For the 45th year, Lamar University has recognized outstanding student organizations and exceptional student achievements at the 2025 Toast to Leadership Award Ceremony.
The Seniors of Significance Award, created by the Division of Student Affairs in 2016, recognizes outstanding seniors for excellence in scholarship, leadership, and community service. This year's recipients have made a positive impact on the Lamar University campus and in their individual academic fields.
Recognized as 2025 Seniors of Significance were: Estrella Balderas, Biochemistry Pre-Dental, Silsbee; Ashton Burch, Political Science Pre-Law, Oklahoma City; Daisy Calero Estrella, Nursing, Port Arthur; Waverlee Cooper, Biology Pre-Dental, Orange; Alexis Houston, Exercise Science, Crowley; Madison Hunt, Speech and Hearing Science, Saratoga; Jacy Lognion, Speech and Hearing Science, Kountze; Mallory Martin, Nursing, Vidor; Diana Martínez Granados, Marketing and Spanish, Beaumont; Peyton McLaurin, Political Science Pre-Law, Kountze; Abia Mubashir, Biology Pre-Medical, Beaumont; Lauren Rosetta, Political Science Pre-Law, Beaumont; Grace Roy, Biology Pre-Medical, Port Neches; Kara Rumsey, Music Education, New Waverly; Rima Shaaban, Chemistry Pre-Dental, Nederland; Bryce Sheffield, Computer Science, Houston; Ryan Shugart, Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Pasadena; Luke Sodolak, Mechanical Engineering, Vidor; Gavin Treuter, Criminal Justice, Lumberton; and Audrey Vincent-Eze, Political Science, Katy.
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The Ann Shaw Award honors a student for fostering a spirit of teamwork, excellence in leadership, and exhibiting exemplary integrity while making a significant contribution to LU. The winner for 2025 is junior Jacob Smith, a Mechanical Engineering major from Port Neches. Jacob has led the LU community as an LU Ambassador, SGA Senator, president of Alpha Tau Omega fraternity, LU football player, and representative of the Student Engineering Council. |
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The Bess Gentry Award recognizes an outstanding senior woman for exceptional leadership, exemplary character, service to the university and community, and academic scholarship. The 2025 recipient is Abia Mubashir, a biology pre-med major from Beaumont. Abia is president of the American Medical Student Association, vice president of LU Women in STEM, and student ambassador to the Department of Biology. |
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The C. Robert Kemble Award recognizes an outstanding senior man for educational excellence and distinction in leadership, character, and service. The 2025 recipient is Ryan Shugart, a double major in mechanical and electrical engineering from Pasadena. Ryan is the founder and president of Robotic Cardinals, an LU Ambassador, and president of the Student Engineering Council. |
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Outstanding Student Organization of the Year was awarded to the Society of Asian Scientists and Engineers, led by president Alex Tran and advised by Dr. Jenny Zhou. SASE helps Asian heritage scientific and engineering professionals achieve their full potential. |
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New Student Organization of the Year was awarded to the Women’s Soccer Club, led by president Catherine Doan and advised by Haley Tyson. |
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The award for Program of the Year was given to Sophisticated Visionaries for the Student Business and Entrepreneur Event. Sophisticated Visionaries is led by president Lea Walker and advised by Nicole Kyles-Burton. |
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The award for Outstanding Advisor of the Year is named in honor of the late Dr. Melvin Brust, an Emeritus Professor and longtime student organization advisor at LU. The award is given to an advisor who has shown outstanding dedication, service, and support to their organization and its members. This year’s award was presented to professor of construction management Dr. Seokyon Hwang, who serves as the advisor to the K-Pop Club, led by president Kennedy LeJune. |
Also recognized at the ceremony were the newly-elected officers for the 2025-26 Student Government Association: president Ethan Ellis, vice president Alayij McDaniel, secretary-treasurer Kathy Nguyen, senior senator Anthony Barnes, junior senator Anthony Oliver, and sophomore senator Briley O’Connor.