Saint Mary’s College will honor nine valedictorians for the Class of 2026 at the College’s 179th Commencement on Saturday, May 16 at 12 pm, on Le Mans Green.
Chloe Emenhiser is from Middlebury, Indiana. She is completing her Bachelor of Arts in Statistical and Actuarial Mathematics. During her time at Saint Mary’s, Chloe was involved within Pi Mu Epsilon, the National Mathematics Honor Society in the United States, and the Math and Computer Science Club. During her senior year, Chloe was a student grader and teaching assistant within the Mathematics department. She is excited to pursue a career in data science that supports her love of mathematics and statistics. After graduation, Chloe plans to continue her education at Saint Mary’s College by pursuing a Master of Science in Data Science through the 4 + 1 Data Science Program.
Emma Heffron is from LaPorte, Indiana. She is completing her Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Saint Mary’s College. During her time at Saint Mary’s, Emma engaged in several academic research projects, including a paper examining automated scalp cooling therapy and its effectiveness in reducing chemotherapy-induced alopecia in breast cancer patients. Through her nursing clinicals, Emma served the broader South Bend community in a variety of patient care settings, including inpatient acute care units, outpatient clinics, and community-based initiatives such as the University of Notre Dame Flu Blitz, where she assisted in administering vaccinations to members of the tri-campus community. Emma’s commitment to academic excellence and leadership led to her induction into Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing in April 2026. She was also an active participant in the Friends with Sisters program, where she was paired with a Sister of the Holy Cross. This experience deepened her appreciation for the College’s founding legacy and strengthened her connection to the Holy Cross tradition of compassionate service, particularly within the nursing profession. Upon graduation, Emma will begin her career as a Registered Nurse in the Intensive Care Unit at Memorial Hospital in South Bend, Indiana, where she looks forward to providing skilled, patient-centered care.
Maura Mack is from Duneland Beach, Indiana. Maura is completing her Bachelor of Science in Biology with a Cellular/Molecular concentration, and a minor in Chemistry. While at Saint Mary’s, Maura has served as the president of Future Women in Healthcare club, Treasurer of Biology Club, an MCAT tutor in the Writing & Tutoring Center, and is a member of the Beta Beta Beta Biological Honor Society. She also worked for the Belles Against Violence Office as a Student Advisory Committee member, helping plan and implement prevention programming, promote campus awareness, and offer peer support. Off campus, she has also enjoyed volunteering in South Bend at Pet Refuge Animal Shelter and Center for Hospice Care. During her senior year, Maura conducted research in biology at Saint Mary’s, under the guidance of Dr. Rana Abdel-Samad. Her research examined the effects of a novel molecule on colorectal cancer cell proliferation. Upon graduation, Maura is eager to begin applying to medical school during her gap year while gaining more clinical experience.
Alaina Motes is from Salina, Kansas. She is completing her Bachelor of Arts in Literature in English and Creative Writing, and a minor in Gender and Women’s Studies. While at Saint Mary’s, Alaina has served as the Vice President of Belles Book Nook, where she has fostered a community for all readers and writers in the Saint Mary’s community to come together, exchange ideas, and collaborate creatively. In her own writing and analysis, Alaina is particularly interested in how intersectionality is portrayed within different characters and situations. Alaina has studied the history of the college’s literary journal Rosa Mystica, which later became the Chimes literary magazine, of which she is on the editorial board. With this research, her experience on the editorial board, and her time as a teaching assistant for Introduction to Creative Writing, Alaina hopes to make a name for herself in the publishing industry. She first began working toward this goal when she fell in love with books on trips as a child to the Salina Public Library with her grandfather. Alaina has volunteered at the library since she was 12 years old. In the fall, Alaina plans to attend graduate school at Kansas State University in order to earn her Master of Fine Arts in English with a concentration in Creative Writing.
