Students, faculty, staff, and friends of Mary Baldwin University gathered inside Francis Auditorium last week for Honors Convocation, a ceremony to recognize student academic achievement.
Awards presented included:
Baldwin Online and Adult Programs Loyalty Fund Scholarships
The Baldwin Online and Adult Programs (Baldwin Online and Adult Programs) Loyalty Fund Scholarships are funded through donations from Baldwin Online and Adult Programs faculty, staff, graduates, friends, family, and present students through donations to the college’s annual fund. To be eligible, applicants must be students in good standing in Baldwin Online and Adult Programs and be seeking their first bachelor’s degree; have completed 12 or more semester hours of Mary Baldwin-graded work, with a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5; and be planning to enroll in the following fall semester. Recipients are selected on the basis of their academic record; service to the program, college, and community; and commitment to learning and growth in Baldwin Online and Adult Programs.
Tamara Anderson
Jennifer Arendall
Kara Bingler
Shawna Franklin
Joanna Nichols
Anna Wright
Alice McCaa Class of 1976 Biology Award
The Alice McCaa (pronounced “McCay”) Award honors a 1976 graduate of Mary Baldwin University who majored in biology and whose friends and classmates wanted to honor her memory by establishing an annual award for biology majors. The award is intended to “encourage and recognize excellence in the field of biology.” It is given to an undergraduate biology major based on academic standing and excellent performance in laboratory and research settings. The recipient is chosen by the biology faculty and includes a cash award.
Maricruz Valenzuela
Amy M. Rupe Award for Excellence in Asian Studies
Shekira Ramdass
Ashley DuLac Award
This award is funded by the DuLac family in honor of their daughter Ashley DuLac, class of 1989. Each year this award is given to an outstanding graduating senior in the mathematics department.
Jackie Avery
Benn Award for Creative Writing
The Benn Award for Creative Writing was established in 1969 by the late Mrs. Clyde Myers Lambert of Waynesboro in memory of her parents, Dr. and Mrs. R. L. Benn. The award is presented by the English faculty in recognition of a returning Mary Baldwin student who has distinguished herself in the literary arts.
Zoe Clandorf
Reetu Sinha
Business — Baldwin Online and Adult Programs Outstanding Senior
This award is based on grade point average and faculty recommendation.
Debby Bibens
Business — Outstanding Residential College for Women Student
The Outstanding Business Student award is given to the student that best exemplifies the effective practices in today’s world with special focus on “business for a sustainable future.” Mary Baldwin business students look at the triple bottom line — achieving benefits that are economic, social, and environmental. With a strong foundation that includes marketing, management, finance, and economics, students will learn first-hand how successful business practices are enhanced with responsible, ethical, and sustainable decisions. The award winners exhibit these practices in and out of the classroom.
Astrid Salarda
The Carrie Douglass Award for Excellence in Anthropology
The Carrie Douglass Award for Excellence in Anthropology honors one student, an anthropology/sociology major or anthropology minor, for his or her work in and contribution to the anthropology program at Mary Baldwin University. The award is determined by major GPA, career GPA, and contributions to the anthropology program through campus organizations, civic and/or global engagement, and excellence in research. The award is named in honor of former Mary Baldwin University Professor of Anthropology Carrie Douglass.
Linnea Kuglitsch
Charlotte Forten Grimké Award
Grimké was born to a free African-American family of means in Philadelphia in 1837. She was a noted 19th-century essayist, poet, and teacher who bent her considerable talents to the abolitionist cause. During the 1860s she became one of the most influential teachers in the Port Royal Experiment, which sought to provide education to former slaves living on the Sea Islands off the coast of Georgia and South Carolina. In one entry of her now famous diaries she wrote, “Monday, October 23, 1854: I will spare no effort to prepare myself well for the responsible duties of a teacher, and to live for the good I can do my oppressed and suffering fellow creatures.” This award is given to the senior African-American student who demonstrates a commitment to scholarship, civic responsibility, leadership, sisterhood, and spirit and who actively shares her appreciation for African-American history and culture. This book and cash award is given by Andrea Cornett-Scott and Edward Scott.
Monique Burgess
Chemistry — Outstanding Student
The Chemistry Award is given annually to a chemistry major who has excelled academically in the field, shown promise in the research lab, and been involved in service to the department through the American Chemical Society student group.
Randi Beil
Communication — Outstanding Senior
Given to the top student in the Communication department.
Olivia Samerdyke
Donald D. Thompson Memorial Scholarship
The Donald D. Thompson Memorial Scholarship was established in 1985 by former students and friends of Professor Thompson to honor his service to the college, his excellence as an instructor, and his professional achievement in the field of psychology. The scholarship is awarded annually to an outstanding student in psychology for her senior year of study.
