Southern Methodist University celebrated the annual Hilltop Excellence Awards on Saturday, April 24. The “M” Award, the highest recognition bestowed upon students, was awarded to 10 senior recipients. According to SMU Student Affairs, the award honorees are an inspiration to others, giving unselfishly of their time and talents in order to make the University and the world a better place. The Daily Campus asked the 10 honorees how they feel about receiving this award and how they think their contributions shaped campus.
Arianna Villarreal
A senior who founded and led the Alexander Hamilton Society, a chapter with more than 200 members, Arianna Villarreal is an outstanding student leader dedicated to bringing civic engagement and intellectual dialogue to SMU. Part of the Student Senate and the Board of Trustees, she introduced American Enterprise Institute Programming to the community and opened more opportunities for policy discussion on campus.
For Villarreal, receiving the “M” Award is deeply humbling. As a transfer student who arrived at SMU in fall 2024, she says none of her accomplishments were done alone. She credits her family, friends and peers for supporting her throughout her journey and sees the award as a reflection of the power of community and shared effort. After working hard through community college to earn a full scholarship, she views this moment as a meaningful milestone in her path.
One of her most defining SMU experiences came during Dining with Decision Makers in 2025.
“I was chosen as one of the student speakers and unbeknownst to me, the 43rd president of the United States and his wife [George and Laura Bush] were in attendance,” Villarreal said.
She describes it as a turning point that gave her clarity about her time at SMU and strengthened her commitment to creating positive change with the support of the community around her.
“That was the moment where I felt this university was going to support me,” Villarreal said. “It’s going to give me the tools that I need, the resources that I need to help others.”
Ashley Jones
A senior with a triple major in economics, political science and public policy, Ashley Jones is described as a vibrant student leader with an exceptional work ethic. She is a Hunt Scholar, President of the Association of Black Students, Peruna Handler, Orientation Leader and Ivy Reporter for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.
Jones sees it as an honor to receive the “M” award, appreciating that all the hard work she’s done since freshman year got recognized. She hopes that her efforts inspire other students to try out activities and organizations and to give it their all when they discover something they love.
“I have my three signature organizations that I do a lot for, and I’m so happy that they’re in great places now,” Jones said. “They’re really elevated, and we’re growing with members and all that, so I hope that those students are able to see that hard work is worth it.”
One pivotal moment for Jones during her four years here was serving as public relations chair her sophomore year and then becoming president of the Association of Black Students. She improved the executive board for the organization, leading it to double in size.
“We have so many events now,” Jones said. “Our budget has grown from the student senate, and a lot of people like to hang around us now, so that’s good.”
Being a Peruna Handler is also another pivotal moment for her because she was unaware that it was a position SMU offered until she arrived on campus. After becoming one, many of her friends became curious and reached out to her about tryouts.
“I think that made a huge impact because you can have fun on campus too,” Jones said. “Like you don’t have to be in a serious academic organization or an organization that’s tailored just to what you want to do in the future. You can have fun in the moment, too.”
Christopher Cook
Serving as the drum major for the Mustang Band, lead admissions ambassador, resident assistant and member of the Mustang Mavericks, Christopher Cook is a senior known for his humility, reliability and strong leadership. He is also renowned for his academic excellence, being a Goldwater Scholar, majoring in Physics and Mathematics and conducting research on dark energy and machine learning.
Cook says receiving the “M” Award feels less like personal recognition and more like a reflection of the impact SMU and its community have had on him. During his time on campus, he has stepped into a variety of leadership roles and says the university has given him opportunities that shaped his growth both inside and outside the classroom. For him, the award represents how those experiences and communities have helped him develop along the way.
He hopes his journey shows other SMU students that the university is full of opportunities, but that making the most of them ultimately comes down to individual initiative.
“I think the individual should go out and take advantage of those opportunities,” Cook said, emphasizing the importance of saying yes and getting involved.
Looking back, he credits much of his experience to that mindset of engagement. Some of his favorite memories come from his time in the band as drum major, including his first time conducting major games like the Holiday Bowl. Still, he says it is often the smaller moments, like time spent with friends in the Commons, that he will remember most.
