Lander’s College of Arts and Humanities Honors ‘Best Among Us’

The annual student and faculty awards ceremony for the College of Arts and Humanities underscored that the “arts and humanities are alive and well at Lander.”

Dr. Lucas McMillan, Lander University’s interim dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, praised the students as “the best among us,” citing their excellence in the classroom and beyond.

“Our students produce work that is accepted by external conferences, associations and galleries,” McMillan said. “We produce and create much in the college – a literary magazine, a newspaper, a radio station, countless works of art and design, and so much music in recitals and concerts.”

Faculty carefully mentor and counsel students in their endeavors toward graduate school or a multitude of careers, he said.

“The message should be clear for all to see: If you join us at Lander, are in a relationship with us to guide you as mentors, then you can be successful,” McMillan said. “We are good at what we do. That is because of our faculty – teachers and mentors, yes, but also creators and scholars in their own right.”

McMillan presented the Dean’s Awards to Catherine Jordan, of Prosperity, and Noah Skinner, of West Columbia.

The Dean’s Awards are given to the students who best represent the values of a liberal arts education through the pursuit of learning through their classroom work, off-campus experiences and campus leadership, McMillan said.

“These students embody academic excellence, but the risks taken by experimentation in coursework, challenges through undergraduate research, semesters away or high-profile internships mean that the GPA is not the most important factor in selection,” he said.

Among the college’s other awards:

Department of Art + Design

Dr. Asma Nazim-Starnes, chair of the Department of Art + Design, presented awards.

• Art + Design Discipline Award: Georgia Ricard, of Saluda.
• Art Education Award: Kennedy Henjes, of Roebuck.
• Art History Award: Alissa Glazer, of Honea Path.
• Ceramics Awards: Kristina Peay, of Lexington.
• Foundations in Art Award: Ella Brown, of Greenwood.
• Graphic Design Award: Taj Dimiati, of Greenwood.
• Leadership in Art: Kyle Erin, of Piedmont.
• Painting Award: Jericho Lincoln, of Belton.
• Photography Award: Ethan Lang, of Belton.
• Sculpture Award: Georgia Ricard, of Saluda.
• MFA Award: Katherine Rumminger, of Liberty.
• Outstanding Freshman: Brandon Simmons, of Sumter.
• Outstanding Senior: Katelynn Green, of Easley.
• Senior Leadership Award: Maggie Ahern, of Easley.

Department of English & Foreign Languages

Dr. Jeffery Baggett, chair of the Department of English & Foreign Languages, presented awards.

• English Discipline Award: Keri Lawson, of Clinton, and Chantal Chandler, of Goose Creek.
• French Discipline Award – Hilda Smith, of Honea Path
• Alliance Francaise Award: Carly Rogers, of Simpsonville.
• Spanish Discipline Award: Maria Rubio Arteaga, of West Columbia.
• Margaret M. Bryant Humanities Award: C. Bryce Lecroy, of Walhalla.
• Dessie Dean Pitts Humanities Award: Marina Andrew, of Central.
• Creative Writing Award: Julia Anhalt, of Greenwood.
• New Voices Art Award: Meaghan Marie Nelson, of Hanahan

Department of Media and Communication

Dr. Misty Jameson, chair of the Department of Media and Communication, presented awards.

• Forum Award: Abigail Buckingham, of Ninety Six.
• LUX Award: Allyson Jackson, of Greenville.
• XLR Award: Erynn Price, of Ninety Six.
• Speech and Performance Award: Quinn McKee, of Mauldin.
• Media and Communication Discipline Award – Quinn McKee, of Mauldin

Department of Music

Dr. Reed Gallo, chair of the Department of Music, presented awards.

• Turner Music Award: Madison Williams, of Duncan.
• Music Discipline Award: Anderson Lowe, of Greenwood.

McMillan also recognized honor society members of Sigma Tau Delta, the International English Honor Society, and scholarship recipients from the college’s departments.