May 11, 2012

Christensen, Kaiser named 2012 Bronco Award winners, Who’s Who recipients announced at Hastings College

Note:  For additional information or photos of the Who’s Who recipients, please contact Alicia O’Donnell at aodonnell@hastings.edu or (402) 461-7784.

(Hastings, Neb.) –  On May 11, 2012, April Christensen ’12 of Ruskin, Neb., and Adam Kaiser ’12 of Broomfield, Colo., were announced as the 2012 Bronco Award recipients at Hastings College’s annual Honors Convocation.  Christensen graduated from Deshler (Neb.) High School, and Kaiser graduated from Broomfield (Colo.) High School.

Established in 1924, the Bronco Award is the College’s highest non-academic award granted to students.  Nominees for the Bronco Award and the Who’s Who list are determined through a vote of their peers and must be graduating seniors who have made outstanding contributions during their college careers.  The list and award winners are then selected by a secret student-faculty committee.

The complete Who’s Who list is below:

Adam Bassett of Lincoln, Neb., has served as President of Beta Beta Beta biology honorary society, Co-Chair of the Senior Gift Committee, and Activities Coordinator for Habitat for Humanity. He has been a member of the Student Senate, Student Alumni Ambassadors, the Bronco Village Board, Pre-Health Professionals Club, HC Democrats, the Leadership Committee, and the HC Bronco Track and Cross Country teams. During his junior year, he was a Homecoming royalty semi-finalist, and during his senior year, he was voted May Fete King. A Dean’s List student, Bassett earned the J.J. & Eleanor S. Ogle Fellowship for Veterinarian School and the Francis E. Ferguson Memorial Scholarship. Bassett, who will graduate with a biology degree, has been accepted into Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Science.  He is the son of Steven and Patti Bassett.

Aaron Beye of Grand Island, Neb., has served as Student President for Campus Crusade for Christ/Revive, Co-Chair for the Religious Organizations Committee, President and Secretary of HC Campus Conservatives, Secretary of HC College Republicans, and Resident Assistant at Weyer Hall. He is a member of Alpha Chi academic honor society, the Dean’s List, and the Executive Council Committee. A political science and economics major, Beye also has participated in theatre productions.  He is the son of Dale and Sonya Beye.

April Christensen of Ruskin, Neb., founded and has served as Co-Chair for the HC Sustainability Committee. The biology and piano performance major has served as President and Vice President of the Student Environmental Action Coalition, Secretary of the Student Association Executive Council, and Co-President of the Dorm Council. She has been a member of the Artist Lecture Series Committee, Alpha Chi academic honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, Student Alumni Ambassadors, Alpha Omega sorority, the Hastings College Choir, and the Hastings Symphony Orchestra. The Dean’s List student was named Alpha Chi’s Outstanding Freshman of the Year, Freshman of the Year in biology, and Creigh Weyer Scholar. Christensen has received piano performance awards from the Nebraska Music Teachers Association, the National Federation of Music Teachers Association, and the Music Teachers National Association, from whom she also received the Young Artist Concerto Award. Christensen was a Homecoming royalty finalist.  She is the daughter of Bruce and Cheryl Christensen.

Kathryn Cunningham of Grand Island, Neb., has served as Fundraising Co-Chair for Habitat for Humanity, a Resident Assistant at Altman Hall, Co-President of the Chapel Committee, Co-Chair of the Women’s Ministry, Co-Captain of the Color Guard, and Co-Chair of the Student Association Dance Committee. She has been a member of the HC Bell Choir, Students Against Hunger and Homelessness, the Inter-Residence Council, the Hastings Symphony Orchestra, Alpha Omega sorority, the HC Marching Band, HC Child Defenders, Common Grounds, Psi Chi psychology honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, and Christian Ministry.  She has participated in Academic Showcase Day.  Cunningham, who has been on the Dean’s List, is the recipient of the LeRoy W. & Jean E. Thom Scholarship, the McClelland Music Scholarship, and the Ringland Scholarship.  She will graduate with degrees in peace, justice, and social change and psychology.  She is the daughter of Kevin and Lisa Cunningham.  

Bailey Eldredge of Albuquerque, N.M., has served as Director of Food 4 Thought, President of Active Minds, and Recruiter for the Peer Umbrella Network (PUN). The Dean’s List student has served as a Research Assistant to Dr. Stephanie Furrer, a member of the Bronco Village Board, the advisory board for Women & Gender Studies, and the HC Bronco Track and Cross Country teams. Eldredge is the recipient of the LeRoy W. & Jean E. Thom Scholarship and the Comcast Leaders & Achievers Scholarship. For her work with Food 4 Thought, she has received both the Judy Sandeen Service Award and the Hastings YWCA’s 2012 Young Women Tribute! Award. She will graduate with a degree in psychology.  She is the daughter of Van and Donna Eldredge.