Abigail Newton is from Kirklin, Indiana. She is completing her Bachelor of Arts in Computing and Applied Mathematics at Saint Mary’s College. While at Saint Mary’s, Abby has been an active member of Pi Mu Epsilon, the National Mathematics Honor Society, as well as Pickleball Club, and Puzzle Club. She enjoys running, reading, playing board and card games, and spending time with her two dogs, Parker and Minnie. She also participates in community-building events such as weekly community pop-ups with Sister Kathy, small groups, and worship activities across campus. Abby has contributed to the college community through her work in the IT Department as a ResNet Computer Consultant, earning a promotion this year to ResNet Computer Consultant Manager. Upon graduation, Abby will continue her education at Saint Mary’s College by pursuing a Master of Science in Data Science through the 4 + 1 Data Science Program to gain experience in data analytics as she prepares for her future career.
Sophia Sainato-Pinkie is from Valparaiso, Indiana. She is completing her Bachelor of Arts in Communication Studies with minors in Psychology and PR/Advertising. During her time at Saint Mary’s College, Sophia served as Vice President of Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society, where she led the social media committee and promoted the Communication Studies major in numerous ways. She was a member of the International Honor Society in Psychology chapter at Saint Mary’s, volunteered with Feed My Starving Children, engaged in Best Buddies at the University of Notre Dame supporting individuals with disabilities, and participated in Friends with Sisters at Saint Mary’s, where she spent time building meaningful relationships with the Sisters of the Holy Cross. Sophia also studied abroad at John Cabot University in Rome, Italy, where she expanded her global perspective on communication and culture. Sophia is profoundly grateful for the Catholic foundation of Saint Mary’s College and for the professors and faculty whose wisdom, mentorship, and support helped her grow and succeed. Following graduation, Sophia will attend the University of Notre Dame, where she will pursue a Master of Science in Management with a concentration in Marketing at the Mendoza College of Business.
Elizabeth Stack is from Downers Grove, Illinois. She is completing her Bachelor of Arts, with a double major in Economics and Political Science. While at Saint Mary’s, Elizabeth worked as an economics tutor in the Writing and Tutoring Center, where she worked one-on-one with peers who were enrolled in economics courses and held study sessions with larger groups. Elizabeth studied abroad in London, England, during her sophomore year of college. She is interested in the role that institutions play in shaping people’s economic outcomes. After graduation, she plans to attend law school with the goal of working in policy.
Morgan Zack is from Lockport, Illinois. Morgan is completing her Bachelor of Social Work and a minor in Spanish. In 2025, Morgan was inducted into the Phi Alpha Honor Society. Morgan also conducted research in the form of a literature review which she presented a poster for at the Indiana Association of Social Work Educators conference in Indianapolis. Her literature review focused on the comorbidity of intimate partner violence and substance use disorder in women, including how these issues impact each other, what treatment options are available, and what societal factors might impact treatment. As part of the Social Work program, Morgan is completing a year-long internship at Saint Joseph Health System, working to provide pregnant women with resources and support. After graduating with her bachelor’s degree, Morgan will start the accelerated Master of Social Work program at Saint Mary’s College in fall and will be the first student to complete the 3+1 program in Social Work.
Leah Zimmerman is from Fort Wayne, Indiana. Leah is completing her Bachelor of Arts in Speech-Language Pathology. While completing her studies at Saint Mary’s, Leah served as an executive board member for the college’s National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (NSSLHA) chapter during her senior year, co-leading SLP students in campus-based collaborative programming and engagement in service within the South Bend community. During her junior year, Leah assisted in language development research under Dr. Stacy Betz, collecting data for a study regarding vocabulary learning capabilities in young children ages 4-9. She also worked at the Early Childhood Development Center located on the Saint Mary’s campus during her sophomore and junior years. Leah was a member of the Saint Mary’s softball team for two years, serving as a captain during her junior year. For the 2024-25 academic year, she received the MIAA Academic Elite Award, which was created to recognize exceptional academic achievement amongst student-athletes in the MIAA conference. In the summer of 2025, Leah studied abroad in Rome, Italy, where she enjoyed immersing herself in Italian culture by traveling to historical and cultural institutions. Leah will continue her education by finishing her Master of Science in Speech-Language Pathology at Saint Mary’s through the 4+1 program. She hopes to return to Fort Wayne following the completion of her master’s and desires to work as a medical SLP in a hospital setting.