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Posted on April 27, 2026 by Marketing and Communications

Marketing and Communications

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The Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine recognized members of the Class of 2026 at a special breakfast and honors ceremony on Friday, April 24, in the USA Student Center Ballroom.

View more photos from the ceremony on Flickr. 

The following awards were presented:

Dean’s Award – Corinne Gautreaux
Awarded to the graduating senior who has accumulated the highest scholastic grade-point average for the full four years of medical school.

Adele Mantiply & Dr. Gerald Galle Pediatric Endowed Scholarship – Grace Chaffin
Awarded to a graduating senior student who has accepted a position in a pediatric residency program at the University of South Alabama and intends to practice pediatrics in Mobile and/or Baldwin counties.

Ritha Baliga Memorial Medical Scholarship – Caleb Phillips
Awarded to an outstanding senior student who demonstrates a merit ranking within the top 50% of the class and is interested in pursuing a career in pediatric healthcare.

Hollis J. Wiseman Award for Excellence in Pediatrics – Caleb Phillips
Presented to the student who best exemplified Dr. Wiseman’s outstanding scholarship, compassion for patients and families, involvement in the profession and community, enthusiasm for exploration and steadfast love of family, friends and colleagues.

Award for Excellence in Teaching Clinical Skills – Kelly Blacksher
Awarded to a graduating senior student for outstanding teaching skills and student mentoring in the clinical skills program. This student has demonstrated a dedication to education in the field of clinical skills.

Merck Award – Victoria Antonello, Macy Wright
Awarded to senior students who have demonstrated superior academic achievement.

Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics Excellence Award – Anna McVay
Presented to a graduating senior student for demonstrating outstanding knowledge in basic and clinical pharmacology.

Outstanding Student in the Pre-Clerkship Curriculum – Noah Baker
Awarded to a graduating senior student for outstanding performance in the pre-clerkship curriculum.

Medical Alumni Leadership Award – Thomas Robinson
Awarded to the senior student by vote of classmates, in recognition of outstanding leadership of the graduating class.

Jerry D. Porter Award – Kelly Blacksher, Caroline Howell, Matthew Westerfield, Karam Maatouk, Amber Mathus
Presented to graduating seniors who have demonstrated strong scholastic achievement and leadership qualities within the medical profession or community. Preference is given to students with primary residence in the Mobile and Baldwin counties and then other counties within Alabama.

Student National Medical Association (SNMA) Leadership Award – Ashleigh Torrance
Presented to a graduating senior who has demonstrated outstanding leadership and a sustained commitment to service within the community and medical school. SNMA is committed to supporting current and future medical students from backgrounds underrepresented in medicine, addressing the needs of underserved communities, and increasing the number of clinically excellent, culturally responsive, and socially conscious physicians. 

Community Service Award – Benjamin Cockrell, Benjamin Loftis
Presented by the Medical Society of Mobile County to two senior medical students whose classmates believe best fulfill the ideals of humanitarian public service as demonstrated by superior awareness of, and achievement in, civic and community programs.

Dr. Richard William Gurich Memorial Endowed Scholarship – Isabella Dinelli, Chandler Hinson
Awarded to two graduating senior students who have not only performed at the highest level during the third and fourth year but have also demonstrated efficacy in patient relations and professionalism.

Steven Karl Teplick, M.D., FACR Memorial Award – Brandon Schonour
Awarded to a graduating senior student specializing in radiology and committed to lifelong learning as exemplified by Dr. Steven Teplick.

Cooke-Scott Scholarship – Maxon Bassett, Caroline Clutton, William Johnston, Aimee Knott, Ginger Llivina, Anna McVay, Ajay Peddada, Brooke Tarrant, Caleb Thomas, Ashleigh Torrance, Mohammad Waqas
Awarded to fourth-year medical students wishing to pursue a career in the neuroscience field (neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, ophthalmology) and who have demonstrated exemplary qualities and commitment to their field.

Eran and N.Q. Adams Endowed Scholarship in Neurology Award – Richard Fu
Presented to the graduating medical student who, through patient care, interaction with faculty and housestaff, and motivation, has demonstrated excellence in neurology. This student has an interest in pursuing neurology as a career.

Obstetrics and Gynecology Award – Madison Poiroux Wilkinson
Presented to the graduating medical student who, through scholarship, patient care, interaction with faculty and housestaff, and motivation, has demonstrated excellence in obstetrics and gynecology.

Excellence in Psychiatry Award – Caroline Clutton
Presented to a fourth-year medical student who excels in psychiatry, displaying exceptional knowledge and skills in providing compassionate and evidence-based mental healthcare. This award recognizes their academic excellence, clinical proficiency, and leadership potential in the field of psychiatry.

Dr. Robert A. Kreisberg Endowed Award of Excellence – Noah Baker
Awarded to a graduating senior student in the top 25% of the class who is distinguished in both the clinical and basic sciences. This student has demonstrated superior leadership and integrity, possesses a strong work ethic, and has performed in such a way as to earn the respect of his or her fellow students and faculty.

Samuel Eichold Award – Benjamin Loftis
Presented to the graduating medical student who through scholarship, patient care, interaction with faculty and housestaff, and motivation, has demonstrated outstanding achievement in internal medicine.