Ignatius Ewool of Apam, Ghana, has served as President of the Multicultural Student Union and Vice-President of the Hastings College Physical Education Club. He has been a member of the HC Chapel Committee, the Inter-Greek Council, the Executive Council Committee, the Student Senate, and the HC Men’s Choir. A recipient of the Jeffrey Wallace Ellis Scholarship and the Zangger Academic Scholarship, Ewool has been on the Dean’s List and sung the “Star-Spangled Banner” for Hastings College home games. He is a recreation and sport management major.  He is the son of Mary Ewool and the late Francis Ewool.

Jennifer Gold of Denver, Colo., has served as Station Manager and Promotions Director for KFKX Radio. Additionally, she has served as Vice-President for the Student Environmental Action Coalition and Resident Assistant at Babcock Hall. Gold has been a member of the Student Senate, Alliance, HC Media Online, Chi Omega Psi sorority, the HC Bronco Women’s Basketball team, and the HC Bronco Track team. A member of the Dean’s List, she was a Homecoming royalty semi-finalist and May Fete Queen. She will graduate with a degree in recreation and sports management.  She is the daughter of Bill Gold.

Blake Holen of Oxford, Neb., has been active in Hastings College Theatre Arts department, earning the department’s White Mask for Most Promising Freshman, the Red Mask for Continued Commitment and the Purple Mask for Outstanding Dedication and Scholarship. He has served as President and Historian for the Alpha Psi Omega theatre honorary. He has been a member of the Hastings College Choir, the HC Bell Choir, the HC Band, Vocal Spectrum, HC Jazz Band, College Acquaintance Rape Educators (CARE), and the Peer Umbrella Network (PUN). He has received honors at the National Association of Teachers of Singing competition and was a Regional Finalist in the Music Theatre Competition. A member of the Dean’s List, Holen will graduate with degrees in theatre arts and vocal performance.  He is the son of the Rev. Wes and Christa Holen.

Adam Kaiser of Broomfield, Colo., has served as President of Beta Chi fraternity, Parliamentarian for the Student Association Executive Council, Chair and Student Liaison for the Bronco Bus, Council Representative for the Peer Umbrella Network (PUN), and a Resident Assistant at Altman Hall.  Active in Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students (BACCHUS), he was named as the Hastings College chapter’s Outstanding Student Award, having served as a BACCHUS Area 5 Conference Presenter and a BACCHUS General Assembly National Conference Presenter. He also has been a member of College Acquaintance Rape Educators (CARE), the Student Senate, Lambda Pi Eta communications honorary, the Inter-Greek Council, the Hastings College Band, HC Theatre productions, the Public Relations Council, the Artist Lecture Series Student Symposium, and the Dean’s List.  He was a Homecoming royalty finalist and will graduate with a degree in marketing.  He is the son of Randy and Maja Kaiser.

Cammie Koopman of Hastings, Neb., has been a member of the Bronco Yearbook and Collegian staffs, the Crimson Spirit Dance Team, and Student Alumni Ambassadors. As a member of the HC Bronco Women’s Tennis team, she has been named to the Great Plains Athletic Conference (GPAC) All-Conference Doubles team and has received a GPAC All-Conference Honorable Mention.  She earned a Clarence J. Jupiter Fellowship/CASE ASAP Fellow and serves as Co-Chair of the 2012 Senior Gift fundraising effort.   A Homecoming royalty semi-finalist, she will graduate with a degree in media production.  She is the daughter of Doug and Becky Koopman.

Rachel Lee of Golden, Colo., has served as Co-President of Bond of Peace and as Community Affairs Representative. Additionally, she has been a member of the Public Relations Council, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, Phi Alpha Theta history honorary, Sigma Tau Delta English honorary, the Student Association Executive Committee, the Student Senate, the Collegian staff, Alpha Phi Sigma sorority, and the Chapel Committee. A Dean’s List student, she has been a member of the HC Bronco Track and Field and Cross Country teams. Lee was a Homecoming royalty semi-finalist and will graduate with degrees in English and history.  She is the daughter of Kevin and Julie Lee.

Neathery Manucci of Parker, Colo., has played for the HC Bronco Women’s Soccer team. She has served as Bronco Village Representative on the Student Senate and Chief Marketing Officer for the Professional Business Leadership Club. Manucci has been a member of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary and the Public Relations Council.  She will graduate with a degree in marketing.  She is the daughter of Anthony and LouAnn Kappas and Dan Manucci.

