The top honors of the 2025 graduating class at Roanoke College will be shared by eight young women who are graduating summa cum laude with valedictorian status. The previous record number of valedictorians was seven in 2023.
The valedictorians are Julia Olsen Bassett, Peyton Olivia Bradford, Simran Kaur Gill, Rhianna Nicole Gleason, Rebecca M. Goldstein, Madeline Diane Higgins, Riya Amit Patel and Sydney LeVette Pennix.
The salutatorian for the Class of 2025 is Connor Joseph Tyson.
These remarkable students have excelled in the classroom, but that is just one piece of their stories. Some have shown great leadership as student-athletes or researchers. Others have created programming that is changing lives in the community – and will continue to do so long after these students leave campus.
Julia Olsen Bassett, of Midlothian, Virginia, earned a degree in health and exercise science with honors, in addition to minors in Spanish, psychology and disability studies, and a concentration in human development.
At Roanoke, Bassett blended her professional interests and bottomless empathy to create a new program, MAPLES (Multiple Adaptive Play Experiences in Sports), that provides regular open-gym hours on campus for local individuals with disabilities. She worked with WheelLove and other regional partners to create this space for people aged 3-70, along with their families, to learn adaptive sports and make friends with peers.
In addition, Bassett performed research with professors Drea Burchfield and Lauren Kennedy-Metz, and she earned recognition for academic excellence from the Psychology Department and the Disability Studies Program. She received the Jan H. Lynch Human Development Concentration Award, the Outstanding Engagement Award in Disability Studies, and was named Outstanding Senior in Disability Studies. She was also inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Chi and Omicron Delta Kappa national honor societies.
Bassett, who was captain of the women’s tennis team at Roanoke, has been accepted into Radford-Carilion’s Occupational Therapy Program, and she plans to make a career out of her passion for serving people with disabilities.
“Julia is one of the kindest, most generous, grace-filled, intelligent young people one might meet,” said Professor Frances McCutcheon, coordinator of disability studies at Roanoke. “She is truly accomplished, and she is leaving a true legacy at Roanoke College.”
Peyton Olivia Bradford, of Salisbury, Maryland, is graduating with a degree in psychology with a minor in elementary education and a concentration in human development. At Roanoke, Bradford earned a reputation as a steadfast, hard-working student with maturity and professionalism beyond her years. She was also described as always thoughtful and attentive, and as a diligent student who values her independence.
Bradford balanced a heavy course load in psychology with her work as a student assistant in the Psychology Department – not to mention her responsibilities as a defender on the women’s field hockey team.
“Peyton is a focused and determined student-athlete,” said Women’s Field Hockey Coach Briana Banks. “Her ability to balance academics and athletics at such a high level is super impressive. Roanoke College field hockey is very proud of her accomplishments, and we look forward to following her future.”
Bradford also completed an internship at the Virginia Institute for Autism, and she was inducted into Alpha Chi and Psi Chi national honor societies. She plans to next earn a master’s in school psychology at Winthrop University.
“It was hard not to appreciate just how easy Peyton made our advising relationship,” said Danielle Findley-Van Nostrand, associate professor of psychology. “She was always prepared, always thoughtful and forward-thinking, and a joy to be around.”
Simran Kaur Gill, of Salem, Virginia, earned a degree in psychology, with honors; a minor in biology; and concentrations in both human development and neuroscience.
Gill worked in Assistant Professor Lauren Kennedy-Metz’s research lab for three years, completing an Honors Distinction Project that focused on better understanding the relationship between self-compassion, anxiety, coping mechanisms and other variables. She also investigated how compassion-focused interventions impact heart rate variability among student-athletes.
On campus, Gill worked as a subject tutor and served on the executive board for the Asian Students United Club, the Psychology Association and Psi Chi Honor Society. She was named Senior Scholar in Psychology and Outstanding Student in the Neuroscience Concentration, and she received the Jan H. Lynch Human Development Concentration Award. She also was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Chi.
Gill volunteered at LewisGale Medical Center and West End Center for Youth, and she has worked for three years as a scribe in Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital’s Psychiatric Emergency Department. She has been accepted to multiple medical schools across the country.
