On Tuesday, April 15th, a wealth of students, organizations, faculty members, and additional honorees of Davis & Elkins College were presented with awards for outstanding achievements in their respective categories during the annual Davis & Elkins College Awards and Recognition Convocation in the Myles Center for the Arts Harper-McNeely Auditorium. Recipients of these awards were selected based on academic and leadership achievements.
President Chris A. Wood addressed the awardees, quoting an illustration from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. about the importance of doing every task throughout life, regardless of what it is, exceptionally, noting that the cure for mediocrity is to do all things with distinction and excellence.
Provost Mike Mattison, Ph.D., then approached the podium and began by noting that the awards celebrate not only academic achievements, but accomplishments of students who have excelled across the entire spectrum of student activity. Mattison invited each department chair or program coordinator to present Departmental Achievement Awards to their students within their respective disciplines. Awardees in Biology and Environmental Science were Olivia H. Cook, Maria Garcia, Rebecca E. McClenahan, and Madeline M. Veser, and the Robert E. Urban Memorial Award went to Eli Ballantyne. In Business and Entrepreneurship, awardees were Deylana Forrest, Roger D. Gabbert, Jackson P. Gibson, Roy B. Kegley, Anthony Martins, Catalina Salas Ortega, Brycen E. Sechler, and Julia V. Vieira. In Chemistry, awardees were Maria Garcia and Brooke J. Jacobs. The American Chemical Society Junior Award went to Victoria P. Sturm, and the Dr. Charles E. Albert Memorial prize in Chemistry went to Madeline M. Veser. In the Education Department, awardees were Jocelyn P. Burnside, Lydia Falkenstein, Hannah L. Phillips, and Wesley T. Strawderman. In Communication, English, Foreign Language, Religion & Philosophy, awardees were Willow G. Ferguson, Sidney A. Megna, and Alyssa M. Stump. The Tatiana Jardetzky Scholarship in Foreign Languages and Cultures went to Alina I. Vallentgoed. In Creative Arts, awardees were Alayna H. Garst, Lucy M. Gonzalez, and Nicole M. Schumacher. The Pendleton Prize in Theater went to Sidney Apanowicz. In History, Emma Gioia and Jacklyn Howell were the recipients. The James H. Swanton Prize in History went to Peyton M. Friel. In Mathematics & Physics, Duarte M. Correia and Ryan M. Rasco were the recipients. In Nursing, awardees were Autumn Plauger, Callee Collins, Zoe C. Belshan, MacAden Taylor, Sydney J. Cooper, and Rebecca F. Rodrigues. In Psychology & Human Services, Political Science, & Criminology, Bella G. Beaver, Kristin N. Coleman, and Thomas Salvan were the recipients. In Political Science, Sidney A. Megna was the recipient. The Dorothy F. Roberts Achievement Prize went to Emma Gioia. In Criminology, Alena R. Armstrong, Jaela Reid, and Chloe M. Travelstead were the recipients. In Sport Science, Linzey A. Allard, Mohamed Chaabane, Jackson P. Gibson, Roberto Leonardi, Victoria P. Sturm, Jan W. Thewes, and Eliseo A. Wotring were the recipients. The Minnick-McCoy Award went to Daphne C. McCann.
Mattison then turned to the Special Achievement Awards, beginning with the Faculty Senior Award, which is presented to a senior student exhibiting achievement and excellence in a wide range of academic areas and personal and intellectual leadership. This year’s recipient was Rebecca F. Rodrigues.
The Dean’s Award recipient, selected by the Office of Academic Affairs, was Hannah L. Phillips.
Junior Marshal Awards were presented to two members of the junior class at D&E, providing the opportunity to participate in baccalaureate and commencement services. Those receiving the awards this year were Melisa Ozsar and Alena Armstrong.
Also presented annually are scholarship awards provided by donors who wish to provide opportunities and support for students. The first such award, The L. Newton Thomas, Sr. Memorial Scholarship, named after the former president of The Carbon Fuel Company in Charleston, W.Va., and member of D&E Board of Trustees from 1966 to 1972, was awarded to Brycen E. Sechler. Sechler was selected as the current senior with the highest grade-point average and credit hours completed.
