C-Ring Ceremony Praises Five Outstanding A&S Students

The accomplishments of five outstanding undergraduate students lend a ring of truth to the notion that the McMicken College of Arts & Sciences is a beacon of women’s education and advocacy at the University of Cincinnati. In return, the university honored those students during a special dinner May 5 and presented two with rings of their own – a golden keepsake to serve – as a lasting symbol of their achievements.

These five women – Rachel Berman, Lauren Magrisso, Julie Marzec, Jessica L. Sarko and Katherine Talbott – were named this year’s C-Ring Award finalists, and all are A&S students. The university-wide award is given to women who demonstrate academic excellence, campus or community leadership and a focus on advocacy for women and girls. More than 700 graduating women were eligible for the award this year based on academics, and 33 were nominated for the award by a committee of faculty, staff, students, alumnae and former award recipients.

Magrisso and Marzec shared the top honor as C-Ring winners, the third tie in the 90-year history of the award. Magrisso will graduate with an interdisciplinary degree in design strategy. She was nominated by Raj Mehta, director of the

UC Honors Program

. Marzec will receive a degree in International Affairs. She was nominated by Laura Jenkins, associate professor of

political science

.

“UC has helped make me into the woman I am today, and C-Ring has only confirmed my passion for women's rights and international development,” Marzec says. “It is incredible to be rewarded for the work I've done and to know that so many extraordinary people support me.”

Magrisso also was grateful for the recognition and noted the interdisciplinary commitment within A&S as a factor in her academic success.

“As an Interdisciplinary Studies student originally coming to UC for DAAP, A&S is the college that provided me the flexibility to pursue my self-created degree in Design Strategy,” Magrisso says. “While, I take classes out of DAAP and the Lindner College of Business as well, A&S is a model for a college that proactively breaks down silos in a large institution.”

The other C-Ring finalists were:

- Rachel Berman, Political Science and

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

; nominated by Deb Meem, head of the WGSS Department

- Jessica L. Sarko,

biopsychology

; nominated by Amy Howton of the UC Women’s Center

- Katherine Talbott,

biology

; nominated by Jessica Donovan, assistant dean in A&S