Quest for the Best
Ten San Diego State University students have received the 2025 Quest for the Best award, recognizing high-achieving SDSU students for outstanding performance in academics and community service.
The 2025 Quest for the Best Application is closed--Check back next spring for the 2026 application!
Nominations are open to regularly enrolled SDSU students who have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, have completed at least one year at SDSU and at least 75 units of college work. Applications of students on probation of any kind will not be reviewed.
Both the Student Application and the Faculty/Staff Recommendation Form were due by Monday, February 17, 2025 at 4 p.m.
The “Quest for the Best” awards seek to recognize outstanding student leaders who have typified and promoted the mission of the university. This Vice Presidential Student Service award is given each April to the “best of the best” at SDSU – those students who excel academically and through community and campus involvement. This award recognizes individual excellence in academics, campus involvement, and community service.
The “Quest for the Best” awards are presented at a gala banquet in April. The ceremony is attended by winning students two special guests of each winner, and faculty honorees.
Applicants are evaluated in four areas:
- Academic excellence, including grade point average (a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is required), individual research, participation in professional and academic societies, involvement in departmental activities, etc.;
- Student involvement and commitment, including student organizations, student government and college councils, The Daily Aztec, housing, fraternity/sorority life, athletics, honor societies, etc.;
- Community service outside the SDSU campus, including volunteer work with medical, social service, theatrical, artistic, cultural, political entities, etc.;
- Leadership qualities and development, including the degree of involvement and initiative within activities, the furtherance of intercultural understanding, and evidence of the development of positive, ethical decision-making.
Nominations are open to regularly enrolled SDSU students who have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, have completed at least one year at SDSU and at least 75 units of college work. Applications of students on probation of any kind will not be reviewed.
Questions? Email us at [email protected].
2025 Winners
Vivianna Alfaro
Senior, Psychology major with an industrial, organizational emphasis and a minor in Spanish and Weber Honors College Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Chelsea Lombrozo, Leadership Studies Lecturer & Assistant Director, Glazer Center for Leadership
Brianna Angel
Senior, Speech, Language, and Hearing Studies
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Taylor Hye, Speech Language lecturer
Austin Emery
Junior, Political Science; Minor in Weber Honors College Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Brian Levett, Government Affairs Assistant Director For Associated Students
Grace Johnson
Junior, Public Health with an emphasis in Environmental Health (pre-med track)
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Kara Moriarty, Director of Out-of-State and Specialized Recruitment
Andrew Kawwa
Senior, Public Health
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Elana Elkin, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health
Megan Morillas
Graduate student, Psychology
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: V. Robin Weersing, Professor of Psychology
Ethan Pellegrini
Senior, History and Political Science; Minor, Weber Honors College Interdisciplinary Studies and International Security and Conflict Resolution
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Cheryl O’Brien, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Letters, Political Science
Shaye Phung
Senior, Liberal Studies and Elementary Education; Minor in Leadership and Cultural Proficiency
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Alex Castruita, EOP, Outreach & Success Counselor
Raha Rafie
Senior, Public Health
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Elana Elkin, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health
Chasley Schoettle
Senior, Dance & Kinesiology Pre-Physical Therapy; Minor Public Health
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Dr. Koko Nishi, Licensed Psychologist and Outreach Coordinator
Past Winners
The 2024 honorees:
Austin Barber
Senior, Business Administration and Political Science; minor, Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Leadership
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Janice Dils, Associated Students Government Affairs Assistant Director
Maya Elden
Senior, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; minor, Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Maureen Paolini, Department of Biology professor
Derrick Herrera
Senior, Political Science and American Indian Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Benjamin Gonzalez O’Brien, Political Science professor
Dennise
Juarez Aguilar
Senior, Public Administration with a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Valerie Stahl, School of Public Affairs assistant professor of city planning
Leanne Locano
Senior, Public Health; Minor, Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Stacey Sinclair, The Weber Honors College director
Cesar Lopez
Senior, Business Management with a Specialization in Entrepreneurship; Minor. Leadership
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Chelsea Lombrozo, Glazer Center for Leadership & Service assistant director
Clara Smith
Senior, Political Science; Double minor Sustainability and Spanish; Certificate. Public Law
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Claudia Woodard, College of Arts and Letters Spanish lecturer
Brandon Wells
Senior, Mechanical Engineering
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Theresa Garcia; College of Engineering assistant dean for student affairs
Ingrid Yu
Junior, Psychology; Minor, Spanish
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Koko Nishi, Counseling & Psychological Services therapist
The 2023 honorees:
Mikayla Acosta
Senior, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Giang Pham, CHHS Associate Dean for Research
Wendy Antunez Verbyla
Senior, Child and Family Development; minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dan Bacon, Lecturer in Child and Family Development
Michelle Hoo
Senior, Biology, with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Elizabeth Waters, Coordinator, Evolutionary Biology Doctoral Program, Department of Biology
Jazmyn Horton
Graduate student, Masters of Social Work, SDSU Imperial Valley
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Henry Villegas, SDSU Imperial Valley
Natalie King-Shaw
Senior, double majoring in Psychology and Speech Language and Hearing Sciences; minor in Leadership
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Sonja Pruitt-Lord, CHHS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs
Danan Pacheco
Senior, Communications; double minor in Weber Honors Interdisciplinary and Creative Writing
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Kurt Kroeber, lecturer, Rhetoric and Writing Studies
Michael Rumfola
Senior, Business Marketing and Sustainability
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Robyn Adams, Associate Director, New Student and Parent Programs
