Each year, IU Indianapolis recognizes 50 graduate and professional students whose academic excellence and leadership stand out across campus. Known as the Elite 50, these students exemplify the university’s commitment to scholarship, community engagement and meaningful impact beyond the classroom.
About the ceremony
Selected through a competitive nomination process, the honorees represent a wide range of schools and disciplines across the university. From research and clinical work to community advocacy and student leadership, the Elite 50 highlight the many ways graduate and professional students contribute to our campus and Indianapolis.
The program celebrates individuals who not only excel in their academic programs, but also dedicate their time to mentoring, service and advancing their fields.
Event details
The awards ceremony will be held on Sunday, April 12 in the Hine Hall Auditorium. The ceremony commences at 1 p.m. and doors will be open at 12:30 p.m.
2026 Elite 50 recipients
10 schools are represented in this year’s awards
- Catherine (Kate) Adaniya — School of Medicine
- Martin Adjesah — School of Science
- Ernest Agorde — School of Liberal Arts
- Rafael Alamilla — School of Health & Human Sciences
- Grace Armstrong — School of Medicine
- Molly Beatty — School of Medicine
- Shivam Bhargava — School of Medicine
- Hope Campbell — School of Health & Human Sciences
- Jenny Chen — School of Medicine
- Emily Chestnut — School of Medicine
- Cristie Contreras Burrola — School of Medicine
- Christopher Crawford — School of Science
- Bethlehem Daniel — School of Medicine
- Ivana Daniels — School of Medicine
- Cameron Donovan — School of Health & Human Sciences
- Matthew Durthaler — Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Rilee Epley — School of Medicine
- Jeffery Franklin — School of Education
- Amy Gaisser — Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Edgar Garcia Cuatlatl — School of Health & Human Sciences
- Naman Gargayan — Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering
- Kelly Hartigan — School of Medicine
- Mitchell Holland — School of Medicine
- Navepreet Kaur — School of Medicine
- Racheal Kayemba — School of Nursing
- Chaman Kumar — School of Medicine
- Morgan Lain — School of Medicine
- Anastasia Luc — Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Ruby Massey — School of Medicine
- Jordan Matz — School of Medicine
- Devon McCourry — School of Medicine
- Madison Miller — School of Health & Human Sciences
- Shibani Mody — Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Nathan Pairitz — School of Medicine
- Janelle Peters — Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Mark Pike — School of Liberal Arts
- Courtney Roberts — Lilly Family School of Philanthropy
- Edmond Rogers — School of Medicine
- Madisen Russell — School of Science
- Alishah Salman — Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Eray Schulz — School of Science
- Tanner Sergesketter — School of Nursing
- Mary Slaughter — School of Medicine
- Tayler Smith — School of Medicine
- Victoria Snook — School of Medicine
- Priscilla Stone — School of Health & Human Sciences
- Guillermo Tamayo Cabeza — School of Dentistry
- Michele Trivedi — Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Stacia Tyson — Robert H. McKinney School of Law
- Ruth Zagales — School of Medicine
The Elite 50 awards are sponsored in partnership by the Division of Student Affairs, the Indiana University Graduate School Indianapolis, the Office of Academic Affairs and Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG).