Close

Quest for the Best

 

The application for the 2024 Quest for the Best is now closed. Check back Spring 2025 for the next application cycle.

Both the Student Application and the Faculty/Staff Recommendation Form were due by Monday, February 19, 2024 at 4 p.m.

The measure of a university is more than the sum of its buildings, the size of its enrollment, its array of degrees, its number of graduates, or its cumulative grade point average. It is instead the qualities of the people which comprise its community: students, faculty, and staff. The educational mission is more than certification of degrees; it is instead a series of quests. It is a quest for knowledge about our present world, its past, and its possible future. It is an internal quest, to discover and develop the potential within each person. It is a quest to serve and improve the community outside the university and to further human understanding and the qualities of leadership.

The “Quest for the Best” awards seek to recognize outstanding student leaders who have typified and promoted the mission of the university. This Vice Presidential Student Service award is given each April to the “best of the best” at SDSU – those students who excel academically and through community and campus involvement. This award recognizes individual excellence in academics, campus involvement, and community service.

The “Quest for the Best” awards are presented at a gala banquet in April. The ceremony is attended by winning students two special guests of each winner, and faculty honorees.

Applicants are evaluated in four areas:

  1. Academic excellence, including grade point average (a minimum overall GPA of 3.0 is required), individual research, participation in professional and academic societies, involvement in departmental activities, etc.;
  2. Student involvement and commitment, including student organizations, student government and college councils, The Daily Aztec, housing, fraternity/sorority life, athletics, honor societies, etc.;
  3. Community service outside the SDSU campus, including volunteer work with medical, social service, theatrical, artistic, cultural, political entities, etc.;
  4. Leadership qualities and development, including the degree of involvement and initiative within activities, the furtherance of intercultural understanding, and evidence of the development of positive, ethical decision-making.

Nominations are open to regularly enrolled SDSU students who have a minimum overall GPA of 3.0, have completed at least one year at SDSU and at least 75 units of college work. Applications of students on probation of any kind will not be reviewed.

Questions? Email us at [email protected].

 

2024 Winners

questaustin

Austin Barber

Senior, Business Administration and Political Science; minor, Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Leadership

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Janice Dils, Associated Students Government Affairs Assistant Director

 

questmaya

Maya Elden

Senior, Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences; minor, Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Maureen Paolini, Department of Biology professor

 

questderrick

Derrick Herrera

Senior, Political Science and American Indian Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Benjamin Gonzalez O’Brien, Political Science professor 

 

questdennise

Dennise

Juarez Aguilar

Senior, Public Administration with a minor in Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Valerie Stahl, School of Public Affairs assistant professor of city planning 

 

questleanne

Leanne Locano

Senior, Public Health; Minor, Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Stacey Sinclair, The Weber Honors College director

 

questcesar

Cesar Lopez

Senior, Business Management with a Specialization in Entrepreneurship; Minor. Leadership

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Chelsea Lombrozo, Glazer Center for Leadership & Service assistant director

 

questclara

Clara Smith

Senior, Political Science; Double minor Sustainability and Spanish; Certificate. Public Law

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Claudia Woodard, College of Arts and Letters Spanish lecturer 

 

questbrandon

Brandon Wells

Senior, Mechanical Engineering

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Theresa Garcia; College of Engineering assistant dean for student affairs

 

questingrid

Ingrid Yu

Junior, Psychology; Minor, Spanish

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Koko Nishi, Counseling & Psychological Services therapist

 

 

 

 

Past Winners 

The 2023 honorees:

questmikayla

Mikayla Acosta

Senior, Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Giang Pham, CHHS Associate Dean for Research

 

questwendy

Wendy Antunez Verbyla

Senior, Child and Family Development; minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dan Bacon, Lecturer in Child and Family Development

 

questmichelle

Michelle Hoo

Senior, Biology, with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Elizabeth Waters, Coordinator, Evolutionary Biology Doctoral Program, Department of Biology

 

questjazmyn

Jazmyn Horton

Graduate student, Masters of Social Work, SDSU Imperial Valley

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Henry Villegas, SDSU Imperial Valley

