Class of 2026
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 Jackson Beck was born in Alexandria, Virginia, and grew up in Dallas, Texas. He graduated as a high school dual credit student at Dallas College. While in high school, he was on the honor roll and participated in extracurricular activities including volunteering at White Rock Lake and the East Dallas Pet Orphanage, rock climbing and ceramics. He chose SMU for its outstanding academic opportunities, strong sense of community, and the academic culture of the University Honors Program. He is majoring in English and works as a writing tutor at the Altshuler Learning Enhancement Center here at SMU. Additionally, Jackson currently aspires to double major in film and is the media chair for the SMU Student Filmmakers Association. Jackson likes to spend his free time reading, writing, watching movies, playing pick-up sports, and attending various events here on campus. He is proud to be part of the Dedman College Scholars program and hopes to make a lasting impact at SMU. |
 Davis Billups was born in Washington, DC but moved to Fairhope, Alabama right before high school. He was drawn to SMU because of its location, academic rigor, and the community. He plans to pursue a major in both history and in classical studies. In high school, Davis participated in events like Model UN, Scholar's Bowl, and Chamber Choir, as well as being a member of the National Honor Society and being an AP Scholar. Davis is a big fan of sports, cinema and television, with his favorite show being The Wire. Davis also loves to travel around the world, including locations like St. Petersburg and Paris. |
 Chris Cook is from Plano, Texas and is majoring in physics and mathematics. He is also involved astrophysics and cosmology research. Chris chose SMU because of the research opportunities available and because of its beautiful campus. Outside of research and academics, Chris is on the Dedman College Student Advisory Board, a residential assistant, and the drum major for the Mustang Band. Chris hopes to pursue a Ph.D. in physics after graduating from SMU. He loves running, lifting weights, and his favorite band is the Beatles. |
 Zander Crowns hails from the hills of Spicewood, Texas. He came to SMU because it excels in all the fields of study he had an interest in, the support for double majoring, and a strange dream about George W. Bush. As such, Zander is pursuing two majors: English with a creative writing and film. As a product of his immersion in these programs, Zander has received the Marsh Terry Creative Writing Scholarship and second place in the Frances Mossiker Prize while also having one of his films appearing at the USA Film Festival and Oak Cliff Film Festival. When he is not studying or working on various independent projects, Zander enjoys building miniatures and model kits, as well as strategy games. He also enjoys pre-1980s science fiction films and TV shows such as Twilight Zone, Dark Star, and Metropolis. |
 Bonita Davis was born in Ilsan, South Korea, but graduated from Lawton Academy of Arts and Sciences in Lawton, Oklahoma. In high school, she was involved as the student council president, honor society president, and executive producer of the school’s weekly broadcast. She also competed in choir, speech, and archery at the state level. Bonita chose to attend SMU because of its location in the heart of Dallas, the ability to explore different fields of study, and the flexibility to have multiple majors or minors. She is pursuing majors in data science and computer science with minors in statistical sciences and business. At SMU, Bonita has been a Rotunda Scholar, vice president of programming for Program Council, and a resident assistant for Virginia-Snider Commons. She has also been involved with the University Honors Program, Society of Women Engineers, and Asian Council. As a sophomore, she was awarded the John L. Freehafer Award and Mustang Leader Scholarship for her demonstrated interest in leadership through her involvement in student organizations. In her free time, Bonita enjoys expressing herself through dancing and singing. She also loves spending time with her friends, attending concerts, and watching films and musicals. Her current favorite films are The Nightmare Before Christmas and Spider-Man: No Way Home. |
 Brynn De Bruyn is from Little Rock, Arkansas where she graduated with honors from Little Rock Christian Academy. Currently, she is pursuing a bachelor of arts in psychology with a minor in law and legal reasoning while following a pre-law program. Brynn was drawn to SMU by the beautiful campus, liberal arts curriculum, connections to the legal field, and prime Dallas location. During her time at SMU, Brynn has received Honors with Distinction or High Distinction every semester. She is a Pre-Law Scholar, Hilltop Scholar, and member of the University Honors Program. Her academic achievements have been recognized through the Founder’s Scholarship and the Laverne-Noyes Scholarship. Beyond academics, Brynn actively engages in campus life as the co-programming chair of SMU FEM, Secretary of Earth First, and a dedicated member of the Phi Alpha Delta law fraternity. Outside the classroom, she enjoys playing tennis, hiking, being with friends, and immersing herself in the works of James Baldwin, John Keats, and Eve Babitz. |