Joy Moore
Senior, Interdisciplinary Studies: Journalism, Psychology and Africana Studies; minor in Counseling and Social Change
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Idara Essien-Wood, Assistant Professor, Child and Family Development
Sandy Mekany
Senior, Political Science; minor in Sociology and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Christina Brown, executive director of Associated Students
The 2022 honorees:
Amaya Childes
Senior, Sociology, minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree - Dr. Stacey Sinclair
Carlos Fitch
Senior, double majoring in History & Spanish
Faculty/Staff Honoree - Dr. Henry Villegas
Ryan Hardmeyer
Senior, double majoring in Political Science and Public Administration with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree - Tishna Asim
Amari Jackson
Junior, Psychology
Faculty/Staff Honoree - Ahliyah Chambers
Maryana Khames
Senior, International Security and Conflict Resolutions
Faculty/Staff Honoree - Christina Brown
Grace Markel
Senior, Business Marketing with minors in Interdisciplinary Studies and Sustainability
Faculty/Staff Honoree - Dr. Erlinde Cornelis
Jenny O'Connor
Senior, Psychology with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree - Maureen Paolini
Alexia (Lex-O) Oduro
Senior, Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences
Faculty/Staff Honoree - Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord
Crissy Ramirez
Senior, Communication with a minor in Counseling and Social Change
Faculty/Staff Honoree - Chelsea Lombrozo
Diva Zeckua
Senior, Biology, minors in Leadership & Italian Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree - Dr. Emilio Ulloa
The 2021 honorees:
Madi Balagtas
Senior, Cellular & Molecular Biology with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Ricardo Zayas
Dylan Corliss
Senior, Philosophy with double minors in Computer Science and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Stacey Sinclair
Margot Ermer
Junior, Communications with a double minor in Women’s Studies and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Brandi Tonne
Ashley Jackson
Senior, Nursing with a double minor in Leadership and Child Development
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Gerilyn Herold
Maxwell Johnson
Senior, double majoring in Political Science and Communications with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Brandi Tonne
Sophie Levi
Senior, Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences with a minor in Spanish
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord
Cassandra Libang
Senior, Child and Family Development
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Hsing-Chen Tung
Katrina Mogannam
Senior, biochemistry with double minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Leadership
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Manal Swairjo
Rebecca Rodriguez Casillas
Junior, Food and Nutrition with a minor in Social Work
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Jamie Harguess
Chrystian Smith
Senior, double majoring in Political Science and History with a minor in Sociology
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Wesley Palau
The 2020 honorees:
Tia Abusham
(pronouns she, her, hers)
Senior, Double majoring in biology and philosophy
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Omar Baza, Student Life & Leadership
Dustin Adkins
(pronouns: he, him, his)
Senior, Sociology and Economics with an emphasis in Public Policy
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Andrea Dooley, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs
Christian Holt
(pronouns: he, him, his)
Senior, Kinesiology with an emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Anwar Cruter, Residential Education Office
Talia Kieu
(pronouns: she, her, hers)
Senior, Public Health, minors in Women’s Studies and LGBTQ+ Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Jerel Calzo, School of Public Health
Brandon Lim
(pronouns: he, him, his)
Senior, Psychology & Journalism with an emphasis in Media Studies, minor in Sociology
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Kimberly Nishi, Counseling & Psychological Services
Julia Moluf
(pronouns: she, her, hers)
Senior, Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, minor in Psychology of Personality
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord, College of Health and Human Services
Gabriella Medina
(pronouns: she, her, hers)
Junior, Sustainability, minor in Political Science
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Lori Stewart, Religious Studies
Naomi Moore
(pronouns: she, her, hers)
Senior, International Security and Conflict Resolution
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Cheryl O’Brien, Political Science
Citlayi Villaseñor
(pronouns: she, her, hers)
Senior, Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Cellular & Molecular Biology
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Thelma Chavez, College of Sciences
Maria Voss
(pronouns: she. her, hers)
Junior, International Security and Conflict Resolution with an Emphasis in Environment and Security, minor in Arabic and Islamic Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Cheryl O’Brien, Political Science
Richard Amaechi (pronouns: he/him/his)
Junior, International Business with an emphasis in Japanese and Finance, minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Cultural Proficiency
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Sandra Cook, Enrollment Services
Annika Bilog (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Senior, Nursing, minor in Leadership Development
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Gerilyn Herold, School of Nursing
Arturo Fernandez Rios (pronouns: he/him/his)
Senior, Business Administration
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Michelle Dean, Management
Daniela Garcia (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Senior, Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Mathematics
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Miguel Rahiotis, Imperial Valley Campus
Aubie Jones (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Senior, Kinesiology with an emphasis in Physical Therapy, minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Gwendolyn Hill, Health Professions Advising Office
Liana Marin (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Junior, Industrial Organizational Psychology, minors in Leadership Development and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Chelsea Winer, Student Life & Leadership
Morgan Newport (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Senior, International Security and Conflict Resolution with an emphasis in Environment and Security
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Cheryl O'Brien, Political Science
Tomi Osinfolarin (pronouns: he/him/his)
Senior, Kinesiology with an emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy, minor in Cultural Proficiency
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Estralita Martin, College of Sciences
Latrel Powell (pronouns: he/him/his)
Senior, Political Science and Africana Studies, minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Martha Encisco, Weber Honors College
Renata Valente (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Senior, Economics with a specialization in Quantitative Analysis, minors in Sociology and Leadership Development
Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Lisa Gates, College of Education