Walsh University 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 academic honor, given annually to a graduating senior with a high cumulative grade point average, a record meeting rigorous challenges, and demonstrated ability to apply intellectual mastery. 

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
Parvanee Karimpour
Major Biology Pre-Medicine, Minors Art, Chemistry
Summa Cum Laude
Ona, West Virginia

Parvanee Karimpour has consistently demonstrated academic excellence during her tenure 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 each semester 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 2020-2021.

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 consistently earned an ITA Scholar-Athlete Award since 2019. She also was 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
Madison Markus
Behavioral Science
Summa Cum Laude
Canal Fulton, Ohio

Madison Markus has consistently demonstrated a strong commitment to the values Walsh University through her leadership and service.

During her academic tenure at Walsh, Madison has served in various work and internship roles that have underscored her leadership abilities and commitment to service to others.  Examples include Instructor at Inspire Performing Arts Center (2017-2018), Telecounselor and Tour Guide at Walsh University (2017-2019), Assistant Cheerleading Coach at Northwest High School (2018-2020), Resident Assistant (2018-2021) and Guidance Counseling Intern at Northwest Local Schools (2021). In addition, Madison serves as a Sacristan for Our Lady of Perpetual Help Chapel and a Walsh University Admissions Representative.

Among her academic honors, Madison is the recipient of the Walsh University Woman of Distinction Award (2019), New Resident Assistant of the Year Award (2019) and 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 Cavs in the Community Day (2017), Operation Orange at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank (2017-2018), Brothers of Christian Instruction Service Experience in Maine (2019), St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Community Kitchen (2018, 2020), Cav Bash (2020) and Matthew 8:20 Food and Clothing Ministry at Little Flower Catholic Parish (2020).

After graduating as a member of the Honors Program this May with a degree in Behavioral Science, Madison Markus plans to 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.

https://www.walsh.edu/E-Newsletters/Classof2021honors.html