 

questnatalie

Natalie King-Shaw

Senior, double majoring in Psychology and Speech Language and Hearing Sciences; minor in Leadership

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Sonja Pruitt-Lord, CHHS Associate Dean for Academic Affairs

 

questdanan

Danan Pacheco

Senior, Communications; double minor in Weber Honors Interdisciplinary and Creative Writing

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Kurt Kroeber, lecturer, Rhetoric and Writing Studies

 

questmichael

Michael Rumfola

Senior, Business Marketing and Sustainability

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Robyn Adams, Associate Director, New Student and Parent Programs

 

questjoy

Joy Moore

Senior, Interdisciplinary Studies: Journalism, Psychology and Africana Studies; minor in Counseling and Social Change

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Idara Essien-Wood, Assistant Professor, Child and Family Development

 

questsandy

Sandy Mekany

Senior, Political Science; minor in Sociology and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Christina Brown, executive director of Associated Students

 

 

 

The 2022 honorees:

questamaya

Amaya Childes

Senior, Sociology, minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree - Dr. Stacey Sinclair

 

questcarlos

Carlos Fitch

Senior, double majoring in History & Spanish

Faculty/Staff Honoree - Dr. Henry Villegas

 

questryan

Ryan Hardmeyer

Senior, double marjoring in Political Science and Public Administration with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree - Tishna Asim

 

questamari

Amari Jackson

Junior, Psychology

Faculty/Staff Honoree - Ahliyah Chambers

 

questmaryana

Maryana Khames

Senior, International Security and Conflict Resolutions

Faculty/Staff Honoree - Christina Brown

 

questgrace

Grace Markel

Senior, Business Marketing with minors in Interdisciplinary Studies and Sustainability 

Faculty/Staff Honoree - Dr. Erlinde Cornelis

 

questjenny

Jenny O'Connor

Senior, Psychology with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree - Maureen Paolini

 

questlexo

Alexia (Lex-O) Oduro

Senior, Speech, Language, & Hearing Sciences 

Faculty/Staff Honoree - Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord

 

questcrissy

Crissy Ramirez

Senior, Communication with a minor in Counseling and Social Change

Faculty/Staff Honoree - Chelsea Lombrozo

 

questdiva

Diva Zeckua

Senior, Biology, minors in Leadership & Italian Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree - Dr. Emilio Ulloa

 

 

 

The 2021 honorees:

photo: quest for the best winner Madi Balagtas

Madi Balagtas

Senior, Cellular & Molecular Biology with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Ricardo Zayas



 
photo of quest winner Dylan Corliss

Dylan Corliss

Senior, Philosophy with double minors in Computer Science and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Stacey Sinclair



 
photo: quest for the best winner Margot Ermer

Margot Ermer

Junior, Communications with a double minor in Women’s Studies and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Brandi Tonne



 
photo:quest for the best winner Ashley Jackson

Ashley Jackson

Senior, Nursing with a double minor in Leadership and Child Development

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Gerilyn Herold



 
Photo: quest winner Maxwell Johnson

Maxwell Johnson

Senior, double majoring in Political Science and Communications with a minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Brandi Tonne



 
photo: quest winner Sophie Levi

Sophie Levi

Senior, Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences with a minor in Spanish

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord



 
photo: quest winner Cassandra Libang

Cassandra Libang

Senior, Child and Family Development

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Hsing-Chen Tung



 
photo: quest winner Katrina Mogannam

Katrina Mogannam

Senior, biochemistry with double minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Leadership

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Manal Swairjo



 
photo: quest winner Rebecca Rodriguez Casillas

Rebecca Rodriguez Casillas

Junior, Food and Nutrition with a minor in Social Work

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Jamie Harguess



photo: quest winner Chrystian Smith

Chrystian Smith

Senior, double majoring in Political Science and History with a minor in Sociology

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Wesley Palau

 

The 2020 honorees:

photo: quest for the best winner Tia Kieu

Tia Abusham

(pronouns she, her, hers)

Senior, Double majoring in biology and philosophy

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Omar Baza, Student Life & Leadership



 
photo of quest winner Dustin Adkins

Dustin Adkins

(pronouns: he, him, his)

