Congratulations April '26 Honors Graduates
Meet the disciple-scholars now "going forth to serve!"
We are proud to announce the April 2026 University Honors graduates! Each spring, the University and Honors Program communities come together to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our graduates. Graduating from BYU with University Honors is no small feat, only achieved by about one percent of the graduating class. It takes careful planning, hard work, and collaboration with faculty and students alike. University Honors is the highest academic distinction awarded by BYU to students at the undergraduate level. We applaud these outstanding students and thank each of you for your contributions to our Honors community.
Tala Mohammed Ad Alnasser
Major: Communications
Minor: Sociology
Thesis: The Christian Gaze
Advisor: Scott Sanders
Plans After Graduation: Tala plans to attend graduate school and is still choosing between options.
Minor: Sociology
Thesis: The Christian Gaze
Advisor: Scott Sanders
Plans After Graduation: Tala plans to attend graduate school and is still choosing between options.
Katherine Beal
Major: Economics
Minors: Creative Writing, Mathematics
Thesis: Magical Americana: A Magical Realist Short Story Collection
Advisor: Stephen Tuttle
Plans After Graduation: Katherine will be working as an Economic Consultant at Edgeworth Economics.
Minors: Creative Writing, Mathematics
Thesis: Magical Americana: A Magical Realist Short Story Collection
Advisor: Stephen Tuttle
Plans After Graduation: Katherine will be working as an Economic Consultant at Edgeworth Economics.
Sydnee Beck
Major: Political Science
Minors: Global Women's Studies
Thesis: From the Pulpit to the Polls: How Religiosity and Gender Affect Political Ambition in Utah
Advisor: Jessica Preece
Plans After Graduation: Sydnee is applying to law school in the fall.
Minors: Global Women's Studies
Thesis: From the Pulpit to the Polls: How Religiosity and Gender Affect Political Ambition in Utah
Advisor: Jessica Preece
Plans After Graduation: Sydnee is applying to law school in the fall.
Theresa Elizabeth Bell
Major: Philosophy
Minor: Logic
Thesis: The Problem with Wish-fulfillment
Advisor: Derek Haderlie
Plans After Graduation: Theresa will pursue a PhD in Philosophy this fall (still choosing between Cornell, Chicago, or UC Riverside).
Minor: Logic
Thesis: The Problem with Wish-fulfillment
Advisor: Derek Haderlie
Plans After Graduation: Theresa will pursue a PhD in Philosophy this fall (still choosing between Cornell, Chicago, or UC Riverside).
Ian Richard Brunson
Major: Nutritional Science
Thesis: Buffered Strength: A Narrative Review of Beta-Alanine Supplementation in Weighlifting and Resistance Training
Advisor: James LeCheminant
Plans After Graduation: Ian plans to attend law school
Thesis: Buffered Strength: A Narrative Review of Beta-Alanine Supplementation in Weighlifting and Resistance Training
Advisor: James LeCheminant
Plans After Graduation: Ian plans to attend law school
Elizabeth Cameron
Major: English
Thesis: The Terror Eulogy: A Rhetorical Analysis of the Presidential Response to Terrorism Since 1995
Advisor: Brian Jackson
Plans After Graduation: Elizabeth plans to work for a few years befor pursuing another degree.
Thesis: The Terror Eulogy: A Rhetorical Analysis of the Presidential Response to Terrorism Since 1995
Advisor: Brian Jackson
Plans After Graduation: Elizabeth plans to work for a few years befor pursuing another degree.
Olivia Coleman
Major: Music; Psychology
Thesis: Music-Based Intervention for Stress and Sleep in Substance Use Recovery
Advisor: Ben Ogles
Plans After Graduation: Olivia is working as an ADHD/Autism tutor, and will apply for clinical psychology programs next year.
Thesis: Music-Based Intervention for Stress and Sleep in Substance Use Recovery
Advisor: Ben Ogles
Plans After Graduation: Olivia is working as an ADHD/Autism tutor, and will apply for clinical psychology programs next year.
Jonathan Mark Dickson
Major: Strategic Management
Thesis: Stacking Moves: How Digital Platforms Sequence Value Creation
Advisor: Jeff Dyer
Plans After Graduation: Jonathan will be working as an Associate Consultant at Bain & Company.
Thesis: Stacking Moves: How Digital Platforms Sequence Value Creation
Advisor: Jeff Dyer
Plans After Graduation: Jonathan will be working as an Associate Consultant at Bain & Company.
Ilse Eskelsen
Major: English
Minor: French
Thesis: “I Know He Would Do Anything if I Asked”: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Female Power Fantasy, and the YA Romance
Advisor: Kristin Matthews
Plans After Graduation: Ilse will either be teaching English in Luxembourg or France, or working in Washington, D.C.
