Named after the original 11-acre site, donated by the city of San Marcos in 1899, Chautauqua Hill, this award celebrates students who embody the spirit of Gov. Joseph D. Sayers’ vision for a transformative institution dedicated to training the teachers and leaders of tomorrow.
Recipients of the Chautauqua Eleven recognition demonstrate the following:
A commitment to academic excellence and intellectual growth.
Leadership and service that uplifts their peers and communities.
A passion for education and dedication to the betterment of Texas.
We are excited to begin a tradition that honors our past while celebrating the successes of eleven graduating students. This award will recognize students whose leadership, character, and commitment have elevated our community and set a high bar for those who follow.
Monalisa Akwuruoha came to Texas State as a nursing major, but decided to pivot to public health after discovering a passion for systems-level change. She connected her new major to most of her service projects across campus, strengthening the program’s identity and visibility across campus.
Through Eta Sigma Gamma - Delta Chi, Monalisa progressed from member to Vice President to President, transforming the organization into a hub for public health engagement. She led the chapter’s most expansive National Public Health Week, launching a campuswide symposium that connected more than 150 students with professionals. Under her leadership, ESG built new partnerships, expanded its annual food drive to collect 1,945 non-perishable items over two years, and earned national recognition, including a service activity award and conference presentations.
Monalisa represented undergraduates on the Texas Society for Public Health Education Chapter Board, attended state and national conferences with travel support, and was honored as a recipient of SOPHE’s Vivian Drenckhahn Jenkins student scholarship. In the classroom, she excelled academically, earning repeated placements on the President’s List and maintaining a 3.91 GPA, while supporting more than 100 Biology students as an Undergraduate Learning Assistant. Her applied public health work included leading post-outreach data collection for the SAMHSA-funded FESTA program, which provided overdose-prevention education to Hays County high school students, and developing a GIS StoryMap of harm-reduction resources during an internship with Austin Public Health.
Monalisa has helped solidify a stronger, more connected presence for Public Health at Texas State. The partnerships she built and initiatives she led positioned the program to better serve future Bobcats and communities across Texas, reflecting her commitment to advance public health beyond campus.
From his very first acting class at Texas State, Chikodi Arungwa had one goal: to remain inspired. He funneled that inspiration back into his communities at the Theatre Center, Welcome Center, and Honors College. Grateful for the care and mentorship he received, he saw his role as paying that investment forward with the same level of excellence and integrity.
Blending his cultural background with a cross-disciplinary course of study – a major in acting and minor in anthropology – Chikodi used both creative and analytical perspectives to explore the human condition. He gravitated toward spaces where he did not fit neatly into a box, using his versatility to connect across disciplines and communities. This broad lens helped him approach scholarship and service as interconnected ways of understanding people and systems, rather than separate pursuits.
One of his most distinctive contributions was his work with the San Marcos Police Department, where he and fellow Bobcat actors participated in high-stakes training simulations to help cadets prepare for real-world scenarios. By bringing authentic performances into these exercises, he helped officers practice de-escalation and decision-making under pressure. Senior officers regularly emphasized how the actors’ realism improved cadet responses and confidence. What began as a single opportunity grew into an ongoing partnership that allowed Chikodi to apply his artistic skills in a tangible, community-serving way he had never imagined.
Chikodi also pursued opportunities beyond campus, including a sales intensive in Kansas City designed to translate communication and simulation skills into measurable results in a non-arts field. He hoped his success would model for other Texas State artists the value of their training when applied creatively to community gaps and professional challenges. By graduation, he has built a legacy rooted in gratitude, service, and mentorship. He is committed to inspiring younger artists to define success on their own terms and to use their gifts to invest in others, just as Texas State has invested in him.
Riana De Luna’s first action at Texas State was to join several clubs and organizations she felt drawn to, particularly those focusing on service and social justice. At the time, she did not realize those simple actions would lead to four years of leadership and growth.
Her influence has been most visible in Sigma Lambda Gamma National Sorority, where she served multiple semesters holding two roles as Vice President of Finance and President. Seeing gaps in communication and documentation, Riana redesigned chapter operations by standardizing records, implementing contracts, organizing historical files, and creating structures that made leadership transitions smoother and more sustainable. She also centered sisterhood, cultivating a supportive environment where members were held accountable academically and personally while feeling seen and heard.