Jenna Young
A senior who has worked as a resident assistant, student ambassador, Mustang Band member and Student Senate leader, Jenna Young is described as a compassionate and service-oriented leader. Working towards a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Psychology on a pre-law track, Young is defined as reliable, generous and devoted to SMU’s mission.
Young felt that receiving the “M” award validated her experiences as a transfer student. For her last year at SMU, she hopes that all her hard work is picked up and carried out by other SMU students and that these students have mentors to guide them to take on these roles or discover new ones.
“I just hope that maybe I’ve done enough of that, or maybe they feel equipped with that kind of agency to do similar pursuits,” Young said.
Although unexpected, being an RA is one of her favorite things to be involved with in SMU. Since she didn’t have the dorm experience as a transfer student, she likes being there for students and appreciates being known as “Mother MoMac.” She’s grateful that she can cultivate those formative moments and community experiences for students and help them grow.
“That’s really been the most special thing about being an RA and one of the most special things, I think, about being at SMU,” Young said.
Katelyn Tran
A senior graduating with a B.S. in Biological Sciences and a minor in Psychology, Katelyn Tran has dedicated her time at SMU to service, mentorship and creativity. As a Joint Admission Medical Program (JAMP) Scholar and Dedman College Scholar, Tran worked as a student assistant for the Honors Program for three years and served as a two-year Caswell Fellow leading STEM education activities for patients at Children’s Health.
Alongside receiving the “M” Award, Tran was also selected as the 2026 Dedman Outstanding Senior award and will attend McGovern Medical School after graduation. For Tran, receiving the “M” Award was both surprising and affirming.
“Receiving the ‘M’ Award came as an incredible shock,” Tran said. “I didn’t think I had a notable presence on campus, but I always felt that I was doing honest and meaningful work.”
One of Tran’s most impactful experiences came while organizing her first Caswell Project service event while studying for the MCAT. With support from advisor Nicole Moore and former Caswell director Rylea Dunlap, Tran recruited volunteers to assemble 100 STEM kits for hospital patients in just three weeks.
“Just witnessing the SMU community coming together for my cause showed me how much of a difference one person can make,” Tran said. “Passion and love will take you far in life.”
Leticia Pereira Laranjeira
A senior transfer and international student majoring in psychology with minors in law and legal reasoning, Leticia Pereira Laranjeira is described as a selfless and humble leader who encourages a welcoming and collaborative environment. She quickly got involved on campus by working in orientation and Student Senate, alongside becoming a Mustang mentor and advisor.
Laranjeira has been committed to serving and representing international students for the last two years. Even though all her work didn’t rely on just receiving the award, she still appreciates being recognized for her efforts. After another international student told her how nice it was to see her win because it proved to the student that she could also do that, Laranjeira realized how quickly it can be to become an inspiration for others without noticing.
“It’s hard to be the perfect role model always,” Laranjeira said. “But I think just the fact that we are trying and then we’re putting in the effort is enough to inspire others.”
Laranjeira believes everything she has done with the International Office has left a big impact on SMU. She loves the advisors and the director, Claudia Hart, and appreciates all the amazing work they do to support international students. She’s grateful to have been involved in its events and programs. She also enjoys being a Mustang mentor and helping out other transfer students by giving them advice she would have wanted to hear her freshman year.
“I think it’s just like that giving back aspect, but also being so close to the international students,” Laranjeira said. “It’s hard, but we’re together. It’s the home away from home.”
Rylan Robb
A senior recognized for his intellectual distinction and thoughtful mentorship, Rylan Robb is a President’s Scholar who served as Student Body Treasurer. Since his freshman year at SMU, Rylan Robb said reforming Student Senate’s funding mechanism had been one of his biggest goals. Now that he has accomplished that goal. Robb hopes students recognize that their unique perspectives and experiences can add value to the SMU experience.
Receiving the award, Robb said, felt like validation that he had made a meaningful contribution to the university. While Student Senate often requires a heavy time commitment, Robb said there is a difference between staying busy and creating lasting change that benefits the school.
Some of his favorite memories at SMU came from the hours he spent working in Student Senate alongside students from across campus, which also pushed him outside his usual circles.