The Freeman J. Daniels Academic Achievement Awards are presented to the highest-ranking freshman, sophomore, and junior, and senior. Named after Daniels, an esteemed alumnus of D&E Class of 1922 and long-practicing attorney, these awards are granted based on academic performance during the previous year. The freshman, sophomore, and junior recipients of these awards were Simone Perin, Lydia Falkenstein, and Daphne C. McCann, respectively. The senior award will be bestowed at Commencement.
Dean of Students, Kate Garlick, presented awards for Student Affairs to recognize several members of the student body for excellence and achievement in the life of Davis & Elkins College.
The Charles H. Potter, II Scholarship Award was presented to Morgan B. Perry and Garrett T. Eddy. Potter, Class of 1968, created and established the award in 1994. The scholarship is awarded to those students who most exemplify leadership in the D&E community.
Campus Impact Awards were presented to two recipients who, through their good works, have made the D&E campus a better place. This year’s recipients were Samuel E. Rolle, IV, and Christian A. Hershey.
Annual Outstanding Junior and Senior Student Life Awards, presented to students who, through service to others, investment of time, and pursuit of excellence, have significantly and positively left their mark at D&E outside of the classroom, were awarded to juniors Preston S. Bright and Victoria L. Noonan, and seniors Ricardo A. Salas and Victoria P. Sturm.
Davis & Elkins College recognizes two outstanding senior students as recipients of the Mary Mildred Sullivan Award and Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. These awards are given in recognition of fine spiritual qualities practically applied as distinct from high scholarship, athletic achievement, success in business, professional ability, political leadership, or mere worldly prominence in any calling. This year’s recipients were Isabella Martinelli and Thomas Salvan, respectively.
Mattison then recognized several groups of students for additional academic achievements. Students named to the President’s List must have completed a minimum of twelve semester hours with a semester grade point average of 4.0. Students named to the Dean’s List must have completed a minimum of 12 semester hours with a semester grade point average of 3.6 to less than 4.0. Also recognized were members of the Morrison-Novakovic Center for Faith & Public Policy for their focus on the intersection of faith, social issues, and public policy, and current students of Davis & Elkins College who have planned to continue their education through graduate school.
Several fraternities, whose goal it is to provide students with unique opportunities, were also recognized. These include Alpha Delta Nu-Zeta Tau, Chi Beta Phi Math & Science Honorary, Delta Alpha Pi Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education, and Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society in Nursing.
President Wood then presented faculty promotions to be recognized during the ceremony. Those receiving faculty promotions included Melanie Campbell, Katherine Osborne, Karen Seel, James Smith, Kevin Woodcock, and Huixin Wu.
Also recognized by President Wood were Davis & Elkins College’s seven Endowed Chairs, as follows: Thomas Richard Ross Chair in History and the Humanities: Dr. Katherine Osborne; S. Benton Talbot Chair in the Natural Sciences and Nursing: Dr. Shawn Stover; James S. McDonnell Foundation Chair in Business and Economics in honor of Dr. Gloria M. Payne: Professor Lisa Smith; Jean Minnick Chair in Sport Management: Dr. Mary Ann DeLuca; Claire Deiss Fiorentino Chair in Theatre Arts: Professor Lonnie Martin; G.T. “Buck” Smith Presidential Chair: President Chris A. Wood.
The Lois Latham Award for Teaching Excellence marks the recipient as one of distinguished intellectual development, possessing a love and enthusiasm for scholarship whose calling is the personal development of others, embodying enthusiastic support of the liberal arts program and unswerving and unselfish devotion to the stimulation of their students. Lisa Smith was selected as this year’s recipient by the Executive Committee of the Faculty Assembly, making this award even more significant.
The final award, the Robin Price Award for Staff Excellence, named after 2019 retiree Robin Galford Price, after serving 46 years with the College. This award is presented to a recipient characterized by their outstanding service to the College, epitomizing distinction and excellence and who makes a real difference in the lives of students, faculty and staff. Award recipients are characterized by their distinguished career and enthusiasm for supporting and promoting the College’s mission. This year’s recipient was Jane Corey.
Davis & Elkins College congratulates all of the awardees for their accomplishments.
