Congrats to the CASL and COB Medallion winners

From conducting melanoma research to advocating for veterans, UM-Dearborn’s Spring Class of 2025’s leaders and best have accomplished many things. Adding to that: Twelve of this year’s top graduates earned the Chancellor’s Medallion or Dean’s Medallion awards.

Three Dean’s Medallion recipients are awarded per college with one of those students receiving the Chancellor’s Medallion. These students will be honored at April 26’s Commencement.

Here are UM-Dearborn’s College of Arts, Sciences and Letters and the College of Business recipients — including the Chancellor’s Medallion winner, who is a CASL graduate. The awardees from the College of Engineering and Computer Science and the College of Education, Health and Human Services will be profiled in an article on Tuesday.

Chancellor’s Medallion

Ayah Farhat
College of Arts, Sciences and Letters

Degree: Bachelor of Science in biochemistry 

Awards, Honors and Distinction: University Honors (F22, W23); Dean’s List (F22-F23, F24); James B. Angell Scholar (2024); William J. Branstrom Freshman Prize (2023); SURE Fellowship (2024); Honors Scholar (2025) 

Scholarships: Mardigian Library Student Assistant Scholarship; Alumni Legacy Scholarship; Michigan Competitive Scholarship; Excellence Scholarship; CASL Alumni Affiliate Scholarship; Andy and Cheryl Chapekis Scholarship; Dr. Richard A. Potts Endowed Scholarship; William and Alice Jenkins Memorial Scholarship 

Academic Achievements and Internships: Ayah is a dedicated researcher who worked with Assistant Professor of Biochemistry Besa Xhabija to conduct cutting-edge research in melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer. She characterized melanoma morphologically, optically and behaviorally to better understand its aggressive nature and metastatic potential. Her research has already resulted in a first-author publication in Advanced Biology and has been featured as the front cover of its February 2025 issue. 

Extracurricular and Community Projects: UM-Dearborn Mardigian Library Circulation Desk student assistant; American Society of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and ASBMB student chapter (president); Kumon Math and Reading tutor; Wolverine Mentor Collective mentor; volunteer at Corewell Health, Caroline Kennedy Library, UM-Dearborn Food Pantry and UM-Dearborn Wolverine Wardrobe 

Future Plans: Ayah plans to attend and present her research at the national conference of the American Chemical Society this fall. Her long-term goal is to become a physician who serves marginalized and vulnerable populations in metro Detroit.

Dean’s Medallion

College of Arts, Sciences and Letters

Vincent Intrieri

Degree: Bachelor of Arts in international studies 

Awards, Honors and Distinction: University Honors (W24, F24); Dean’s List (F22-F24); UM-Dearborn Difference Maker (2024); Honors Scholar (2025) 

Scholarships: CASL Alumni Affiliate Scholarship; Hugh M. Archer Veterans Scholarship; John J. Brownfain Endowed Memorial Scholarship; UM-Dearborn Veterans Scholarship 

Academic Achievements and Internships: Vincent was the inaugural president of the Wolverine Media Network, uniting the university’s student newspaper, radio, video and arts journal into a single cohesive structure. He completed the Ottawa Internship in Canadian Parliament and participated in a virtual exchange program with the University of El Salvador in which he completed an e-book in Spanish with a Salvadoran partner. He was a work-study employee in the university’s Veterans Affairs office and is a mentor in the Dearborn Veterans Treatment Court, where he supports fellow veterans who are navigating the criminal justice system. Vincent is a nontraditional student and Navy veteran who retired as a petty officer second class logistics specialist. 

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Wolverine Media Network (president); Lyceum (editor-in-chief); Student Veterans Association (treasurer); Dearborn Veterans Treatment Court mentor; Veterans of the Game; Dearborn Allied War Veterans Council 

Future Plans: Vincent has been admitted to American University’s master’s program in international relations and is considering law school. He is interested in pursuing a career in public interest or international law. 

Ahmad Makki

Degrees: Dual Bachelors of Science in mathematics and economics

Awards, Honors and Distinction: University Honors (W21, F21, F24); Honors Scholar in economics (2025); Dean’s List (F20-F24); SURE Fellowship (2022); Outstanding Delegate, Model Arab League (2023-2025); Overall Outstanding Delegation, Model Arab League (2024)

Scholarships: Metropolitan Scholarship; Kochoff Impact Scholarship; Mathematics Scholarship; Dr. Ronald Stockton Scholarship; Dean’s Scholarship (U-M Law School)

Academic Achievements and Internships: Ahmad has conducted research with Associate Professor of Political Science Emily Luxon focused on the attribution of responsibility for climate change in newspaper coverage. As a Summer Undergraduate Research Experience Fellow, Ahmad also researched nationalistic bias within networks related to accusation of chemical weapon use.

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Arab Affairs League Club (founder/president); Model Arab League; violin instructor

Ahmad is also a talented language learner with proficiency in Korean and Arabic and intermediate skill in West African Creole.

