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Photos: 32nd Annual Sammys Awards

April 9, 2026

Photos: 32nd Annual Sammys Awards

Sam Houston State University's prestigious annual awards night, The Sammys, brought together some of the best and brightest Bearkat students, faculty and staff for a night of celebration. 

Awards are given to individuals, colleges and organizations; each honoree was nominated for their outstanding service to the university community. The breakdown of awards and the criteria for recipients is as follows.

Eight individual college awards recognize outstanding students who were nominated by faculty, then selected by the dean of their college. Students must be of junior, senior or graduate level standing and have a minimum 3.00 GPA to be nominated.

Bearkat students, faculty and staff also have nineteen individual and organizational awards they can receive, which require nominations from members of the university community. For the awards that honor individuals, students must have a minimum of a 2.5 GPA.

Entities that operate outside of the current individual and organizational categories can receive the Sam Houston Cane Award. These groups may be university-funded entities, university departments, or other on-campus initiatives that contribute back to the university in the areas of spirit, tradition and service.

Lastly, there are four Sammy Awards available, which also require nominations from the university community at large. Two of these prestigious awards are presented to graduating students, and two are awarded to faculty or staff members. All who are awarded a Sammy Award have made outstanding contributions to their communities and served the university. Student nominees must be of senior or graduate level and have a minimum 2.5 GPA.

View photos from one of the university's biggest events below, followed by the full list of award recipients.

32nd Annual Sammys Awards

2026 Sammy Awards Winners 

Award Name
Outstanding First Year Student Leader Marisol Orlina
Outstanding Sophomore Student Leader Madison Duncan
Outstanding Junior Student Leader Morgan Richardson
Outstanding Non-Traditional Student Leader Minji Kim
Outstanding Graduate Student Leader Katelyn Seymour
Outstanding Doctoral Student Leader Samantha Lane
The Creager Memorial Award Marcus Robinson
The McDermett Memorial Award Alexis Argueta
The Sammy Award (Faculty/Staff) Megan Ellisor
The Sammy Award (Faculty/Staff) Austin Dixon
The Sammy Award (Student) Manuel Castillo
The Sammy Award (Student) Makenna McDaniel
Outstanding Academic Organization Lambda Alpha Epsilon
Outstanding Advocacy Organization Kats in Support of Shelters
Outstanding Affinity & Community Organization International Student Organization
Outstanding Recreational Organization Equestrian Team
Outstanding Religious and Spirituality Organization Wesley Campus Ministry
Outstanding Social Sorority Alpha Chi Omega
Outstanding Social Fraternity Phi Gamma Delta
Outstanding Special Interest Organization Rotaract Club
Outstanding COM Student Organization Pediatric Academic Learning Society
Outstanding Student Organization Advisor Talrah Christie
The Measure of a Life is its Service Award Lambda Alpha Epsilon
Cane Award Bearkat Camp
Excellence in Service: College of Arts & Media Grace Atchison
Excellence in Service: College of Business Administration Daniel DeMatos
Excellence in Service: College of Criminal Justice Munachi Mogekwu
Excellence in Service: College of Education Marcus Robinson
Excellence in Service: College of Health Sciences Rachel Barker
Excellence in Service: College of Humanities & Social Sciences Gianna-Paula Wolf
Excellence in Service: College of Science & Engineering Technology Shandelyn Poulsen
Excellence in Service: College of Osteopathic Medicine Danyal Tahseen

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