstanding Graduates
Katelynn Paciorek
Dean's Circle of Merit winners Leah Werth, Madiha Reza, and Katelynn Paciorek with Dean Charles Adams
Katelynn Paciorek served as president of JGHC Tampa Student Council and co-president of the USF Climate Teach-In. Paciorek's focus as a leader was on mentoring the next generation of student leaders, empowering them to pursue leadership opportunities and develop their skills. Through her efforts in the USF Climate Teach-In, Paciorek organized, facilitated, and led 50+ university-wide events to raise awareness or action on social, political, and environmental topics. Beyond the Honors College, she also holds positions as the president of the Order of the Golden Brahman, vice president of the Student Philanthropy Council, and member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors. Her commitment to leading with authenticity can be seen through first-hand accounts of those who have been impacted by her leadership.
Anzhelika Kurnikova
As president of the IEEE Computer Society at USF, Anzhelika Kurnikova led the organization to a membership of over 900. She also redesigned the Undergraduate Research Portal during her time working at the Honors IT Support. When she became a team lead in Honors IT, she oversaw and developed multiple systems that are utilized by both Honors students and faculty/staff. After graduation, she will be working at Google as a software engineer.
Olivia Pinilla
Dean's Circle of Merit winner Olivia Pinilla and Grace Angeli smile for a photo outside the Judy Genshaft Honors College building.
Olivia Pinilla built her Honors experience around service and student leadership. Beginning as a volunteer committee co-chair and later serving as vice president of the JGHC Tampa Student Council, she expanded recruitment efforts by creating events tailored to the college’s 2,500-plus student body. She also served as a Peer Mentor and later Peer Mentor Lead, helping guide first-year Honors students through their transition to college life.
Beyond campus leadership, Pinilla completed the Dominican Republic Beyond the Classroom program, where she conducted a project examining how Community Health Workers support rural communities. She also volunteered as an operations coordinator at the USF BRIDGE Clinic. Throughout her time at the Judy Genshaft Honors College, Pinilla organized more than 500 hours of community service opportunities and helped raise more than $1,000 for service initiatives across Tampa Bay.
Oliver Laczko
Dean's Circle of Merit winner Oliver Laczko celebrates his Anita Cutting Outstanding Honors Thesis Award at USF St. Petersburg's Honors Graduate Celebration Ceremony.
Oliver Laczko devoted his undergraduate years to creating a local impact for the St. Petersburg community through service, sustainability, and tangible solutions. As a result of his Honors thesis “Harboring Resilience: the Past, Present, and Future of Bayboro Harbor” and leadership position as chair of the Student Green Energy Fund, he was awarded two grants, the “USF St. Petersburg Living Shoreline Habitat Enhancement” and the “Bayboro Harbor Historic Market & Community Engagement,” which totaled $15,000.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Catherine Wilkins, Laczko leveraged one of his grants and collaborated with Preserve the ‘Burg to install educational signage about Bayboro Harbor’s history, host public lectures, and guide tours of Bayboro Harbor to expand knowledge about this historical landmark.
May Spinney
May Spinney pursued the title of global citizen during her time as a student, and her college experience culminated in being awarded a Fulbright award to teach English in Taiwan, a goal she has sought after since her before she started college. At USF, she was a part of the Global and National Security Institute’s Future Strategist Program and eventually became the inaugural president. She has traveled to Cape Town, South Africa, where she worked for an immigration law firm, and to the United Kingdom, where she participated in Cambridge’s International Security and Intelligence Programme (ISI). Spinney has also been thoroughly involved within the Judy Genshaft Honors College as an Honors Ambassador and Honors Events Assistant.
Madiha Reza
Madiha Reza, a Gilman Scholar, used her scholarship to study abroad in South Korea, an experience that deepened her perspective as a global citizen and shaped her personal and academic growth. After returning to campus, Reza gave back as a learning assistant for the South Korea: Beyond the Classroom program, helping guide other students through their own international experiences. Through the opportunities offered by the Judy Genshaft Honors College, Reza embraced every chance to grow and mentor fellow students pursuing similar journeys abroad.