Future Plans: Ahmad has been admitted to the University of Michigan Law School and intends to attend starting in Fall 2025.

College of Business

Christian Ankawi

Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and finance 

Awards, Honors and Distinction: Honors Scholar (2025); James B. Angell Scholar (2023, 2024); University Honors (F21-F22, F23-F24); Dean’s List (F21-F24) 

Scholarships: Kris & Ruth Pfaehler Scholarship; Allard Family Trust Scholarship; 

UM-Dearborn Dean’s Scholarship; COB Undergraduate 4+1 Scholarship 

Academic Achievements and Internships: Christian’s career in accounting began in summer 2022 with an internship at Rocket Central, where he collaborated with senior leaders to resolve disputes and developed a review process that resulted in shorter lead times for reimbursements and expense requests. The following summer and fall he worked as a tax intern at Carhartt and performed a variety of tasks. In summer 2024, he was an audit intern at Doeren Mayhew and gained more specialized experience. 

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Supplemental instructor for College of Business; Beta Gamma Sigma honor society; Accounting Aid Society volunteer; Forgotten Harvest volunteer; frequent guest speaker for Business Foundations course 

Future Plans: This summer, Christian will take the first part of the CPA exam and begin a full-time role as an assurance intern at Ernst & Young. As a 4+1 student, he will return to the College of Business in the fall and work toward his Master of Science in accounting and completing the CPA exam. Upon achieving these goals, Christian plans to work full time with a public accounting firm and currently has an open offer to return to Doeren Mayhew. 

Elias Elzein

Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting and finance 

Awards, Honors and Distinction: University Honors (W22, W24, F24); Dean’s List (F21-F22,  

F23-F24) 

Scholarships: UM-Dearborn Dean’s Scholarship (2021-2024); COB Undergraduate 4+1 Scholarship 

Academic Achievements and Internships: In summer 2023, Elias worked as an accounting intern at Varsity Lincoln. In this role, he reconciled bank statements and inventory records, collaborated with the dealership’s CPA on financial statement preparation and gained hands-on experience in several accounting processes. 

Extracurricular and Community Projects: Beta Alpha Psi (member since 2022; reporter 2023-2024; co-president April 2024-April 2025); Michigan Model Arab League (team received the 2025 Distinguished Delegation Award) 

As an active member and leader of Beta Alpha Psi, an international honors organization for accounting and finance students, Elias has participated in several competitions across the country. He has pursued professional development opportunities through these competitions, including improving his public speaking and presentation skills, and helped lead the UM-Dearborn chapter to a national-level competition. 

Future Plans: Elias will spend the summer completing an audit internship at Plante Moran and preparing for the CPA exam. He will return to the College of Business in the fall as part of the 4+1 program to earn his Master of Science in accounting. He hopes to continue working with Plante Moran upon completing his master’s degree and earning his CPA.

Carlos Gonzalez

Degree: Bachelor of Business Administration in digital marketing 

Awards, Honors and Distinction: James B. Angell Scholar (2023); University Honors (W22-W23); Dean’s List (W22-F24); Honors Scholar (2025); student speaker at the College of Business Celebration of Excellence (2024); Bill Linn Fiction Prize Honorable Mention (2023) 

Scholarships: LEAD Scholarship; UM-Dearborn Dean’s Scholarship; Jeffrey R. & Donna T. Smith Scholarship; Michael & Vana Surmanian Family Scholarship; UM-Dearborn Honors Scholarship; Central Study Abroad Scholarship; College of Business Fast Track Scholarship; Russel J. Ebeid Scholarship; Louanne Sanez Scholarship 

Academic Achievements and Internships: Carlos began participating in UM-Dearborn’s Digital Storytelling project as a first-year student when he created his own story. He was promoted to a mentorship role his sophomore year. As a mentor, he guided new participants through the creative process by organizing workshops and helping with technical challenges. Carlos took on more responsibilities over the years, such as assisting with curriculum development, and eventually became a lead strategist for directing faculty members on their own digital stories. He also worked as a digital marketing intern for MedsFinder in summer  2021 and as a digital marketing and business strategy intern for ESOP One from August 2023 to August 2024. Christopher Spilker, head of the Mardigian Library Research Center, observed that Carlos was an integral part of the Digital Storytelling project, stating that “his dedication not only strengthened the program but also inspired those around him.” 

Extracurricular and Community Projects: LEAD Scholars member and LEAD Advisory Board member; ISPM-Italy participant; LeaderShape participant; Real Estate Association; Eagle Scout. 

Future Plans: Carlos plans to pursue his Master of Business Administration in a specialization that will enable him to utilize his talents for storytelling and strategic thinking, such as marketing management or business analytics. He hopes to work for a multinational corporation and one day advance to an executive leadership position where he can inspire others to create meaningful content.