 Kennedy Downing is a proud Dallas native and graduated in the top ten percent of her class at Highland Park High School. She chose SMU for its smaller class sizes, valuable networking opportunities, and location in the heart of Dallas. Double majoring in biology and health and society, Kennedy has made the Honor Roll with High Distinction each semester and has earned both the General Chemistry Lab Award and the Organic Chemistry Achievement Award. She shares her passion for chemistry as a tutor at the Altschuler Learning Enhancement Center, helping peers master challenging material. Kennedy is a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the pre-health honor society, and Eta Sigma Phi, the classics honor society. Outside the classroom, Kennedy is an active leader in her sorority, Pi Beta Phi, serving as director of housing and director of academics. Kennedy is deeply committed to community service, volunteering at Methodist Dallas Medical Center and Tradition's Health Hospice. Kennedy also serves in the preschool ministry at Park Cities Baptist Church. In her free time, Kennedy enjoys exploring Dallas, baking, reading fiction novels, and spending time with friends and family. |
 Luke Farley begins his undergraduate studies at SMU in the Dedman School of Humanities and Sciences. He will be part of the University Honors Program as well as the Dedman College Scholars Program. Luke has an interest in economics and statistical science but is still exploring the opportunities SMU offers to find what he would like to do with his next 4 years and after. Some of the many reasons he chose SMU is because of the undergraduate research opportunities, the location of SMU with it being in a thriving city, and the top tier faculty. He graduated from the Stowe High School in Stowe, Vermont as a member of the National Honor Society. While at Stowe, he helped organize town-wide volunteering events, such as a Veterans Day Breakfast for the local veterans. In his time away from school and academic work, he enjoys staying active through playing sports, specifically lacrosse. In high school, Luke was a captain for the varsity soccer team, varsity basketball team, and varsity lacrosse team, while also playing for his school's golf team. Luke is a huge fan of films directed by the Coen brothers and Wes Anderson for their storytelling and underlying themes. |
 Anna Foweather graduated from The Altamont School in Birmingham, Alabama. She chose SMU because of its urban location as well as the wealth of extracurricular and research opportunities it has to offer. She has been a research assistant for Dr. Kucker’s Kids in Development Lab since freshman year and will be the events coordinator of the Mustang Ballroom Dance Club for the 2024-2025 school year. At SMU, she has enjoyed being a member of the Hilltop Scholars Program, the Bridwell Scholars Advanced Reading Group, and Phi Chi Theta. Majoring in psychology and data science, she plans to continue psychology research after graduation. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, hanging out with friends, and reading. Her favorite movie is Lalaland. |
 Lauren Jenkins grew up in Overland Park, Kansas and plans to double major in mathematics and English while minoring in Spanish. She chose SMU because of its numerous opportunities to explore multiple interests without restrictions, whether that be through additional majors or extracurricular activities. Lauren is most excited to experience SMU’s unique traditions like Boulevarding and attending the Tate Lecture Series. She also can’t wait to become a part of the Dallas community through volunteering with Engage Dallas. In addition to being a Dedman Scholar, Lauren is also a part of the University Honors Program. Previous to college, she was a Presidential Scholar candidate, National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, a recipient of the Kerry Layton Memorial Scholarship and Doc Roberts Scholarship, President of her school’s Science National Honors Society, Vice President of their Mu Alpha Theta chapter, and graduated summa cum laude from her high school. Lauren has always been very active in music, leading her high school marching band as drum major and becoming an All-State musician her junior year. In her free time, she loves to read classic novels, cook new dishes, and walk outside. Her favorite novel is Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. |
 Ayan Khan comes to SMU from Frisco, Texas, and is pursuing a triple major in data science, finance, and computer science, with a minor in statistics. Ayan currently serves as the president of Program Council and has been actively involved in various organizations, including Asian Council, Consult Your Community, Circle K International, and the South Asian Student Association. He is the co-founder of both the Crafts Club and the Statistics and Data Science Club. He serves on the AAPI Action Plan Task Force, where he contributes to the development of DEI policies for the university. Since its inception, he has been the student coordinator for the annual AAPI Voices in Higher Education conference. Additionally, Ayan is a member of the Computer Science Departmental Advisory Board and serves as a resident assistant in Upper Division Housing. Beyond his academic and leadership roles, Ayan has a wide range of creative hobbies, including crocheting, knitting, painting, sewing, and jewelry-making. He looks forward to continuing to make a meaningful impact at SMU and beyond. |
