Dixon student named senior of the year at Elmhurst University

ELMHURST – Four Elmhurst University seniors, including a Dixon resident, recently were honored with Founders Awards and the Senior of the Year award for their outstanding service and leadership.

Eaden Hvarre of Dixon was honored with the Senior of the Year award, which recognizes the senior who excels in academics and campus involvement and passionate about continuing the Elmhurst University tradition, according to a news release. A psychology major, Hvarre volunteers as a medical advocate for sexual assault survivors. On campus, she held leadership roles in various organizations, such as director of philanthropy for Alpha Phi sorority and president of Panhellenic Council.

Founders Awards

The three Founders Awards, which are among the university’s oldest and most prestigious, recognize self-initiated service that brings about change and embodies humane values.

• Payton Schmidt, a business administration and sport management major from West Dundee, received the Founders Award for Service to the Greater Society. Schmidt was an Honors Program Global Scholar, as well as captain of the women’s basketball team and president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
• Paul Sebedyn, a world language education and Spanish major from Aurora, received the Cureton Award for Service to the Global Community. Sebedyn was first violinist in the orchestra and was active in the Latino Student and International Student associations. He also was a Spanish tutor in the learning center.
• Rachel Fratt, an art business major, received the Founders Award for Service to the university community. A Las Vegas native, Fratt was president of Art Club and head designer for the student newspaper. She also was captain of the women’s golf team and interned with the Elmhurst Art Museum.

The winners were announced during the 2024 Student Leadership Awards ceremony earlier this month.