After an extensive application and interview process, Marina Magnant was named TCU’s outstanding senior for the 2023-2024 academic year.

“When they called my name, I felt so many emotions,” said Magnant. “My eyes started watering when the chancellor came up to me with the medal. This has meant so much more than an award to me.” 

Unlike her fellow nominees, the experience of being on the football field during game day was nothing unusual for Magnant, who is the lead intern for TCU’s social media department. 

Amy Peterson, TCU’s social media manager, hand-picked Magnant for the position.

“The final product of her first assignment was accurate, engaging and visually appealing,” Peterson said. “The next day, the lead intern at the time approached me to let me know that he thought Marina would be a perfect fit to take over when he graduated. I had been thinking the same thing.”

Despite spending time on the field almost every weekend during football season, receiving the award made it all feel brand new.

“The field has become my Saturday office, so I’m used to it,” Magnant said. “However, that Saturday, I felt like I had never actually stepped on the field before. It was a special day.”

The process to be named outstanding senior begins with a nomination from a campus organization, followed by an application process, two rounds of voting from the student body and an interview with a panel of staff and faculty members.

Magnant, a student in the John V. Roach Honors College, was initially nominated by the John V. Roach Honors Cabinet, where she has served as the president for two years.

“As an international student who spent my entire freshman year online, the Honors Cabinet was one of the only places where I truly felt like I was connected to people,” Magnant, who is from Portugal, said. “Getting nominated by the group of people that made me love TCU, even when I had an ocean separating myself from the university, was so special.”

Sabrina Rizzo, a senior management major, served alongside Magnant as the Honors Cabinet’s vice president.

“Marina is the driving force behind the success of the Honors Cabinet,” Rizzo said. “Under Marina’s leadership, the Cabinet has transformed into an organization that brings visible and effective change to the Honors College.”

When it came time for the cabinet to nominate a member for outstanding senior, Magnant was a no-brainer candidate, Rizzo said. 

“The members of the cabinet acknowledge the commitment Marina holds toward them and our cabinet,” she said. “We wanted to pay it forward by nominating her for the recognition she deserved.”

Rizzo said she believes that Magnant was deserving of this award because of her impact on TCU’s campus.

“One of the most notable markers of her outstanding qualities is present in how others speak of their experiences with her,” Rizzo said. “I have never met an individual on this campus that does not have glowing, enthusiastic and overwhelmingly positive things to say about Marina.”

Magnant, who was named one of Poets & Quants 2023 best and brightest business majors, has an extensive and impressive resume.

To name a few of her standout roles, Magnant has served as a program director of the Honors Mentoring Program, a facilitator for Frog Camp, a member and webmaster for Chi Omega Fraternity, a member of the Neeley Office of Inclusive Excellence advisory board, and is a three-year resident assistant for Colby Hall.

Magnant is very involved in the Neeley School of Business, where she is pursuing a double major in marketing and supply chain management with a minor in global business. She also serves as vice president of professional development for the BNSF Neeley Leadership Program (NLP).

“Through NLP, I created an impact project along with four others,” Magnant said. “We built a comprehensive proposal for the creation of a global affairs office, as Fort Worth is the largest city in the U.S. without one.”

The group presented their proposal last April at the Fort Worth City Hall, and it is now being implemented.

“As someone who is not from here, getting to create opportunities for other people like me, who have not necessarily had the same access to opportunities, has been so special,” Magnant said.

Magnant also had the unique opportunity to be at the New York Stock Exchange where TCU kicked off its 150th year.

“I was on the platform when TCU rang the New York stock exchange bell to ring in the 150th year,” Magnant said. “Homecoming week was TCU’s 150th finale week, so being named outstanding senior was a full circle moment.”

After graduation, Magnant will move to New York City, where she will work for Goldman Sachs in asset management. Magnant is returning to the company after her internship at its Dallas office this past summer.