Alumni Association Select Distinguished Seniors

BUFFALO, NY – The Canisius University Alumni Association will honor Molly M. Watson ’12 and Maria I. Eugenio ’12 with its Distinguished Senior Award at the college’s Spring Honors Convocation on Friday, May 18. The award is given to a student who has distinguished herself or himself through leadership roles and involvement with the college. The Alumni Association cites Watson and Eugenio for exemplifying the Jesuit ideals in all their endeavors. 

Watson is an accounting, accounting information systems and finance triple major. She is a member of Who’s Who Among American Colleges and Universities (2010 and 2011) and previously was a member of the National Academy of Finance (2005-2008). Watson currently works as a corporate accounting intern for Moog, Inc. 

Watson has extensive volunteer and service experience, including her work with the Office of Campus Ministry’s Winter Service Week trip to Jersey City, NJ and Canisius University Community Day. In addition, Watson participated in wide-ranging extra-curricular activities at the college. She served as president of the Accounting Society, and vice president of business and finance and as a senator for the Undergraduate Student Association. 

Watson also helped integrate new students to Canisius as a member of the orientation staff. As a member of the Leaders Educating and Developing (LEAD) Team, she worked closely with the Office of Campus Programming & Leadership Development (CPLD) to assist in the development, coordination, promotion, and implementation of workshops designed to promote leadership skills and ideals. 

Eugenio is a chemistry/psychology dual major, pre-medicine track. She is a member of the DiGamma Honor Society and Alpha Sigma Nu, the National Jesuit Honor Society. 

Eugenio participated in significant service and volunteer work while at Canisius. She served as a spiritual intern for the Office of Campus Ministry, for which she led student retreats. Eugenio was lector coordinator and liturgy committee co-chair for campus ministry and also served as a Eucharistic minister. 

During Winter Service Week, Eugenio traveled to New York City, where she volunteered with patients at Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center. She also participated in an international service-immersion experience in Chennai and Kuppayanallur, India, where she learned about the Dalit, or untouchables, and taught English at Loyola Secondary School. 

In addition, Eugenio took part in many extra-curricular activities at the college. She served as president of the Accounting Society, as well as vice president of business and finance and as a senator for the Undergraduate Student Association. As a member of the Leaders Educating and Developing (LEAD) Team, Eugenio worked closely with the Office of Campus Programming & Leadership Development (CPLD) to assist in the development, coordination, promotion, and implementation of workshops designed to promote leadership skills and ideals. 

Canisius is one of 28 Catholic, Jesuit colleges in the nation and the premier private college in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.