Honors College Graduates Recognized with F. Ray Wilson Thesis Award

Honors College graduates Ashleigh Jarrous, Isabel Kau, and Kristen Nakamura, were recently named the 2025 recipients of the F. Ray Wilson Award for Best Thesis, a recognition that celebrates excellence in the scholarship of undergraduate thesis writers in Baylor’s Honors Program.

The award honors the life of F. Ray Wilson II, Ph.D., beloved Baylor professor of biology, Master Teacher, and former director of the Honors Program. During more than 30 years of teaching at the University, Wilson directed 37 honors theses. Each year, the award recognizes outstanding theses in Physical and Life Sciences, Social Sciences, and Humanities. Winners are invited to return to campus to offer remarks to Honors Program graduates.

Jarrous, Kau, and Nakamura, were recognized during this year’s Honors Program and University Scholars Banquet on April 15. Each student first earned an “Outstanding” designation following their thesis defense during Honors Week before being selected through a competitive review by a multidisciplinary faculty committee.

Ashleigh Jarrous

Ashleigh Jarrous, winner in the Physical and Life Sciences category, graduated as a University Scholar with concentrations in chemistry, medical humanities, and biology. Her thesis, Investigating a Novel Solid-State Oxygenating Therapeutic: BUOx’s Influence on Oxidative Stress and Cellular Responses in BEAS-2B and A549 Cell Lines, was completed under the direction of Dr. Erica Bruce.

Growing up in a multicultural home and guided by her faith, Jarrous chose to spend a gap year serving with Ethnē Health in Clarkson, Georgia, an organization providing culturally sensitive, neighbor-centered healthcare. She will attend UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas this fall.

Jarrous told graduates that one lesson from the thesis process has stayed with her: meaningful work is never done alone. She thanked the mentors, professors, graduate students, and lab teammates who supported her research journey, and reminded students that setbacks, long nights, and failures often become some of the most valuable parts of growth.

Isabel Kau

Isabel Kau, winner in the Social Sciences category, was a University Scholar concentrating in environmental science and political science. Her thesis, Pocket Park Benefits Valuation: Parkgoers, Experts, and the New Ecological Paradigm, explored how people value urban green spaces and the relationship between communities and the built environment. Her thesis advisor was Dr. Andrew Stainback. 

Following graduation, Kau remained in Waco for several months while completing a fellowship program at Christ Church Waco. Since February, she has worked full time as a utility forester in northern Indiana, helping shape urban landscapes through environmental planning and tree management. This fall, she will begin a master’s program in Energy and Sustainability at Northwestern University.

In remarks to graduates, Kau reflected on how the thesis process taught her to narrow broad interests into purposeful work, learn new technical skills from scratch, and grow through uncertainty. She encouraged students who feel overwhelmed or underprepared, noting that challenge is often a sign of growth.

Kristen Nakamura

Kristen Nakamura, recipient of the Humanities award, graduated as a University Scholar with secondary majors in English and Mathematics. Her thesis, American Amnesia: The Poetics of Japanese-American Memory, Trauma, and Resilience, examined questions of identity, memory, and belonging through Japanese-American poetry and literature. Her thesis advisor was Dr. Ginger Hanchey.

During her time at Baylor, Nakamura was deeply involved in the life of the Honors Residential College. She is currently serving as an English teacher in Japan through the nationally funded Japan Exchange and Teaching Program.

In written remarks shared with banquet attendees, Nakamura reflected on how the Honors College taught her to bridge different worlds, rejecting false choices between faith and academic excellence, scholarship and advocacy, work and rest. She encouraged graduates to continue building bridges, crossing bridges, and even becoming bridges for others.