Jamie Robinson
Hilary Therit
Dorothy Mulberry Award
The Dorothy Mulberry Award was created by a group of Mary Baldwin alumnae who were Spanish majors and who studied in Spain with Professor Emeritus Dorothy Mulberry. These students and Dr. Mulberry spent a year in Madrid studying Spanish and enjoying Madrid’s cultural life. Cherishing this unforgettable experience, and out of love and respect for Dr. Mulberry, the alumnae decided to establish this award to encourage our young majors to study Spanish abroad. This is a monetary award averages $1,600 to support the student’s trip to a Spanish-speaking country. Recipients must be Spanish majors with a 3.5 or higher GPA, and priority is given to those studying abroad for a semester.
Stephanie Mason
Kristin Zimmer
Excellence in Library-Based Research Awards
Given to the best research paper written by a freshman or sophomore during the preceeding academic year that both uses to the fullest extent possible the resources available through Grafton Library and reflects extraordinary scholarly promise.
Freshman: Autumn Smith
Sophomore: Rolonda Williams
Junior: Ashley Shoell
Freshmen Calculus Award
This award is given to a freshman with the highest grade in the Introduction to Calculus and Analytic Geometry I and II courses. The award is funded by the mathematics department to celebrate and encourage women into mathematics.
Alora Wogsland
Global Honors Scholars
Class of 2014
Lindsey Aldred
Claudia Alexander
Randi Beil
Leslie Chockley
Mariah Dittrich
Ashley Edmiston
Raven Jackson
Linnea Kuglitsch
Queen Martin
Emily Miller
Olivia Samerdyke
Brittany Stroop
Laura Wise
Kristin Zimmer
Class of 2015
Ceara Armstrong
Irmamarie Avelsgard
Jade Baker
Jaelynn Bennett
Chitendwe Chioza
Coral Collins
Carolyn Denney
Kimberly Denney
Aria Dougherty
Amanda Fadden
Catherine Forrester
Aji Gaye
Sutton Hastman
Murine Lusakweno
Grace McAden
Dequana Mervin
Shekira Ramdass
Nicole Sauer
Anneliese Slaton
Lauren Tharp
Analisse Vasquez Soto
ShaTira Waller
Tisha Wilkerson
Toby Ziemba
Class of 2016
Ashleigh Aycock
Celine Brooks
Charleen Frederick
Chelsea Hensley
Kathleen Hurlock
Jennifer Jin
Yasmeen Latore
Aliyah McIntosh
Katherine Narvaez
Taylor Patterson
Brianne Perry
Dejhanira Torrico
Carleigh Young
Class of 2017
Molly Chase
Aryn Cox
Christine Fenner
Farrah-Amoy Fullerton
Lydia Hurt
Riley Kelly
Katelyn Rice
Gordon L. Hammock Student Mentor
Professor Gordon Hammock was a deeply loved and well-respected member of the business faculty who passed away a number of years ago. One of his greatest gifts was his ability to mentor students. To honor him, the college created an endowed fund that carries a cash award for the recipient. The student who receives this award “exemplifies Gordon’s focus on teaching and mentoring students to be ethical leaders in business.”
Rebecca Stearn
Healthcare Administration Award
This award has been given out by the Healthcare Administration (HCA) program for more than 20 years. It is given to the top student in the HCA program — the person who exhibits the qualities of an effective, efficient, and humane professional in the making. Among the elements considered are GPA, classroom engagement, participation in HCA program activities, leadership, the quality of the required internship, a cooperative spirit matched with action, and a sense of humor.
Brittany Weeks
Jane Addams Social Work Award
Given to an outstanding student in the social work department. The award is named in honor of Jane Addams, the first American woman to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, founder of the Settlement House Movement, a mover and shaker in the areas of labor reform, and a charter member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP).
Monique Burgess
Lambda Pi Eta
The official communication studies honor society of the National Communication Association. As an accredited member of the Association of College Honor Societies, LPH has over 250 active chapters at colleges and universities worldwide.
Carolina Giraldo
Julia Bridgen
Sarah Brescia
Mary Jane Donnally Award
Awarded to the student athlete with the highest cumulative GPA after three semesters of work.
Jennifer Jin
Melissa Mitchell Award for May Term Study Abroad
The purpose of this award is defray the cost of participating in a formal program of study outside the United States. Selection will be based on high academic merit and the likelihood that the student will benefit culturally and intellectually from the course of study proposed.
Lynnae Sauer
Outstanding Biology Student Award
The Outstanding Biology Student Awards are unique because winners are selected by their student colleagues, who define outstanding achievement from the valuable peer perspective.
Sophia Stone
Peggy Pinkston Biochemistry Research Award
The Biochemistry Research Award is given in memory of Peggy Pinkston, a beloved Mary Baldwin faculty member from 1976 to 1989. This quote from former student Joi Phelps Walker ‘82, excerpted from The Mary Baldwin University Magazine, describes Pinkston’s spirit and her many contributions to Mary Baldwin: “Dr. Pinkston opened my mind to the range of possibilities that a woman could pursue. Here she was, a PhD in biochemistry and an accomplished violinist as well. She was a powerful role model to young women just breaking into science in the late 1970s.”
