Kate Hevner Mueller served Indiana University from 1937 to 1969 as Dean of Women, Senior Counselor for Women, and Professor of Education. Dr. Mueller was a national pioneer for women professionals and developed the Master’s Program in College Student Personnel (Higher Education and Student Affairs) at Indiana University in the early 1950s. The Kate Hevner Mueller Senior Awards were established in 2013 to honor IU seniors who have proven leadership on campus both inside and outside of the classroom and who have improved the IU community through their presence.
This year, Indiana University selected 28 outstanding recipients for the Kate Hevner Mueller Outstanding Senior Award. In this article, we’re congratulating Zoe Bardon, Merly Barrios, Arpan Bose, Nick Bronico, Gabriella Couloubaritsis, Caroline Covey, and Ara Cowper for their ability to represent Dr. Mueller’s essential goals of the university: to promote intellect, develop personality, and inspire citizenship and leadership to all students.
Zoe Bardon
Zoe Bardon is graduating from the College of Arts and Sciences with a Bachelor of Arts in Gender Studies and minors in Political Science, Sociology, and Spanish.
Zoe is a Wells Scholar and Founders Scholar. Throughout her time at IU, she co-authored two reports on the status of nonprofit relationships in Indiana and lived in Denmark and Spain to study feminist theory and sex work policy. During her sophomore year, Zoe served as Deputy Director of Activism for the College Democrats of Indiana, where she mobilized college students to advocate for public education. The following year, she interned for US Senator Patty Murray in Washington, DC. In her final year, Zoe worked for Themester and the Kinsey-Kelley Center for Gender Equity in Business.
Acknowledgments
“I would like to thank my family for their unconditional love and support, especially through the pandemic. I would also like to thank my K-12 teachers, graduate instructors, and professors, who fostered my love of learning and challenged me academically.”
Merly Barrios
Merly Barrios is graduating from the IU School of Nursing with a Bachelor of Science in Nursing.
She is a 21st Century Scholar, a Groups Scholar, and the recipient of a Dr. Joyce Splann Krothe Nursing Scholarship. She has served as a student nurse apprentice at Parkview Health, specializing in cardiac progressive care, and as a cardiovascular technician at IU Health. She is a member of the IU Bloomington chapter of the Omega Phi Beta sorority and has served on the executive board. She has also volunteered for Groups Scholars to provide tutoring in anatomy courses.
Acknowledgments
“I’d like to express my profound gratitude to all individuals who have consistently provided support, guidance, and assistance throughout my journey as a first-generation Latina at Indiana University. While the path has been challenging, I take great pride in the opportunity to contribute to my community and offer aid to those who aspire to walk a similar path in the future.”
Arpan Bose
Arpan Bose is graduating from the Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering with a Bachelor of Science in Informatics and a minor in Sports Marketing and Management.
Arpan is an IU Global Engagement Scholar and has been on the Dean’s List for seven semesters since he began attending IU. He serves as the Lead Peer Mentor for the Luddy Living Learning Center, shoots photos for Luddy Marketing & Communications, and is a Luddy Ambassador. Within the IU Athletics Department, he is the Hoosier Hype Crew Captain for IU Basketball and Football, a Graphic Design Intern at the Mark Cuban Center for Sports Media and Technology, and a Ball Boy for IU men’s & women’s soccer. Arpan is also involved as an Adobe Student Ambassador and serves as the Co-President for the IU Adobe Creative Club.
Acknowledgments
“Thank you to my parents for their unwavering support throughout the adventures we’ve embarked on during our worldwide journey! To all my beloved friends, mentors, and co-workers in Athletics and Luddy, thank you for the many fond memories we have created together!”
Nick Bronico
Nick Bronico is graduating from the Kelley School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business in Finance and Real Estate.
Nick is a Dean’s Scholar and Founders Scholar. He founded the IU Private Equity Program, which consists of two separate programs under the Kelley School of Business: the Private Equity Workshop and Crimson Equity Partners, an entirely undergraduate-led private equity fund for traditional buyout investments. He has also served as the Co-President of the IU Real Estate Club, Co-President of the Restructuring & Distressed Investing Club, and Vice President of the IU Real Estate Private Equity Program (Sample Gates Management).