 Alexandra Lahiri was born and raised in Highland Park, Texas. She is a first-generation Greek and Indian American. She is pursuing degrees in international studies with a concentration in European studies and music with a concentration in vocal performance. She is also pursuing minors in classical studies and Latin, while following the pre-law program. She chose SMU so she could cultivate passions for the humanities and the arts and receive prestigious academic and career opportunities. On campus, Alexandra is a Hegi career leader, president of the SMU charter of the Orthodox Christian Fellowship, a Pre-Law Scholar, and a Meadows Artistic Scholar. She is a legal intern at Brewer Attorneys & Counselors and is honored to have worked on a U.S. Supreme Court case and Texas voter rights cases. She is an active member of her parish, Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church where she is youth choir director, a member of the church choir and Byzantine chant group, and a Catechetical school music teacher. She has a passion for traditional Greek dancing, which she has been performing since she was two years old and is a member of her church’s Young Adult League Greek Dance Group. Additionally, she has a love for travel, having visited more than 50 countries, which has reinforced her interest in international law. She plans to earn a J.D. and become an international lawyer. Alexandra also studies Carnatic (classical South Indian) music and enjoys reading books about ancient Greece and watching her favorite movie, To Catch a Thief. She diligently strives to enhance her education through academia, attain personal growth, and to be a world changer shaped at Southern Methodist University. |
 Alexa Lipsky comes to the Hilltop from League City, Texas, graduating from Clear Springs High School. She was drawn to SMU by its beautiful campus, small class sizes, and ability to personalize her education. She is a member of the University Honors Program and intends to major in biophysical sciences on the pre-health program with minors in chemistry, data science, and mathematics. She has played the saxophone for seven years and has been a dancer for the past fifteen years, where she was president of her company team. Additionally, she was a drum major for her high school marching band where she conducted performances. Alexa was a National Merit Commended Scholar, a four-year Superintendent Scholar, a recipient of the Clear Springs High School Leadership Award, an AP Scholar with Distinction, and a summa cum laude graduate. She was also a part of National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, Tri-M Music Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta, Science National Honor Society, and HOSA. She was a member of Assisteens of the Bay Area, a volunteer organization where she participated in events for Cause for Paws, Project Snuggle, and other local groups. She most enjoyed helping with Project Family where she volunteered at a shelter for abused women and their children. Alexa is a huge Disney fan with the long-term goal of visiting each of the theme parks around the world. She is also an avid scuba diver with a love for swimming with sharks. She expresses her love for marine life through her support of conservation efforts. |
 Vigna Lavu grew up in Flower Mound, Texas, and graduated from the Texas Academy of Math and Science with Honors. She plans to major in biology to accompany the pre-health program, and minor in Spanish and business. Vigna chose to attend SMU due to the availability of opportunities at and around SMU and its proximity to home. Vigna is eager to engage in the SMU community by joining various clubs and participating in scientific research. In high school, Vigna conducted undergraduate biochemistry research about high-pressure neurological syndrome, earning an undergraduate research fellowship award at the University of North Texas. In her free time, Vigna enjoys spending time outdoors, doing activities like hiking and kayaking at Grapevine Lake. Her favorite book is We Were Liars by E. Lockhart. |
 Saanvi Mahadasu is from Austin, Texas, and is majoring in public policy and management with a minor in economics. Saanvi graduated from Westwood High School, where she served as both the junior and senior class vice president. As a part of Student Government, she started an initiative to donate craft kits to the Dell Children’s Hospital and the SAFE Alliance. Saanvi chose SMU because of its gorgeous campus and freedom to explore a variety of programs and courses. At SMU, she is a Pre-Law Scholar and a member of Phi-Alpha Delta and Mustangs for Hope. She also studied abroad at Oxford and enjoyed learning about the culture and way of life across the pond. This past summer, Saanvi was a data analytics intern for the Texas Methodist Foundation and worked on updating and growing the foundation’s database. In addition, she is a social media and affiliate marketing intern for The Glam Pad and is enjoying applying her marketing coursework to grow and promote social media channels. Saanvi enjoys swimming, traveling, and visiting art museums in her free time. One of her favorite books is Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. |