Minor: French
Thesis: “I Know He Would Do Anything if I Asked”: To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before, Female Power Fantasy, and the YA Romance
Advisor: Kristin Matthews
Plans After Graduation: Ilse will either be teaching English in Luxembourg or France, or working in Washington, D.C.
Hannah Eyre
Major: Commercial Music
Minors: Sociology, Gerontology
Thesis: Are You Listening?
Advisor: Aaron Merrill
Plans After Graduation: Hannah will be freelancing as a performing and recording musician, as well as a recording artist and songwriter for "Strive to Be" for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Minors: Sociology, Gerontology
Thesis: Are You Listening?
Advisor: Aaron Merrill
Plans After Graduation: Hannah will be freelancing as a performing and recording musician, as well as a recording artist and songwriter for "Strive to Be" for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Brynne Farnsworth
Major: English
Thesis: The Capitol’s Punishment: A Disability Theory Reading and Analysis of The Hunger Games Series
Advisor: Mary Eyring
Plans After Graduation: Brynne will pursue a master's in Library and Information Sciences at the University of Illinois this fall.
Thesis: The Capitol’s Punishment: A Disability Theory Reading and Analysis of The Hunger Games Series
Advisor: Mary Eyring
Plans After Graduation: Brynne will pursue a master's in Library and Information Sciences at the University of Illinois this fall.
Maeser Flake
Major: Physics
Minor: Mathematics
Thesis: Heavy Axions in Mirror Twin Higgs Models
Advisor: Chris Verhaaren
Plans After Graduation: Maeser will pursue a graduate degree in Physics and is still deciding between schools.
Minor: Mathematics
Thesis: Heavy Axions in Mirror Twin Higgs Models
Advisor: Chris Verhaaren
Plans After Graduation: Maeser will pursue a graduate degree in Physics and is still deciding between schools.
Robert Flores
Major: Ancient Near Eastern Studies
Minor: Classical Studies (Greek), Modern Hebrew
Thesis: Paul's Porneia: A Lexical Study of Sexual Ethics and Communal Boundaries in the Pauline Corpus
Advisor: Lincoln Blumell
Plans After Graduation: Robert will pursue a master's degree at Harvard Divinity School this fall.
Minor: Classical Studies (Greek), Modern Hebrew
Thesis: Paul's Porneia: A Lexical Study of Sexual Ethics and Communal Boundaries in the Pauline Corpus
Advisor: Lincoln Blumell
Plans After Graduation: Robert will pursue a master's degree at Harvard Divinity School this fall.
Carter Glass
Major: Music Performance
Thesis: Understanding Red Nichols' Career through Biographical Study of His Early Life from 1905-1927
Advisor: Myrna Layton
Plans After Graduation: Carter will pursue a master's in Musicology here at BYU this fall.
Thesis: Understanding Red Nichols' Career through Biographical Study of His Early Life from 1905-1927
Advisor: Myrna Layton
Plans After Graduation: Carter will pursue a master's in Musicology here at BYU this fall.
Jordan Halterman
Major: Dance Education K-12
Thesis: Movement As Worship: Deepening Religious Practices Through Bodily Awareness and Expression
Advisor: Marin Roper
Plans After Graduation: Jordan will be employed as the Artistic Dance Director for the Karl G. Maeser Prepatory Academy.
Thesis: Movement As Worship: Deepening Religious Practices Through Bodily Awareness and Expression
Advisor: Marin Roper
Plans After Graduation: Jordan will be employed as the Artistic Dance Director for the Karl G. Maeser Prepatory Academy.
James Hecht
Major: Physics
Minor: Mathematics
Thesis: Implementing a Problem-Solving Framework in Physics Tutorials for Upper-Division Electricity and Magnetism Students
Advisor: John Colton
Plans After Graduation: James is applying for Physics teaching positions.
Minor: Mathematics
Thesis: Implementing a Problem-Solving Framework in Physics Tutorials for Upper-Division Electricity and Magnetism Students
Advisor: John Colton
Plans After Graduation: James is applying for Physics teaching positions.
Catherine Howard
Major: Art History & Curatorial Studies
Thesis: Within Sacred Walls: Cloister Architecture and the Virgin Mary as the Hortus Conclusus in 14th- and 15th-Century Italian Art
Advisor: Elliott Wise
Plans After Graduation: Catherine is taking a gap year, then plans on graduate school here at BYU.
