SLU Honors 'Spirit of the Billiken' Winners
03/06/2018
This year's class of Spirit of the Billiken honorees was recognized at a special awards ceremony on Saturday, March 3, in the Sinquefield State Room in DuBourg Hall. Honorees gave speeches and thanked their faculty and staff mentors in front of their families, friends and University leaders.
In honor of the 1818 founding of Saint Louis University, the Office of Alumni Engagement established the Spirit of the Billiken Award that recognizes 18 senior students who are committed to being proud and dedicated alumni of Saint Louis University. The students represent what it means to be a Billiken, and excel in the following areas: academics, leadership, community service, commitment to Saint Louis University and dedication to "living the mission" after graduation.
The Office of Alumni Engagement recognized the following students as the Spirit of the Billiken Class of 2018:
- Katie Anderson, Doisy College of Health Sciences
- Emma Bottin, Doisy College of Health Sciences
- Blake Braun, College of Arts and Sciences
- Smrithi Chidambaram, College of Arts and Sciences
- Jay Hardin, College for Public Health and Social Justice
- Victoria Harris, Doisy College of Health Sciences
- Will Higgins, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
- Layla Husen, College of Arts and Sciences
- Katrina Ludwig, School of Education
- Carly Masinelli, Doisy College of Health Sciences
- Arielle Melliza, College for Public Health and Social Justice
- Molly Meyer, Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology
- Alex Mueller, Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
- Paula Otero Santos, Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business*
- Soumya Ramireddy, College for Public Health and Social Justice
- Daniel Sprehe, College of Arts and Sciences
- Aaron Stonecipher, College for Public Health and Social Justice
- Tram (Alex) Tran, Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business
Working with officials from the SLU Madrid campus, the Office of Alumni Engagement will also recognize honoree Otero Santos and her mentor, Marta Maruri del Valle-Iturriaga.
The ceremony was hosted by the Billikens of the Last Decade (BOLD) Advisory Board. Brinda Gupta (CPHSJ '16) opened the evening with welcoming remarks and Justin Daffron, S.J., special assistant to the president, delivered the invocation.