 Abigail Nguyen comes to SMU from Arlington, Texas. She is pursuing a major in health and society with the pre-law program and minors in Spanish and law and legal reasoning. Abigail chose SMU because of its emphasis on multidisciplinary studies, well-rounded academic experience, and the many opportunities to gain professional experience in her field. Abigail is pursuing a career in medical malpractice and personal injury law interning at Trial Lawyers for Justice, aiming to combine her passion for intentional healthcare and legal procedure to help clients achieve the quality of care and compensation they deserve. She also serves as the philanthropy chair for Phi Alpha Delta and has served as an Engage Dallas student director and a residential assistant. Off campus, Abigail enjoys embroidering, exploring local cafés, tennis, nail art, and whodunit mystery films. Her favorite artists are Hozier, Noah Kahan, and Wren Evans. Her favorite shows are Criminal Minds, Sherlock, and Peanuts. |
 Kaylie Nguyen graduated from Los Alamitos High School in southern California. In high school, she was the president of multiple student clubs such as California Scholarship Federation and French Honors Society. In addition to playing varsity golf, she ran track all four years and competed at the CIF State level in her senior year. By running on the Unified Relay team, she promoted inclusivity and compassion to her teammates. Kaylie volunteered over 1,000 hours for the Youth Center, a non-profit organization centered around kids. Her honors include National Merit Commended Scholar, AP Scholar with Distinction, Junior Honor Guard, and several leadership and character awards. She was accepted and participated in the Barrett Summer Scholars and Economics for Leaders programs. In her free time, Kaylie loves reading, traveling, and photography. She recently traveled to France and Switzerland on her own and loved sightseeing. She is attracted to SMU’s inclusive community, emphasis on interdisciplinary education, and opportunities both in and out of the classroom. She hopes to conduct research, study abroad in a foreign country, and intern in the Dallas area. Her interests include STEM fields like data science and mathematics. Kaylie is most excited to network and form friendships with diverse people while exploring SMU and Dallas. Her favorite book series is Throne of Glass. |
 Samuel Rodick is from Niskayuna, New York. In high school he participated in Model UN and was captain of his high school's quiz bowl team. Sam is a history and political science major with minors in human rights, anthropology, public policy and international affairs, and classical studies. He was drawn to SMU by the small class sizes and the school's commitment to a liberal arts education. After graduating from SMU, he is interested in pursuing further education in public policy, history, or law and has an interest in electoral systems and voting rights. Outside of classes Sam works as a resident assistant in Armstrong Commons and as a student worker for the Center of Presidential History. He serves as the president and co-founder of the College Democrats, an editor for The Dialogue, a journal for public policy and international affairs, and as secretary for Anthropology Club. In his free time Sam loves to watch movies, hike, birdwatch, and write. Sam enjoys the works of J.R.R. Tolkein and Herman Melville's Moby Dick and his favorite band is The Mountain Goats. |
 Dakota Tara Rose graduated from New Mexico School for the Arts (NWSA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico with over 2000 hours of pre-professional performing arts training. During her time at NMSA, Dakota led as student body president in creating service projects to help lessen the impact of the pandemic on local communities, including food drives for the Navajo Nation, supply drives for the local homeless population, and a pen-pal program for students and the elderly to assuage loneliness during the lockdown. She continues to volunteer with the Catholic Center at SMU. Dakota is the recipient of the first annual Los Alamos National Labs Creative Writing Scholarship, 2022 Lensic Performing Arts Center Technical Theater Scholarship, and NMSA Spirit Award. She has poetry published in the anthology Dreams of Montezuma and is currently working on her own poetry collection. At SMU, Dakota studies English with a creative writing and theatre studies. She is an Artistic Scholar and recipient of the SMU Frances K. Mossiker prize for creative writing. Dakota chose SMU for the ability to double major while pursuing the arts, the study abroad opportunities, and the connections available to her at SMU. She is a writer for SMU Look, participates in student theatre productions and is a student ambassador. Dakota’s love for theatre and creative writing broadens her perspective to what is beyond the mundane and embraces all things magical, mystical, and holistic. She is interested in health, wellness, and meeting new people. Dakota loves to discover and is always pushing the boundaries — whether that’s beating a personal record at the gym or unearthing the next best matcha spot in Dallas. Dakota’s favorite weekend activities include going to concerts with friends and walking the Katy Trail. Her favorite book is You Were There Too by Colleen Oakley and her favorite movie is unapologetically Mamma Mia! Dakota loves The Smiths, Lorde, Mac Miller, Chappell Roan, Peach Pit (who she got to see in concert with her brother Steele), Gracie Abrams, and Clairo. Dakota is honored to be a part of the Dedman Scholars Program and looks forward to positively impacting the world through her writing and performing arts! |