“It’s been an absolute honor and pleasure to serve as her research advisor over the course of these years, and to watch her flourish through a project she deliberately designed to bring together her diverse interests,” said Kennedy-Metz. “I look forward to seeing all she continues to accomplish during medical school and, later, as a physician.”
Rhianna Nicole Gleason is a criminal justice major from Midlothian, Virginia. She also completed a minor in sociology.
At Roanoke, Gleason interned with Sarah Murray, assistant professor of public affairs, helping to carry out the Inside-Out course, which pairs Roanoke College students with incarcerated individuals at the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center. Gleason even facilitated one of the class meetings in Murray’s stead.
Gleason also recently wrapped up an internship with Amaryllis Law in Salem, which is one of only two immigration law practices in Southwest Virginia.
Murray called Gleason “a conscientious and committed student who rises to every challenge I have thrown her way.” This included creating a poster on the phenomena of missing and endangered Indigenous woman which won the audience choice prize at the project’s reception event.
Gleason also is a member of Alpha Phi Sigma, recipient of this year’s Senior Scholar Award in Criminal Justice, and a talented and accomplished equestrian on Roanoke’s club riding team. She also was inducted into Alpha Chi national honor society.
“Roanoke College has provided me with amazing academic experiences and wonderful friendships. I have made so many meaningful connections with faculty, staff, and fellow students that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Rebecca Goldstein '25
Rebecca M. Goldstein, of Medford, New Jersey, earned a degree in education studies with honors, and minors in Spanish and history. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Chi national honor societies.
Goldstein is interested in higher education curriculum and policy, and she is deeply concerned about educational equity and inclusion. For her Honors Distinction Project, she interviewed librarians about the process for book selection relative to local and national policy changes. As a student assistant in the Education Department, Goldstein also helped prepare materials for an accreditation site visit.
“The fact that she was able to approach both disparate tasks – one administrative and the other scholarly research – with a habit of mind of curiosity and analysis truly demonstrates her academic excellence and disposition to be in the field of education,” said Jennifer McCloud, associate professor and chair of education studies.
Goldstein also served as an orientation mentor at Roanoke, guiding new students through summer and August orientation sessions. She will stay on after graduation to assist with the college’s Lab School, Explore@RC.
“Roanoke College has provided me with amazing academic experiences and wonderful friendships,” she said. “I have made so many meaningful connections with faculty, staff, and fellow students that I will cherish for the rest of my life.”
Madeline Diane Higgins, of Danville, Virginia, earned a degree in English Education and plans to teach English at a local high school next year. She was named Senior Scholar in English Education and an Outstanding Senior in Education, and she received the English and Communication Studies Department Teaching Award. She also was inducted into Alpha Chi national honor society.
“Madeline communicates her exuberance and passion for learning in everything she does,” said Associate Professor of Education Jennifer McCloud. “She naturally enacts the liberal arts college ideal of engaging in deep and complex conversations.”
In addition to working as a tutor in the Writing Center, Higgins served as a Global Engagement Fellow in International Student Services. She also completed an internship at the Roanoke Review during her junior year, pairing her recommendations with insightful comments – and displaying excellent judgment of style and form.
According to English and Communication Studies Chair Wendy Larson-Harris, Higgins proved in her education classes and student teaching that she is a thoughtful, sensitive teacher who brings all her own classroom learning to bear on her engagement with students. “Her final assignment offered a clear, practical structure for students writing an essay, but it also helped them see themselves as storytellers and writers, not just people doing some writing. It makes me happy as an English professor to know that Madeline is heading out into the world to inspire and encourage students to love reading and writing.”
English and Communication Studies lecturer Laura Garrison said Higgins, who became known on campus for her trademark white flower crown, is intelligent, funny and wonderfully imaginative.
“Madeline’s greatest strength of character is her generous spirit; she finds something to like about every story and person she encounters, and she shares her affection for them with a quiet but sincere enthusiasm that helps others appreciate them, too,” Garrison said. “While it is easy to imagine her living happily as a wood sprite in a fairy-tale forest, I am so glad to know she will be guiding other young people in their exploration of literature.”
Riya Amit Patel, of Salem, Virginia, earned degrees in both biochemistry and public health studies, with honors in both. At Roanoke, she used her intellect, drive and passion for service to create an Honors Distinction Project in public health that addresses period poverty abroad, within the Roanoke community, and on campus.