Dr. Joseph G. Hardin, Jr. Memorial Scholarship – Lauren Kate Dodd
Awarded to a graduating senior student who is interested in pursuing a career in internal medicine.

Dr. William James Atkinson, Jr. Memorial Endowed Scholarship – Madison Hogans
Presented to a fourth-year medical student exhibiting exemplary character, possessing a dedication to the field of medicine, and demonstrating a commitment to compassionate patient care. This student is interested in primary care and plans to practice in the state of Alabama.

Ralph Denny Wright and Anne G. Wright Memorial Scholarship – Cana Brown
Awarded to the senior student focusing on internal medicine/family practice, who strives to become a compassionate physician and skilled diagnostician as exemplified by Dr. Wright.

Dr. Michael M. Linder Endowed Award – Amber Mathus
Awarded to a senior student who has accepted a residency in family medicine and exemplifies a commitment to family medicine, as practiced by Dr. Michael Linder, through astute clinical acumen based on the knowledge of the human body and evidence-based medicine. This student possesses a passion for teaching this knowledge and the art of family medicine to others, and demonstrates courage to do what is best for the whole patient and their family.

H. C. Mullins, M.D. Award – Victoria Antonello
Awarded by the faculty of the Department of Family Medicine to the graduating senior who demonstrated excellence in the ability to apply principles, practice, and philosophy of family medicine in caring for patients and their families. This award is given in honor of Dr. H. C. Mullins, professor emeritus and founding chair of the department.

Excellence in Public Health Award – Caroline Clutton
Presented by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the U.S. Public Health Service to recognize the medical student who has demonstrated a commitment to public health and public health practice, and has exhibited leadership and hard work with a passion and dedication to public health within the medical profession.

Edgar C. Fonde Scholarship – Bethany Beck
Awarded to fourth-year medical students distinguished by their interest and accomplishments in pathology.

Orthopaedic Excellence Award – Richard Perkins
Presented to the graduating medical student who best personifies the compassion, selflessness, and tireless work ethic of Drs. Anderson, McBryde and Meyer. This student has shown excellence above all peers during the orthopaedic rotations.

The Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award – Mary Faragalla, Caleb Butts, M.D.
Presented by The Arnold P. Gold Foundation to the senior student and to the faculty member nominated and selected by the senior class who have demonstrated outstanding compassion to patients and their families.

John W. Donald Memorial Award in Surgery – Corinne Gautreaux
Awarded to the senior student who best demonstrated clinical and academic excellence in the surgery clerkship.

Excellence in Emergency Medicine Award – Richard Preus
Presented by the Department of Emergency Medicine to the graduating medical student who best exemplifies outstanding clinical performance in emergency medical care.

Society for Academic Emergency Medicine (SAEM) Award – Matthew Westerfield
Presented on behalf of SAEM to the graduating medical student who has demonstrated excellence and academic proficiency in emergency medicine.

M.D. Research with Honors: 
Harris Bolus
Emily Hartsell
Chandler Hinson
Nathaniel Olliff
Richard Perkins
Laney Smith

Arnold P. Gold Humanism Honor Society:
Qays Aljabi
Noah Baker
Maxon Bassett
Madelyn Campbell
Peter Doan
Corinne Gautreaux
Chandler Hinson
Madison Hogans
Caroline Howell
Benjamin Loftis
Caleb Phillips
Thomas Robinson

Primary Care Pathway:
Robert Barefoot 
Benjamin Cockrell
Mary Faragalla
Ryan Ford
Madison Hogans
Amber Mathus
Brian Nguyen
Caleb Phillips

Peer Emotional and Educational Resilience Support (PEERS):
Bree Cobine
Lauren Dodd
Mary Faragalla
Emily Hartsell
Hannah Hill
Macy Kreitz
Sam Motz
Mohammad Waqas
Matthew Westerfield

Peer Academic Leaders (PALs):
Qays Aljabi
Robert Cole Barefoot
Kelly Blacksher
Olivia Grace Brookins
Caroline Clutton
Camryn Hall
Madison Hogans
Caroline Howell
Juliette Lewis
Amber Mathus
Sam Motz
Nathaniel Oliff
Caleb Phillips
Megan Rasmussen
Laney Smith
Grace Sullivan
Brooke Tarrant
Anjali Vira

Timothy C. Gilbert Award – Amber Mathus
Presented to a fourth-year Peer Academic Leader in recognition of exemplary leadership, integrity and service. This student has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to academic support and leadership, fostering the success of peers, professionalism in collaboration with faculty, staff and students, and a lasting contribution to the PAL program and the College of Medicine community. 

Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society (AΩA):
Qays Aljabi
Noah Baker
Olivia Brookins
Madelyn Campbell
Caroline Clutton
Corinne Gautreaux
Madison Hogans
Caroline Howell
Benjamin Loftis
Samuel Motz
Allen Perkins
Richard Preus
Grace Sullivan
Brooke Tarrant
Macy Wright

Aequitas Health Honor Society:
Qays Aljabi 
Ben Cockrell 
Isabella Dinelli 
Mary Faragalla 
Ryan Ford 
Chandler Hinson 
Allen Perkins 
Brandon Schonour

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