The Department of Media, Culture, and Communication is pleased to announce the recipients of its departmental awards — recognizing students from the Class of 2026 for their exceptional academic work and service across degree programs.
Academic Achievement Award
Jeremy Burmeister, MA
Kira Chan, MA
Xiyu (Katherine) Guan, MA
Brielle Karolak, BS
Zhiyi Liu, MA
Yan Liu, MA
Eva Zhong, BS
Distinguished MA Thesis Award
Jess Mills, MA
Alexander Whelan, MA
Distinction in the Professional Writing Seminar
Samantha Kelleher, MA
Distinction in the Media Projects Seminar
Arianna Knott, MA
Outstanding Service to the Department
Anyka Chakravarty, BS
Mashonica Evans, MA
Armaan Gupta, BS
Jhenesis Hines, BS
Li-Ying (Lili) Hung, MA
Vanessa Li, BS
Ella Londoño, BS
Ethan McNamara, MA
Hyunje (Brian) Park, MA
Yutong Shi, MA
Outstanding Service to the MCC MediaLab
Sophia Wang, BS
Paul LaLiberte, BS
Outstanding Service to CommClub
Ashley Chen, BS
Elaine Ho, BS
Ashanti Jowers, BS
Leora Kayihura, BS
Ella Londoño, BS
Trisha Luthria, BS
Lena Moon, BS
Naveed Shakoor, BS
Julie Tran, BS
Krystal Wu, BS
Global Media Scholar Recognition Award
Angela Bai, BS
Kendyl Brower, BS
Kelsen Liu, BS
Cimran Naik, BS
Ava Santiesteban, BS
Sarah Zhang, BS
Grace Zhang, BS
Senior Honors Recognition
Afnan Abbassi, BS
Amina Abdiaziz, BS
Anyka Chakravarty, BS
Adelle Drake, BS
Maeve Frambes, BS
Armaan Gupta, BS
Leora Kayihura, BS
Paul LaLiberte, BS
Angelina Li, BS
Antonella Rodio, BS
Benjamin Sun, BS
Amira Wachelka, BS
Betty Zhang, BS
Undergraduate and graduate students from the MCC Class of 2026 looks back on their time in the NYU Media, Culture, and Communication program.
We also congratulate the following MCC students who received Steinhardt awards and other national recognition.
Samuel Eshborn Service Award
Hyunje (Brian) Park, MA
Western Scholarship
Ariana Diaz, BS
Phi Beta Kappa
Jingchun Huang, BS
Jia Cen (Vanessa) Li, BS
The Arch Award
Anyka Chakravarty, BS
NYU Commencement Student Speaker
Armaan Gupta, BS
Steinhardt Student Speaker
Antonella Rodio, BS
Steinhardt Alternate Student Speaker
Maggie Li, BS
Steinhardt Banner Bearer
Armaan Gupta, BS
Fulbright U.S. Student Award
Elaine Ho, BS
Ida Bodman Service Award
Jhensis Hines, BS