Thesis: Within Sacred Walls: Cloister Architecture and the Virgin Mary as the Hortus Conclusus in 14th- and 15th-Century Italian Art
Advisor: Elliott Wise
Plans After Graduation: Catherine is taking a gap year, then plans on graduate school here at BYU.
Kennedy Kleinman
Major: English
Thesis: The Story of Belonging: A Rhetorical Analysis of Transformative Storytelling as a Catalyst for Belonging
Advisor: Jamin Rowan
Plans After Graduation: Kennedy will pursue a master's in English here at BYU this fall.
Thesis: The Story of Belonging: A Rhetorical Analysis of Transformative Storytelling as a Catalyst for Belonging
Advisor: Jamin Rowan
Plans After Graduation: Kennedy will pursue a master's in English here at BYU this fall.
Hannah Kunkel
Zac Larsen
Major: Music Education
Thesis: Fostering Audiation in Band through Modeling Videos
Advisor: Samuel Tsugawa
Plans After Graduation: Zac has accepted a position as Director of Music at Summit Academy High School.
Thesis: Fostering Audiation in Band through Modeling Videos
Advisor: Samuel Tsugawa
Plans After Graduation: Zac has accepted a position as Director of Music at Summit Academy High School.
Grace Harriett Lewis
Major: Psychology
Minor: Spanish; Creative Writing
Thesis: "A Calming Warm Sensation in My Heart and Mind": A Qualitative Analysis of Descriptions of Spiritual Experiences of Latter-day Saints
Advisor: Jared Nielsen
Plans After Graduation: Grace is applying to psychology research programs this fall.
Minor: Spanish; Creative Writing
Thesis: "A Calming Warm Sensation in My Heart and Mind": A Qualitative Analysis of Descriptions of Spiritual Experiences of Latter-day Saints
Advisor: Jared Nielsen
Plans After Graduation: Grace is applying to psychology research programs this fall.
Jaycee Rae Lundell
Major: Communications
Thesis: Crafting the Narrative: A Look at Long-Form Storytelling Through the Art of Quilling
Advisor: Robert Walz
Plans After Graduation: Jaycee has accepted a full-time position as editor with Utah Valley Magazine.
Thesis: Crafting the Narrative: A Look at Long-Form Storytelling Through the Art of Quilling
Advisor: Robert Walz
Plans After Graduation: Jaycee has accepted a full-time position as editor with Utah Valley Magazine.
Sarah McDavitt
Major: Experience Design & Management
Minor: Design Thinking
Thesis: Faculty-Student Collaboration in Iterative Course Design
Advisor: Camilla Hodge
Minor: Design Thinking
Thesis: Faculty-Student Collaboration in Iterative Course Design
Advisor: Camilla Hodge
Andrew McDonald
Major: Electrical Engineering
Thesis: Software-defined Radios in Avalanche Detection
Advisor: David Long
Plans After Graduation: Andrew will pursue a master's in Electrical Engineering here at BYU.
Thesis: Software-defined Radios in Avalanche Detection
Advisor: David Long
Plans After Graduation: Andrew will pursue a master's in Electrical Engineering here at BYU.
Kyleigh McMullen
Major: Psychology
Minor: Family Life
Thesis: The Relationship Between Work Time and Mood in University Students
Advisor: Dianne Tice
Plans After Graduation: Kyleigh is taking a gap year.
Minor: Family Life
Thesis: The Relationship Between Work Time and Mood in University Students
Advisor: Dianne Tice
Plans After Graduation: Kyleigh is taking a gap year.
Bryson Mumford
Major: Psychology
Minor: Family Life
Thesis: The Irrelevance of Filing Speed: Evidence from a Regulatory Reporting Discontinuity
Advisor: Brian Boyer
Plans After Graduation: Bryson will study Economics as a Pre-doctoral student at Princeton University, then apply to Economics PhD programs.
Minor: Family Life
Thesis: The Irrelevance of Filing Speed: Evidence from a Regulatory Reporting Discontinuity
Advisor: Brian Boyer
Plans After Graduation: Bryson will study Economics as a Pre-doctoral student at Princeton University, then apply to Economics PhD programs.
Eli Scott Nelson
Major: Strategic Management
Thesis: Strategic Parallels: How Historic Military Tactics Inform Modern Business Strategy
Advisor: Cacey Farnsworth
Plans After Graduation: Eli is employed as co-founder and CEO of Manna, Inc, and will be a police officer for the Auburn Police Department (WA).
Thesis: Strategic Parallels: How Historic Military Tactics Inform Modern Business Strategy
Advisor: Cacey Farnsworth
Plans After Graduation: Eli is employed as co-founder and CEO of Manna, Inc, and will be a police officer for the Auburn Police Department (WA).
