Madison Adam
Hometown: Omaha, Nebraska
Major: Biology | John V. Roach Honors College
Madison Adam is involved in many organizations across campus including serving on the executive board of her sorority, Alpha Chi Omega, as a resident assistant in Foster Hall and as an honors mentor in the John V. Roach Honors College. She has also served as a chemistry and organic chemistry tutor, an organic chemistry lab teaching assistant and a pre-health ambassador and completed undergraduate research in Dr. Mikaela Stewart’s lab. Previously employed as a scribe at the Texas Health Huguley emergency room, Madison plans to attend medical school and become a doctor after graduating from TCU.
Discussing the impact that her classes have had on her development, she writes, “My academic experiences at TCU provide the foundation for the life I hope to lead. As a biology major and chemistry minor, the classes I am taking are reinforcing a strong science background, which will benefit me in professional school. My classes are challenging, but I am supported by faculty who encourage me and support me in any way they can. I find joy in my studies and motivation to perform well in all of my classes. In addition to academic content, the coursework at TCU includes ethical considerations that help frame my view of the world. Specifically, my Women and Gender Studies classes have made me more of a well-rounded individual. These classes, along with others, emphasize appreciating and embracing differences. I want to be a physician, and being able to use the knowledge given to me will help me be an intelligent, logical, and empathetic caretaker for my patients. In addition, I will be able to combat disparities in health care understand the challenges that many of my patients will face.”
One of Madison’s nominators, Foster Hall Director Katie Warlick, wrote, “Maddie is a truly exceptional individual — one whose ability to inspire, serve and lead is matched only by her dedication to personal growth and excellence. I have no doubt that she will continue to make remarkable contributions in whatever endeavors she pursues.””
Destin Drummond
Hometown: Grand Prairie, Texas
Major: Political Science | John V. Roach Honors College
A student in the John V. Roach Honors College, Destin is a member of the TCU Men’s Track and Field team, the co-founder and president of the Black Student-Athlete Alliance, the track and field and Big 12 representative with the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, a name, image and likeness (NIL) consultant with the Neeley Institute for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and a member of Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society. He has also presented his research on policy advocacy in policing reform at the Eldersveld Emerging Scholars Conference at the University of Michigan. Following graduation, Destin plans to both continue his athletic career with the goal of competing in the 2028 Olympic games, and pursue a master’s degree in sports law and business before entering law school. He aspires to practice sports law and ultimately hold an executive position in the Big 12 Conference, the NCAA or USA Track and Field.
Reflecting on a goal achieved that once seemed far off, Destin writes, “Before arriving at TCU, I told myself that by the time I graduated, I wanted to leave my footprint on the university; I wanted it to be positively known that Destin Drummond attended TCU. As a first-year college student-athlete, it was difficult to determine how I would leave behind my legacy. I was not sure whether it would be in athletics, academics or something entirely different. Now, three years later, I can confidently say that I was able to leave my footprint in every aspect of my undergraduate experience. In athletics, my name will always be listed as a finalist and point scorer at the 2023 and 2025 Big 12 Indoor Conference Championships. Moreover, as president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee, president of the Black Student-Athlete Alliance, and one of two student-athletes selected to be a representative at the first Big 12 Beyond Borders program, my impact will resonate long beyond my graduation. In the classroom, I am one of three political science students ever selected to present research at the Eldersveld Emerging Scholars Conference. Even within my minor, I was able to contribute to TCU’s transformative efforts in the new and evolving landscape of name, image and likeness as an NIL consultant with the Neeley Institute of Entrepreneurship and Innovation. And as a member of the 2025-2026 Clark Society Scholars cohort, I will forever be a part of a distinguished group of leaders recognized for their academic excellence and dedication to service. What initially felt like an uncertain aspiration became a reality. As I near the conclusion of my undergraduate studies, I did more than attend TCU — I helped shape it.”
One of Destin’s nominators, Ray Walls, senior associate athletics director, Student-Athlete Development, shared that Destin demonstrates a tireless commitment to excellence in all his pursuits, academic and athletic. Walls states, “Destin’s presence in our department is both consistent and impactful. He is a regular visitor, always seeking opportunities to contribute to the betterment of our campus and community. His greatest attributes include his unwavering commitment to excellence, his willingness to lead and his ability to shine in the spotlight. Destin is a thoughtful and articulate individual who inspires those around him to achieve their best.