Riana helped coordinate regular community engagement for the chapter, including Adopt a Spot park cleanups, maintaining a local resident’s community garden, and contributing to Bobcat Build projects that supported a local women’s shelter. The chapter raised over $1,800 for the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and $1,000 for TRIO programs supporting first-generation students, and helped launch a mentorship program at Centro to encourage younger learners. She also expanded professional development and community-building programming, offering resume and interview workshops alongside cultural and social events that fostered connection.
Riana also participated in Texas State Darlings and Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. While leading and serving, she maintained a 3.85 GPA, earned Dean’s List honors every semester, and worked two part-time jobs. By graduation, she had strengthened systems, empowered leaders, and helped build a durable culture of care that she hopes will outlast her time in San Marcos.
Arriving in the United States from Sudan with a single-focus mindset on earning a degree as a stop on the way to law school, Amru Fadl soon realized that true learning required slowing down, engaging fully, and helping build the community he wanted to see.
Two weeks before officially becoming a Bobcat, Amru walked the San Marcos campus, memorizing buildings and bulletin boards. It was here he noticed a gap: in a region with a large Arab American population, there was no dedicated space for Arab students. As a result, he founded and served as president of the Arab Culture Club, creating an inclusive organization where students from all backgrounds gathered to share language, tea and coffee, stories, and cultural traditions. He designed programming that blended Arabic learning with cultural exchange and helped members build global awareness alongside community.
In Fall 2025, Amru designed an independent study on the history of Sudan, crafting a research-based syllabus to examine a country whose story is often misrepresented due to limited sources. He leveraged the Arab Culture Club’s outreach to connect with other Sudanese students, facilitating conversations about family histories and tribal identities that enriched his research and culminated in a substantive final project. Feedback from more than 80 members underscored the club’s importance as a space for representation and belonging.
As graduation approached, Amru focused on ensuring the Arab Culture Club would endure beyond his time at Texas State. He mentored more than 10 underclassmen into future executive roles, developed an operations guide, and led transition meetings to solidify procedures and priorities. As a result, Amru left Texas State with a degree and a conviction that these four years were a destination in themselves, leaving a legacy that expanded cultural literacy, community, and student leadership on campus.
Alex Franklin arrived at Texas State as “ambitious but undecided,” and shifted focus a few times before landing on a management major. He realized he was less interested in tracking numbers and more driven to design structures to move organizations forward. This perspective was sharpened by a serious knee injury and slow recovery that taught him discipline and the value of incremental progress.
As Vice President and later President of the Financial Management Association, Alex treated the student organization like an operating company. He rebuilt governance, launched industry cohorts, developed sponsorship strategies, and created a custom tracking system for membership engagement and outcomes. Under his leadership, FMA grew from 18 to 350 members, managed a large investment portfolio, and earned national recognition, while helping students see themselves as competitive and deserving of opportunity. He later adapted this systems-based approach for Sigma Nu, where he helped design financial transparency tools and processes that strengthened accountability and community impact.
Alex also pushed himself academically and professionally into data-driven, technology-focused work. As an Undergraduate Research Assistant, he helped analyze large datasets on temperature and COVID-19 trends, developing advanced econometric skills and confidence through repetition and public presentation. During an internship at Marsh, he built Project TOTEM, an automation tool that dramatically reduced manual contract review time and scaled across multiple global offices, alongside dashboards that improved real-time risk insight.
Alex has accepted a post-graduation role in go-to-market operations and envisions launching a SaaS company focused on intelligent automation, carrying forward the skills he honed at Texas State. He left behind durable structures within FMA, Sigma Nu, research, and industry projects that will continue to create opportunity for future Bobcats.
Although only a senior in college, Dillon Gee has many personal experiences with chronic illness and end-of-life care. He grew up watching both parents navigate type II diabetes, and through his volunteer work at a hospice, provided comfort and care to several end-of-life patients. Supporting a hospice patient who suffered from medication mismanagement inspired Dillon to seek solutions to improve quality of life for underserved patients and the San Marcos community.
