OUR RECENT GRADUATES

Emmaline Lombardo ’26 CLAS

We are thrilled to announce that the 2026 Karol Wojtyla Medallion for Excellence in Humanities was awarded to Emmaline Lombardo ’26 CLAS, a double major in Humanities and Political Science in the Honors Program.

During her four years in Humanities, Emmaline exemplified a contagious love of learning, deep questioning and intellectual fellowship. Her junior year was spent as a Catherine Barr Windels fellow at Blackfriars Hall, Oxford University. Upon her return to campus for senior year she was an inaugural student leader in the Augustinian Ambassadors Program and the founding feet of Villanova’s new Swing Dancing Club. Her yearlong Humanities thesis for the Honors Program was titled, “Constituted for the Kingdom: A Political Eschatology for Our Times.”

From Villanova, she heads to the University of Notre Dame, where she is entering the Master of Theological Studies program.

Cate Donnelly ’26 CLAS

The 2026 Humanities Outstanding Senior Essay Prize was awarded to Cate Donnelly ’26 CLAS for her essay, “All Things Bright and Beautiful: Meditations on Beauty.”

A panel of three faculty had the challenging task of deliberating the most outstanding piece of writing submitted by a strong class of Humanities majors at the end of their final semester together in Senior Symposium.

Advised by Helena Tomko, DPhil, Cate’s essay was extolled by the evaluating committee for its “splendid thinking and writing through and through” and as exemplary of the “total Humanities package: interdisciplinary, well argued, well illustrated through art and touching upon a core theme of our department.” In the words of one evaluator, “What a beautiful essay on beauty!”

Cate is now working for an art gallery in Atlanta, Georgia, as she continues to pursue her love of art and beauty.

Gabe Donovan ’26 CLAS

Gabe Donovan ’26 CLAS, a double major in Humanities and Public Administration in the Honors Program, became the inaugural recipient of the St. Rita of Cascia Humanities Award for Augustinian Ideals.

This new award is named for St. Rita of Cascia, one of the most remarkable saints in the Augustinian Order. Her life was distinguished by her commitment and care for those in her life—as a daughter, mother, wife and member of a religious community; the depth of her contemplation and vision; her persistence and patience in the face of suffering; and her thoughtful, collegial generosity and service. She is popularly known as the “saint of the impossible” for overcoming adversity and resistance to realize her dream of joining the Augustinian community. In the judgment of the department of Humanities faculty, the recipient best exemplifies such qualities of character and intellect among the graduating class of Humanities majors. This includes a joyful life of service to fellow community members that is founded on an understanding of the Humanities educational mission; a generosity, depth of insight, and profound love of learning in and outside of the classroom; dedication to enhancing the department’s common good at events and activities—formal and informal; and, when relevant, a dedication to Humanities that overcomes difficulties to share in our life of learning.

Anyone who know Gabe knows how well this describe him! Gabe will remain at Villanova for a fifth year at Villanova to study for a Master of Public Administration before joining the Alliance for Catholic Education at the University of Notre Dame in summer 2027.