“Destin’s academic achievements are equally remarkable. He is maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA in political science while competing at the highest level in collegiate athletics. His intellectual curiosity and dedication to learning are evident in everything he does. Whether in the classroom, on the track, or in his leadership roles, Destin embodies the values of perseverance, service and excellence that the Clark Society Endowed Scholarship seeks to recognize.””
Rudaina Fattul
Hometown: Arlington, Texas
Major: Biology
Rudaina is the communications chair of the Muslim Student Association, a peer mentor for the Pre-Health Department, the co-president of the mentorship organization Molding Melanin Magic, the Muslim student representative on the Religious Advisory Council and a teaching assistant for introduction to biological investigation. She also volunteers with Reading Partners, at the IATC Mosque, Mercy Clinic and Texas Oncology Cancer Care Service. After graduation, Rudaina plans to attend dental school and pursue a career in general dentistry while also continuing her community volunteerism at free clinics like the Mercy Clinic.
Looking back on her collegiate experience and how it has shaped her, Rudaina writes, “As I reflect on my time at TCU, I know that it has given me more than just an education. TCU has given me a place to embrace challenges, while learning how to think ethically and responsibly. More broadly, it has shaped the way I think, lead and contribute to the world. TCU has provided me with an environment that continues to shape me every day. As I continue to grow throughout my undergraduate career and beyond, I will carry with me the lessons TCU has instilled in me: to lead with integrity, serve with compassion, and always strive to make a meaningful impact.”
One of Rudaina’s nominators, Hall Director Fiona Lindenfeld, discussed Rudaina’s commitment to the community: “Rudaina has consistently demonstrated an unwavering commitment to improving the TCU campus and serving others. She currently serves as the communications chair for the TCU Muslim Student Association, where she has displayed outstanding communication and organizational skills. Additionally, as the Muslim representative for the Religious Advisory Council, Rudaina plays a key role in organizing interfaith events such as ‘Know Your Neighbor Night,’ which facilitates vital dialogue between students of different faiths. Rudaina is also a co-president of Molding Melanin Magic, an organization dedicated to mentoring and supporting students at Meacham Middle School. Through this position, Rudaina has demonstrated her passion for service and mentorship, offering guidance and inspiration to younger students. Her leadership and ability to balance multiple roles while maintaining a high level of performance are testament to her remarkable time management and organizational skills.””
Alex Holder
Hometown: Little Rock, Arkansas
Major: Finance
Alex works as a professional development coach in the TCU Neeley School of Business, serves as chief of staff for the TCU Student Government Association as well as the Neeley Student Government representative, was the director of the Big 12 on The Hill conference, is vice president of finance for Alpha Delta Pi sorority, served as a Rho Gamma for the TCU Panhellenic Association and is a member of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity and the Order of Omega Greek honor society. She has also interned in the offices of Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and U.S. Sen. John Boozman and performed in TCU Opera’s production of Dido and Aeneas, the only non-music major to date to be cast in a production. After graduation, Alex plans to attend law school to pursue a JD/MBA dual degree. She seeks a career in public service and is committed to giving back to TCU in the future.
Alex shares that her extensive involvement in the TCU community has influenced her development, writing, “Countless experiences at TCU have shaped me as a leader. It’s the pack of TCU students in a busy train station in Florence, Italy, who banded together to piece together enough Italian to hop on the right train to get back to our campus in Rome. It’s the faculty member who took the time to connect me to the opera department when he knew I couldn’t contain my excitement at the thought of singing again. It’s the faculty members who encouraged me to continue to pursue university leadership after I lost an election. It’s the staff member who cleared her afternoon to talk to me about how she believed I could mentor other students to be professional business leaders. It’s the upperclassman who sat for hours teaching me the minutiae of the SGA governing documents, with the hope and promise that I would do the same as generations before them and pass the knowledge on to underclassmen after me. It’s walking a smiling freshman with a tearstained face to her advisor’s office to change her major after a crisis and paradigm shift. It’s the moment of mentoring a new SGA member through his new passion project, with an eerie similarity to how a former chief of staff showed me the same ropes only two years prior.”
