Students, faculty, and staff were recognized at the 2024 Academic Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 19, in Turner Gymnasium.
Among the more than 100 awards presented was the Robert L. Hill Distinguished Senior Award, one of the University of Lynchburg’s highest honors for undergraduate students. It was presented to Luke Wyatt ’24, a liberal arts studies major with minors in archaeology, classical studies, history, and philosophy.
The following prestigious faculty/staff awards also were presented:
Meg Dillon ’17 MEd, executive director of the Advising and Academic Resource Center, was presented the Thomas C. Allen–Heidi Koring Award for Excellence in Academic Advising.
Dr. Nikoleta “Niki” Delis ’22 DMSc, assistant professor and director of didactic education for the PA medicine program, was presented the Edward A. Polloway Award for Excellence in Graduate Teaching.
Dr. Stefanie Copp, assistant professor of curriculum and instruction and director of the Master of Education in Reading program, received the Elsie Ervin Bock Award for Excellence in Citizenship.
Dr. Ei Hlaing, assistant professor of psychology, received the Faculty Award for Excellence in Research Mentoring.
Siobhan Byrns, professor of art and co-coordinator of the museum studies program, was presented with two awards: the James A. Huston Award for Excellence in Scholarship and the Shirley E. Rosser Award for Excellence in Teaching.
Burns was the first faculty member in the history of the University to win both awards in the same year.
Additionally, dozens of awards were presented to students:
College of Business
- James C. Fox Award: Sophia Merritt ’24 and Evan Smith ’24
- Dr. Kamal M. Abouzeid Outstanding Graduate Student Award: Stephanie Howard ’24 MBA
- John Hayden Service Award: Desmond Harvey ’24
- The Sheila Garren Outstanding International Student Scholarship Award: Maria Rojas ’27
- Rebecca Chambers Watson Accounting Award: Madeline Corbett ’24
- Outstanding Graduating Senior Award: Emily Brubaker ’24
- Delta Sigma Pi Scholarship Key: Grace Milligan ’24
- Robert Hill Award in Economics: Sam Alheit ’24
- Myrtle Bell Lane Scholar Award: Jessica Bujtas ’25
- Walter G. Mason Award for Outstanding Achievement in Economics/Finance: Amber Patti ’24
- Dr. Robert E. Craft Leadership Award: Chance Barkyoumb ’16, ’24 MBA
College of Education, Leadership Studies, and Counseling
- Kate Gillispie Award: Emily Charlton ’24
- M. Weldon Thompson Award: Nicholas Moore ’24
- Teachers of Promise: Raegan Jackson ’24, Victoria Rogers ’24, and Gwyneth Terry ’24
College of Health Sciences
- Jacqueline W. Asbury Award: Abigail Laine ’22, ’24 MSAT and Matthew Hayes ’24
- Outstanding Research in Athletic Training: Adrienne Fletcher ’24 MSAT and Empris Smith ’24 MSAT
- The Patricia Aronson Award for Excellence in Athletic Training: Katelyn Young ’24 MSAT
- James C. Fox Award: Gabrielle Purvis ’24 and Jacqueline Needle ’24
- Outstanding Senior in Exercise Physiology: Francesca Cuchna ’24 and Delaney Kennedy ’24
- Exercise Physiology Research Scholar Award: Allana Dawson ’24 and Lauren Hampton ’24
School of Nursing
- B. Yvette Otey Spirit of Nursing Award: Anthony Garcia ’24
- Catherine S. McGehee Teddy Bear Award: Anfaal Alomar ’25
- Linda L. Andrews Xi Upsilon Leadership Award: Hannah Melega ’24
- Student Nurses’ Association of the University of Lynchburg (SNAUL) Award: Nicole Mitchell ’24
- Teresa Christy Award: Zaciah Jones ’24
College of Medical Science
- Dr. Charlotte Guynes Master of Public Health Honor Award: Hannah Paulding ’22, ’24 MPH
- School of PA Medicine and Doctor of Medical Science
- Emerging PA Advocacy and Leadership Award: Katherine Pufko ’24 MPAM
- Doctor of Medical Science Emergency Management and Global Health Award: Alvaro Ramos ’24 DMSc
- Doctor of Medical Science Educational Leadership Award: Raquelle Akavan ’24 DMSc
- Doctor of Medical Science Advocacy and Leadership Award: Joseph Ciavarro ’24 DMSc
Lynchburg College of Arts and Sciences
School of Humanities and Social Sciences
- Outstanding Senior Award in Africana Studies: Mahlia Parsons ’24
- Esther Cutler Thomas Outstanding Student in Speech Communication: Caleb Adams ’25
- Rex Mix Award in Communication Studies: Samuel Graham ’24
- Woody Greenberg Award in Public Relations: Maria Wright ’24
- Woody Greenberg Award in Journalism: Alyssa Wilson ’24
- Outstanding Senior Award in Criminology: Jordan Reader ’24
- Laura Jeter Parker Award: Grace Powell ’24
- Rona L. Adams and Brian Adams Yates Scholarship – English: Rylee McDonal ’24
- Mervyn W. Williamson Award: Alexandra “Ally” Crissman ’24