 Nia Savova was born in Sofia, Bulgaria, but grew up in Texas. She graduated from Coppell High School and was drawn to SMU for its flexible academic program, small class size, and emphasis on interdisciplinary studies. Nia takes keen interest in the intersection of art, science and technology and intends to pursue a major in data science and international studies, with potential minors in Spanish and business administration. In high school, Nia received the AP Scholar with Distinction award and was designated a National Merit Commended Scholar. While playing varsity tennis and participating in the varsity marching and symphonic bands, she was designated a Texas Academic All-State Athlete. During the summers, as a way to give back to her community, she was actively involved in as a volunteer for local library events and a guide in the nearby biodiversity center. She gained valuable professional experience during work stints as a tennis coach, a Starbucks barista and an internship at the Coppell Arts Center supporting the local theater company. She fills her leisure time with drawing, playing piano, travel and sports including tennis, skiing, and biking. She adores Ghibli films and Exupery’s The Little Prince for their aesthetic and hidden messages that resonate with her. Enthusiastically awaiting the challenges of college life at SMU, she hopes to discover new passions and expand her skill set to match the opportunities and demands of an increasingly complex world. |
 Saif Shah was born and raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Saif is a pre-health student majoring in psychology and is pursuing a minor in neuroscience. Saif chose SMU for its small class sizes, research opportunities, scholarship, amazing location, and proximity to extended family. He is a resident assistant for Ware Commons and a Bridwell-Armentrout Reading Scholar. Saif is also on the board of the Muslim Student Association and works as a research assistant in the ARC Lab. Outside of my class, Saif enjoys lifting weights, volunteering at the Stewpot, hang out with friends, and explore nature. He is very passionate about all things psychology and medicine, with a special interest in mental health, and is thrilled at the opportunity to further my impact in these areas at SMU and in the DFW area. Saif also has a deep appreciation for art and loves to read, write, watch movies, listen to music, and practice photography. Saif's all-time favorite movie is a toss-up between Moonlight and Interstellar. Some of his favorite artists include Peach Pit, Flipturn, The Strokes, The Backseat Lovers, Her’s, Daniel Caesar, and Hozier. |
 Shriya Siddhartha graduated from Centennial High School in Frisco, Texas. She is incredibly excited to begin her studies at SMU, which she chose for the abundant undergraduate research opportunities, interdisciplinary curriculum, and small, close-knit community. She intends to pursue pre-health while majoring in biochemistry and health and society with a minor in neuroscience, as her true passion lies in serving others through science and her research. Shriya graduated summa cum laude as a top 10 student and earned the additional distinctions of National Merit Commended Scholar and AP Scholar with Distinction. In high school, Shriya was very involved in Speech and Debate as a competitor and mentor, and she has competed at the state and national levels. She founded and presided over her school’s chapter of the Science Honor Society where she connected aspiring pre-health students with opportunities to shadow physicians and volunteer through STEM in their community. Shriya describes herself as a curious and inquisitive individual and has independently written research papers in neuroscience throughout high school. Outside of science, Shriya is passionate about music and is an accomplished singer and violinist. She has been learning Carnatic (South Indian Classical) vocal music for ten years and regularly gives concerts with her sister. Shriya loves Romantic literature, and her favorite works are The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde and John Keats’ poetry. She’s looking forward to making a difference during her time at SMU. |
