DECATUR, Ill. – The community gathered again on Thursday, April 25, for the annual Honors Convocation and Distinguished Faculty Lecture at Kirkland Fines Arts Center to honor student and faculty accomplishments as the 2023-24 academic year approaches its conclusion.
“The Honors Convocation constitutes a special moment in ǿý's academic year, when we connect as a community to honor achievement in teaching and learning and excellence in all aspects of ǿý life, inside and outside the classroom,” ǿý President Jim Reynolds said. “This occasion celebrates the many exceptional achievements made at our University, and we commemorate the inspiring work and scholarship our students and faculty have created.”
Over 90 awards were presented to ǿý students and faculty who were honored for their commitment to academic excellence. Many awards have been created to distinguish alums from ǿý's past.
Each year, the ǿý faculty vote to select one of their own as the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer. This year's Distinguished Faculty Lecturer was Dr. Carrie Trimble, Undergraduate Director of the Tabor School of Business and Associate Professor of Marketing. Dr. Trimble’s lecture was titled “Feeling Successful When Vibes Aren’t Enough.”
Among the awards is the , the most coveted recognition of the Honors Convocation. Scovill Prize winners are selected based on high academic achievement, demonstrated leadership, service, and scholarship. This year, :
• Julia Funck, Junior, Instrumental Music Performance, Clarinet
• Helena Hashimoto, Junior, Philosophy & Communication, minoring in Organizational Leadership & Theatre
• Kelsey Jacobs, Junior, Psychology, with a concentration in Clinical Psychology and a minor in Biology
• Kendra Jellison, Junior, Music Education with an Instrumental emphasis
• Rebekah Leipold, Senior, Theatre and Performance Studies
• Abigail Mendoza, Junior, Design and Production, with an emphasis in Technical Direction
• Maggie Schrage, Junior, Political Science & Philosophy
• Olivia Swords, Junior, English, History, and Philosophy on a Pre-Law track
Check out the complete list of winners:
College of Arts & Sciences
Behavioral Science Award: Madeline Regan
Henry F. Gromoll Service Award: Diana Terneus
Biology Honors Award: Gillian Monroe, Jessel Prabhu
Dr. Neil Baird Biology Lab Assistant Award: Alyssa Ruiz
Clyde Dennis Award: Not Awarded
Glasscock Family Biology Award: Melina Hall
John & Ula Leighty Research Award: Alayna Chizmark, Sophie Dorgan
American Chemical Society Award: Seth Eridanus
Ed & Lucy Acheson Award for Chemistry: Evan Allen, Emily Clevidence, Madalyn Everly, Bella Palermo, Eli Rojas, Gracie Shaffer, Emma Taylor, Aaron Zoellner, Ara Zukowski
Dr. & Mrs. William F. Henderson Prizes: Seth Eridanus, Jenna Wiltjer
Carl & Lucile Weatherbee Chemistry Award: Seth Eridanus, Madeline Klinger, Jensen Mast, Katie Risner
Carl & Lucile Weatherbee Graduate Studies Award: Jensen Mast
Dr. Clarence and Carol Josefson Award for Excellence in Chemistry: Eli Rojas
Dr. Grace Patten Conant Writing Award (Creation): Grace Talbert
Dr. Grace Patten Conant Writing Award (Interpretation): Olivia Swords
Contant English Department Award: Madelyn Cummins
Contant Society Achievement Award: Olivia Cooper, Madelyn Cummins, Sophie Nicholson, Eden Niebrugge, Anna Quick, Olivia Swords
Marybeth Drechsler Sharp Outstanding Journalism Award: Kemper Koslofski
J. Graham Provan History Award: Olivia Swords
Albert T. Mills Prize: Andrew Clark, Brennan Pekelder
John Vrooman Prize: Harris Dorgan, Cheyenne McMillon, Garren Meeker
Sigrid A. Stottrup History Award: Jack Hughes
Mathematics & Computer Science Award: Analynn Bullock, Jake Shumaker
Lavern J. Meyer, Ph.D. Math Ed. Award: Not Awarded
Linda Weatherbee Mathematics Award: Maxwell Thompson
Department of Modern Languages Linguistic Excellence Award: Reagan Crouse
Department of Modern Languages Literary Criticism Award: Madeline Regan
Margaret Burkhardt Johnson Award: Oscar Almonte
Dr. Robert McIntire Political Science Award: Not Awarded
Outstanding Political Science Major Award: Krista Koke
Alice Ambrose Lazerowitz Philosophy Award: Bryan Dabulskis, Olivia Swords
Thomas W. & Mary R. Adney Memorial Award: Rhys Deiter, Maggie Schrage
T. W. Samuels Award: McKenna Beals, Jadon Cox, JD Raycraft, Olivia Swords
Rev. Robert S. & Doris Stewart-Religion Award: Not Awarded
