Class of 2027's Outstanding Senior, Caroline Ford, began her Vanderbilt journey long before she filled out an application. It started just days after her mom gave birth to her and brought her back to the Chi Omega sorority house.
"Both my parents did undergrad and grad school at Vanderbilt. My mom found out she was pregnant with me her junior year. She took a year out from school and raised me partially in her sorority house while my dad was finishing law school, and then my mom went back and finished her Vanderbilt undergrad," she said. "So Vanderbilt was very much my first home."
Fast-forward two decades to the halftime of Vanderbilt's Homecoming football game on Oct. 17, 2026, when Ford, who is company commander of Vanderbilt Navy ROTC, a university tour guide and vice president of recruitment counselors on the Panhellenic Council, shared with her mom the special moment of being named Class of 2027 Outstanding Senior.
"To say I am proud feels like an understatement to be sure," said Ford's mom, Mary Cady Bolin, BA'05, MDiv'15.
"This chapter with Caroline at Vanderbilt has certainly been my second-favorite redemption story of all time. I may have given her life, but she has chosen to live it well." -Mary Cady Bolin
The Outstanding Senior award is one of the highest honors an undergraduate student can receive at Vanderbilt. It recognizes a senior who exemplifies the values of the university community through leadership, service and passion. Students are nominated by a campus organization, fellow student, faculty or staff member and are voted on by their class.
MILITARY DREAMS
In high school, Ford knew she wanted to follow in the military footsteps of uncles and a great-grandfather she greatly admired. She successfully completed the Marine Corps' grueling field exercises at Parris Island-which she counts as one of her greatest accomplishments to date. At Vanderbilt, she transferred into the Navy ROTC because of an interest in naval weapons and sonar systems. When she graduates and starts her Navy career, she will be a commissioned officer.
Ford credits Vanderbilt's ROTC program as the most positive influence on her university experience, which is why she chose to wear her Navy uniform for the Outstanding Senior ceremony.
"Military service just draws people with the best character from every different background and belief, family dynamic and socioeconomic status. It's really incredible," she said.
"ROTC is the organization I'm most proud to be a part of, and it's the organization that's made the biggest difference for me-not only at Vanderbilt, but in my life. I'm forever grateful to wear the uniform and represent ROTC." -Caroline Ford
CAREER-READY SKILLS
Ford is majoring in human and organizational development and believes the skills she's learned have prepared her well for a military or business career.
"I think HOD is the best program Vanderbilt offers because we talk about improvement science and looking at a challenge and being able to identify the components that are affecting this challenge," she said. "It's about learning to improve systems within organizations, learning to lead small groups and work within teams when you're not always going to agree with each other."
GREEK LIFE BONDS
Ford's other closest group is her sorority. She said she never planned to rush or find such strong bonds where she would fit in. But her mom and friends encouraged her to go outside her comfort zone, and she has loved the experience.
"I always tell girls, there's a place for any woman in Vanderbilt Greek Life who wants to join," she said. "Recruitment is my Super Bowl, and I love it! I love the questions. I love the relationships you build and the connections you make. I love the energy. I love getting people excited. I love getting to be intentional with people and really make them feel seen and heard."
HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Ford is excited for the opportunity to challenge herself and see the world in the Navy after graduation, but Vanderbilt will always be her home away from home.
"When people say, 'Vanderbilt feels like home,' I'm like, this really is my first home, and I am so grateful for this university-and especially my mom for bringing me to where I am today."
MEET THE CLASS OF 2027 NOMINEES
Ava Aria
Majors: Neuroscience and Medicine, Health and Society
Ava Aria is senior adviser and former president of the Multicultural Leadership Council, senior adviser and former co-president of the Vanderbilt Iranian Student Association, adviser and former vice-president of the Middle Eastern and North African Student Association and former senator of Vanderbilt Student Government.
"Much of my service at Vanderbilt has centered on using community building as a way to connect students to one another and to the greater Nashville community," she said. "One of the strongest senses of belonging I have felt at Vanderbilt came through the Multicultural Leadership Council. I initially entered Vanderbilt's multicultural community through organizations that reflected my own identity and background, but MLC introduced me to students whose cultures and perspectives were different from my own."
Aria has participated in multiple medical research internships, including work on spinal cord regeneration. She is interested in researching the biology of injury and regeneration and how it could ultimately lead to better treatments for patients. Her plans include applying to medical school.
Maya Azzato
Majors: Child Development and Culture, Advocacy and Leadership
Maya Azzato is a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholar and captain of the Vanderbilt Dance Team. She is also athletics director of Anchorthon, where she leads Dancing Dores, Vanderbilt Athletics' social impact initiative supporting the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt.
Azzato is a research assistant in the Hands-On Play Lab led by Professor Amy Needham. She has also worked with and conducted research tied to inclusive learning for children with disabilities.
"This experience cemented my commitment to advocating for communities that serve children of all abilities, deepened my interest in graduate research, and highlighted my passion for projects that bridge universities and the communities around them," Azzato said.
She plans to attend graduate school to obtain a Ph.D. in developmental or social psychology, after spending a few years working in education or child development research.
Alexandra Biddle
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Alexandra Biddle is a Cornelius Vanderbilt Scholar, president of the musical theatre revue troupe The Original Cast and a university tour guide.
Biddle conducts research in the Laser Diagnostics of Combustion Lab under Professor Robert Pitz.
