Academic Awards
An Otis education is widely known for its academic rigor and educational excellence. The College recognizes the highest level of achievement with the Valedictory Award, Academic Excellence Awards, Distinction in Studio Awards, and Honors.
Types of Awards:
- Valedictorian: An honor given to one of the Academic Excellenec Award recipients.
- Academic Excellence Award: An honor given to UG and GRD students (UGs eligible only if they are on the Honor's list).
- Honors: An honor given to graduating seniors (UG only) who achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher as of Spring semester.
- Dean's List: An honor given to all who achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher in a particular semester.
Valedictorian
2025 Valedictory Award
Digital Media - Animation major Lauren Cuenca has been named Valedictorian of the Class of 2025. This award is bestowed annually on the member of the senior class whose work represents the pinnacle of academic excellence. This graduate receives a special medallion and presents an address to be included in this year's Commencement recognition. Lauren was chosen for their continuously stellar academic performance throughout her Otis College career and the exceptional quality of their studio work.
Born and raised in Los Angeles, her path to Otis College was sparked by a visit to National Portfolio Day, hosted on campus—a moment that offered not only a tangible connection to the College but also to the city she calls home. Drawn by proximity to family and the promise of independence, Lauren found the structure and philosophy of Otis’ Foundation year to be a perfect match, especially while navigating early interests in both illustration and storyboarding. As a storyboard artist, she’s honed her gesture work and cinematic instincts through rigorous life drawing, pushing the limits of movement and camera to bring scenes to life. Her work is deeply influenced by everyday encounters—from working retail to studying among peers—infused with the desire to make stories feel real, relatable, and resonant. In the words of Animation Chair Ron Bernard, “Lauren Cuenca is a remarkable student and interdisciplinary storyteller whose creative voice is matched by her technical fluency and deep sense of purpose.”
A talented and devoted artist that brings out the best in their classmates, instructors, the Digital Media department, and larger Otis communities, Lauren is truly an asset to Otis College
Awards
2025 Academic Excellence Awards
The Academic Excellence Award is the highest honor given to graduating students in a major program. Selections are made by program leaders and faculty, and affirmed by the College’s academic awards committee. Criteria include a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher (for undergraduates), quality of work, personal character, and contributions to Otis and the larger community. These students wear a special purple cord at the Commencement ceremony.
Recipients
Undergraduate
- Kayla Krawiec: Toy Design
- Ashley Trail: Illustration
- Eulmin Park: Graphic Design
- Lauren Cuenca: Digital Media - Animation
- Leon Figueiredo: Digital Media - Game and Entertainment
- Minsuk Kang: Digital Media - Motion Design
- Agustin Ramirez: Environmental Design
- Erin Bond: Fashion Design
- Bona Nguyen: Product Design
- Cassidy Everage: Fine Arts - Painting
- Jacob Barri: Fine Arts - Photography
- Santoni Kina: Fine Arts - Sculpture New Genres
Graduate
- Darah Haimovitz: MFA Graphic Design
- Jessica Wilcox: MFA Fine Arts
Digital Media - Animation
- Brynn Parkinson - Senior
Digital Media - Game and Entertainment
- Jimmy Cao - Senior
Digital Media - Motion Design
- Jungje Park - Senior
Environmental Design
- Agustin Ramirez - Senior
Fashion Design
- Shota Higuchi - Senior
BFA Fine Arts - painting
- Pena Espinoza Pena - Senior
BFA Fine Arts - photography
- Bennett Clark Brizes - Senior
BFA Fine Arts - sculpture new genre
- Danica Ann Ribi - Senior
Graphic Design
- Ariana Choi - Senior
Illustration
- Yajuan Zhou - Senior
LAS - Distinction in Capstone
- Stephanie Atherton
Product Design
- Aidan Quigley - Senior
Toy Design
- Emily Kan - Senior
MFA Fine Arts
- Sandy Kupfer - 2nd Year
MFA Graphic Design
- Poppy Pu - 2nd Year
Dean's List
Honors List
An honor given to graduating seniors (Undergraduate only) who achieve a 3.5 GPA or higher as of Spring semester.
