Lander University's annual Academic Awards Ceremony recently recognized students for their scholastic achievements during the 2017-2018 academic year. Top discipline and special honors from the university's five colleges were awarded during the program, which took place in the university's Josephine B. Abney Cultural Center.
COLLEGE of ARTS and HUMANITIES
Discipline awards: Presented by the faculty of each academic department to students demonstrating the most outstanding academic achievement, leadership, contributions and commitment to the program, showing promise for future success in their disciplinary field.
- Art Award: Olivia M. Bolt, of Gray Court
- English Award: Rebecca L. Snelgrove, of Starr
- French Award: Morgan E. Johnston, of Fort Mill
- Creative Writing Award (Fiction): Peyton L. Allen, of Calhoun Falls
- Mass Communication and Media Studies Award: Laura R. Dennin, of Greenwood, and Kelsey E. Johnson, of Greenwood
- Music Discipline Award: Brittany A. Gionakis, of Catawba
Special awards:
- Alliance Française Award: Maria P. Martinez-Villa, of Greenwood. The award honors a French student who has demonstrated the highest scholastic achievement in French language and literature.
- Dessie Dean Pitts Humanities Award: Melissa K. Beggs, of Cross Hill. Named in honor of Lander alumna Dessie Dean Pitts, the award is given annually to the student who writes the best nonfiction essay published in "New Voices," Lander's essay journal.
- Margaret M. Bryant Award: Paige L. Fowler, of North Augusta. The award recognizes a senior majoring in a humanities discipline who plans to enroll in graduate school and is expected to represent Lander University well.
- Turner Music Award: Brittany A. Gionakis, of Catawba. Established by Lander Class of 1954 alumna Gladys Winchester Turner, the award recognizes high scholastic standing with potential for making an outstanding contribution to the field of music.
COLLEGE of BEHAVIORAL and SOCIAL SCIENCES
Discipline awards: Presented by the faculty of each academic department to the student or students demonstrating the most outstanding academic achievement, leadership, contributions and commitment to the program.
- Criminology Award: Jeremiah H. Grooms, of Greenwood
- Political Science Award: Eric L. Price, of Abbeville
- Sociology Award: Donald E. Stroud, of Sellers
- Display of Outstanding Sociological Imagination Award: Joseph K. McClain, of Donalds
- International Studies Award: Gina M. Romero, of Greenwood
- Human Services Award: Katilynn A. Strahl, of Elgin
- History Award: Janice S. Sullivan, of Abbeville
- Philosophy Award: Nicholas Nowark
- Psychology Award: Christina E. Franklin, of Greenwood
Special awards:
- Alan Jones Award: Hunter A. Banks, of Pickens. Named in honor of a former international visiting professor, this award is given annually to a junior or senior majoring in political science who has demonstrated the most outstanding promise.
- Barbara A. Jackson Award: Meghin C. Taylor, of Spartanburg. Established in honor of former Lander First Lady Barbara Jackson, the award recognizes the senior history major who best demonstrated scholarly excellence in his or her history thesis.
- Margaret M. Bryant Award: Joshua L. Hackett, of Greenwood. The award is presented to a senior majoring in a humanities discipline who plans to enroll in graduate school and who will represent Lander University well.
- Outstanding Departmental Service Award in Psychological Science Award: Blakely A. Abercrombie, of Laurens; Mel Bussard, of Chapin; Christina E. Franklin, of Greenwood; Dallas S. Thompson, of Blythewood; and Meshelle L. Wright, of Elgin. The award is presented by the Department of Psychological Sciences to students who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in service activities for the department
- Psi Chi Undergraduate Research Award: Kathryn E. Spence, of Columbia. The award is given annually to one or more psychology majors who have demonstrated outstanding abilities in conducting an independent research project.
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
Discipline awards: Presented by the faculty of each academic department to students demonstrating the most outstanding academic achievement, leadership, contributions and commitment to the program with the potential for future success in their disciplinary field.
- Accounting Award: Evidence Mushaninga, of Zimbabwe
- Financial Services Award: Braden H. Cook, of Irmo
- Health Care Management Award: Christopher J. Scott, of Greenwood
- Management/Marketing Award: Shannon M. DeSantis, of Marietta, Ga.
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
Discipline awards: Presented by the faculty of each academic department to students demonstrating the most outstanding academic achievement, leadership, contributions and commitment to the program with potential for future success in their disciplinary field.
- Early Childhood Education Award: Rebecca G. Bruce, of Honea Path
- Elementary Education Award: Maria F. Morales Moreno, of Greenwood
- Secondary Education Award: Clare M. Henry, of Aiken
- Special Education Award: Jahleesa T. Coatie, of Columbia
- Graduate Education Award: Lori I. Flick, of Greenwood
- Graduate Education Award in Teaching & Learning: Carlos Trotty, of Greenwood
- Graduate Education Award in Montessori Education: Jenae A. Chiles, of Abbeville
- Exercise Science Award: Sunni E. Carwile, of Greenwood
- Physical Education Discipline Award: Charles (Cody) F. Dysart, of Williamston
Special award:
- Excellence in Exercise Science Award: Dillon C. Bridwell, of Woodruff. The award recognizes a graduating senior majoring in exercise science who best exemplifies academic achievement, moral character, leadership and service activities for the department.
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
Discipline awards: Presented by the faculty of each academic department to students demonstrating the most outstanding academic achievement, leadership, contributions and commitment to the program, and showing strong potential for future success in their disciplinary field.