Acknowledgments
“I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have some tremendous upperclassmen and faculty mentors who have shaped my IU experience. Specifically, I would like to give a big thanks to Professors David Haeberle, Doug McCoy, and Dave Harstad for helping me grow both professionally and personally during my time in college.”
Gabriella Couloubaritsis
Gabriella Couloubaritsis is graduating from the Kelley School of Business with a Bachelor of Science in Business Degree in Entrepreneurship and Corporate Innovation with a minor in Law and Public Policy.
Gabriella is a Dean’s Scholar, Founders Scholar, Hutton Honors Balfour Scholar, and Rosemary Tanner Scholar. Gabriella served as the 114th Indiana Memorial Union Board President, increasing the number of student events through more campus partnerships, launching the IMU Art Initiative to diversify the art in the IMU, and launching the first-ever student IMU Catering menu to reduce costs by 33% and include more diverse cuisine for students. Her other experiences include mentoring for the Kelley School of Business Honors Program and serving as a research assistant at the Hamilton-Lugar Tobias Center. Gabriella has also participated as a member of the Jellison Living Learning Center, the Kelley Consulting Workshop, and as a featured artist in the Hutton Honors Art Showcase.
Acknowledgments
“IU has made me feel like the luckiest and happiest person because of the amazing people here. I would not have gotten anywhere without my amazing IU support network, including friends, classmates, mentors, professors, staff members, and administrators. Thank you to my nominators and recommenders, especially Alison Kvetko through the Kelley Honors program, Hank Walter through Union Board and the IMU, and Sarah Bauerle Danzman through my research role at Hamilton-Lugar.”
Caroline Covey
Caroline Covey is graduating from the Hamilton Lugar School of Global and International Studies with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a Bachelor of Arts in Slavic East European Languages and Cultures on the Russian Track.
Caroline is a Dean’s Scholar and Founders Scholar. She served as former President of the Phi Mu Fraternity, where she collaborated with Panhellenic and Greek presidents to improve Greek Life. Caroline has also tutored student-athletes and worked as a teacher’s assistant. Caroline has completed two theses for her honors notation. One of her theses explored strategic stability in the context of the Russia-Ukraine war and attempted to analyze nuclear theories as they have evolved from the Cold War. Her second thesis utilized her Russian skills and analyzed the impacts of nineteenth-century censorship on Aleksandr Pushkin. She has also interned for the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies and Boeing’s Defense, Space, and Security Division.
Acknowledgments
“Thank you to my parents, who have supported me through all my college endeavors and thank you to my wonderful professors who have pushed me, encouraged me, and made my time at IU worthwhile. Спасибо!”
Ara Cowper
Ara Cowper is graduating from the School of Public Health with a Bachelor of Science in Sport Marketing and Management and a minor in Coaching and Leadership.
Ara is a 21st Century, Founders, and Lauren Robel scholar, as well as a seven-time Dean’s List member, Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar. She is a varsity student-athlete on the Indiana Rowing team, where she is also an executive board member on SAAC, a Hoosier Hero mentor, and a member of Women Impacting Others (WIO). This year, she was the Rose Bowl Game Keith Jackson Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient. Ara is a social media and digital intern for IU Athletics and a social media specialist for the Indiana Pacers. She has worked with social media for the NCAA, the Big Ten Conference, and CBS Sports during her time at IU.
Acknowledgments
“To my parents, Mum and Cory; my WCHS family, Shan, McClung, Fish, Papa H, G, and Byrket; my IU support system, Shawn, J.T., Madi, Lisa, and Mattie; Lynnea, Rachel, and the rest of my Cuban Center family; and my Indiana Rowing teammates and IU Athletics family: thank you. Every day, I am amazed that I get to be surrounded by the most incredible people who love and support me, invest in me, and encourage me to chase after my dreams. There aren’t enough words for the impact you’ve had on my life, and I can only hope that everyone gets to one day experience the love and support that I have received from you.”
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