For this project, which was advised by Professor Shannon Anderson, Patel interned at a local nonprofit, conducted research, and resurrected a student club called Days for Girls. She then organized a club project that involved sewing reusable menstrual products for women and girls in developing countries. Patel even taught herself to sew for the project.
“I have never met a student with the level of commitment Riya has had to addressing an urgent public health issue,” said Kristen Rapp, associate professor of sociology and public health. “She is also a very talented researcher, and it is rare to come across all of these qualities in one student.”
Anderson added, “Riya approached every aspect carefully and thoughtfully, and always with respect to her goals for herself and with respect to her family and community.”
Patel also worked with Professor Chris Lassiter on an Honors Distinction Project in biochemistry in which she studied the impact of Zofran, a commonly prescribed anti-nausea medication, on the development of zebrafish.
Patel was named Senior Scholar in both biochemistry and public health studies. She also received the Sociology and Public Health Studies Community Service Award, and she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and Alpha Chi.
After Roanoke, she is heading to the School of Dentistry at Virginia Commonwealth University.
Sydney LeVette Pennix, of Roanoke, Virginia, earned a degree in psychology with honors. She was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Chi and Omicron Delta Kappa national honor societies.
At Roanoke, Pennix excelled as a student researcher in both the Psychology Department and the Center for Studying Structures of Race (CSSR). She has a passion for understanding and improving the lives of Black Americans, and she has married multiple disciplines in that pursuit.
As a CSSR researcher, Pennix made enormous contributions to both the Genealogy of Slavery project and the “Authors and Architects” memorial. In addition to leading student research teams, she presented findings at public events and contributed important insights to community planning groups. She also delivered an eloquent speech as part of the “Authors and Architects” dedication.
“The CSSR’s projects have been deeply enriched by Sydney’s research acumen and wisdom,” said CSSR Director Jesse Bucher. “I think of her as a colleague rather than a student.”
Pennix’s Honors Distinction Project in psychology focused on Black Americans’ romantic relationships, including older and younger adults’ experiences with discrimination and power dynamics – and the effects on relationships. She has presented her research at the Southeastern Society for Social Psychology, and it is under review to be presented at the Council of Family Relations.
Pennix also worked in the Language Lab as a student assistant, was social media coordinator for the Honors Program, and worked for Student Health & Wellness as a peer wellness advocate.
Danielle Findley-Van Nostrand, associate professor of psychology, said Pennix’s work has been graduate level in its scope, writing quality and ownership. Pennix, who was awarded the Karl W. Beck Memorial Prize in psychology, plans to attend William & Mary in the fall, where she will study to become a marriage and family therapist.
“What I love most about the college is that I have been able to strike a unique balance between my interests in social psychology and Black history, all alongside the best faculty members,” Pennix said.
Connor Joseph Tyson, of Waxhaw, North Carolina, is the Class of 2025 salutatorian. He earned a degree in health and exercise science and was named Senior Scholar in that major.
At Roanoke, Tyson served as a captain of the men’s volleyball team and was selected as the 2025 ODAC/Virginia Farm Bureau Scholar-Athlete of the Year for 2025. He married his athletic and academic interests to conduct research on jump and landing mechanics for volleyball players, presenting his findings at a conference for the Southeast American College of Sports Medicine.
"Connor is a fantastic role model for the players in our program, was always available to help and support his coaches and teammates, and is an extremely mature and reliable young adult," said Mark Rohrback, head men's volleyball coach. "We will certainly miss him on our team, as he was able to graduate in just three academic years, but we know he is off to a promising future and major accomplishments."
Tyson received the Ben Huddle General Chemistry Award while at Roanoke and was inducted into Alpha Chi national honor society. He has been accepted into Eastern Carolina University’s Doctor of Physical Therapy program.
Matt Rearick, associate professor of health and human performance at Roanoke, said Tyler has a rare gift for his chosen area of study.
“On top of being extremely bright and conscientious, I have found that Connor loves traveling down interesting rabbit holes of discovery,” Rearick said. “In fact, he may be one of the most inquisitive students I’ve had the pleasure of knowing and working with over my nearly 30 years in academe.”
Most of the valedictorians will speak briefly at Commencement, which takes place Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 10 a.m. on the John R. Turbyfill '53 Quadrangle (Front Quad). The ceremony can be watched live at this link.