- Biology Award: Blair C. Harmon, of Saluda
- Nell Henry Award: Katie E. Whiten, of Pelzer
- Science Scholar Award (Biology, Freshman): Zachary A. Barnard, of Warfordsburg, Pa.
- Science Scholar Award (Biology, Upperclassman): Suzie V. Pace, of Abbeville
- Computer Information Systems Discipline Award: Quinton K. Amick, of Clinton
- Mathematics Award: Kaleb A. Lodge, of Troy
- Mathematics or Computing and Engineering Dual Degree Award: Chance D. Stowe, of Mount Croghan
- Chemistry Discipline Award: Lori E. Smith, of Greenwood
- Chemistry Education, Secondary Certification Discipline Award: Bethany K. Bonds, of Abbeville
- Chemistry and Engineering Dual Degree Award: Cullen M. Orcutt, of Mount Pleasant
- Environmental Science Discipline Award: Ravon House, of Waterloo
- Physics - Algebra Discipline Award: Megan R. Wiley, of Lilburn, Ga.
- Physics - Calculus Discipline Award: Kaleb A. Lodge, of Troy
- Science Scholar Award (Physical Sciences, Freshman): Learnmore Jeremia, of Zimbabwe
- Science Scholar Award (Physical Sciences, Upperclassman): Lori E. Smith, of Greenwood
WILLIAM PRESTON TURNER SCHOOL OF NURSING
Discipline awards: Presented by the faculty of each academic department to students demonstrating the most outstanding academic achievement, leadership, contributions and commitment to the program, and showing strong potential for future success in their disciplinary field.
- Pre-licensure Nursing Award: Sara A. Howe, of Elberton, Ga.
- RN-BSN Award: Amanda R. Theuerl, of Columbia
- Barbara T. Freese Scholarly Development Award: Taylor A. Spees, of Greenwood
MILITARY AWARDS
- Col. James A. Lander Award: Dale W. Fleming, of Greenwood. The award is presented to an outstanding senior cadet who has demonstrated moral character, high military and general academic standing, extracurricular involvement and leadership qualities.
- Lt. Col. Walter Roark Award: Isaac J. Auzenne, of Blythewood. The award is presented to a junior cadet who has demonstrated a high degree of proficiency in military science in overall academic studies, and exemplifies strong leadership skills with devotion to duty and patriotism.
HONORS COLLEGE
The students listed below were presented with medals for their participation in Lander's Honors College.
2018 Medalists
- Jordan Blackwell (Special Education), of Taylors
- Mel Bussard (Psychology), of Chapin
- Daniel Hutto (Biology), of Piedmont
- Mary Grace Lacombe (Chemistry), of Lady's Island
- Rachael Caddell (Mass Communication), of Cowpens
- Benjamin Chase O'Dell (English), of Leesville
- Paige Fowler (English), of North Augusta
- Suzie Vu Pace (Biology), of Abbeville
- Tiffany Gray (Psychology), of Simpsonville
- Jeremiah Grooms (Criminology), of Summerville
- Wesley Hamilton (Business), of Irmo
- Kathryn Spence (Psychology), of Columbia
- Donald E. Stroud (Sociology), of Sellers
- Aralyn Townsend (Business), of Port Royal
- Rebecca Watford (History), of Greenwood
Prospective Medalists
- Hannah Girardeau (Biology), of Greenville
- Dmitry Shipsey (Mathematics-Engineering), of Saint Helena Island
- Xitlali Torres (Nursing), of Gaston
ALPHA CHI HONOR SOCIETY CORDS
The graduating seniors listed below were presented with honor cords in recognition of being members of Lander University's chapter of the Alpha Chi honor society.
COLLEGE OF ARTS AND HUMANITIES
- Rebecca Snelgrove, of Starr
- Reyonia Aleyia Whipple, of Brunswick, Ga.
COLLEGE OF BEHAVIORAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES
- Blakely Abercrombie, of Laurens
- Christina Eulin Franklin, of Greenwood
- Tiffany N. Gray, of Simpsonville
- Jeremiah H. Grooms, of Summerville
- Kathryn Porter, of Simpsonville
- Donald Earl Stroud, Jr., of Sellers
- Dallas S. Thompson, of Blythewood
COLLEGE OF BUSINESS
- Braden H. Cook, of Irmo
- Christopher Scott, of Greenwood
COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
- Samuelyn Jazelle Brown, of Abbeville
- Rebecca G. Bruce, of Honea Path
- Sunni E. Carwile, of Greenwood
- Jahleesa Taneia Coatie, of Columbia
- Kathleen Davenport, of Abbeville
- Ashley Michaela Giordano, of Summerville
- Savannah Taylor Lewis, of Calhoun Falls
- Joshua Joseph Malek, of Easley
- Sara Elizabeth Owen, of West Columbia
COLLEGE OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
- Andrew J. Akins, of Greenwood
- Blair Coleman Harmon, of Saluda
- Zachery Raymond Keisler, of Gilbert
- Suzie Vu Pace, of Abbeville
- Lori Elizabeth Smith, of Greenwood
WILLIAM PRESTON TURNER SCHOOL OF NURSING
- Tonya Bledsoe, of North Augusta
- Kendall Michelle Chavis, of Rock Hill
- Catherine Anne Garrett, of Anderson
- Lauren A. Haynes, of Greenwood
- Sara Ashley Howe, of Elberton, Ga.
- Carly Price, of York
- Taylor Spees, of Greenwood
Photos by Laura Brown
Video by Mike Blackwell