Senior, Sociology and Economics with an emphasis in Public Policy

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Andrea Dooley, Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs



 
photo: quest for the best winner Christian Holt

Christian Holt

(pronouns: he, him, his)

Senior, Kinesiology with an emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Anwar Cruter, Residential Education Office



 
photo:quest for the best winner Talia Kieu

Talia Kieu

(pronouns: she, her, hers)

Senior, Public Health, minors in Women’s Studies and LGBTQ+ Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Jerel Calzo, School of Public Health



 
Photo: quest winner Brandon Lim

Brandon Lim

(pronouns: he, him, his)

Senior, Psychology & Journalism with an emphasis in Media Studies, minor in Sociology

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Kimberly Nishi, Counseling & Psychological Services



 
photo: quest winner Julia Moluf

Julia Moluf

(pronouns: she, her, hers)

Senior, Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences, minor in Psychology of Personality

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Sonja Pruitt-Lord, College of Health and Human Services



 
photo: quest winner Gabriella Medina

Gabriella Medina

(pronouns: she, her, hers)

Junior, Sustainability, minor in Political Science

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Lori Stewart, Religious Studies



 
photo: quest winner naomi Moore

Naomi Moore

(pronouns: she, her, hers)

Senior, International Security and Conflict Resolution

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Cheryl O’Brien, Political Science



 
photo: quest winner Citlayi Villasenor

Citlayi Villaseñor

(pronouns: she, her, hers)

Senior, Chemistry with an emphasis in Biochemistry, minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Cellular & Molecular Biology

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Thelma Chavez, College of Sciences



photo: quest winner Maria Voss

Maria Voss

(pronouns: she. her, hers)

Junior, International Security and Conflict Resolution with an Emphasis in Environment and Security, minor in Arabic and Islamic Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree – Dr. Cheryl O’Brien, Political Science

richardamaechi-pd8a9927-5in.jpg

Richard Amaechi (pronouns: he/him/his)

Junior, International Business with an emphasis in Japanese and Finance, minors in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies and Cultural Proficiency

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Sandra Cook, Enrollment Services

annikabilog-pd8a9837-5in.jpg

Annika Bilog (pronouns: she/her/hers)

Senior, Nursing, minor in Leadership Development

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Gerilyn Herold, School of Nursing

arturofernandez_pd8a8470-5in.jpg

Arturo Fernandez Rios (pronouns: he/him/his)

Senior, Business Administration

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Michelle Dean, Management

daniela_garcia.jpg

Daniela Garcia (pronouns: she/her/hers)

Senior, Liberal Studies with an emphasis in Mathematics

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Miguel Rahiotis, Imperial Valley Campus

190321_aubriejones_pd8a9824-5in.jpg

Aubie Jones (pronouns: she/her/hers)
Senior, Kinesiology with an emphasis in Physical Therapy, minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Gwendolyn Hill, Health Professions Advising Office

lianamarin-pd8a8538-5in.jpg

Liana Marin (pronouns: she/her/hers)

Junior, Industrial Organizational Psychology, minors in Leadership Development and Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Chelsea Winer, Student Life & Leadership

morgannewport-pd8a8562-5in.jpg

Morgan Newport (pronouns: she/her/hers)

Senior, International Security and Conflict Resolution with an emphasis in Environment and Security

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Cheryl O'Brien, Political Science

tomisin-pd8a9755-5in.jpg

Tomi Osinfolarin (pronouns: he/him/his)

Senior, Kinesiology with an emphasis in Pre-Physical Therapy, minor in Cultural Proficiency

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Estralita Martin, College of Sciences

latrel powell photo

Latrel Powell (pronouns: he/him/his)

Senior, Political Science and Africana Studies, minor in Honors Interdisciplinary Studies

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Martha Encisco, Weber Honors College

renata valente photo

Renata Valente (pronouns: she/her/hers)

Senior, Economics with a specialization in Quantitative Analysis, minors in Sociology and Leadership Development

Faculty/Staff Honoree: Dr. Lisa Gates, College of Education