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Celebrating Student Achievement
Accomplishments of outstanding VWU students recognized at annual Spring Honors Convocation
Featured News | May 9, 2018
View the 2018 Spring Honors Convocation Photo Gallery
Virginia Wesleyan University’s annual Spring Honors Convocation was held Friday, May 4, in the Convocation Center in the Jane P. Batten Student Center. The annual event pays tribute to outstanding student achievements in academics, leadership and service. President Scott D. Miller, Provost and Vice President Timothy O'Rourke and Chaplain Gregory West were joined by VWU faculty and members of the community to present the awards.
From individual department awards and special scholarships to outstanding leadership and achievement awards, the event provided an opportunity to celebrate exemplary student accomplishments. Students on the President’s List, Academic Dean's List, Student Government Association, Honor Societies, Batten Honors College, PORTfolio and the Class of 2018 were also recognized.
The convocation concluded with the singing of the Virginia Wesleyan University Alma Mater led by the Wesleyan Chorale, under the direction of Bryson Mortensen, director of choral music.
Congratulations to the 2018 award recipients:
| Dan Dickerson Annual Scholarship | Kristina Maystrishyna |
| William Joseph Annual Scholarship | Dale Cawthorne |
| Rotary Club of Town Center Virginia Beach Citizenship Award | Nicholas Hipple |
| President’s Leadership Award | Nicholas Hipple |
| Marlin Ministries Servant Leader Award | Luke Wentling |
| 2018 Virginia Scholars Award | Shana Harrison |
| Academic Achievement Award for Secondary Education | Elizabeth Brisson |
| Academic Achievement Award for Elementary Education | Brianna Peterson |
| Education Department Outstanding Research Award | Ashley Peterson |
| Education Department Rising Star Award | Kelly Bateman |
| Alpha Lambda Sigma Academic Achievement Award | Brooke Novkovic, David O'Rork |
| Judith Vinson Klein Award | Deanna Chandler |
| Phoenix Award | Deanna Chandler |
|
Outstanding Art Major in Studio and Art History Award |
Lydia O'Connor |
| Outstanding Leadership and Professionalism in Art Award | Ja'lisa Yates |
| Excellence and Originality in Producing a Body of Work | Joshua Davis, Riley Koenig, Aimelie Ronquillo |
| Communication Award | Amanda Archer, Justin Smith |
| Journalism Award | Justin Smith |
| Outstanding Student in Calculus Award | Alexi Baumgardner |
| Outstanding Student in Mathematics Award | LeMar Callaway III |
| Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology Faculty Recognition Award |
Allison Heitsman, Grace Yalung, Deanna Chandler, Jake Morgan, Cassidy Ramsey, Sammy Espejo |
| Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology Rising Star Award | Victoria Zuppa |
| Creative Writing Award | Tracey Tittle |
| Outstanding English Major Award | Kathleen Peloquin |
| Sharon L. Payne Award for Excellence in Women’s and Gender Studies | Kathleen Peloquin |
| History Department Distinguished Student Award | Travon Nimmo, Emilee Pearson |
| Ledeboer Family Scholarship | Gretchen Yobp |
| Library Research Award | Travon Nimmo and Mickella Rast |
| Robert H. Cass Outstanding Senior Award | Nicholas Hipple, Kelsi Robbins |
| MBE Academic Achievement Award | Ryan Applewhite, Andrew Johnson |
| Outstanding Student in Instrumental Music Award | Alex Gallant |
| Outstanding Senior Vocalist Award | Patrice Glover |
| Award for Excellence in International Studies | Riley Conrad |
| Award for Excellence in Political Science | Kayla Denis |
| Distinguished Graduating Senior in Psychology | Tayler Wilson |
| Research Award in Psychology | Jessica Pittman |
| Religious Studies Award | Riley Conrad |
| William “Tree” Roundtree TowneBank Young Life Award | Kyle Richardson, Hannah Weber |
| Dora H. Dobrin Award for Excellence in Social Work | Quinci Rockette |
| Outstanding Graduate in Recreation and Leisure Studies | Mary-Rae Rattigan, Colleen Smith |
| The Hite Award for Outstanding Service to the VWU Theatre Program | Nicholas Hipple, Emily Vial |
| Excellence in French Award | Fonyuy Njoka , Michaela Gridley |
| S. Diane Guadalupe Memorial Award | Riley Conrad |
| Department of Biology Award | R. Kellen Philips, Amy Large |
| Excellence in Chemistry Award | Shane McPherson |
| Hampton Roads American Chemical Society Outstanding Chemistry Senior | Corentin Villot |
| Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award | Zach Lubick |
| Outstanding Major in Environmental Studies Award | Amanda Gerni |
| Earth and Environmental Sciences Department Award | Tyler Ostrovecky |
| Classics Department Latin Award | Sydnie Allen |
| Classics Department Classical Studies Award | Maribel Veras, Simone Picou |
| Presidential Service Awards | |
| Gold Level (250+ Hours of Service) |
Maya Ball, Claude Clarke, Nicholas Hipple, Michael McOsker |
| Silver Level (175-249 Hours of Service) | Maia Llewellyn |
| Bronze Level (100-174 Hours of Service) |
Nishira Henderson, Heather Jenkins, Francesa Lanuza, Madeline Snyder, Margaret Zehmer |