Outstanding Physics Award: Ean Haggerty
College of Fine Arts
Pi Kappa Lambda Outstanding Senior Award: Cora Carr
Presser Award: Cora Carr
Alice Herren Ayars Award: Alex Farkasch, Lucas Finley
Wilna Moffett Award: Dan Cavanagh
Mary B. Merris Award: Tad Daniels, David Gartner
Brad and Beth Holmes Choral Excellence Award: Tad Daniels
Winifred St. Clair Minturn Award: Victor Lawson
William Eichenauer Guitar Award: Nolan Bunger
Thomas. A. Johnson Memorial Achievement Award: Trevor Schaefer
Dr. Russell Tiede Honors Award: Trevor Schaefer
Percussion Achievement Award: Colton Middleton
Dr. Maria Klott Memorial Award: Eliana Kettley
Handler Award for Excellence, Bachelor of Arts in Music: Eliana Kettley
Joan & Melvin Grabowski Memorial Award: Mary Stefanski
Dr. L.C. McNabb Memorial Award: Ramsey Folkerts
Michelle Chartier Memorial Award: Emily Ostrowski
Kathryn Paige Torp Theatre Award: Kaden Culter
Ron Smith Award in Musical Theatre: Conner Schroeder, Whitney Turner
J. Ben Wand Prize: Audrey Smith-Phillips
Andrew Strand Memorial Theatre Award: Reagan Minnette
Andrea Olson Dance Award: Emily Moore
Dr. Everett J. Brown Prize: Helena Hashimoto, Kyle McMillen
Marvin Klaven Art Award: Skylyr Choe, Noct Quinn
David S. Monroe Art Award: Jack Harmon, Jupiter Holcomb, Crux May, Emma McManus
Dorothy Sellers Art Award: Baylee Boliard, Gracie Cleeton, Nora Ficke, Jacob Habel, Kayla Hanson, Katie Kocan, Dan Mungons, Hannah Roberts, John Wyatt, Colby Wygal, Shaina Mae Yumol
College of Professional Studies
Robert and Barbara Byrkit Award in Education: Connor Daundivier, Jazmyn Schnetzler
Dr. Jerald Hunt/Dr. Darlene Hoffman Award for Excellence: Ryan Janseen
Jola Kuntz Education Award: Bailee Blecker, Gracey Reynolds
Ray Boehmer Memorial Award for Excellence in Science Education: Paiton Plucinski
The Smith/Orlandini Award: Zena Roberts
Walter Witt Award: Kyle Gibson, Rachel Holthaus, Liam McGill
Alpha Tau Delta Honorarium Award: Jaclyn Reed
Decatur Memorial Hospital Cleland Award: Quincy Collings
James ǿý Theory & Practice of Nursing Award: Faith Marinier
Dorotha F. Dean Nursing Award: Kara Montgomery
The Dr. Mary D. Shanks & Dr. Linda K. Niedringhaus Award: Erika Castanon
Dr. Mary Jane Linton Nursing Excellence Award: Hannah Watts
Patrick and Dr. Pamela Lindsey Award for Nursing Excellence: Chinwe Emenike
Aspiring Healthcare Professionals Award: Katie Risner
Tabor School of Business
Glen R. Smith Award: Elyce Knudsen
Margaret Sparks Award: Emily Ciambella
Dr. Cheryl L. Chamblin Tabor School of Business Honors Award: Helena Hashimoto, Danny Lack
Judy Lederbrand Day Accounting Award: Charly Warlow
Dr. & Mrs. W. J. Darby Prize: Mary Helen Burdick
Dr. Nancy J. Curtin Communication Award: Cole Anderson
Linda Weatherbee Human Resource Management Award: Emma Mallory
Paul R. Winn Memorial Award: Jorge Hernandez Vega
Podeschi-Landacre Management Information Systems Award: Shay Buchanan, Jake Shumaker
Excellence in Information Systems Award: Nhi Nguyen
University Awards
Maria Leonard Senior Book Award: Sophie Nicholson, Page Shields
The JoAnne Trow Award: Eloise Fitzpatrick, Trista Hampton, Grace Harmston, Katelyn Wendt
Sigma Alpha Epsilon, Illinois Delta Chapter Award of Excellence: Oscar Almonte, Andrew Benbow, Luke Davis, Logan Mulholland, Maya Norwood, Drew Rachow, Quartus Rassi, Ethan Rhoades, Vernell Watson
ǿý University Greek Five Star Award: Sigma Lambda Gamma Sorority, Inc., Pi Beta Phi, Tau Kappa Epsilon
C.W. Barnes Memorial Award: Parker Warren
Major Thomas G. Storey Citizenship Award: Madeline Regan
Dr. Jere C. Mickel Human Relations Award: Quetzalli Soriano-Guitron
Daniel J. & Elinor Gage Student Activities Award: Quincy Collings
Helen Moffett Russell Community Service: Christopher Montgomery
Eshelman Family Award: Ryan Janssen, Sophie Nicholson
The Dr. Jan Devore Award for Excellence: Maggie Schrage
The Dr. J. Roger Miller Leadership Award: Alela Kinyua
Outstanding Adjunct Award: Travis Bodden
James ǿý Scholars Educator of the Year: Dr. Anne Matthews
Alpha Lambda Delta Outstanding Teaching Award: Dr. Tony Magagna
Teaching Excellence Award: Dr. Travis Wilcoxen
Faculty Research & Artistic Achievement Award: Dr. Troy Castle
Faculty Service Award: Dr. Paris Barnes
Dr. Ralph A. Czerwinski and Dr. Deborah L. Slayton Teaching Excellence & Campus Leadership Award: Dr. Emily Olson