Leah Werth
Leah Werth, inspired by an Honors study away trip focusing on sustainable solutions, joined the USDA Research Experience for Undergraduates at USF, where she co-authored “Multi-faceted Sustainable Seafood Supply Chain on Management Practices and Economics in Africa.” She also partnered with the Tampa Museum of Art under Dr. Ulluminair Salim for her capstone project, where she served as a Visual Thinking Strategies Docent for the Community Outreach Connections program, researching its role in therapeutic intervention for families of cancer patients. In collaboration with Dr. Andrew Hargrove and the transportation engineering faculty, Werth conducted a feasibility study on transitioning the USF SAFE team from gas-powered carts to electric-powered carts, which eventually resulted in the SAFE team operating now at fully electric.
Alvin Varghese
Dean's Circle of Merit winners May Spinney, Olivia Pinilla, and Alvin Varghese pose with Dean Charles Adams on the amphitheater steps of the Judy Genshaft Honors College.
Alvin Varghese’s passion for research began during a study abroad trip to the Dominican Republic through the Judy Genshaft Honors College, where he developed an awareness poster on diabetes management using local research and resources. That introduction to global health led him to additional interdisciplinary research opportunities, including a project examining end-of-life ethics across different sects of Christianity and later malaria research that became the foundation of his Honors Thesis on anti-CDPK5 antibodies raised against malaria parasites. Though he explored several areas of research, Varghese said his proudest work came through the Honors Grand Challenge Competition, where he proposed transforming unused spaces at the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital into retreat rooms for noise-sensitive patients. After winning the competition, he presented at the Global Health Catalyst Summit at Harvard and MIT and was later invited to serve as an instructor for a continuing education course at the James A. Haley Mental Health Clinic.
Alexa Galligani
Alexa Galligani balanced the demands of Division I athletics and rigorous academics while graduating with a 4.0 GPA from the Judy Genshaft Honors College. As a member of the USF Softball team and a criminology major, Galligani managed practices, travel schedules, Honors coursework and experiential learning opportunities while remaining committed to academic excellence. Throughout her undergraduate experience, she built lasting friendships, developed leadership skills, and prepared for a future in law enforcement, demonstrating a strong commitment to both her team and her studies.
Read About Alexa's Honors Student-Athlete Experience
Jacob Ramirez
Jacob Ramirez receives his Honors medallion at one of the Tampa Honors Graduate Celebration Ceremonies.
Mechanical engineering major Jacob Ramirez built a college experience defined by both academic achievement and creative exploration. While maintaining a 3.98 GPA, Ramirez balanced full-time and part-time work, served as a teaching assistant, and completed an engineering internship, all while continuing his passion for music and theater through the Judy Genshaft Honors College Contemporary Music Ensemble. Recognized as the mechanical engineering department’s Outstanding Senior, Ramirez embraced opportunities to grow both technically and artistically, proving that students can pursue demanding STEM careers while remaining connected to the arts.
Learn how Jacob Found Harmony Between Engineering and Music
Zayd Nayeem
Zayd Nayeem entered the University of South Florida as a full-time student at just 15 years old and quickly immersed himself in research, leadership and community service. During his two years at USF, Nayeem became involved in student organizations, worked as a chemistry department intern, and helped organize a community health fair serving more than 250 attendees in his neighborhood. He also served as an orientation leader, helping incoming students transition to university life. He is now preparing to pursue a master’s degree and medical school with a specialization in dermatology.
Learn How Zayd Accelerated His Path to Medicine and Service
Just the Beginning
As they begin their next chapters — from graduate study and prestigious fellowships to careers in medicine, engineering, business, education, and public service — Honors graduates will be able to remain connected through the Judy Genshaft Honors College Alumni Society. The growing alumni network provides opportunities to reconnect with fellow graduates, expand professional connections, mentor current Honors students, and stay engaged with college events and initiatives.