At Texas State, Dillon has accumulated more than 1,800 hours in therapeutic research, working with faculty mentors including Dr. Tania Betancourt to study photothermal nanoparticles and leading an independent project to develop a cancer-sensitive biomaterial system for targeted chemotherapy delivery. Dillon has also broadened this work through competitive summer research experiences at the University of Texas at Austin and UT Southwestern, gaining expertise in biomaterials, hydrogels, and ultrasound-stimulated drug delivery.
As a hospice volunteer, Dillon provides emotional companionship to patients in their final months, an experience that led to the creation of The Pawprint Project, a Texas State student organization and nonprofit that brings art and connection to residents in local assisted living facilities. Through this initiative, Dillon has helped raise over $1,000 in community donations, coordinate the donation of more than 200 student-made paintings, and host monthly painting sessions that foster dignity, comfort, and community.
Dillon leaves behind both a growing nonprofit and a novel research project for future students to advance. He plans to pursue a career focused on developing innovative, patient-centered therapies that prioritize quality of life for individuals and communities.
Four-year softball player Megan Kelnar defines her impact on Texas State by the legacy she left behind for younger players. She viewed her role on the field as extending far beyond game days, striving to represent the university with respect, discipline, and intention in the classroom and throughout San Marcos.
Megan consistently maintained high academic standards, earning Dean’s List recognitions, repeated honors on the Sun Belt Commissioner’s List, multiple Easton/NFCA Scholar-Athlete recognitions, and College Sports Communicators Academic All-Region distinction. She developed strong time management from balancing a full travel and training schedule with her coursework and became a trusted resource for teammates seeking guidance on how to navigate classes alongside Division I athletics. Her dedication helped reinforce a team culture of accountability and pride as the 2026 senior class worked to build a lasting legacy.
On the field, Megan’s leadership was anchored in her role as catcher. She embraced accountability, prioritized her pitchers’ success, and modeled preparation, resilience, and strong body language for younger teammates. Her performance and leadership were recognized when she was named the Sun Belt Conference First-Team All-Conference catcher after the 2025 season, and she focused her later years on inviting underclassmen into extra work sessions and leading by example.
Megan worked multiple summers at Coach Ricci Woodard’s Texas State softball camps, helping to create an inclusive environment. Alongside her teammates, she participated in volunteer initiatives such as food drives and programs supporting children with disabilities, as well as individual volunteer efforts. Through these experiences, Megan helped cultivate a culture that valued intentional effort, community engagement, and the belief that a few hours of service could make a lasting difference.
Joaquin Marquez entered Texas State University under a cloud of judgment from peers – as if it was an unconventional choice. From the moment he enrolled, he was determined to challenge that perception and prove that Texas State is a place where students can lead, innovate, and shape campus culture. With a goal of becoming a veterinarian, he has paired strong academics with campus involvement to show peers that the grass is greener where you choose to invest your time and energy.
Joaquin’s leadership began with early involvement in Pre-Vet Society, University Ambassadors, Bobcat Connection Team, and Loud Crowd, where he welcomed new students, supported athletics, and helped prospective Bobcats imagine a future at Texas State. He also founded the Texas State Hellcats, creating a home for students to celebrate school pride through athletics. Members who first joined just to cheer on teams have since stepped into officer roles, organized events, and expanded their engagement across campus.
As a Learning Assistant for Honors General Chemistry II, Joaquin mentored students through one of the most challenging courses in their curriculum. His work with Cat Camp and University Ambassadors further positioned him as a mentor and guide, helping new and prospective students feel welcomed and capable of succeeding at Texas State.
Through campus mentorship, outreach, and his visible role as a Bobcat Creator, Joaquin has encouraged countless students to see involvement as an opportunity to shape their own college experience. The Hellcats organization and the culture of engagement he helped foster will endure beyond his graduation, reflecting his belief that Texas State is not just “that” school, but a university that changes lives and prepares students to lead with purpose in their communities and future professions.
As a homeschooled student, Abby Myers wasn’t sure she could find community on campus. However, from the moment she first drove onto campus and felt Texas State’s warmth and energy, she committed herself to ensuring every student could experience that same feeling of community and pride.
