During Hastings College’s Celebration of Excellence Convocation April 24, 2024, students and faculty were recognized for their outstanding achievements.
The Don and Nancy Seaton Faculty Achievement Award was presented to Jessica Allen-Pickett, assistant professor of teacher education. Dr. Amanda Solem, associate professor of biology, received the Vondrak Outstanding Advisor Award. Dr. Bobbi Buchholz, professor of mathematics, received the Anderson Mentoring and Advising Award, which is presented to an employee who has advised, mentored or made a significant difference in the life of a Hastings College student.
Members of the academic honorary Alpha Chi selected Dr. Rhesa Ledbetter, assistant professor of biology, as the Alpha Chi Outstanding Faculty.
Dr. Jesse Weiss, professor of sociology, and Dr. Nicole Muszynski, assistant professor of psychology, were elected through a joint faculty and student vote to present the 2024-25 Invited Faculty Lectures on the subject of their choice. Invited Faculty Lectures began in 1967 and are the highest and longest-standing faculty honor at Hastings College.
Photos from the event are available here and are free to download. A video is here.
Hastings College students receiving recognition as part of the Celebration of Excellence Convocation are listed below by state and city; with international students at the end.
ARIZONA
Flagstaff
- Jake Weidinger – Harry James Physics Award
Queen Creek
- Max Blankenship – Dr. Harold Shiffler Award
COLORADO
Centennial
- Edward Pallotto – Clara Altman Award for Foreign Languages
Colorado Springs
- Kendall Greene – Outstanding Senior in Music and Teacher Education Outstanding Senior – 7-12
Denver
- Lindsey Pratt – Teacher Education Outstanding Senior – K-6
Erie
- Liam Sites – Alpha Chi Outstanding Sophomore Student
Elbert
- Jordyn Duffy – Arnold A. Alberts Outstanding Chemist Award
Fort Morgan
- Citlaly Quiroz – Outstanding Sociology Senior, Outstanding Communication Studies Scholar Award and Pi Kappa Delta Speaker of the Year
Littleton
- Lauryn Metz – Outstanding Criminology Senior
Loveland
- Cici Velarde – Outstanding Communication Studies New Communicator Award
Thornton
- Savana Kascak – Denny Storer Political Science Award
- Emma Morelli – Squash-Buckler Award for Outstanding History Student
HAWAII
Ewa Beach
- Nathaniel Thiel – Harry James Physics Award
KANSAS
Shawnee
- Ally Banks – Outstanding Student Association Executive Council Member
Winfield
- Stephanie Bloyer – Dr. Art and Eunice Langvardt Award
MONTANA
Billings
- Ethan Lester – Harry James Physics Award
NEBRASKA
Beatrice
- Jayden Baete – Outstanding Senior in Business and Economics
Bellevue
- Bri Narick – Kevin Heineman Memorial Award and Pi Kappa Delta Outstanding First Year Student
Bennington
- Mae Heater – Steven Lingwall Senior English Award
Brainard
- Maria Pytlik – Outstanding Performer in Music
Crete
- Victoria Vondra – Wendell V. Showalter Award
Elkhorn
- Ally Stratton – Outstanding Achievement Award in Art
Fremont
- Allison Peyton – Outstanding Achievement Award in Art
- Ashton Vukson – William R. Welton Physics Award
Hastings
- Paige Dane – Fred Mattes Outstanding First Year Chemistry Student Award
- Brandon Hamel – Outstanding Senior in History
- Alexandra Richards – Chuck Eigenberg Outstanding Psychology Senior Award
- Janet Soto Samaniego – Outstanding Engagement Award in Art
- Xander Uhrmacher – Alpha Chi Outstanding First Year Student
Holdrege
- Maggie deFreese – Lloyd S. and Helen M. Jones Theatre Accolade
Lincoln
- Elijah Baker – Outstanding Senior in Business and Economics
- Luke Lewandowski – Outstanding Sophomore English Award
- Morgan Krinke – Adrian Award
Minden
- Alyse Anderson – Outstanding Exercise Science Major
Omaha
- Kylie Ketelsen – Outstanding Achievement Award in Art
- Asia Tyler – Outstanding Senior in the Mathematics and Computer Science Department
Papillion
- Annalise Doorlag – Outstanding Student Association Senator
Sutton
- Vino Sanchez – Harry James Physics Award
Walton
- Lauren Stull – Wendell V. Showalter Award
Wauneta
- Haylee Sandman – Outstanding PE major of the year
NEVADA
Las Vegas
- Marissa Ruiz – Outstanding Student Association Programming Board Member
GERMANY
Nordrhein-Westfalen
- Nils Schaefer – Chuck Eigenberg Outstanding Psychology Senior Award
ITALY
Biella Piedmont
- Alessandro Urlati – Tamara Babcock Award
Hastings College is a four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Discover more at hastings.edu.
