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Spring 2017 Honors Convocation and Academic Fair

Students recognized May 5 for academic and leadership accomplishments

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Featured News | May 9, 2017

2017 Spring Honors ConvocationsStudents’ academic and leadership accomplishments were recognized May 5 during Virginia Wesleyan College’s annual Spring Honors Convocation, held in the Convocation Center inside the Jane P. Batten Student Center.

The event recognized more than 70 students for their outstanding contributions to VWC’s academic community. President Scott D. Miller, Provost and Vice President Timothy O'Rourke and Chaplain Gregory West were joined by VWC faculty, staff and members of the community, who presented the awards.

Individual departmental award recipients were acknowledged along with undergraduate research participants and members of the Class of 2017.

The Wesleyan Singers, led by Director of Choral Music Bryson Mortensen, brought the event to a close with a singing of the College’s alma mater. An Honors Convocation reception and the 12th Annual Academic Fair followed immediately in Hofheimer Library. Academic Fair winners included Seth Antozzi (Digital Photography vs. Film poster) and Rachael Pan (Arc GIS Analysis poster); Ethan Mading and Stacie Proctor (Digital History project) as Most Interactive Display; Theatre Improvisation class for Best Performance; and Math Multivariable Calculus class for Most Enthusiastic Class.

This year’s award recipients at the Honors Convocation:

  • Southern Bank Annual Scholarship—Francesca Lanuza
  • Marlin Ministries Servant-Leader Award—Emily Testroet
  • The Rotary Club of Town Center Virginia Beach Citizenship Award—Laura Robusto
  • Adult Studies Program Academic Achievement Award—Evelyn Bruce
  • Judith Vinson Klein Award—Tara J. Donahue
  • Phoenix Award—Elizabeth C. Pingenot
  • Outstanding Artist Awards—Caitlyn Hogge, Erika Wright
  • Outstanding Photography Award—Britani Dailey
  • Biology Department Awards— Tone Boykins, Megan Gerhart, Trevor Maloney, Stephanie Reidell, Brittany Wentzel
  • Excellence in Chemistry Award—Gabrielle Freese
  • Hampton Roads American Chemical Society Outstanding Chemistry Senior—Brian Wise
  • CRC Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award—Chris Fegan
  • Excellence in Classical Studies Award—Sydnie Allen
  • Excellence in Latin Award—Hannah Misitis
  • Communication Award—Michael Wilson
  • Journalism Awards— Sarah Antozzi, Courtney Herrick
  • Outstanding Student in Calculus—Isabella Glaze
  • Outstanding Student in Computer Science—Bryan Hanna-Sauro
  • Outstanding Student Achievement in Criminal Justice or Sociology—Brenna Gonzales, Brandon Kelleher, Whitney Leliefeld, Sierra Rothenberger, Jake Virgili, Kaci Wertz
  • Academic Achievement Award (Special Education)—Katie Brooks
  • Academic Achievement Award (Secondary Education) —Ashley Peterson
  • Education Department Outstanding Research Award—Elizabeth Brisson
  • Education Department Golden Apple Award—Shana Harrison
  • Delta Kappa Gamma Virginia Scholars Award—Emma Phillips
  • Distinguished Graduating English Major Award—Dillon Rudiger
  • Creating Writing Award—Adrian Benn
  • Earth and Environmental Science Department Award—Hali Goad
  • Outstanding Major in Environmental Studies Award—Zachary Drake
  • History Department Distinguished Student Award—Allyce DeSimone
  • Ledeboer Family Scholarship—Kimberlee Santos
  • Library Research Award—Sierra Howard, Rachael Pan
  • Robert H. Cass Outstanding Senior Award—Tanner Martin
  • MBE Academic Achievement Award—Tabitha Lowell
  • Outstanding Senior in Instrumental Music—Laura Robusto
  • Outstanding Senior in Vocal Music—Joy Vernon
  • Award for Excellence in International Studies—Darlene Flucker
  • Award for Academic Excellence in Political Science—Robert “Alex” McComb
  • Award for Exemplary Community Activism and Political Engagement—Sarah Pybus-Elmore
  • S. Diane Guadalupe Award—Jasmine Burrell
  • Distinguished Graduating Seniors in Psychology—Makayla Kelly, Emily Powers
  • Research Award in Psychology—Sierra Howard
  • Religious Studies Departmental Award—Rebecca Lazzeri
  • Monarch Bank William “Tree” Rountree Young Life Scholarship—Andrew Freeman
  • William Granville Sale, Jr. Peacemaking Award—Riley Conrad
  • Dora H. Dobrin Award for Excellence in Social Work—Margaret O’Saben, Sherese Hargrove
  • Hite Award for Outstanding Service to the Theatre Department—Trey DelPo, Mariah Taghavie-Moghadam
  • Sharon L. Payne Award for Excellence in Women’s and Gender Studies—Emily Joy, Darlene Flucker
  • Undergraduate Research Program Awards in the Division of Humanities—Emily Joy, Laurissa Senecal, Adrian Benn, Peyton Auxt, Isabella Blackney, Joy Vernon
  • Undergraduate Research Program Awards in the Division of Natural Sciences and Mathematics—Erika Hayes, Beth Clegg, Stephanie Reidell, Lindsey Whaley
  • Undergraduate Research Program Awards in the Division of Social Sciences—Emily Powers, Jessica Pitman, Makayla Kelley, Sierra Howard, Laurissa Senecal, Dillon Rudiger

Congratulations to all 2017 award recipients. Well done!