Abby’s journey began in residence life, where she moved from hosting informal study hours as a first-year student to serving as a Resident Assistant in Cibolo Hall. There, she cultivated a tight-knit, academically strong community. By the end of the year, her floor had the highest cumulative GPA on campus, many residents chose to live together again, and several became RAs themselves. The impact she values most, however, came through late-night support, small acts of care, and showing up for others.
As student body President, Abby reimagined student government as accessible and action-oriented, expanding her influence across campus and into the broader San Marcos community. Under her leadership, Student Government helped hundreds of students register to vote, supported a wide range of student organizations, and advanced initiatives that strengthened academic, civic, and campus life. She built strong relationships with administrators and department heads, contributing to policy and program changes that will benefit future Bobcats for years to come.
Beyond elected roles, Abby has spoken on panels, served on committees, supported athletics engagement, and helped bring high-impact academic and pre-law programming to Texas State. Grateful for the home she found and helped shape, she leaves behind a legacy of programs, policies, and student leaders designed to ensure that every Bobcat can find a place where they belong.
Skyler Ramdeen’s journey through Texas State was guided by her grandfather’s parting words: “Dreams are meant for chasing.” Leaving her home country to study in Texas, she committed to honoring him through research and service that improve health outcomes locally and globally.
Skyler worked alongside Dr. Adeyemi Olanrewaju, an assistant professor in the Medical Laboratory Science program, where she conducted dengue virus therapeutics research. It was a deeply personal endeavor given dengue’s impact on her home country. Her work screening antiviral compounds against dengue virus has earned top honors at the TXST STEM Conference, the Texas Association for Clinical Laboratory Science Annual Meeting, and the College of Health Professions Research Forum. Her research has also been accepted for publication, affirming her belief that undergraduate research can meaningfully contribute to infectious disease innovation.
Skyler also made history as the first junior to serve as Social Media Chair for the Society of Medical Laboratory Scientists (SMLS) before becoming its President, where she focused on engagement and professional development for her peers. She also helped rebuild the Texas State Microbiology Club after the pandemic, growing it to roughly sixty members, and partnered with the National Marrow Donor Program to encourage potential donors for patients in need. As an Instructional Assistant for Principles of Microbiology, she connects lab fundamentals to real-world clinical practice and prioritizes patience and approachability for students finding their place in science.
Skylar earned honors for multiple semesters on the Dean’s List along with membership to Alpha Chi and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She has built bridges between cultures and communities, reflecting Texas State’s mission to advance public good through education, leadership, and service, all while honoring the dream her grandfather encouraged her to chase.
Jimena Rodriguez-Gamez came to Texas State as a Terry Scholar, a scholarship awarded to Texas residents who demonstrate academic achievement, leadership, and financial need. Jimena viewed service as a way to honor the investment Texas State and the Terry Foundation made in her, earning a reputation among friends as the “side quest friend” who always stepped in wherever there was a need – from building balloon arches for Health and Human Performance Scholars Days to painting turtle-themed crosswalks downtown with Stelos Scholars to supporting presidential events through Gold Star Society.
Jimena complemented her coursework with research experience under Dr. Ny’ Nika McFadden, serving for more than two years as a qualitative research assistant on Type 1 diabetes projects. In this role, she conducted large-scale literature reviews, transcribed and analyzed interviews, contributed to IRB materials, and helped produce multiple poster presentations, ultimately co-authoring 16 posters and presenting her own work at the University of Texas at Austin. Her passion for worker and community health led her to an internship with SEIU and Berkeley’s Labor Occupational Health Program, where she supported California fast food workers through reporting efforts that informed a published labor report and national presentations, including a panel at the American Public Health Association conference.
On campus as a Peer Mentor, Jimena supported 59 first-year students. She also shared her experience more broadly by presenting to students about scholarships and research opportunities. As she prepares to graduate, Jimena envisions continuing to “pay it forward” by returning to Texas State to teach and encourage future Bobcats, inspired by the legacy of trailblazers like President Lyndon B. Johnson and the belief that many more stars will emerge from the university she calls home.