Vanessa McKinney of Leavenworth, Kan., has served as President and Secretary of Psi Chi psychology honorary and Secretary of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary. An Academic Showcase Presenter, she also has been active with College Acquaintance Rape Educators (CARE), Team Against Bias, Sigma Tau Delta English honorary, and Public Relations Council. McKinney is a Dean’s List student and will graduate with a degree in psychology.  She is the daughter of Dr. Charles McKinney and Evelyn Dixon Bryant.

Nathan Mertens of Waverly, Neb., has been a Section Leader and Librarian for the Hastings College Band and President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the HC chapter of Music Teachers National Association. Additionally, he has been an active member of the HC Choir and the HC Jazz Ensemble and has won the Hastings Symphony Orchestra’s Young Artist Award and the Music Teachers National Association’s Young Artist Woodwind and Chamber Competition. He is a member of Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and Alpha Chi academic honorary.  Mertens, a Dean’s List student and a Homecoming royalty finalist, was named Outstanding Performer at HC and will graduate with degrees in woodwind pedagogy and saxophone performance.  He is the son of Dave and Tammie Moore.

Chelsi Pinegar of Bennington, Neb., has served as President and Vice-President of the Public Relations Council, Vice-President of Selections for Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, and Captain of the HC Dance Team. In addition to serving various leadership roles within Student Alumni Ambassadors, she has been a member of Sigma Tau Delta English honorary, the Dean’s List, Student Association Executive Committees, and Peer HIV Education Organization (PHIVE-O). She also has participated in HC Theatre productions. Pinegar was a presenter at the Area 5 Conference on Peer HIV Education and a Homecoming semi-finalist. She will graduate with a degree in English education.  She is the daughter of James and Sheri Pinegar.

Chad Pinkerman of Hastings, Neb., has served as Chief Executive Officer for the Professional Business Leader’s Club, President of Lambda Pi Eta communications honorary, and Co-Chair of New Student Days.  In addition to serving as Business Director for KFKX Radio, he has been a DJ and baseball commentator for the station as well as a football commentator for HCTV6. Pinkerman has been a member of the Hastings College Men’s Choir, the HC Jazz Band, and the HC Chapel Band and was selected as a Homecoming royalty semi-finalist. A Dean’s List student, he will graduate with a degree in marketing.  He is the son of Marty and Angela Pinkerman.

Megan Puckett of Lincoln, Neb., has been a member of the Artist Lecture Series Student Symposium Committee, the Student Alumni Ambassadors, Beta Beta Beta biology honorary, the Student Health Advisory Council, the Pre-Health Professionals Club, and the Peer HIV Education Organization (PHIVE-O). A Dean’s List student, she was a finalist for the Creigh Weyer Scholarship and has presented research at the Nebraska Academy of Sciences Conference and the Tri-Beta Regional Conference. Puckett has served as Student Manager of Crimson Cup Coffee Shop and a tutor with the biology department. She will graduate with a degree in biology and has been accepted to the University of Nebraska Medical Center to study medicine.  She is the daughter of Duane and Margaret Puckett.

Corey Reutlinger of Lexington, Neb., has been an active member of the Hastings College Bronco Forensics team and served as Treasurer and Recruiter for the Pi Kappa Delta forensics honor society. He was a national finalist in program of oral interpretation and a national quarter-finalist in informative speaking, poetry, prose, and persuasive speaking. Reutlinger has been a District IV Student Representative for Collegiate Forensics and a panelist at the National Communication Association Convention. He has published poetry and art in Spectrum and served as copy editor and reporter for the Collegian. Additionally, Corey is a member of Alpha Chi academic honorary, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, Lambda Pi Eta communications honorary, the Society for Collegiate Journalists, and College Acquaintance Rape Educators (CARE). A Dean’s List student and an All-American in forensics, he will graduate with a degree in mathematics.  He is the son of Roger and Cynthia Reutlinger.

Jennifer Sharrick of Hastings, Neb., has served as President of the Alpha Chi academic honorary, Secretary of HC Democrats, President of Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, a Christian Ministry scholar, Secretary for the American Chemical Society, and Co-Captain of the HC Crimson Spirit Dance Team. She is the Founder and Campus Minister of GraceXchange, the Lutheran religious organization, and Founder and Co-President of the HC Disaster Relief Committee for Haiti and Japan. She is a member of Beta Beta Beta biology honorary, the Pre-Health Professionals Club, the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Committee, the Local/Global Community, the Chapel Band, the Hastings College Band and the HC Singers. Co-Chair of the Peer Umbrella Network (PUN) and a member of Peer HIV Education Organization (PHIVE-O), she was a presenter at the Area 5 Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students (BACCHUS) Regional Conference. A Dean’s List student who was named Alpha Chi’s Outstanding Sophomore, Sharrick will graduate with degrees in biopsychology and religion and has been accepted to the University of Nebraska Medical Center to study medicine. She was a Homecoming royalty semi-finalist.  She is the daughter of James and Debra Sharrick.