“I loved working with people from across campus and getting out of my Cox bubble,” Robb said.
He also credited the many students who supported the budget reform effort and helped shape it into a success.
“I really appreciate the countless numbers of students in and outside of senate that helped make my budget reform the best it possibly could,” Robb said.
Will Leathers
A senior who served as the Student Body President, Will Leathers, is recognized for his community-centered leadership and strong dedication to community. By bringing back Founders’ Day Weekend and serving various advisory boards, he has honored SMU tradition and united students, ensuring every student feels accepted.
Leathers is thankful for being nominated and considers receiving the “M” award a huge honor and blessing, believing it reflects all the hard work he has put in making SMU a better place for every student. He hopes that all the care he has shown to the school and its community inspires students to follow his lead and change the place for the better.
“You can always make a place better than you left it, and I hope that people continue to see what I did,” Leathers said. “ I think over my four years, I’ve left SMU better than when I first came here as a freshman, and so I hope that kind of mentality gets carried down.”
Becoming president left a lasting impact on SMU, allowing Leathers to take on different initiatives such as making changes to graduation, The Boulevard and establishing a judicial court within Student Senate. For him, it’s been exciting to be part of the senate because it’s been the most active one, passing 40 to 50 bills, proclamations or pieces of legislation.
“I think with new leadership on this campus, I hope that I left an impact that the student voice matters and that the student voice is important to continue to consider and keep a part of the student experience,” Leathers said. “Or a part of the just kind of overall experience and helping SMU understand what students need.”
Zahra Chowdhury
A senior who served in important governance roles such as a Student Representative to the Board of Trustees, the University Honors Program and the Honor Council, Zahra Chowdhury is recognized for her steadfast leadership, academic excellence and active inclusion. She has also taken leadership positions in the Muslim Student Association and the Human Rights Council, championing civic engagement and impactful policy change.
By receiving the “M” award, she finds it incredibly meaningful that the university believes her contributions have had a great impact. She’s also grateful that SMU provides many opportunities for students in academics, community engagement and service, and that by getting involved in these activities, she was able to give back to the university. Chowdhury hopes students feel encouraged to take advantage of the opportunities SMU offers, noting that not all universities provide these same opportunities.
“SMU is an amazing place to make a change in whatever you care about,” Chowdhury said. “So find what your passion is and then pursue it.”
Besides these opportunities, Chowdhury is also grateful for the people she’s met here who mentored and encouraged her to try things she would have never done if it weren’t for their support. A lot of faculty, friends and peers have become part of her favorite memories at SMU.
“So many different people have constantly and consistently encouraged me and pushed me to do better, be better and follow the path to be a world changer as SMU’s kind of tagline is,” Chowdhury said. “And so I wouldn’t say necessarily one favorite moment, but many, many, many moments that have added up together because of really amazing people that SMU brought to my life.”
Zoey Hess
A senior double majoring in business management and psychology with a passion for leadership rooted in empathy and connection, Zoey Hess has been deeply involved in student life, serving as scholarship committee chair, a Cox Senator in Student Senate, chair of the Maguire Center for Ethics Student Advisory Board and a member of the Cox dean search committee.
Reflecting on the meaning of honor, Hess says her experience in the Hunt Scholarship Program helped shape much of her college journey and her sense of community at SMU.
“More than anything, I hope it reinforces that leadership is not about a title, but about the way you treat people and the intention behind your actions,” Hess said.
She also noted that receiving the award is especially meaningful because it reflects the people and communities who have supported her along the way. One of her favorite memories is sharing her Hunt Scholar experience with her younger sister, now a first-year student, and attending the retreat together. After graduation, Hess will join PwC in their Workforce Transformation practice, where she hopes to continue focusing on people-centered growth and leadership.
As this year’s “M” Award recipients prepare to graduate, each leaves behind a lasting impact on the Hilltop. From advocating for students and expanding campus organizations to mentoring peers and creating spaces for connection, the honorees have shaped SMU in meaningful ways. While their paths and passions differ, they share a commitment to making the university better for those who come after them, a legacy that reflects the spirit of the “M” Award itself.
