Jeffrey Cragin and Eshani Yeragi Named 2025 Montgomery Award Winners

By Kahkasha Wahab

The Texas A&M Graduate and Professional School proudly announces Jeffrey Cragin and Eshani Yeragi as the recipients of the 2025 Montgomery Awards. These distinguished awards celebrate graduate and professional students who demonstrate extraordinary leadership within recognized student groups or service organizations, significantly contributing to the academic enrichment, professional advancement, and overall well-being of their fellow students. In addition to their leadership, Montgomery Award honorees also exemplify exceptional academic achievement.

The Montgomery Awards are supported by generous endowments from the Jeff ’41 and Leonora Montgomery family. Nominations are solicited from across the university community, and recipients are selected from a highly competitive pool. Each honoree will receive a commemorative plaque and a $1,000 monetary prize during the Graduate and Professional School Awards Ceremony, to be held on Thursday, April 24, at Rudder Theatre.

“This year’s awardees embody the highest ideals of our graduate community,” said Dr. Fuhui Tong, Associate Provost and Dean of the Graduate and Professional School. “Through their dedication to academic excellence, tireless advocacy, and inclusive leadership, Jeffrey and Eshani serve as inspiring examples of the transformative impact graduate students can have at Texas A&M. We are deeply grateful to the Montgomery family for their continued commitment to recognizing and empowering such outstanding individuals.”


 

Jeffrey Cragin

Chemistry
College of Arts and Sciences

Jeffrey Cragin is a fourth-year Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry, working under the advisement of Dr. Daniel Singleton. His research employs both computational and empirical approaches to investigate the role of solvents in cationic rearrangement mechanisms. Beyond the laboratory, Jeffrey is a dedicated educator whose thoughtful and creative teaching earned him the 2023 Association of Former Students Distinguished Graduate Student Award for Excellence in Teaching. He is an active voice for graduate student advocacy, having served in both the Graduate Student Association of Chemistry and the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG), where he currently holds the role of Parliamentarian. In recognition of his service, Jeffrey received the 12th Man Outstanding Senator Award in 2024.


 

Eshani Yeragi

Biology
College of Arts and Sciences

Eshani Yeragi is a Ph.D. candidate in Biology whose research focuses on the intersection of sleep, aging, and neurogenetics using Drosophila melanogaster as a model organism. A passionate leader and advocate, Eshani serves as President of Women in Science and Engineering (WISE) and Vice President of University Affairs for the Graduate and Professional Student Government (GPSG). She also holds leadership roles in the Indian Graduate Student Association and serves on critical university committees, including those governing student rules and academic appeals. Eshani has spearheaded numerous mentorship initiatives, particularly for international students, easing their academic and cultural transitions. Her contributions have been recognized with the Facker Fellowship for mentorship excellence and the Executive Board Member of the Year award from Texas A&M Residence Life, honoring her tenure as President of the Gardens Apartments Community Council. Through her research and service, Eshani exemplifies both scientific rigor and a deep commitment to student support and empowerment.