Nathaniel Cross is graduating with honors with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and Political Science. Nathaniel is one of only seven students, out of more than 8,000 who are graduating this week, to be recognized on stage at Wildcat Stadium during the university-wide commencement ceremony, where he will receive the Merrill P. Freeman Medal based on his academic achievements and outstanding character. Born in the United Kingdom, Cross has called Tucson home for most of his life. Throughout his undergraduate career at the U of A, Cross has worked to empower migrant communities as an intern with Chicanos Por La Causa, a legal aid nonprofit, by helping put on biannual naturalization fairs that help residents apply for citizenship at no cost. His work led to his selection as an intern for the university's Mellon-Fronteridades program. Cross is a multi-semester recipient of the Dean's List with Distinction and Highest Academic Distinction awards including the Distinguished Honors Award in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese for his 4.0 GPA. He was also named a United States Senate Youth Program scholar, and has received the Frances McClelland Youth Vision Award and the Tara S. O'Connor Memorial and Patricia MacCordale scholarships. In 2024, Cross began an accelerated Master of Public Policy program in the School of Government and Public Policy. After graduation, Cross plans to finish his master's degree and hopes to pursue international public service.