STAFF REPORT
A couple local students were named to the Franklin College Class of 2025 Top Ten Seniors at the Annual Student Involvement Awards Ceremony at the end of April, according to a press release.
The recipients are chosen based on their academic excellence, including a minimum GPA of 3.0; leadership on campus both inside and outside the classroom; and their embodiment of the college’s values.
Celeste Edwards of Franklin Township and Amy Garrido Portillo of Greenwood were two of the ten students who received the recognition.
Celeste Edwards (above), daughter of Faye Licorish of Indianapolis (46239), majored in chemistry on the industry/graduate school track, according to the press release. She served as the president of the Student Government Association, president of the Black Student Union, Launch Mentor, member of Student Foundation, secretary of Sister to Sister, community representative of the Arthur Wilson Black Experience House, manager for the women’s basketball team and a library supervisor. She plans to work for a few years before returning to school to pursue a doctorate degree in chemistry. Edwards was also chosen by the senior class to represent them as the student commencement speaker.
Amy Garrido Portillo (above), daughter of Rafael Garrido and Dulce Portillo of Greenwood, majored in political science with a pre-law designation and Spanish and quantitative methods minors, according to the press release. She graduated summa cum laude. At Franklin, she served as president of the Latinx Student Association, a Launch Mentor, a member of Model UN and a member of Moot Court. She was inducted into Alpha Society, Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society, Alpha Mu Gamma Modern Languages Honor Society and Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society. She studied abroad in Japan. Her plans after college include serving as a bilingual outreach paralegal at Indiana Legal Services and applying to law school.
Other students who were named are Sydney B. Carson of Westport; Garrett Cora of Lizton (who will begin teaching at Acton Elementary on the south side this fall); Spencer Fears and Riley Mahan of Trafalgar; Tristan Konkler of Austin; Cara E. Mullen of Carthage; Joshua Sanders Jr. of Indianapolis (46241) and Ezra Schwier of New Palestine.
Franklin College was founded in 1834 and is located 20 miles south of Indianapolis. For more information, visit www.FranklinCollege.edu.