One of Alex’s nominators, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Kathy Cavins-Tull, shared how she stands out as leader, writing, “Alex is an engaged leader, focused on the good of our community, and willing to take responsibility to enhance the opportunities for others. She has been active in Student Government Association, serving in roles like the Elections Board, Academic Affairs and dining committees. She chaired the Big 12 meeting of SGAs on our campus, a huge undertaking that had a tremendous impact on student government leaders across the country. This spring, Alex is serving as chair and host of the Big 12 on the Hill conference in Washington, D.C. Her ability to juggle multiple activities and deliver on all of them resulted in her appointment this year as chief of staff...
“She is incredibly optimistic and forward-thinking, and everything she does is in support of shared goals. Alex is professional and mature in her approach to working with university personnel, which always results in greater support for her efforts.””
Ryan Murray
Hometown: Leawood, Kansas
Major: Political Science
Ryan is a Frog Aides director, an ambassador with the TCU Office of Admissions, volunteers with The Kaizen Project Fort Worth and is a member of Kappa Alpha Pi Pre-Law Fraternity and Pi Kappa Phi Fraternity. He has also worked as an intern with CBIZ, Inc. After graduation, Ryan plans to attend law school and study to become a medical malpractice lawyer.
Ryan said that his service with Frog Aides has helped him learn a lot about himself and how he hopes to impact others, writing, “One of the main goals of the program is to help students find their ‘why.’ This ‘why’ is the reason someone has for waking up in the morning, the reason they join certain organizations, and is the guiding principle behind their actions. Through Frog Aides, I am proud to have learned that my ‘why’ is to ‘be a person that anyone can be their authentic self around and to create connected and uplifting communities that individuals can be empowered to achieve any goal wherever I go.’ Through my time in Frog Aides and in the other programs I have worked with during my time at TCU, I am proud to be living up to that ‘why’ each day.”
Assistant Director of Student Activities Addison Prado nominated Ryan, sharing, “Ryan holds many attributes as a leader, but there are two qualities that I most admire: he takes responsibility, and he cares deeply for his peers. Ryan is the first to take initiative when something needs to be done, and he is first to take responsibility when something goes wrong, even when it’s not his fault. Responsibility is often hard to teach, but to Ryan, it comes naturally. More than anything, Ryan cares about people. He cares about the way he makes them feel, and he cares about what is going on in their lives. He has a genuine interest in his peers and is sure to remember the smallest of facts about each person he meets. Whether he is pouring his energy into the development of first-year students or the Fort Worth community (likely, it’s both), Ryan lives his life with the responsibility to enhance the lives of those around him.””
Ezra Power
Hometown: Tulsa, Oklahoma
Major: Neuroscience | John V. Roach Honors College
Ezra is lead resident assistant with TCU Housing and Residence Life, a mentor in the John V. Roach Honors Mentor Program, the director of engagement in the Chancellor’s Leadership Program, and adventure trip program manager for TCU Outdoor Programs and is involved in research in the biology department. He also serves as a volunteer for Scouting USA’s premier leadership course, the National Advanced Youth Leadership Experience. Following graduation, Ezra plans to attend medical school.
He shares that TCU’s mission statement has influenced him as a leader and a future medical professional, writing, “As I pursue a career in health care, I will carry the values of ethical leadership into the medical field, fostering an environment that prioritizes care and advocacy for both patients and professionals. The roles I have held — RA, manager, and director — have prepared me to bring resilience, empathy and innovation into my future career. TCU has shaped me into a leader who works for the good of all people, and I am committed to paying forward in every community I serve.”
One of Ezra’s nominators, Sherley Hall Director Markel Harris, shared how Ezra distinguishes himself in all his pursuits, writing, “What makes Ezra’s accomplishments remarkable is his ability to balance his extensive leadership involvement with academic excellence. As a neuroscience major and a member of the John V. Roach Honors College, Ezra demonstrates an unwavering commitment to intellectual curiosity and academic rigor, maintaining a competitive GPA despite a demanding schedule. His academic pursuits reflect his passion for understanding the complexities of the human mind, and he consistently applies this knowledge to his leadership and service endeavors.””
