Kennesaw State University senior Ari Schwartz has been awarded the President’s Award of Distinction, an honor presented at commencement ceremonies to a graduate who serves as an inspiration to peers and the broader university community. Schwartz, a biology major graduating on December 19, has achieved academic success while managing significant health challenges.
Schwartz lives with a severe autoimmune condition that includes malignant, treatment-resistant obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). Despite these obstacles, he maintained a perfect GPA throughout his studies and was recognized for his published research and campus involvement.
“Ari’s time at KSU has been filled with academic and research excellence, service, and leadership,” said KSU President Kathy S. Schwaig. “These achievements stand on their own, but Ari accomplished them despite facing serious health challenges. He has set himself apart and his determination and resilience are truly inspiring.”
Schwartz noted the uncertainty he faced when starting college due to his health. “When I first enrolled at KSU, my family and I weren’t sure if I’d be able to complete even one semester,” he said. “There were many times I couldn’t do things most students take for granted.”
His medical care required frequent travel to cities such as New York, Charlotte, Houston, and Pittsburgh. According to neurologist Melanie Alarcio, Schwartz managed these demands while maintaining his coursework and extracurricular activities.
Schwartz leveraged his experience with OCD in positive ways within his academic life. He earned honors from the Keeping Sights Upward Journey Honors College and received scholarships including NASA’s and Rockland Immunochemicals’ Joy Cappell Scholarship after winning a national video essay competition on CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing.
“I was surprised to learn that my essay was chosen over graduate-level submissions from Dartmouth, UCLA, and the University of Georgia,” Schwartz said.
Premila Achar, associate professor of biotechnology in the College of Science and Mathematics, commented: “Ari embodies all of KSU’s core values: intellectual rigor, leadership, inclusivity, integrity, accountability, and a genuine drive to serve others. He is also one of the most humble and principled individuals I have encountered in my career.”
In addition to academics, Schwartz served as vice president and treasurer of the KSU Clay Studio Society where he promoted accessibility for all students. As a learning assistant for biology students, he supported peers by attending study hours and offering feedback to improve teaching methods.
Through NASA’s Scholars Program, Schwartz led STEM workshops for underrepresented high school students. He also conducted research on natural antifungal agents aimed at protecting Georgia’s peanut crops; this work resulted in publication in the American Chemical Society Omega Journal as well as an abstract in the Georgia Journal of Science. He presented findings at four national and regional conferences.
“Some of my proudest moments at KSU were representing Owl Nation at four different national and regional science conferences and sharing our research with broader academic communities,” he said.
Following graduation, Schwartz plans to attend medical school with the goal of becoming a cardiologist. “My health journey showed me how critical accurate diagnoses can be,” he said. “If my story inspires even one person not to give up, every hardship will have served a greater purpose.”
