Wheaton News

Nominated by their campus supervisors, eight outstanding Wheaton student employees received awards for their service and contributions to the operation of administrative offices across the campus.

“Student Employee Recognition Week is a time when we celebrate and recognize the important work done by student employees across the campus,” said Jenn Mennino, assistant director of Financial Aid/Student Employment. “It is rewarding to recognize and honor a student employee for the hard work and dedication they have shown in their role.”

This year, student employees were evaluated in five separate areas of impact.

Two students, Mairi Travis ’26 of Kaneohe, Hawaii, and JP Pinkrah ’27 of North Providence, R.I., received the Student Employee of the Year Award.

Travis is an assistant to Dayna Vachon Wheeler, the intake, training and prevention coordinator in Title IX and Legal Affairs. “The amount of effort, thought, and care that she puts into this role has made everyone in this office feel that she will be very hard to replace when she graduates,” said Vachon Wheeler. “Mairi always shows up when she says she is going to, researches ideas for prevention efforts and fun programming, and has a reputation around Wheaton of being someone that people can depend on and trust.”

Pinkrah, student manager of the men’s basketball team, was honored by Head Coach Alex DuBrow ’20, who wrote in his nomination, “Beyond the logistical responsibilities, JP has become an important part of our program’s culture. He brings a positive attitude every day, supports our student-athletes, and represents the program with professionalism and pride. He truly embodies what it means to be a Wheaton Lyon.”

The Leadership Award was presented to Loic Ebelle ’27 of

Hamburg, N.J., program coordinator of the Entrepreneurship & Coworking Space. “Loic’s ability to manage complex projects, coordinate with faculty and administrators, and lead peers with clarity and confidence has had a direct, measurable impact on the success of the Entrepreneurship program,” said Ellie Paris-Miranda, assistant professor of entrepreneurship. “Whether organizing a major campus‑wide summit, building operational systems from scratch, or representing the program in meetings with senior leadership, he brings reliability, strategic thinking, and genuine passion. His work has strengthened the Entrepreneurship program and set it up for long‑term success.”

Emma Smith ’26 of Leominster, Mass., earned the Community Service Award as a philanthropy and engagement intern in Advancement’s Annual Giving office. “Emma has a natural ability to make people feel valued and connected,” said Allison Brown, assistant director of the Wheaton Fund. “Through her efforts, she helps foster a sense of belonging not only among donors and alumni, but within our team as well. Her kindness, dedication and genuine passion for this work make a lasting impression.”

The Social Impact and Belonging Award was presented to Daniela Peña ’26 of Bogota, Colombia, a food pantry intern in the Office of Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement. “Daniela brings consistent reliability and a strong work ethic to every aspect of her role, showing up with focus and follow-through, whether she is restocking shelves or spreading the word about pantry services, said Luis Paredes, associate vice president for institutional equity and belonging. “Her quiet dedication to this work reflects a deep sense of community responsibility and makes a meaningful difference for the students who depend on the food pantry each week.”

Two students, Olivia Solomon ’26 of Sandwich, Mass., and Bailey Wright ’26, of Roslindale, Mass., earned the Technology and Innovation Award. Both students serve as technicians in IT Support Services and were nominated by Carol Bennett.

“Olivia is highly organized, enthusiastic and always willing to assist with additional calls or projects as needed,” said Bennett. “Her ability to follow through and consistently achieve results, combined with her experience and professionalism, makes her a dependable and impactful member of the team.”

Wright was characterized as “a calm and stabilizing presence for users who may be frustrated or in urgent need of assistance, helping to create a supportive environment,” according to Bennett. “In addition to troubleshooting issues and managing ticket escalation, Bailey demonstrates strong judgment in prioritizing tasks and responding to user needs. Their composure, reliability, and commitment to service make them an essential member of the IT Support Services team.”

Finally, the Critical Thinking Award was presented to Dante Marciano ’26 of Bristol, Conn., lead resident advisor in Residential Life. “Dante is a doer and a go-getter and is an extremely reliable and dependable human both within and outside of his LRA role,” said Residential Life Coordinator Mikayla Barnes. “Dante is a natural-born leader that others can’t help but admire and learn from. He always strives for greatness and encourages others to do the same.”

Receiving an honorable mention for the Student Employee Awards were Elle Bernal ’27, Abbie Cramer ’26, Karma Dorji ’27, Alice Ho ’27, George Lane ’26, Evan Mello ’26, Emily Newman ’28, Avery Rose ’26 and Katelyn Spader ’27.