Benjamin Paul Nixon
Major: Neuroscience
Minor: Gerontology
Thesis: Defining The Early Temporal Window of Cerebellar Motor Memory Consolidation in Mice
Advisor: Trace Stay
Plans After Graduation: Benji is planning on attending graduate school and is still making a selection.
Minor: Gerontology
Thesis: Defining The Early Temporal Window of Cerebellar Motor Memory Consolidation in Mice
Advisor: Trace Stay
Plans After Graduation: Benji is planning on attending graduate school and is still making a selection.
Caroline Olsen
Major: Public Health
Thesis: Silicosis Evaluation Among Native Spanish-Speaking Workers: An Exploratory Pilot Survey of Occupational Medicine Providers
Advisor: Steven Thygerson
Plans After Graduation: Carolline will pursue a master's of Occupational Health at the University of Utah this fall.
Thesis: Silicosis Evaluation Among Native Spanish-Speaking Workers: An Exploratory Pilot Survey of Occupational Medicine Providers
Advisor: Steven Thygerson
Plans After Graduation: Carolline will pursue a master's of Occupational Health at the University of Utah this fall.
Ephraim Ong
Major: Electrical Engineering
Thesis: Optimizing Sacrificial Core Formation in the Fabrication of Nanopore Biosensors
Advisor: Aaron Hawkins
Plans After Graduation: Ephraim will be working at a law firm.
Thesis: Optimizing Sacrificial Core Formation in the Fabrication of Nanopore Biosensors
Advisor: Aaron Hawkins
Plans After Graduation: Ephraim will be working at a law firm.
Larissa May Otterstrom
Major: Family & Consumer Sciences Education
Minor: German
Thesis: Repurpose, Reuse, Recycle: Exploring Sustainability Solutions with Denim
Advisor: Natalie Hancock
Plans After Graduation: Larissa will be working as an Family and Consumer Science educator at American Fork Jr High School.
Minor: German
Thesis: Repurpose, Reuse, Recycle: Exploring Sustainability Solutions with Denim
Advisor: Natalie Hancock
Plans After Graduation: Larissa will be working as an Family and Consumer Science educator at American Fork Jr High School.
Noah James Passey
Major: Political Science
Minor: Middle Eastern Studies
Thesis: The Politics of Exposure: How Local Israeli Violence Affects Palestinian Public Opinion
Advisor: David Romney
Plans After Graduation: Noah will attend law school here at BYU this fall.
Minor: Middle Eastern Studies
Thesis: The Politics of Exposure: How Local Israeli Violence Affects Palestinian Public Opinion
Advisor: David Romney
Plans After Graduation: Noah will attend law school here at BYU this fall.
Katelynn Payne
Major: Psychology
Thesis: Who is God: Examining Explicit Beliefs About God, Scrupulosity, Suicidal Ideation, and Psychopathology
Advisor: Jared Nielsen
Plans After Graduation: Katelynn plans to attend graduate school at either UVU or Palo Alto.
Thesis: Who is God: Examining Explicit Beliefs About God, Scrupulosity, Suicidal Ideation, and Psychopathology
Advisor: Jared Nielsen
Plans After Graduation: Katelynn plans to attend graduate school at either UVU or Palo Alto.
Christian Pearson
Major: Marketing
Thesis: Scarcity Rewritten: Revenue Tracking As A Catalyst For Growth Mindset And Financial Control
Advisor: Ben Beck
Plans After Graduation: Christian will be employed as a Field Sales Associate at Boston Scientific.
Thesis: Scarcity Rewritten: Revenue Tracking As A Catalyst For Growth Mindset And Financial Control
Advisor: Ben Beck
Plans After Graduation: Christian will be employed as a Field Sales Associate at Boston Scientific.
Abbi Lynn Peo
Major: Psychology
Minor: English
Thesis: The River of Life in Flannery O'Connor's "The River"
Advisor: Keith Lawrence
Plans After Graduation: Abbi is taking a gap year, then applying for school psychology programs.
Minor: English
Thesis: The River of Life in Flannery O'Connor's "The River"
Advisor: Keith Lawrence
Plans After Graduation: Abbi is taking a gap year, then applying for school psychology programs.
Chloe May Robinson
Major: Design
Minor: Global Women's Studies
Thesis: De aquí y de allá: Exchanging Language and Visual Culture in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Advisor: Rick West
Plans After Graduation: Chloe will be working as a graphic design intern at Anonyme Labs.
Minor: Global Women's Studies
Thesis: De aquí y de allá: Exchanging Language and Visual Culture in the Lower Rio Grande Valley
Advisor: Rick West
Plans After Graduation: Chloe will be working as a graphic design intern at Anonyme Labs.
