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Student Accomplishments Celebrated at 2024 Spring Honors Convocation

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

University News | May 3, 2024

Òùµ´ÉÙ¸¾’s 2024 Spring Honors Convocation was held Friday, May 3, as part of the day-long Spring Academic Symposium. 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 2024, were also recognized by Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Susan Larkin. 

Congratulations to the 2024 award recipients:

Kainaat Trehan, President’s Leadership Award

Maya Hunter-Holmes, History Departmental Award

Kainaat Trehan, International Studies Department Award

Rhian Tramontana, International Studies Department Award

Breanna Mahoney, Media and Communication Award

Rhian Tramontana, Journalism Award

Carey Seay, Journalism Award

Morgan Decastro, Outstanding Major in Recreational Therapy

Emily Halloway, Outstanding Major in Sport & Recreation Management

Ian Brady, Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology Honors Award

Chase James, Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology Honors Award

Matthew Thompson, Department of Criminal Justice & Sociology Honors Award

Gavin (Rob) Lindsay, Hite Award for Distinguished Service to VWU Theatre

Felix Bevc, Outstanding Graduating Senior in Chemistry

Alexandra Perla Saxon, Outstanding Graduating Senior in Biochemistry

Alex Cain, Department of Biology Outstanding Senior

Samantha Vos, Department of Biology Outstanding Senior

John Wampler, Department of Biology Outstanding Senior

Sammy Blythe, First-Year Achievement Award in Chemistry & Biochemistry

Sarah Verbeck, Education Department Rising Star

Emmanuel Garcia, Outstanding Performance in Elementary Education  

Madison Hudson, Outstanding Performance in Special Education

Haley Sutton, Outstanding Performance in Secondary Education

John Wampler, Sustainability Management Award

Erika Eichelberger, Earth & Environmental Sciences Outstanding Senior

Claire Carter, Earth & Environmental Sciences Outstanding Senior

Shannon Gaffney, Earth & Environmental Sciences Outstanding Senior

Alicia Fischman, Earth & Environmental Sciences Outstanding Senior

Ariana Fletter, Distinguished Graduating Senior in Psychology

Henry Handley, Distinguished Graduating Senior in Psychology

Lauren Whitney, Distinguished Graduating Senior in Psychology

Madeline Gonsalves, Psychology Research Award

Julia Marrone, Psychology Research Award

Victoria Gonzales, Political Science Department Award

Sheila Nilsen, Management, Business and Economics Robert H. Cass Award

Dheeraj Koritala, Management, Business and Economics Academic Achievement Award

Michaela Elston, Dora H. Dobrin Award for Excellence in Social Work

Henry Handley, Marlin Ministries Servant Leader Award

Alexandra “Sasha” Saxon, William “Tree” Roundtree Jr. Townebank Young Life Scholarship

Madison Dragas, Classics Telemachus Award

Sterling Sharpe, Classics Telemachus Award

Taylor Herrin, Classics Telemachus Award

Alexis Bailey, Classics Telemachus Award

Joy Bowden, Classics Telemachus Award

Regis Collins, Classics Award

Rachel Stephenson, Classics Award

Alex Cain, Classics Award

Kirkland Butler, Classics Award

Dave Herrelko, Classics Award

Riley Cheuvront, Classics Award

Ariana Fletter, Sharon L. Payne Award for Excellence in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies

Victoria Gonzalez, Sharon L. Payne Award for Excellence in Gender, Women and Sexuality Studies

Rhian Tramontana, Religious Studies Departmental Award

June Richardson, Outstanding Student in Music Composition

Christian Palmisano, Library Research Award

Alexandra “Sasha” Saxon, Library Research Award

Katie Adams, Vivian Teter Creative Writing Award

Dahlia Perez, Outstanding English Major Award

National Model United Nations Distinguished Delegation: Joshua Spicer, Paul Nelson, Alexis Bailey, Calee Likowski, Dtefan Zrnic, Stephanie Clark, Hoyhannes Madanyan, Jennifer Mejis, Rowan Stuary, grace Harriman, Bryce Davenport, Gabrielle Barnett, Hubert Parawa, Ines Poliquen, Kaylee Grimstead, Allyson Crothers, Lucas Gordon, Aidan Foley, Maria Eduarda de Freitas Bernardo, Eddie McDonald.

An Academic Fair & Poster Session in the CMAC of the Jane P. Batten Center immediately followed the Honors Convocation, concluding the 2024 Academic Symposium.