About the Jess Chouteau Outstanding Senior Award
The Jess Chouteau Outstanding Senior Award recognizes TU seniors who demonstrate exceptional achievement in both academic and service endeavors. The Jess Chouteau Outstanding Senior Award is bestowed upon no more than ten seniors each year. Winners are selected by alumni of The University of Tulsa and are recognized at Homecoming each year. Application dates for this award will be announced in Spring 2025 for 2025-26 honorees.
Sepand Ashenayi is a biology major from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is also a Chemistry tutor and a Peer Mentor for the University of Tulsa. He is President of Phi Eta Sigma and the Kappa Alpha order and a member of the Mortar Board. “My experience at The University of Tulsa has been pivotal in shaping who I am today and how I will achieve my future aspirations by providing me with a foundation of academic knowledge, practical skills, and professional connections. At TU, I have been committed to leveraging the university’s resources and opportunities to propel me toward my career goal of becoming a doctor.”
Danielle Burns, a chemical engineering major with a pre-med specialization from Canyon, Texas, is an NFCA All-American Scholar Athlete on TU’s softball team. She is also a leader on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee and treasurer of the Engineering Honor Society, Tau Beta Pi, and the Chemical Engineering Honor Society, Omega Chi Epsilon. “The last four years spent at the University of Tulsa have brought my goals for the rest of my life into clear focus. My time and experience at TU has permeated all aspects of my life from the arts to top-tier academics to building social community. My first semester at TU was when I discovered the unique path I would take to the rest of my life. I have always had a very strong desire to use the academic talents and inclinations I have to positively affect the lives of other people.”
Madeleine Fulk is an exercise and sports science major with a pre-medical concentration from Springfield, Missouri. She is the president of Global Medical Brigades, vice president of University Ambassadors, vice president of recruitment for Future Alumni Council, and a member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She works as a research assistant at the Biomechanics Research Laboratory and as a tutor for both math and chemistry. She volunteers at Reading Partners and the Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges and is a Youth Medical Mentorship Fellow and Students Reaching Excellence Through Collaboration with Higher Education Fellow. Among many other activities, she is a trombonist in the Wind Ensemble and Pep Band. “Between pursuing a major with three minors across two colleges; working on campus as a University Ambassador, tutor, and undergraduate research assistant; holding executive positions in several campus organizations; competing in intramural sports; and maintaining a creative outlet through playing trombone in the TU Wind Ensemble, I can confidently say that TU has allowed me the opportunity and flexibility to do all that I like. I know that this spirit of growing as a well-rounded individual, earned and encouraged through my experience at TU, will be the catalyst in achieving my goal to become a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician.”
Silas Hughes is a finance major from Bennington, Nebraska, and president of the Student Investment Fund. He is the vice president of starTUp and participates in the JOLT Creativity Club and Friends of Finance. “This university is a product of the students and not the other way around, and because of that, TU and its faculty live out its motto “Loyal Always True.” TU truly makes my experience about my goals, and I think that is incredible! The university has equipped me as an individual, and not just a worker, through deep friendships, networking opportunities, relationships with faculty, clubs to join and start, and so much more. I truly have been more successful than I thought I would have been in college, and I owe almost all of it to the people and opportunities I have had at TU."
Lillian Madhan, a Mechanical Engineering major from Tulsa, Oklahoma, is very involved in The University of Tulsa community. She is the current president of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and MADE at TU. She holds leadership roles with the Society of Women Engineers and Kappa Alpha Theta, is a University Ambassador, and is a member of the Future Alumni Council and Phi Eta Sigma honor society. “The enriching experiences I had at TU go beyond making my fashion and engineering dream feasible. TU provided me with real-world experiences to see the impact of innovations firsthand. Through my four-year involvement with Make a Difference Engineering at TU, where I serve as the President, I witnessed how student creativity benefited individuals with disabilities. A highlight was leading the Sensor Sea Room project, which involved designing a room for children with sensory and motor disabilities.”
Teresa Nguyen is a Psychology major from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She has been involved in the Vietnamese Student Association, Peer Mentors, University Ambassadors, Psi Chi, Student Association DEI Cabinet Committee, and the Kendall College of Arts & Sciences Student Advisory Board. She has also been involved in the True Blue Neighbors Youth Scholars Program, Tulsa Undergraduate Research Challenge, and Trauma Research Assessment Prevention & Treatment Center. “My experience at TU has shaped my personal and professional aspirations tremendously, providing me with the opportunities, skills, and insights to pursue a meaningful career in the non-profit space. Through classes, extracurriculars, and hands-on learning, I have developed a deep passion for advocating for interventions and policies that serve youth and families from marginalized communities. I am confident that the knowledge and experiences I have gained at TU will enable me to uplift and empower others beyond graduation."
Jasmin Resendiz is a biology major on the pre-medical track from Tulsa, Oklahoma. She is a leader in the Student Government Association, the Latin American Student Association, and MEDx. She also received an NIH supplemental grant for biomedical research. “In addition to my career goals, I am also passionate about helping other first-generation students like me with financial aid and college applications. I believe that it is important to spark this interest and present the achievability of a university education at a young age. Through my leadership roles at TU, I have made connections that allow me to share my experiences with other young students who are in a position similar to mine. I am incredibly grateful for the people I have met and the experiences I have had at TU, that have overall made me a better person.
Steven Stagg, a biochemistry major on the pre-medicine track, is from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He tutors chemistry and participates in research groups at The University of Tulsa. He is also the president of the Future Alumni Council and a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity and American Chemical Society. Steven volunteers with Global Health Brigades and the Center for Individuals with Physical Challenges. “At TU, I have learned so much from faculty, alumni, staff, and peers that will guide me as a person and professional. Already, I am using my TU experience to work towards becoming a physician. By taking part in TU’s commitment to academic excellence, student-faculty relations, and the student experience, I have become a competitive applicant to the nation's top medical schools so that I can achieve my goal of serving the Tulsa community as an effective physician.”