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Students Praised at Spring Honors Convocation 2023

Annual ceremony recognizes students' exemplary academic, leadership and service achievements

University News | April 27, 2023

Òùµ´ÉÙ¸¾’s 2023 Spring Honors Convocation was held Thursday, April 27, as part of the day-long Spring Academic Symposium. The annual event paid tribute to exemplary student accomplishments in academics, leadership and service. Dr. Scott D. Miller, VWU President, was joined by VWU faculty and members of the community to present the awards in the Susan S. Goode Fine and Performing Arts Center.

From individual department awards and special recognitions to outstanding leadership and achievement awards, the event provided an opportunity to celebrate stellar student achievements. Students on the President’s List and Dean's List, in Honor Societies and the Batten Honors College, as well as the Class of 2023 were also recognized by Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Susan Larkin. 

Congratulations to the 2023 award recipients:

Connor Merk, President’s Leadership Award

Hannah Carmona, Communication Award

Erness Anne Deseo, Communication Award

Connor Merk, Journalism Award

Pamela Rodgers, Distinguished Graduating Senior in Psychology

Tamia Ward, Outstanding Recreational Therapy Major

Caitlin Myers, Outstanding Major in Sport & Recreation Management

Kendall Hinton, Outstanding Major in Sport & Recreation Management

Kristin A. McCoy, Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology Outstanding Major

Jennaphur Nixon, Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology Outstanding Major

Tucker Barco, Hite Award for Distinguished Service to VWU Theatre

Kayla Bissette, Hite Award for Distinguished Service to VWU Theatre

Brooke Morris, Outstanding Graduate in Chemistry

Emmanuel Garcia, Education Department Elementary Education Rising Star

Micayla Waters, Education Department Education Studies Rising Star

William McConnell, Outstanding Achievement Award for Elementary Education  

Haleigh Settle, Outstanding Achievement Award for Special Education

Brynn Vandegriff, Outstanding Performance in Secondary Education

Erin Foreman, Earth and Environmental Sciences Department Distinguished Graduate  

Emily Petsko, Earth and Environmental Sciences Department Distinguished Graduate

Abigail Peterson, Biology Department Outstanding Student

Sara Traver, Biology Department Outstanding Student

Jessica Garvie, Biology Department Outstanding Student

Erin Foreman, Biology Department Outstanding Student

Kayla Bissette, Outstanding English Major

Mary-Catherine Rigg, Vivian Teter Creative Writing Award

Max Byrd, Danicas Foundation Award

Debra Buckalew, Danicas Foundation Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies Award

Christine Zalameda, Most Dedicated Mathematics Major

Ariana Fletter, Psychology Research Award

Stephanie Hoke, Political Science Award

Connor Merk, Political Science Award

Sierra Curney, International Studies Award

Alexandra Brewster, Management, Business and Economics Robert H. Cass Outstanding Senior Award

Connor Merk, Management, Business and Economics Robert H. Cass Outstanding Senior Award

Kaia Rashada, Management, Business and Economics Academic Achievement Award

Brooke Underwood, Marlin Ministries Servant Leader Award

Henry Handley, Marlin Ministries Servant Leader Award

Sydnee Washington, Library Award

Phoebe Cox, Library Award

Whitney Leao, Classics Award

Raegan Collins, Classics Award

Mary-Catherine Rigg, Classics Award

Aleya Roberts, Classics Award

An Academic Fair & Poster Session in the CMAC of the Jane P. Batten Center immediately followed the Honors Convocation, concluding the 2023 Academic Symposium.