Congratulations June '25 Honors Grads
See what's next for our newest alumni
Congratulations to our June 2025 University Honors graduates! We recognize these students for their outstanding contributions to our Honors community and the expanding body of knowledge. They embody the mission of the Honors Program as influential leaders setting a standard of excellence. Well done! Meet the graduates below:
Abigail Beus
Major: History
Thesis: The Blue Division in the Soviet Union: Cultural Encounter Through the Lens of Orthodox Art
Advisor: Paul Kerry
Plans After Graduation: Abigail will pursue a master's degree in Art History and Museum Studies at Tufts University this fall.
Thesis: The Blue Division in the Soviet Union: Cultural Encounter Through the Lens of Orthodox Art
Advisor: Paul Kerry
Plans After Graduation: Abigail will pursue a master's degree in Art History and Museum Studies at Tufts University this fall.
Isaac James Criddle
Majors: Computer Science / Statistics
Thesis: Delaunay Keyer for Colorspace-Local Matte Extraction and Spill Suppression
Advisor: Parris Egbert
Plans After Graduation: Isaac will pursue a master's degree in Computer Science at Stanford University this fall.
Thesis: Delaunay Keyer for Colorspace-Local Matte Extraction and Spill Suppression
Advisor: Parris Egbert
Plans After Graduation: Isaac will pursue a master's degree in Computer Science at Stanford University this fall.
Kaia Kadi-Marie Hathaway
Major: Philosophy
Thesis: Strivers, Ambivalence, and the Implications of Wholeheartedness
Advisor: Justin White
Plans After Graduation: Kaia will pursue a master's degree in Comparative Studies here at BYU this fall.
Thesis: Strivers, Ambivalence, and the Implications of Wholeheartedness
Advisor: Justin White
Plans After Graduation: Kaia will pursue a master's degree in Comparative Studies here at BYU this fall.
Seung Hong
Major: History
Thesis: Across Generations of Time: Institutional Memory and Individual Memory of the Kwangju Uprising Regarding the Hong Family
Advisor: Kirk Larsen
Plans After Graduation: Seung plans to work for a year while preparing for law school.
Thesis: Across Generations of Time: Institutional Memory and Individual Memory of the Kwangju Uprising Regarding the Hong Family
Advisor: Kirk Larsen
Plans After Graduation: Seung plans to work for a year while preparing for law school.
Anna Louise Jacob
Major: Sociology
Thesis: How Length of Residence Moderates the Relationship Between Time and Community Satisfaction in Rural Utah
Advisor: Michael Cope
Plans After Graduation: Anna will pursue a PhD in Sociology at The Ohio State University this fall.
Thesis: How Length of Residence Moderates the Relationship Between Time and Community Satisfaction in Rural Utah
Advisor: Michael Cope
Plans After Graduation: Anna will pursue a PhD in Sociology at The Ohio State University this fall.
Elsa Maren Longhurst
Major: Psychology
Thesis: Connecting with Our Creator: How Experiences in Nature Enable Closeness with God
Advisor: Sam Hardy
Plans After Graduation: Elsa will be working as a Max Strength Fitness trainer
Thesis: Connecting with Our Creator: How Experiences in Nature Enable Closeness with God
Advisor: Sam Hardy
Plans After Graduation: Elsa will be working as a Max Strength Fitness trainer
Keylla Sylvanna Ortega
Majors: History
Thesis: Female Religiousity in the United Farm Workers Movement
Advisor: Ignacio Garcia
Thesis: Female Religiousity in the United Farm Workers Movement
Advisor: Ignacio Garcia
Hector Andres Peña Vega
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Thesis: Design, Manufacturing, and Engineering Design Validation of a Fetal Activity Monitor
Advisor: Anton Bowden
Plans After Graduation: Hector will pursue a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering here at BYU this fall.
Thesis: Design, Manufacturing, and Engineering Design Validation of a Fetal Activity Monitor
Advisor: Anton Bowden
Plans After Graduation: Hector will pursue a master's degree in Mechanical Engineering here at BYU this fall.
