The event was held as part of the celebrations leading up to the graduation of the Class of 2026.
By Institutional Communications
As part of the activities leading up to its 87th commencement ceremony, Universidad del Sagrado Corazón (Sagrado) recognized the academic achievements of its Graduate Program students during a gathering dedicated to fellowship and celebration.
This year, 254 students earned master’s degrees, and 13 students completed Graduate Certificate programs. During the event, Sagrado presented the Dr. Ethel Ríos de Betancourt Award and the Dr. Edward Bernays Award. In addition, the university honored nine students with the Sagrado Graduate Innovation Award, an institutional distinction recognizing excellence, innovation, and the impact of thesis, capstone, or degree projects completed within master’s programs.
The Dr. Ethel Ríos de Betancourt Award, named after the founder of the Ferré Rangel School of Communication (ECFR, per its acronym in Spanish) and creator of Puerto Rico’s first Master’s Degree in Public Relations, is awarded annually to a graduate of the Master of Arts in Public Relations and Integrated Communication program, with the support of the Puerto Rico Community Foundation. This year, Tatiana Ortiz Ramírez was selected by ECFR Dean Dr. María Vera Hernández and Professor Gina Hernández, the program’s academic leader, for developing a communication plan based on a case study. Ortiz Ramírez also achieved the highest GPA in her program.
The Dr. Edward Bernays Award is named after the philanthropist and pioneer of modern public relations, who established a permanent endowment fund to promote excellence and leadership among outstanding students. This year, Sagrado presented the distinction to Tatiana Ortiz Ramírez, Tatiana Arzuaga Menéndez, and Alejandro Torruella González.
The Graduate Innovation Award was also presented to graduates from various schools who distinguished themselves through the innovative nature of their degree projects. In the Public Relations and Integrated Communication program at the Ferré Rangel School of Communication, Yesenia Avilés Rivera was recognized for her applied research skills and her ability to translate findings into innovative and actionable strategic communication plans. In the Journalism and Innovation program, Omary Santiago Torres was honored for the ethical and human-centered perspective that guided his work, as well as for her conceptual precision and ability to translate complex ideas into relevant strategies for addressing real-world challenges.
In the School of Health and Sciences, Ivelisa Marín Santos received the distinction for her degree project, through which she developed protocols and interventions aimed at combating sedentary lifestyles among older adults.
Meanwhile, the School of Arts, Design, and Creative Industries (EADIC) recognized Gloribel Delgado Esquilín—writer, journalist, and author of the novel Don’t Forget Tonight (No olvides esta noche)—for her excellence in applying historical-literary research and artistic practice in Puerto Rico. EADIC also honored Mireily Rodríguez Rodríguez, from the Design and Creative Production program, for her project Retazos de Cultura (“Fragments of Culture”), which proposes the SCRAP (Scrapbook-Centered Reflective Artistic Process) methodology as a tool for combining visual elements, artistic practices, and cultural analysis in the evaluation of community projects.
The School of Business recognized Sarita Vargas Rosado, from the Business Development and Management program, for her leadership and innovative mindset in entrepreneurship and business problem-solving.
Although they were unable to attend the event, Shirlyan Odette Caraballo (Master’s in Storytelling), Ángel Ortiz (Master’s in Digital Marketing), and Katherine Jiménez López (Master’s in Education in Learning, Media, and Technology) were also recognized during the ceremony.
To mark the beginning of a new chapter for the graduates, President Gilberto J. Marxuach concluded the event by reflecting on the importance of finding ways to contribute to the creation of a supportive, just, and peaceful society. He left graduates with the question: “Where will you place your heart?”
To learn more about the Graduate Program, visit its Academic Offerings section on Sagrado’s website.