At the close of each academic year, Claremont McKenna College recognizes exceptional seniors who have made a significant impact during their time at CMC. As scholars and leaders, each of these graduating students served as exemplars of the CMC community.
Ava Kopp and Yahya Yousef earned the Class of 2025’s highest awards—the H.N. and Francis C. Berger Prizes for Outstanding Seniors. Awarded each year to two outstanding seniors in the graduating class, the prizes were established by Fran and Nor Berger, with criteria that include: academic achievement, leadership, contributions to the College and the student body, and personal integrity.
In addition, Kopp, who served as the 2024 ASCMC student body president, won the William H. Alamshah Award for Student Leadership. Described as weaving “threads of mentorship, connection, and leadership through everything she’s done at CMC,” Kopp was commended for her kindness, integrity and “commitment to community building.” She was also recognized for accomplishing a number of initiatives that improved student life. Considered “an outstanding academic role model and campus icon,” Kopp majored in Cognitive Science (Gender and Sexuality Studies).
Yousef was lauded as “a man of the people, always willing to make time and help others.” An Economics major, Yousef earned “a near perfect GPA” while “wearing many hats on campus.” A nominator noted, “His reach in the CMC community goes well beyond his personal academic achievements,” while another said, “Yahya is hands down the most liked, committed, caring, and well-rounded student at CMC. I can’t even begin to count the number of events he’s organized or the number of institutes he’s a part of.”
Additional 2025 Student Affairs Awards of note:
Alumni Association Citizenship Award: Chloe Kastl and Antonio Melendez – for outstanding contributions to the development of student body spirit through leadership in extracurricular activities. As an intern in the Office of Alumni and Parent Engagement, “Chloe has been an ambassador,” serving as “the Athena” and conducting “tons of one-on-one outreach to alumni and families.” Melendez contributed “in powerful ways across the CMC community,” most notably as a Robert Day Scholar, Wagener Scholar, senior tour guide, senior interviewer, and student ambassador/volunteer at numerous campus events.
Alumni Association Outstanding Female Senior Athlete Award: Dede Carranza, volleyball – a first-team All-America selection from the American Volleyball Coaches Association, SCIAC Defensive Player of the Year, and the CMS career-record holder for digs.
Alumni Association Outstanding Male Senior Athlete Award: Rafael Otero, men’s soccer – a third-team All-America selection from the United Soccer Coaches, Most Outstanding Performer of the SCIAC Tournament, and leader of the CMS men’s soccer team that earned a SCIAC Championship and an appearance in the NCAA Tournament Round of 16.
William Dickinson Athletic Award: Annie McKinley, women’s soccer – “McKinley is highly regarded for her incredible skill and contribution to the women’s soccer program, as well as her leadership contributions across the department.”
Henry Krieger Award: Ella Brissett, women’s tennis – Awarded to a graduating senior who displays athletic excellence, academic excellence, and leadership, Brissett also earned the Arthur Ashe Leadership and Sportsmanship Award for Division III Women's Tennis from the Intercollegiate Tennis Association and the 2025 ITA Ann Lebedeff Leadership Award (look for more soon on CMC.edu).
O’Keefe Award for Outstanding Residence Hall: Benson Hall, RAs Eva Pruitt and Luis Mendoza – “This year, Benson Hall has been a model of community excellence, not just academically, but socially as well.”
SCIAC Female Scholar Athlete Award: Amelia Opsahl, women’s cross country and track – “Opsahl boasts a perfect 4.0 GPA while majoring in Data Science and Foreign Languages, and also competing on the CMS Cross Country and Track and Field Teams.”
SCIAC Male Scholar Athlete Award: Rafael Otero, men’s soccer – who in addition to his numerous athletic accomplishments, was a second-team Academic All-America selection, Phi Beta Kappa Scholar, and Romero Success Coach.
Brian Walkenbach Award for Outstanding Resident Assistant: Eva Pruitt, Benson Hall – “Pruitt went above and beyond to build a strong community … and leads with empathy, compassion, and patience,” especially in challenging moments.