Lauren Slaughter of Denver, Colo., has served on the HC Bronco Village Board and played on the HC Bronco Women’s Soccer team. She is a member of Chi Omega Psi sorority and Alpha Chi academic honorary. A finalist for the Creigh Weyer Scholarship and recipient of the Denny Storer Political Science Achievement Award, she has presented at the Pacific Sociologist Association Conference on Education Policy. A Dean’s List student, Slaughter will graduate with a degree in political science.  She is the daughter of Robin Woods.

Rebecca Smith of Broken Bow, Neb., has served as Co-Chair for New Student Days Committee, Co-President of the Student Education Association, and Co-Chair of the Student Association Special Events Committee. She has been a member of the Public Relations Council, Alpha Phi Sigma sorority, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, Hastings College Singers, and the Dean’s List. She is a Walter Scott Scholarship recipient and was a Homecoming Finalist. Smith will graduate with a degree in elementary education.  She is the daughter of John and Karen Smith.

Mallory Suhr of Seward, Neb., has served as Captain of the HC Bronco Softball team, Vice-President and Secretary of Beta Beta Beta biology honorary, Treasurer of the Multicultural Student Union, Treasurer of the Student Association, and Vice-President of Chi Omega Psi sorority. The recipient of a Tri-Beta grant for research into E.Coli, she has presented at Academic Showcase and published a journal article in Pancreas. She is a member of the Pre-Health Professionals Club, Student Alumni Ambassadors, the Student Health Advisory Council, the Inter-Greek Council, Alpha Chi academic honorary, and Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary. Suhr has been named an NAIA Scholar Athlete, received a GPAC All-Conference Honorable Mention in Softball, and earned HC’s A. O. Duer Scholar Athlete Award. She was a Homecoming royalty semi-finalist, has maintained a 4.0 grade point average during her collegiate career, and will graduate with a degree in biology.  She is the daughter of Mark Suhr and Lori Anderson.

Ruth Swift of Olathe, Kan., has served as Chair of the Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Committee and in leadership positions within Alpha Omega sorority. She has been a member of the Local/Global Community, the Student Environmental Action Coalition, Alpha Chi academic honorary, CRU, and Chapel Committee. Named the Creigh Weyer Scholar, she has a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with a degree in mathematics.  She is the daughter of Thomas and Virginia Swift.  

Sara Tall of San Diego, Calif., has served as Editor of Spectrum. She has been a member of the Public Relations Council, the Student Environmental Action Coalition, Professional Business Leaders Club, Alpha Chi academic honor society, the Society of Collegiate Journalists, Omicron Delta Kappa leadership honorary, Lambda Pi Eta communications honorary, and the Local/Global Community. Tall has been active with HC Media Online, HCTV, the Collegian, and KFKX radio and has been part of HC Theatre productions. She was selected to present at Academic Showcase, was the recipient of the Dean Weyer Kiwanis Scholarship, and a Homecoming royalty semi-finalist. A Dean’s List student, she will graduate with degrees in media production and studio art.  She is the daughter of William Tall and Patricia Cordero.

Jacob Wardyn of Weeping Water, Neb., has served as President of the Student Association, Secretary of Alpha Chi academic honorary, and Vice-President of Beta Beta Beta biology honorary. He has been a Resident Assistant at Altman Hall and a member of the Pre-Health Professional Club, the Public Relations Council, the Student Health Advisory Council, the Student Senate, and the Student Association Concerts Committee. A Homecoming semi-finalist, he has served as the student member of the Presidential Search Committee. He has earned the Balanos Award, the CRC Press 1st Year Chemistry Achievement Award, and the Wendell V. Showalter Scholarship. Wardyn has maintained a 4.0 grade point average and will graduate with a degree in biology. He has been accepted to the University of Nebraska Medical Center to study medicine.   He is the son of Jeffery and Brenda Wardyn. 

 
Hastings College, founded in 1882, is a private, four-year liberal arts institution affiliated with the Presbyterian Church (USA). A total of 64 majors in 32 areas of study and 12 pre-professional programs are offered to more than 1,190 students. Hastings College was named among “America’s Best National Liberal Arts Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report, a “Best in the Midwest” by The Princeton Review, and a “Best Buy in College Education” by Barron’s. Visit www.hastings.edu for more information.

-30-