- Barbara C. Scotland Scholarship Fund Award: Michaela White ’25
- Elsie E. Bock Writing Award: Marshall Rhodes ’26
- Charles H. Barrett Creative Writing Award: Rebecca Woods ’24
- Libbie Keeton LaPrade Creative Writing Award: Luis Echeverria ’24
- Floyd H. and Rowe M. Crews Memorial Award: Evan Gates ’26
- Belle M. Hill Creative Poetry Award: Destini Baccus ’25
- Christopher C. Cowles Award in History: Thomas Canard ’25 and Jacob Jones ’25
- Jeanne Roberts Bickner Award in History: Madeline Brainard ’26 and Michaela White ’25
- William Webster Ferguson Award: Laura Porto ’24
- Intelligence Studies Initiative Award: McKenna Dahm ’25
- International Relations and Security Studies Initiative Award: Mary Otu Okley ’24
- Outstanding Senior Award in International Relations and Security Studies: Mahlia Parsons ’24
- CAMWS Award for Outstanding Accomplishment in Classical Studies: Hermasia Law-Jackson ’25
- Professor Helga Neuhaus Leftwich ’62 Memorial Award: Maribel Cisneros ’24
- Award for Excellence in German: Jacobsen Gamble ’25
- Award for Excellence in Spanish: Kelsea Bryant ’24
- Raymond E. Morgan Award: Cameron Ciolfi ’24
- Best Senior Thesis in Political Science: Jayde Mayer
- Joseph F. Freeman III Political Science Award: Jayde Mayer ’24
- Dr. James J.H. Price Award in Biblical Studies: Joel Butcher ’26 and Merrill Willis ’24
- Outstanding Senior Award in Sociology: Kelsey Spickler ’24
- Carl A. Storm Award: Kelsey Spickler ’24
- Paul D. Richardson Award in Sociology: Kelsey Spickler ’24
- Brickhouse-Martin Scholarship Award: Jacob Jones ’25
- Lesley A. Friedman Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Scholarship: Luke Wyatt ’24
- John R. Scudder Jr. Award: Luke Pritchett ’28
- Mary C. Scudder Award for the Best Senior Thesis in Humanities and Social Sciences: Merrill Willis ’24
School of Sciences
- Mahan-Osborne Outstanding Senior in Biology: Christy T. Nguyen ’24
- Outstanding Senior in Biomedical Science Award: Amala S. Clawson ’24, ’24 MPH
- Award for Superior Achievement in Computer Science: Jackson Wise ’24 and Danny Miller ’24
- Outstanding Computer Science Senior Award: Michael Ruff ’24 and Amber Allen ’25
- Award for Best Computer Program: Adam Caligiuri ’26 and Rebecca Morris ’24
- A. Boyd Claytor III Award — Outstanding Environmental Science Graduate: Margaret Kicklighter ’24
- Charles F. Stevens Research Award: Margaret Kicklighter ’24
- Outstanding Seniors in Statistics and Data Science: Heidi Clement ’24 and Lindsey Hair ’24
- Thomas R. Nicely Award for Outstanding Senior in Mathematics: Aaryn Boatwright ’24
- Julius A. Sigler Award for Outstanding Physics Major: Lauren Thomas ’24
- Outstanding Service in Psychology Award: Emily Nellinger ’24, ’24 MPH
- Sally Glass Hargis Outstanding Senior in Psychology Award: Taylor Morgan ’24
School of Visual and Performing Arts
- Achievement in Photography: Esther Rainey ’26
- Achievement in Graphic Design: Jerome Banks ’25
- The Laura and John Crank Outstanding Senior Graphic Design Award: Isaiah Romsdahl ’24
- Achievement in 2-D Art Award: Abigail Monteclaro ’27
- Achievement in 3-D Art Award: Ruby Bondurant ’26
- The Susan Hornsby Crank Memorial Art Award: Braelyn Blackstone ’26
- Virginia Berger Award for Music Scholarship: Victoria Rogers ’24
- Charlotte Quarles Outstanding Music Minor Award: Madison Bakalov ’24
- Helen Wood Award for Music Performance: Nicholas Moore ’24
- Outstanding Theatre Major Award: Hana Spencer ’24
Special Awards
- The Frances W. Cloyd Dining Services Student Leadership Award: Luke Smith ’25
- Male Academic Athlete of the Year: Sam Graham ’24, Daniel Hardy ’26, Jacob Hodnett ’25, Grant Williams ’25, and Reid Rouse ’26
- Female Academic Athlete of the Year: Amala Clawson ’24, ’24 MPH, Emma Nicol ’25, Ashley Hair ’26, Sidney Sindt ’27, Grace Milligan ’24, Meredith Bowers ’25, Sophia Schorr ’26, Emily Charlton ’24, Kelley McCormick ’24, Lindsey Hair ’24, Jordan Reader ’24, Lauren Massey ’24, Megan Stiffler ’26, Alyssa Talayumptewa ’26, Elle Nutting ’25, Savannah “Savy” Borroughs ’25, and Riley Winefordner ’25
- Richard Clarke Sommerville Scholarship Award: Kelsey Spickler ’24
More photos from the ceremony can be found on Flickr.
The Academic Awards Ceremony was part of the University’s inaugural Founders Week, a series of events held April 16-21. The week also included GiveDay, Westover Alumni Weekend, sporting events, concerts, and other events.
Founders Week was the first of four “Cornerstone Events” to be held at Lynchburg this calendar year. Others will include Commencement, Hornet Days/Move-in Day, and Homecoming/Parents and Family Weekend.
