Walsh University has presented two members of the Class of 2021 with its most prestigious honors, the Outstanding Student Award and the Tower of Excellence Award this past week.
Senior Parvanee Karimpour has been recognized as the 2021 Outstanding Student Award recipient, Walsh's most prestigious student academic honor. Awarded to a graduating senior, the recipient must have earned a very high cumulative grade point average (typically greater than 3.9) and demonstrated interdisciplinary excellence, a high level of intellectual curiosity and a consistent commitment to academic rigor and depth.
In addition, Madison Markus has been named the 2021 Tower of Excellence Award recipient. This award is presented to the senior who has displayed outstanding leadership qualities, exemplary interest in co-curricular and extracurricular work, and social and moral behavior that fulfills the mission of Walsh University.
Outstanding Student Award Recipient Parvanee Karimpour
Major Biology Pre-Medicine, Minors Art, Chemistry
Summa Cum Laude
Ona, West Virginia
Parvanee Karimpour has consistently demonstrated academic excellence during her studies at Walsh University pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Biology Pre-Medicine with minors in Art and Chemistry. Her academic accomplishments have earned her Dean’s List honors every semester she has attended Walsh, since 2017.
A Walsh Presidential Scholarship recipient, Parvanee has been active on campus through the Honors Program, Women’s Varsity Tennis, Sigma Zeta Science Honor Society and the Marching/Concert Bands. She also served as Vice President of the Walsh Pre-Healthcare Club during the 2020-2021 academic year.
Parvanee presented her research nationally at the 2020 Catholic Medical Association Annual Conference where she earned the Best Research Poster Presentation award. She is the contributing author on two future publications with Dr. Phillip Owens of the University of Colorado and an upcoming publication with the Prokop Lab of Michigan State University. She recently presented her Honors Thesis on Fibroblast BMPR1a Knockout Suppresses Mammary Tumor Growth through Matrix and Immune Modulation and was honored as the Walsh University 2021 Outstanding Senior in Biology Pre-Professional Major.
As a Walsh Cavalier scholar-athlete, Parvanee earned the GMAC Second Team All-Conference Award in women’s tennis for 2019 and helped her team to earn the GMAC Tennis Conference Team Runner-Up award in 2018 and 2019. She has earned an Intercollegiate Tennis Association Scholar-Athlete Award every year since 2019. She was also a qualifier for the USA Triathlon Age-Group National Championships in 2019 and an Age Group Finisher for the Pro-Football Hall of Fame Marathon in 2018.
Following graduation, Parvanee looks forward to attending the University of Kentucky in Lexington, KY, as a M.D./Ph.D. candidate in the University’s dual program.
Tower of Excellence Award Recipient Madison Markus
Behavioral Science
Summa Cum Laude
Canal Fulton, Ohio
Through her leadership and service, Madison Markus has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the values of Walsh University throughout her academic studies.
Madison has served in various work and internship roles that have underscored her leadership abilities and commitment of service to others. Examples include Instructor at Inspire Performing Arts Center from 2017-2018, Telecounselor and Tour Guide at Walsh University from 2017-2019, Assistant Cheerleading Coach at Northwest High School from 2018-2020, Resident Assistant from 2018-2021 and Guidance Counseling Intern at Northwest Local Schools in 2021. In addition, Madison serves as a Sacristan for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel and a Walsh University Admissions Representative.
Among her honors, Madison is the recipient of the Walsh University 2019 Woman of Distinction Award, New Resident Assistant of the Year Award for 2019 and the 2020 Residence Life Director’s Award 2020. She was also inducted into the Psi Chi International Honor Society of Psychology in 2019 and named Walsh University Founders’ Festival Royalty in 2020.
Beyond her academic and extracurricular activities, Madison is also active within the Walsh University and surrounding communities. Her service experience includes work with 2017 Cavs in the Community Day, Operation Orange at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank from 2017-2018, the Brothers of Christian Instruction 2019 Service Experience in Maine, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Community Kitchen in 2018 and 2020, the 2020 Cav Bash and Matthew 8:20 Food and Clothing Ministry at Little Flower Catholic Parish in 2020.
After graduating as a member of the Honors Program this May with a degree in Behavioral Science, Madison Markus will remain at Walsh University where she will continue working toward a master’s degree in Counseling and Human Development, with the ultimate goal of becoming a school counselor.
