2026 William W. White Outstanding Seniors

Jayden Fortner — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 18:21:22 +0000

2026 William W. White Outstanding Seniors Jayden Fortner Sun, 04/19/2026 - 12:21

Each year, the CMDI student with the highest GPA in the class receives the William W. White Outstanding Graduate Award.

Lauren Lopez

As a high school student, Lauren imagined herself as either a florist or a welder—until she took a course in human resources, and knew it was the path for her.

She graduates this spring with the William White award and as the outstanding senior in the communication department.

CU has been the best decision I’ve ever made. I love the university and the city, and I’m excited to stay in Boulder after graduation and keep cheering on my fellow Buffs as an alum.”

Meet Lauren

Additionally, each department in the college chooses a student who demonstrates exemplary academic merit, professional achievement and service to CMDI. These students are recognized as William W. White Outstanding Seniors.

Zach Chagnon

Media Production
Zach has created some truly inspiring films as a CMDI student. You’ll never guess his favorite movie.

I think it’s been long enough since I’ve lived in my dorm that now I have a lot of nostalgia for that time.”

Meet Zach

Hayden Chedid

Journalism
Hayden has embraced every opportunity to tell meaningful stories through curiosity and leadership.

Journalism rewards you for putting yourself out there."

Meet Hayden

Kate Davis

Information Science
Kate uses ceramics to tell stories through data in ways that better resonate with audiences.

I saw a guy holding a boat at CU’s involvement fair, and said, ‘That looks fun. I’ll try that."

Meet Kate

Kaoutar El Ouadi

Media Studies
Kaoutar’s jam is music: She interns at Fox Theater and has a great vinyl collection.

"I would love to be John Summit for a day! Like, you were an accountant, now you’re a DJ? I wanna test that out.”

Meet Kaoutar

Leah Szabo

Strategic Communication
A dual citizen, Leah's passport tells a story of adventures in faraway places, but CMDI is her home.

I really feel like I found my place here.”

Meet Leah

Evie Warner

Environmental Design
Evie enjoys connecting her work to broad themes around nature and community.

"Everyone knows me as the bee girl."

Meet Evie

History of the William W. White Outstanding Graduate Award.

White, a Boulder native, graduated from CU’s School of Journalism in 1933. He was a reporter in Boulder, Denver and New York before becoming the foreign editor of Time from the early 1940s through the mid-1950s, based in London, Brazil and Montreal. At the advice of his friend Edward R. Murrow, who told him, "it doesn’t matter what you do, what matters is that you do it where you want to live,” White returned to Boulder, where he started the White and White public relations firm. White and his wife, Connie, established this endowment in 1998.

Celebrating the Class of 2026

William W. White Outstanding Seniors are chosen by department faculty to recognize academic merit, professional achievement and service to the college.

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