Elkins, WV – On Thursday, April 20 more than 60 student awards and group recognitions were presented during the annual Davis & Elkins College Academic Awards and Recognition Convocation in the Myles Center for the Arts Harper-McNeeley Auditorium. The honors highlighted students’ academic achievements in each program as well as leadership on campus.
The top student honor, Dean’s Award, was presented to Inza Pacella of Thomas, WV who was a Junior Marshal Awards recipient last year. The annual award is given to a senior selected by the Office of Academic Affairs.
Selected for the Junior Marshal Awards were Kyia McGill and Enrique J. Garcia. This award recognizes the highest-ranking members of the junior class.
The Jan P. Chadwick Scholarship Award was presented to Johnathon Goss. The endowed scholarship established in 2006 by the D&E Social Club and the family of Jan P. Chadwick is awarded annually to a non-traditional D&E student from West Virginia pursuing an associate’s degree.
The Faculty Senior Award was presented to Samantha Bykofsky. The honor is granted to a senior student who has achieved excellence in a wide range of academic areas and exhibited both personal and intellectual leadership. It recognizes students who have fostered a climate of intellectual excitement throughout their years at Davis & Elkins College. The Faculty Assembly Executive Committee selects a recipient from seniors with a minimum 3.8 cumulative grade point average.
Special Achievement Awards presented were: Charles H. Potter II Scholarship Award, Matin Eisa of Crowthorne, England; Outstanding Junior awards, Gage A. Vondrasek, Jacksonville, Florida and Rebecca Ferreira Rodriquez, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Outstanding Senior awards, Honesty D. Holt, Bentonville, Arkansas and Zachary M. McGillan, Ephrata, Pennsylvania.
This year, D&E awarded two Campus Impact Awards, an honor that recognizes good works that have made the campus a better place. The first to be recognized was Joe Deville, a favorite among students, who has been a member of Dining Services since 2011. The second award was given to the Outdoor Adventure Club which provides students an opportunity to experience numerous programs centered around outdoor activities.
The annual Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards that recognize a senior male and female who exemplify love of and service to humankind were presented to Anna Marie Ruf and Hussain Rabea Hamide. Students also were recognized for inclusion on the fall president’s list and dean’s list, and membership in honorary fraternities.
In addition to the recognition of students, two D&E faculty were also recognized for their outstanding dedication and work. The Lois Latham Award for Teaching Excellence recipient is selected by the Executive Committee of the Faculty Assembly, which makes the receipt of this award even more significant. This year’s recipient was Dr. Shawn K. Stover.
The Robin Price Award for Staff Excellence is presented annually to an outstanding staff member at Davis & Elkins College who epitomizes distinction and excellence and who makes a real difference in the lives of students, faculty and staff. Award recipients are characterized by their distinguished careers and their enthusiasm for supporting and promoting the College’s mission of preparing and inspiring students for success and for thoughtful engagement in the world.
This award was established in honor of Robin Galford Price on her retirement from the College in 2019, following a 46-year career. Robin worked in the Advancement Office for ten years and then served as the executive assistant to the President for the next 36 years – a role she filled with complete competence and grace. This year’s recipient was Nikki Rose.
Davis and Elkins College will host its 114th Commencement on Saturday, May 13 at 10:00 a.m. in Harper McNeely Auditorium in the Myles Center for the Arts. More information about graduation weekend can be found here.
-D&E-
