Diego Ruiz Santiago named 2026 Klingler College of Arts & Sciences Outstanding Senior

The Klingler College of Arts and Sciences has named Diego Ruiz Santiago, a major in biological sciences, as its 2026 Outstanding Senior.

Each year, the college honors one graduating senior whose achievements extend beyond academic performance. While the award requires a minimum GPA of 3.0, it places equal emphasis on leadership, service, personal integrity and engagement with the broader goals of a liberal arts education - qualities Ruiz Santiago has consistently demonstrated throughout his time at Marquette.

Coming to Marquette from a high school graduating class of just 11 students, Ruiz Santiago initially felt overwhelmed by the scale and pace of university life. Rather than retreat, he embraced the challenge, becoming more intentional with his time and more proactive in his learning. This shift in mindset not only strengthened his academic performance but also shaped his approach to research, leadership and service.

A consistent Dean's List honoree since 2022, Ruiz Santiago was also awarded the 2026 Biological Sciences Academic Achievement Award. His passion for scientific inquiry led him to undergraduate research early in his Marquette career and to his selection for the highly competitive NIH-funded Undergraduate Research Training Initiative for Student Enhancement (U-RISE) program.

Through U-RISE, Ruiz Santiago joined the laboratory of Dr. Martin St. Maurice, professor and chair of biological sciences, where he developed into an independent and highly capable researcher.

"In my 17 years at Marquette University, Diego stands out as one of the best, brightest and most well-rounded students I have ever taught or mentored," St. Maurice wrote in his nomination letter. "He exemplifies everything we hope to see in an Outstanding Senior in the College of Arts and Sciences."

Beyond academics and research, Ruiz Santiago's Marquette experience has been shaped by service. His commitment to helping others began after Hurricane Maria devastated his home island of Puerto Rico in 2017, when he and his family participated in relief efforts across the island. He carried that passion to Marquette through organizations such as Midnight Run and through his role as a clinical coordinator at the Medical College of Wisconsin's Saturday Clinic for the Uninsured. These experiences helped him evolve from task-focused service toward a more reflective, person-centered approach grounded in empathy and cultural awareness.

Dr. Heather Hathaway, acting dean of the Klingler College of Arts and Sciences, praised Ruiz Santiago for embodying the college's mission in both thought and action.

"Diego represents the very best of a Marquette education - intellectually curious, deeply engaged, and committed to serving others with humility and integrity," Hathaway said. "His ability to connect rigorous scientific inquiry with compassion for individuals and communities reflects the transformative power of the liberal arts."

This fall, Ruiz Santiago will attend the University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, where he will pursue training as a physician-scientist. As the 2026 Arts and Sciences Outstanding Senior, he leaves Marquette prepared not only for professional success, but to lead and serve with purpose - continuing to Be The Difference at both individual and systemic levels.