"More than any technical skills, the lab gave me a renewed sense of confidence and curiosity. It reassured me that I deserved to be here as a unique contributor to the collective knowledge that defines Vanderbilt. It also taught me to lean into solving problems, while being comfortable with not yet knowing the answer," she said.
After graduation, Biddle will work for John Deere, where she had a summer internship tied to large tractor engine development.
"It opened my eyes to a whole new sector of engineering-agricultural engineering. I loved getting to help farmers, the source of our food and so much more," she said. "Seeing the tangible impact that my work could have on real communities and people was so meaningful to me."
Whitney Childs
Majors: Biomedical Engineering and Communication Studies
Whitney Childs is co-president of the Ambassadores organization, leading more than a hundred students supporting the Next Steps program, Vanderbilt's four-year inclusive higher education initiative. She also serves as the assistant to the director of undergraduate studies in biomedical engineering, and she is a learning assistant across multiple STEM courses, including calculus and physics.
"My most significant involvement and most meaningful component of my college experience has undoubtedly been my contributions to Ambassadores and Next Steps. My biggest contribution was never the mixers or educational events themselves, but the bridges between diverse communities and the broader Vanderbilt community I was able to forge," she said. "I will undoubtedly continue my relationship with the program into my post-grad journey."
After commencement, she will return to her hometown of Houston and work as an associate consultant at Bain & Company.
Sophie Citron
Majors: Neuroscience and Medicine, Health and Society
Sophie Citron is a National Merit Scholar, president of Chabad Vanderbilt Jewish Student Group, co-president of Vanderbilt Gift of Life, vice president of Pi Beta Phi recruitment and secretary and founding member of the Nu Rho Psi neuroscience honor society.
"As co-president of Gift of Life, I have helped add more than 1,000 individuals from the Vanderbilt and Nashville communities to the international bone marrow and stem cell registry, contributing to multiple lifesaving transplants," she said. "I have also helped lead efforts to increase diversity within the registry by partnering with cultural organizations across campus because a patient's likelihood of finding a matching donor is closely tied to representation within the registry. This work has been especially meaningful to me as we strive to expand access to potentially lifesaving treatment across patient populations."
Citron plans to attend medical school.
Dylan Goldin
Majors: Engineering and Political Science
Dylan Goldin is a Nichols Humanitarian Fund award winner, co-president of Vanderbilt Gift of Life, co-president of Vanderbilt Club Basketball, co-founder of Nucleate Vanderbilt, a member of the Dialogue Vanderbilt Student Advisory Board, an HPAO Foundations Pre-Health Mentor, Siloam Health volunteer and treasurer of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society.
"Through Gift of Life, I have recruited over 1,000 people to join the international stem cell and bone marrow registry and led an organization that has found 366 matches for patients with blood cancer," he said. "Volunteering at Siloam Health as a refugee support and clinical support volunteer has also been such an impactful experience. Seeing the clinic work to increase access to care by arranging transportation, lowering costs and accommodating each patient's individual needs has been deeply inspiring. I hope to emulate this model of care in my career by always understanding the social factors that affect each patient's health."
Goldin plans to attend medical school.
Naomi Porter
Majors: Spanish and Human and Organizational Development
Naomi Porter is an Ingram Scholar and a Peabody Scholar, president of Vanderbilt Tour Guides, president of PCUSA Campus Ministry, member of Alpha Delta Pi and member of Alpha Kappa Psi business fraternity.
For three years, Porter interned with the National Association of State Boards of Education, where she supported work focused on students and education policy. She is also a research assistant with Nashville PEER (Partnership for Education Equity Research), researching positive school supports within Metro Nashville Public Schools.
"Through my Ingram Scholars project, I collaborated with another scholar to partner with a nonprofit in Colorado serving children with disabilities. Together, we helped develop a bilingual, neurodiversity-inclusive after-school program. I served directly as a teacher, helped design and adapt curriculum to meet students' diverse learning needs, and led Spanish-language workshops for parents on navigating their children's individualized education programs," she said.
Porter will join KPMG service firm in Nashville as a state, local, government and education advisory associate after graduation.
Yotam Peer
Majors: Public Policy and Economics
Yotam Peer is a Posse Scholar, president of Jewish Voice for Peace, head resident adviser of Hank Ingram House, university tour guide, executive member of the Dialogue Vanderbilt student advisory board and lead of the Dialogue Vanderbilt Ambassador program. Peer planned a series of talks throughout the school year on different election issues.
"My interest in Dialogue Vanderbilt stems from a deep commitment to free speech and deep love for curiosity," he said. "I enjoy talking about challenging things, having my mind changed, and learning from others."
He also interned at the Einhorn Collaborative, which is dedicated to advancing the value of social connection. Peer plans to work in government after graduating and then attend law school, focusing on anti-trust law.
Cameron Klein
Majors: Human and Organizational Development and Communications
Cameron Klein is president of Harmonic Notion a cappella group, director of the musical for The Original Cast and consulting adviser for Phi Chi Theta business fraternity. She also has been vice chair of campus services for Vanderbilt Student Government, vice president of communications for Vanderbilt Hillel and publicity director for Vanderbilt Off-Broadway.
"I am involved in Phi Chi Theta, a professional business fraternity, and it has played such a crucial role in my college experience. Professionally, Phi Chi has taught me so much about business and ultimately encouraged me to pursue a career in consulting after helping my team win the Deloitte Case Competition in 2025," she said. "It has also given me the opportunity to give back by leading our consulting cohort, mentoring other students and helping prepare members for the recruitment process."
After graduation, Klein will be a business analyst at McKinsey & Company in Detroit.