Tyler Nguyen
Phi Beta Kappa
Membership in the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the nation’s oldest and most prestigious academic honor society, is an emblem of high achievement and exceptional potential conferred upon barely one percent of college seniors nationwide. The Society, founded in 1776, maintains high standards for individual members as well as for the colleges from which members are elected. Mary Baldwin University is one of only 280 institutions to shelter a chapter, Lambda of Virginia. To be elected to Phi Beta Kappa, a student must have demonstrated through her or his undergraduate record a commitment to the pursuit of excellence in the liberal arts and sciences that is both broad and deep. In addition to a high GPA, minimum eligibility requirements include foreign language, mathematics, and laboratory science. Standards for election as a junior are higher than for seniors. The ideal Phi Beta Kappan is a model of intellectual curiosity, academic integrity, tolerance for other views, and a broad range of academic interests.
Cassandra Eiland
Olivia Samerdyke
Brittany Kondratenko
Tyler Nguyen
Emily Miller
Dequana Mervin
Sydney Mariscal
Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship
The Baldwin Online and Adult Programs Phi Theta Kappa Scholarship of $1,500 is granted to a student who has been a member of Phi Theta Kappa, the academic honor society of the Virginia Community College System, and has earned a transferable associate’s degree before coming to Mary Baldwin University. The student must have at least a 3.5 GPA and have impressed the awards committee with his or her academic achievement and goals for the future.
Julianna Nopson
Scholar Athletes
Given to a member of an Mary Baldwin sports team who achieves high academic standing.
Jennifer Jin
Kaylyn Lonergan
Wendy Deptula
Kimberly Denny
Amanda Fadden
Celine Brooks
Katherine Narvaez
Kallie Sutton
Lizette Naranjo
Scholar Team Award
Awarded to the team with the highest cumulative GPA.
Cross Country Team
Sociology — Academic excellence
Given to a senior who has achieved academic distinction and has excelled in all her classes.
Joanna Mills
Sociology — Service Award
Given in recognition of exceptional service to Mary Baldwin and the greater community.
Leo Hanlon
Student Class Marshals
Selma Elsarrag ’14
Mikhaila Moynihan ’14
Queen Martin, alternate
Nhi Thi Nguyen ’15
Anneliese Slaton ’15
Kathleen Hurlock, alternate
Jennifer Jin ’16
Emma Reger ’16
Alexandra Ellmauer, alternate
Michiyo Furukawa ’17
Sammantha Grzb ’17
Sharanya Rao, alternate
Study Abroad Scholarships
Twelve scholarships totaling more than $10,000 were awarded this year through a rigorous application and selection process, which took into account financial need, academic excellence, academic and career goals, diversity, class year and prior experience abroad
The C. Perry Nair Jr. Endowed Fund scholarship: Claire Chandler, London Theatre May Term trip
The Sara Forrest Thompson Hunt Mission Fund: Brittany Marie James and Elsa Vasquez-Flores, Alternative Spring Break program to Haiti
The Thelma T. McDowell Endowed Fund scholarship: Astrid Salarda, Germany May Term trip
The Marion Barge Clark ’67 scholarship: Yvette Yan, Doshisha Women’s College of Liberal Arts in Japan, and Julianna Nopson, Germany
The Dorothy Mulberry Award for the study of Spanish abroad: Stephanie Mason and Kristin Zimmer, Mexico May Term trip
The Melissa Mitchell Award for May Term Abroad: Lynnae Sauer
The Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement Endowed Fund scholarships: Rebecca Stearn, Germany, Analiese Slaton, Germany, and Bethany Zaiman, Haiti
Ulysse Desportes Award for Outstanding Achievement in Studio Art
This award acknowledges the outstanding work, accomplishments, and growth of a selected studio art major. It also signifies the capacity of the recipient to carry forward a high level of quality within her studio practice beyond Mary Baldwin University.
Jessica Rublee
Kari Watson
Kelleyann Gordon
Genevieve Neice
Shelley Rubiani
VFIC Ethics Bowl
Katharine Broomfield
Christina Harris
Mikhaila Moynihan
Tommy Ryan
Reetu Sinha
Who’s Who
Melissa Anoh
Meagan Barron
Gary Bibens
Aria Dougherty
Amanda Fadden
Alessandra Gonzalez-Rivera
Christina Hatcher
Shelby Ferguson-Hines
Michelle Kayosa Ajayi
Kiera Kimp
Christina Leyton
Murine Lusakweno
Anabel Montano
Virginia Pope
Shekira Ramdass
Christina Reid
Anneliese Slaton
Brittany Stroop
Analiesse Vasquez Soto
Tisha Wilkerson
Lisa Wilson
Toby Ziemba