Morgan Roundy
Major: Exercise & Wellness
Minor: Gerontology
Thesis: The Mediterranean Diet as a Protective Factor Against Tobacco-Induced Lung Cancer: Insights from the Italian Population
Advisor: Ray Merrill
Plans After Graduation: Morgan plans to work in exercise physiology for a year, then attend graduate school for chiropractic medicine.
Minor: Gerontology
Thesis: The Mediterranean Diet as a Protective Factor Against Tobacco-Induced Lung Cancer: Insights from the Italian Population
Advisor: Ray Merrill
Plans After Graduation: Morgan plans to work in exercise physiology for a year, then attend graduate school for chiropractic medicine.
Emilee Jean (EJ) Smith
Major: Global Supply Chain Management
Thesis: Beyond the Flames: A Comparative Analysis of Wildfire Preparedness and Relief in California
Advisor: Barry Brewer
Plans After Graduation: EJ will be employed as an account project manager for Wendover Art Group in Florida.
Thesis: Beyond the Flames: A Comparative Analysis of Wildfire Preparedness and Relief in California
Advisor: Barry Brewer
Plans After Graduation: EJ will be employed as an account project manager for Wendover Art Group in Florida.
Gwendolyn (Gigi) Sobas
Major: Biology
Minor: Gerentology
Thesis: Grip Strength, Core Endurance, Balance, and Cognitive Profiles of Physically Active Seniors
Advisor: Pat Vehrs
Plans After Graduation: Gigi is taking a gap year, then will attend Dental School at the University of Pittsburgh.
Minor: Gerentology
Thesis: Grip Strength, Core Endurance, Balance, and Cognitive Profiles of Physically Active Seniors
Advisor: Pat Vehrs
Plans After Graduation: Gigi is taking a gap year, then will attend Dental School at the University of Pittsburgh.
Martin David Sorensen
Major: Biochemistry
Thesis: Quantifying Regional Variation of Lipid Metabolism in the Brain
Advisor: John Price
Plans After Graduation: Martin will pursue a PhD in Biochemistry at McGill University.
Thesis: Quantifying Regional Variation of Lipid Metabolism in the Brain
Advisor: John Price
Plans After Graduation: Martin will pursue a PhD in Biochemistry at McGill University.
Brianna Stecher
Major: Spanish
Minor: Music; Political Science
Thesis: Understanding the Revolutionary Mother Through Emotive Expression in the Works of Gioconda Belli
Advisor: Mac Wilson
Plans After Graduation: Brianna is employed as a UCA Head Start Teacher.
Minor: Music; Political Science
Thesis: Understanding the Revolutionary Mother Through Emotive Expression in the Works of Gioconda Belli
Advisor: Mac Wilson
Plans After Graduation: Brianna is employed as a UCA Head Start Teacher.
Douglas Stone
Major: Chemical Engineering
Thesis: Increasing the Rate of Plastic Production in Fluidized Bed Gas Phase Polyethylene Reactors Through Temperature Optimization
Advisor: Andrew Fry
Plans After Graduation: Douglas will be employed as a contract engineer for ExxonMobil.
Thesis: Increasing the Rate of Plastic Production in Fluidized Bed Gas Phase Polyethylene Reactors Through Temperature Optimization
Advisor: Andrew Fry
Plans After Graduation: Douglas will be employed as a contract engineer for ExxonMobil.
Nathanael Taylor
Major: Chemistry
Thesis: Synthesis of Tricyclic Phosphino-Imino-Tetrahydroacridine Ligands for the Iron-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Terminal Alkenes
Advisor: David Michaelis
Plans After Graduation: Taylor will pursue a PhD in Chemistry at Yale University this fall.
Thesis: Synthesis of Tricyclic Phosphino-Imino-Tetrahydroacridine Ligands for the Iron-Catalyzed Hydrosilylation of Terminal Alkenes
Advisor: David Michaelis
Plans After Graduation: Taylor will pursue a PhD in Chemistry at Yale University this fall.
Jason Wells
Major: Cell Biology & Physiology
Thesis: Quantifying Location-Based Variability of Regional Brain Metabolism Using Microsamples from Apoe Knock-In Mice
Advisor: John Price
Plans After Graduation: Jason is studying for the MCAT and then will apply to medical school.
Thesis: Quantifying Location-Based Variability of Regional Brain Metabolism Using Microsamples from Apoe Knock-In Mice
Advisor: John Price
Plans After Graduation: Jason is studying for the MCAT and then will apply to medical school.