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Student Awards Presented at 2025 Spring Honors Convocation
Annual ceremony recognizes students' exemplary academic, leadership and service achievements
University News | May 2, 2025
Photo Gallery: 2025 Spring Honors Convocation
Virginia Wesleyan University’s 2025 Spring Honor Convocation was held Friday, May 2, as part of the day-long Spring Undergraduate Research Forum. The annual event paid tribute to exemplary student accomplishments in academics, leadership and service. President Scott D. Miller was joined by VWU faculty and members of the community to present the awards in the Brock Theatre in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center.
From individual departmental awards and special recognitions to outstanding leadership and achievement awards, the event provided an opportunity to celebrate stellar students. Students on the President’s List and Dean's List, in Honor Societies and the Batten Honors College, as well as the Class of 2025, were also recognized by Provost and Vice President Dr. Deirdre Gonsalves-Jackson.
Congratulations to the 2025 award recipients:
Jessica Wilson, President’s Leadership Award
Casey Bennett, Marlin Ministries Servant Leader Award
Jenna Waters, Academic Achievement Award (MBE)
Megan Setlak, Cass Award (MBE)
Regis Collins, Tate Stephenson Classical Studies Award
Vinny Palmore, Anisha Carter, Creelyn Bastinelli, Latin Award
Katelyn Baker, Jalen Major, Alexis Miller, Marco Molino, Outstanding Senior Award (Biology)
Emm Acanfora, Crystabelle Knight, Distinguished Seniors (Psychology)
Norah Ciano, Psychology Research Award
Samantha Silvia, Samantha Tortorice, Dora Dobrin Award for Excellence in Social Work
Kaza Dayton, Excellent Performance (Hispanic Studies)
Abigail Villacrusis, French Award
Mae Bryant, Max Byrd, Christian Palmisano, Sydnee Washington, History Department Award
Ines Pouliquen, International Studies Award
Isaac Fick, Erin Beaudry, Library Research Award
Maria “Duda” de Freitas Bernardo, Abigail Villacrusis, Media and Communication Award
Kirkland Butler, Outstanding English Major
Kirkland Butler, Vivian Teter Creative Writing Award
Benjamin Daugherty, Outstanding First-Year Award in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Casey Bennett, Outstanding Graduate in Biochemistry
Sainandan Challagundia, Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry
Jessica Wilson, Clay Yokom, Bryn Lister, Outstanding Graduates in Earth and Environmental Sciences
Jessica Wilson, Sustainability Management Award
Evelyn Weaver, Smeltzer, Outstanding Graduates in Environmental Studies
Jenna Laird, Outstanding Elementary Education Student
Emma Janney, Outstanding MAED Student
McKinley Crittenden, Outstanding SPED Student
Hannah Luxner, Rising Star (Education)
Ajia Lindsey, Virginia Scholars Award
Jaime Corley, Kaiyya Jenkins, Political Science Award
Everett McCloskey, Mackenzie Myers, Outstanding Major in Sport and Recreation Management
Savannah Combs, Ashley Glodek, Recreational Therapy Outstanding Student
Meadow Spears, Sharon L. Payne Award for Excellence in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies
Kyleigh Castengena, Comfort Tambaya, Sociology & Criminal Justice Department Honors
Evelyn Weaver, Katia Reyes, Nora Bahns, The Wisdom Award
Erin Andrews, The Hite Award for Distinguished Service to Theatre
Emily Lutz, Elizabeth “Annie” O’Shea, Theatre Impact Award
An Academic Fair & Poster Session in the CMAC of the Jane P. Batten Center immediately followed the Honors Convocation.