 Katelyn Tran hails from Garland, TX and graduated from Garland High School in the top two percent of her class with an International Baccalaureate diploma. She chose to attend SMU for its interdisciplinary studies, close-knit community, academic and mentorship opportunities, and its culture blended with tradition and ingenuity. Katelyn is majoring in biological sciences to accompany the pre-health program with minors in chemistry and psychology. Katelyn is also a Caswell Fellow and a JAMP Scholar. On campus, she works as a research assistant in Dr. Glasscock’s neurogenetics lab and as a student assistant for the University Honors Program. She was previously the marketing chair of SMU’s Vietnamese Student Association. Outside of campus, Katelyn enjoys volunteering at Children’s Medical Center. In her free time, she loves playing tennis and keeping up with the professional tour, spending time with friends and family, and tackling new creative projects. Her favorite show is Avatar: The Last Airbender. |
 Meredith Vaughn is from Overland Park, Kansas, and plans to major in English and follow the pre-law program. In high school, she was involved in soccer, yearbook, Relay for Life, and garnered National Honors Society distinction in math, science, Spanish, and journalism. Outside of school, she played club soccer and recreational basketball, volunteered in the nursery at her church, worked as a summer nanny and assistant soccer coach, and served three years for a ministry in Alaska. Meredith was named National Merit Finalist, AP Scholar with Distinction, and graduated summa cum laude. She chose SMU for the supportive attitude toward aspirational students in all their explorations. She is looking forward to playing intramural sports, studying abroad, and eating whenever she wants to in college. Meredith's favorite books are Their Eyes Were Watching God and The House on Mango Street. Her favorite movie is The Parent Trap (the Lindsay Lohan version). |
 Inaara Virani was born in Karachi, Pakistan, and moved to Carrollton, Texas in 2019, graduating from Hebron High School in the top 5 percent of her class. Throughout high school, she challenged herself by taking rigorous coursework and pursued her interest in languages by taking French and Latin. At SMU, she intends to major in world languages and literatures, and explore the various extracurricular opportunities. |
 Jessica Wray graduated salutatorian from Temecula Preparatory School in Southern California. In high school, she was captain of the softball team and on the executive board for National Honor’s Society and National Latin Honor’s Society. She was awarded AP Scholar with Distinction Honors and an AP Capstone Diploma, which sparked her interest in completing research in college. Now she is pursuing degrees in sociology, religious studies, and Chinese. She chose SMU for its small class sizes, beautiful campus, and opportunities to further her interest in the legal field. In addition to being a Dedman College Scholar, she is part of the University Honors Program, a Provost Scholar, a Pre-Law Scholar, and a Hamilton Scholar. She has been conducting research with Dr. Laurent-Simpson about interracial relationships, their power dynamics, and their gender roles within the reality television show 90 Day Fiancé. She is co-president of Chinese Language Club and treasurer of KPOP Club. In her free time, Jessica likes to crochet, read, and try new restaurants. Her favorite book series is The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. |
 Jenna Young grew up in Allen, Texas. She chose SMU because it was close to home and offered a close-knit campus community. She is pursuing majors in political science and psychology and minors in history and law and legal reasoning to accompany the pre-law program. Jenna is a member of the University Honors Program and Pre-Law Scholars Program. She currently serves as Dedman Senator for the SMU Student Senate and conducts research for the Voices of SMU oral history project. She is the alto saxophone section leader for the Mustang Band and the founder and captain of the Women’s Club Basketball team. In her free time, Jenna enjoys playing basketball, learning new instruments, and spending time with friends. |
Ellen Aughenbaugh comes to SMU from Southlake, Texas, and graduated with honors from Grapevine Faith Christian School. Ellen chose SMU for its interdisciplinary options and research opportunities. She plans to double major in biological sciences and art. She also loves math, literature, philosophy, and psychology and hopes to minor in neuroscience. Ellen was named a 2022 National Merit Scholar and is a two-time national qualifier in debate. During her senior year of high school, she was captain of the varsity debate team, captain of the varsity swim team, student body secretary, homecoming queen, and senior class president of the Southlake chapter of the National Charity League. She was also a service officer for three years in the student council, a committee head in the National Honor Society, and a member of the National English Honor Society. Ellen prioritizes God above all else and has been an active member of the church throughout her life. Ellen also loves painting, drawing, and all modes of creation. She is a two-time state gold seal recipient at VASE and the 2022 state champion TAPPS senior art portfolio. She intends to participate in research as soon as possible and is looking forward to partaking in philanthropic opportunities in Dallas. Ellen loves animals, being outside, and staying active. Her favorite film is Inception.