Dean's List
Students whose cumulative grade point average is 3.5 or higher earn a place on the Dean's List.
Student Leadership Awards
Otis College of Art and Design recognizes outstanding student leaders, student groups, and student organizations every year through Student Leadership Awards. These awards aim to honor student contributions which have enhanced our Otis College Campus Community. The following students were nominated for Student Leadership Awards by their peers, faculty, supervisors, or by student affairs professionals that they work with. The Student Leadership Committee has reviewed all nominations and are excited to announce the award winners for the 2023-24 Academic Year.
Outstanding Contribution to the College Award
The Outstanding Contribution to the College Award honors a graduating student who has made a profound and lasting impact through exceptional service, leadership, and dedication to the campus and beyond. This award recognizes individuals who have gone above and beyond to enrich the Otis community—whether by spearheading initiatives, leading meaningful projects, volunteering, or engaging in service efforts that create positive change. Through their commitment and actions, the recipient of this award embodies the spirit of leadership, community engagement, and a deep passion for making a difference.
Jana Kelly, Toy Design ‘25
Nomination: “Throughout all her years at Otis, she has been supporting and doing the best she can for the Otis Kpop Club. She has always made the festival bigger and better, and now the festival is no doubt one of the events Otis is known for. I hope Otis can recognize this and all the hard work she has put in to create such an amazing event. Through the festival, she has managed to raise a lot of funds for many different charities and so shows community engagement beyond the campus.”
Spirited Owl Award
Danny Simoniello, Animation ‘25
The Spirited Owl Award honors a graduating student who embodies the heart and soul of the Otis community. Recognized by peers and faculty, this student radiates positivity, kindness, passion, and enthusiasm, uplifting those around them. Through their active engagement, leadership, and unwavering Otis spirit, they have left a meaningful mark on campus, inspiring others and exemplifying what it means to be an Otis Owl.
Nomination: “Danny is a bright, friendly student who is always willing to share a joke and a laugh. Through their time at Otis, Danny has remained upbeat and committed to their education. Because of their kindness to all students, exceptional work in class, and strong character, Danny is a more than qualified candidate for the Spirited Owl Award.”
Student Leader of the Year
The Student Leader of the Year Award recognizes an exceptional student who has demonstrated outstanding dedication, initiative, and service in supporting and engaging the Otis College student body. This individual has shown a commitment to excellence, fostering a sense of community with enthusiasm, flexibility, and inclusivity.
More than just a leader, this student fully embodies the mission of the Otis College Student Leadership Program—enriching students’ experiences on campus by providing them with a network of support and guidance, developing interactive programming, and fostering a friendly and diverse community that is built on respect.
Through their leadership, they have left a lasting, positive influence on the Otis community, inspiring others to lead with purpose and passion.
Bella Peng, Product Design ‘27
Nomination: “I am nominating Bella in honor of her accomplishments fostering community as Founder and President of the Student Organization, Otis Walking League (OWL). Students are supported by OWL as a means to spend time outside and improve their mental and physical health. She designs instagram posts after every trip incorporating photos that club members take. She is adamant about consistent schedules and having all students fill out liability forms for every trip. OWL participated in the "No Sit November" event in collaboration with Student Health and Wellness, tabling in The Commons. Currently, she is in communication with the Director of the Lovejoy Foundation with plans to have students volunteer to walk dogs. After the initial training, students will be able to volunteer both in or outside of the club. Within Otis Walking League, she champions flexibility and inclusiveness. She is a model representation of the Student Leadership Mission. By creating and leading Otis Walking League, she enriches student life by giving students the opportunity to exercise and engage in Los Angeles culture, all with the safety of our supportive community.”