Sameep Shah
Hometown: Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Majors: Computer Science; Economics | John V. Roach Honors College
Sameep is the College of Science & Engineering representative in the Student Government Association, an AddRan Ambassador, a research assistant and teaching assistant in the Department of Computer Science (as well as a past research assistant with the Harris College of Nursing and the Burnett School of Medicine), the event coordinator with the FinTech Club, a Peer2Peer Tutor and study group host with TCU Student Success, a member of the TCU Esports team, and a resident assistant with TCU Housing & Residence Life. He also serves as the Jain representative on the TCU Religious Advisory Council and has volunteered for TCU Day of Service, Trinity River Cleanup, International Christian Fellowship at University Baptist Church, and Frogs Aiding Immigrants and Refugees. Following graduation, Sameep is considering entering a career in software engineering or continuing his education in graduate school.
Reflecting on how the TCU mission statement has impacted him, he writes, “Looking forward, I think about the three crucial parts of the TCU mission statement: ethical leaders, responsible citizens and the global community are all imperative if you believe you want to bring change in the world. Throughout my time, I think TCU has instilled these parts in me that I will carry forward in my life. I want to bring about a positive change in the world, as I think a life’s value is measured by the positive value it adds in someone else’s life. Whether I pursue research as a career or work as a software engineer, I think my education at TCU and the TCU mission statement have taught me to learn how to help others, learn from others and believe that you can accomplish what you set out to do if your motivation is ethical and responsible.
“Mahatma Gandhi has said, ‘In a gentle way, you can change the world,’ which makes me believe that I can by acts of kindness make a difference in the world by being myself and learning how to embody the TCU mission statement more.” One of Sameep’s nominators, Hall Director Fiona Lindenfeld, shared how Sameep has dedicated himself to his RA duties as well as academic and extracurricular involvement, writing, “In addition to fulfilling the requirements of his role, Sameep has set an example for other members of the resident assistant team, encountering his students in casual and intentional environments. He stands out due to how he prioritizes his community and acts as a leader, even in simple encounters. Prior to any of his residents’ arrival in the fall, Sameep had already learned each of their names and, on move-in day, jumped up to meet each one with enthusiasm. Sameep is a flexible member of the team and actively searches for creative solutions to adaptive problems. He works quickly and effectively to support his residents and his team members, and acted as a leader, even as a first-year resident assistant. Sameep set high goals for himself at the start of the year, and has excelled in each area, continuing to grow despite increasing demands on his time during the school year.””
Levi Younger
Hometown: Stanwood, WA
Major: Finance
Levi is a member of the Neeley Leadership Program, Beta Theta Pi, the Pickleball Club and Christ Chapel; is the founder of Launch Club LLC and an NIL company that works with TCU student-athletes; a summer intern with Copper Banking and Fortson Venture Capital and a participant in intramural football, basketball, sand volleyball and soccer. He has also taken part in a mission trip to Belize with Christ Chapel and has volunteered with One Shade Greener, Hope Farms, Special Olympics and TCU Day of Service. Levi has accepted an offer to work at Fortson Venture Capital, where he previously interned, after graduation.
Levi says that his time at TCU has changed his perspective on leadership, writing, “TCU has not only shaped my understanding of leadership but has also challenged me to embrace its deeper meaning. Leadership that is rooted in service, ethical decision-making, and the courage to foster change. Through the example set by Chancellor Boschini and the broader university community, I have learned that leadership is not about authority or accolades, but about empowering others and embracing innovation. As I move forward, I will carry these lessons with me, striving to create environments that encourage creativity, challenge comfort zones, and drive meaningful progress.”
One of Levi’s nominators, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice Ryan Peckham says that his strong interpersonal skills, his compassion for others and his entrepreneurial drive make him an exceptional Clark Scholar. Peckham writes, “In my direct experience with Levi, I have been continually impressed by his intelligence, work ethic, and ability to build meaningful relationships. His ability to balance a 3.9 GPA while actively engaging in leadership roles and community service is a testament to his discipline and determination. Levi is an outstanding student and an individual of integrity and kindness, always willing to support and uplift those around him. He is always active in class, participating in learning and encouraging those around him.””
We have seen many students who, though not eligible for additional scholarship support, have exhibited the qualities of leadership, scholastic achievement, character and service that all our Clark Scholars embody. This year, seven talented and exceptional students have been awarded the distinction of Clark Society Scholar.