Sarah McCartney Named 2026 Cleveland State University Valedictorian

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Sarah McCartney from Lorain, Ohio, has been named valedictorian of the spring 2026 graduating class from Cleveland State University (CSU) College of Arts and Sciences. She is earning two Bachelor of Arts degrees -- one in Psychology and one in Sociology -- with minors in Neuroscience and Religious Studies. 

Sarah McCartney posing in front of CSU seal wearing valedictorian stole and commencement regalia.

McCartney was named to the President’s List each semester and is a student in the Jack, Joseph and Morton Mandel Honors College. 
 
At CSU, she engaged in experiences that strengthened her empathy and underscored the importance of accessible mental health care. She was active in Psychology Club, inducted into Psi Chi International Honor Society and served as a volunteer crisis counselor with Crisis Text Line. She also contributed to research through the Healthy Relationships Lab, presented at the 2025 Midwestern Psychological Conference and completed an honors thesis examining parental acceptance and religiosity in young adulthood, earning a Psi Chi Regional Research Award.  
 
McCartney also applied her research through the Cleveland Clinic’s Summer Treatment Program, supporting children with ADHD and related conditions while addressing inequities in access to care. She will continue this work as a lead intern this summer and begin CSU’s psychology graduate program in the fall.  

“Cleveland State has shown me that education is far more than what occurs on campus. Education is a lifelong responsibility to take what is learned within the university walls and leave an impact outside of them,” McCartney said. “CSU empowers students to show innovation, determination and initiative. My time as an undergraduate student has been defined by my passion for applying knowledge and research to meaningful actions that promote success and well-being in underserved communities.”  

CSU congratulates Sarah McCartney on her exceptional accomplishments and wishes her continued success in her graduate program. 

Read more about all of the CSU spring 2026 valedictorians and other high-achieving graduates on the University’s Commencement graduate stories web page.