Adesuwa Ikechiuku, Illustration ‘26
Nomination: “During her three years [as a] Resident Assistant, she has committed herself to supporting residents, showing up for her fellow student leaders, and hosting phenomenal (crowd loving) programs with grace and kindness. During the Fall semester, she hosted a 'Design Your Own Tote Bag' that has become an annual tradition and one of the first opportunities for residential students to bond and connect. She also committed herself to supporting the Owl Parliament student group and the Weekly Hoot Newsletter the group creates. She has dedicated time to designing, collecting, and updating the pages for the newsletter each week, consistently. The care and guidance she provides to the residents' she serves has encouraged a handful of them to apply for (and receive positions to) 2025-26 Student Leader positions. The kindness and respect she extends to her fellow student leaders makes her a vital part of the student leader community and inspires her colleagues to be authentically themselves. Adesuwa Ikechiuku embodies the mission of Otis.”
Community Impact Award
The Community Impact Award honors and recognizes both MFA and BFA students who are engaged in the Otis community and who displays an exceptional commitment to fostering an environment where all perspectives and people are understood, valued, respected, and appreciated, and inclusion is practiced. Moreover, this award celebrates exemplary engagement and leadership in advancing a strong sense of belonging within the Otis community and beyond.
The Community Impact Award is Otis College’s highest recognition for undergraduate and graduate student achievement related to demonstrating what it means to actively live and practice the mission of the College.
Zoe Asis, Animation ‘27
Nomination: “Zoe worked to actively bring more community partners in Animation to Otis, served in a leadership capacity for the inaugural Animation Festival this year, and always advocated for her peers. Zoe embodies the school spirit and is ready with a helping hand to anyone who needs it.”
Student Employee of the Year
Kevin Lee, Animation ‘26
The Student Employee of the Year Award recognizes the outstanding contributions and achievements of students who work on campus while attending the Otis College of Art and Design. This individual rates highly in Career Competencies such as Career & Self Development, Communication, Critical Thinking, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership, Professionalism, Teamwork, and Technology.
Student Organization of the Year
The Otis College Student Organization of the Year Award recognizes a registered student organization that has exemplified excellence in innovation, collaboration, inclusivity, and community building. This organization has made a lasting and positive impact on the Otis College community through its leadership, initiatives, and dedication to fostering a vibrant and supportive campus environment. Distinguished by its passionate leaders, this organization is dedicated to bringing the community together, creating meaningful opportunities for students to learn, grow, and forge connections. Through its exemplary efforts, it serves as a role model for other student organizations, setting a high standard for engagement, impact, and excellence on campus.
Otis Kpop Club
Nomination: “This Club donated to Hate is a Virus, Changing Tides, and the PCRF through their annual Festival which raised over $3000 in the past couple of years. They also organize multiple fun events throughout the year like bracelet decorating, photo decorating, and dance workshops. My favorite event is the bracelet decorating event because it lets me chat with my classmates and get to know people from other majors. It's also fun to craft with friends and people with similar interests. This Club builds community not only at Otis College but also in the LA community.”
Recognizing Student Leaders
Student Affairs would also like to thank all the student leaders in the following student groups for their incredible contributions to our campus community. Their hard work and dedication has made an amazing impact and we are so lucky that we had the opportunity to work with them!
Campus Activities Board
- Rae Bruckner
- Michelle Yoo
- Mina Do
- Han Le
- Sofia Gomez
- Ayden Cammarn
- Mia Lawson
Resident Assistants
- Savannah Rosas
- Em Calvo
- Matthew Vidal
- Kevin Lee
- Adesuwa Ikechiuku
- Janessa Gauthier
- Janice Han
- Hannah Whitt
Black Creatives Peer Mentor
- Maya Peats
Housing Assistants
- Patience Thao
- Mollymauk Kovel
- Rin Sakaske
- Tehani Allen
Student Union
- Brynna Ventura
- Kiriana Lanuza
- Annie Holley
- Anavictoria Pacho
- Vic Hsu
Team International Student Outreach
- Ada Lee
- Sofia Moreira
Orientation Leader
- Elizabeth Nguyen
- Emily Lavell
- Clara Bae
- Ella LeSeur
- Rin Sakaske