Ten students honored with 2025 Quest for the Best award
Students honored for exceptional academics & community service. Nominations include impactful mentors.
Ten San Diego State University students have received the 2025 Quest for the Best award, recognizing high-achieving SDSU students for outstanding performance in academics and community service.
The annual Quest for the Best Vice Presidential Student Service Award has celebrated student achievement for three decades in four key areas: academic excellence, student service and activities, community service and leadership development.
Winners are asked to nominate a faculty or staff member who had a significant and positive impact on their personal growth and development during their time at SDSU.
This year’s Quest class includes seven seniors, two juniors and a graduate student.
The 2025 honorees and their respective faculty/staff honorees are:
Vivianna Alfaro
Senior, Psychology major with an industrial, organizational emphasis and a minor in Spanish and Weber Honors College Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Chelsea Lombrozo, Leadership Studies Lecturer & Assistant Director, Glazer Center for Leadership
Brianna Angel
Senior, Speech, Language, and Hearing Studies
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Taylor Hye, Speech Language lecturer
Austin Emery
Junior, Political Science; Minor in Weber Honors College Interdisciplinary Studies
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Brian Levett, Government Affairs Assistant Director For Associated Students
Grace Johnson
Junior, Public Health with an emphasis in Environmental Health (pre-med track)
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Kara Moriarty, Director of Out-of-State and Specialized Recruitment
Andrew Kaway
Senior, Public Health
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Elana Elkin, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health
Megan Morillas
Graduate student, Psychology
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: V. Robin Weersing, Professor of Psychology
Ethan Pellegrini
Senior, History and Political Science; Minor, Weber Honors College Interdisciplinary Studies and International Security and Conflict Resolution
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Cheryl O’Brien, Assistant Professor, College of Arts and Letters, Political Science
Shay Phung
Senior, Liberal Studies and Elementary Education; Minor in Leadership and Cultural Proficiency
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Alex Castruita, Summer Bridge Freshmen and Compact Scholars Mentees counselor
Raha Rafie
Senior, Public Health
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Elana Elkin, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health
Chasley Schoettle
Senior, Dance & Kinesiology Pre-Physical Therapy; Minor Public Health
Faculty/ Staff Honoree: Dr. Koko Nishi, Licensed Psychologist and Outreach Coordinator