Katherine Anne Rackliffe
Major: Cybersecurity
Thesis: Who's on the Phone: Effectiveness of Cloned Vishing Messages
Advisor: Benjamin Schooley
Plans After Graduation: Katherine will attend the University of Wisconsin, Madison to pursue a PhD in Information, studying phishing, human-centered cyber security, and social engineering.
Thesis: Who's on the Phone: Effectiveness of Cloned Vishing Messages
Advisor: Benjamin Schooley
Plans After Graduation: Katherine will attend the University of Wisconsin, Madison to pursue a PhD in Information, studying phishing, human-centered cyber security, and social engineering.
Rachel Kate Reynolds
Major: Mathematics Education
Thesis: Exploring Figured Worlds and Identity of Religious Women in Mathematics-Related Majors
Advisor: Kate Johnson
Plans After Graduation: Kate will attend New York University this fall, to pursue a graduate degree in World Language Education and TESOL.
Thesis: Exploring Figured Worlds and Identity of Religious Women in Mathematics-Related Majors
Advisor: Kate Johnson
Plans After Graduation: Kate will attend New York University this fall, to pursue a graduate degree in World Language Education and TESOL.
Destiny Rose Hansen Romero
Major: Exercise and Wellness
Thesis: Implementing Exercise is Medicine at BYU
Advisor: Mandy Christensen
Plans After Graduation: Destiny hopes to work in the health promotion field, and will continue working freelance as a personal trainer. She is expecting a baby in July.
Thesis: Implementing Exercise is Medicine at BYU
Advisor: Mandy Christensen
Plans After Graduation: Destiny hopes to work in the health promotion field, and will continue working freelance as a personal trainer. She is expecting a baby in July.
Luke Christian Romney
Major: Interdisciplinary Humanities
Thesis: Untying the Knot: All of Us Strangers and the Transgressive Encounter
Advisor: Nathaniel Kramer
Plans After Graduation: Luka will pursue a master's degree in English here at BYU this fall.
Thesis: Untying the Knot: All of Us Strangers and the Transgressive Encounter
Advisor: Nathaniel Kramer
Plans After Graduation: Luka will pursue a master's degree in English here at BYU this fall.
Brooke Noelle Smith
Major: Philosophy
Thesis: Sisyphus Smiles: Essays on Living Well in the Face of Absurdity
Advisor: Justin White
Plans After Graduation: Brooke is taking a gap year to work, and then will apply to law school and philosophy graduate programs.
Thesis: Sisyphus Smiles: Essays on Living Well in the Face of Absurdity
Advisor: Justin White
Plans After Graduation: Brooke is taking a gap year to work, and then will apply to law school and philosophy graduate programs.
Rebekah Loye Tran
Major: Computer Science
Thesis: Simulating and Designing Pyro FX to Communicate a Hostile and Magical Environment
Advisor: Seth Holladay
Plans After Graduation: Rebekah is leaving to serve a full-time mission. When she returns, she'll pursue a master's degree in Computer Science.
Thesis: Simulating and Designing Pyro FX to Communicate a Hostile and Magical Environment
Advisor: Seth Holladay
Plans After Graduation: Rebekah is leaving to serve a full-time mission. When she returns, she'll pursue a master's degree in Computer Science.
Lucy Abigail Winkel
Major: English Teaching
Thesis: The Play's the Thing: Using Game-Based Learning to Teach Romeo and Juliet and Critical Media Literacy as an Aspect of Civic Engagement
Advisor: Jonathan Allred
Plans After Graduation: Lucy will be teaching language arts full-time at Tillamook Junior High in Oregon.
Thesis: The Play's the Thing: Using Game-Based Learning to Teach Romeo and Juliet and Critical Media Literacy as an Aspect of Civic Engagement
Advisor: Jonathan Allred
Plans After Graduation: Lucy will be teaching language arts full-time at Tillamook Junior High in Oregon.