2026 Hardin, Clark Scholars Named at Honors Recognition Banquet

The Hardin and Clark Scholars, the top academic honors at Midwestern State University, and other outstanding students were named during the annual Honors Recognition Banquet April 24 in D.L. Ligon Coliseum. 

Ngoc Khanh Su was named Hardin Scholar. Su is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in chemistry with a minor in biology. The Hardin Scholar is the university’s highest award for academic excellence and was established in 1962 by the Hardin Foundation. It is presented each spring to a student during his or her senior year, and a $3,000 scholarship award is given with the honor. 

Su has maintained a perfect 4.0 GPA and has been named to the President’s Honor Roll for four consecutive semesters. She is described as demonstrating exceptional academic ability, placing among the top 5% of students in the course. Su is a member of Gamma Sigma Epsilon and was inducted into the Xi Delta Chapter last year. She also received outstanding achievement awards in general and organic chemistry. 

Volunteer opportunities in the local community include organizing and distributing Christmas gifts to underprivileged children. Through the Welch Research Program, Su provides environmental stewardship by monitoring local wildlife for antibiotic-resistant bacteria to identify public health risks.  

Su’s career goals include earning a Doctor of Pharmacy to bridge the gap between traditional medicine and modern pharmacology. She aims to leverage her research in natural compounds to develop more effective, accessible pharmaceutical treatments. 

Finalists for the Hardin Scholar were Kandice Rene Adams, Damaya Quinnae Phillips, Victoria Ruhl, Caleb Rutledge, and Phung Thai. 

Alessia Dolce, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in exercise physiology, was named Clark Scholar. The Clark award was established in 1976 to honor E.B. Clark, a former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the MSU Foundation, and carries a $1,500 scholarship award. It is presented each spring to a student in their junior year. 

Dolce is a member of the MSU Texas women’s tennis team and an MSU Texas sports event volunteer. As a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee she participates in meetings and initiatives centered on student athletes and serves as a HOST team member. Dolce has been named to the President’s Honor Roll, Provost Honor Roll, and the Lone Star Conference Commissioner’s Honor Roll. Her volunteer activities include the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life campaign, Meals on Wheels, and the Hotter’N Hell Hundred. 

As an international student-athlete, Dolce’s aspiration consists of working with elite athletes with holistic support and sport performance to assist them in reaching their full potential.  

Finalists for the Clark Scholar were Javaughn Joshua Bullard, John Eli Carter, Courtney Dawn Emmert, Andrew Thomas, and Isabella Villanueva. 

Leadership Awards 

Leadership awards were presented to Outstanding Students of the Year Paige Cartwright and Rykir Evans, Outstanding Graduate Students Sana Syed Mahmood Hussain and Seema Shah, Outstanding Seniors Madisyn Butler and Tucker Smith, Outstanding Juniors Shay Hayden and Tanner Sorenson, Outstanding Sophomores Julliette Saltos Molina and Chase Williams, and Outstanding Freshmen Harley Henderson and Alexis Taylor.  

The Viola Grady Leadership Award was presented to Kianna Joseph; the James L. Stewart Service Award was presented to Collegiate Farm Bureau; the Howard Farrell Community Excellence Award was presented to Giulia Toffoli; and the Fraternity and Sorority Life Award was presented to Keaira Fillingim. The Alumni Association Award was presented to Andrea Millan.