awards

Miguel Velez Scholarship

University of California - Irvine, 2023

The Miguel Velez Scholarship awards graduate students who demonstrate outstanding past academic achievement as well as future promise and are citizens and residents of a Latin American country.

USC Annenberg Graduate Fellowship

University of Southern California, 2019-2020

In recognition of outstanding achievements and potential for significant contributions in the field of communications.

USC Discovery Scholar Prize Winner & Name Added to Library Wall of Scholars

University of Southern California, 2017-2018

At the 2018 Commencement, USC recognized 90 Discovery Scholars. USC Discovery Scholars are students who have produced exceptional original scholarship or creative work at USC while compiling a distinguished overall academic record, including no less than a 3.5 overall grade point average. Of this group, ten have been selected to receive a $10,000 prize towards graduate study and to have their names added to the Wall of Scholars at Leavey Library. Raphael was one of these ten students for his paper “YouTube’s Vlog Authenticity in the Performance of Femininity.”

 George Moody Endowed Fund for Student Support

USC School of Cinematic Arts, 2017-2018

Recipient of the George Moody Endowed Fund for Student Support (2017-2018), one of the most prestigious scholarships bestowed by the USC School of Cinematic Arts.

USC Provost’s Undergraduate Research Fellowship

University of Southern California, May - August 2017

Fellowship for Summer 2017 undergraduate research. Research paper: “Fluid Femininity: The Authentic Influence of YouTube on Gender.”

Second Place, Original Research Category

Santa Monica College, May 2016

Second Place Award in the Original Research Category at SMC's 7th Annual Global Citizenship Research Symposium and Tournament for “Gender Inequality: A Dinosaur In Heels”, research on gender equality in Hollywood analyzed through Jurassic Park and Jurassic World.

President's Theme Award

Santa Monica College, May 2015

President's Theme Award at SMC's 6th Annual Global Citizenship Research Symposium and Tournament for the video "Be Color" and essay relating it to the year's theme of Peace and Security: Managing Conflict and Violence in a Turbulent World.

First Place, Art Category

Santa Monica College, May 2015

First Place Award in the Art Category at SMC's 6th Annual Global Citizenship Research Symposium and Tournament for the video "Be Color" and essay relating it to the year's theme of Peace and Security: Managing Conflict and Violence in a Turbulent World.