May 11, 2012

Hastings College recognizes scholarship, service at Honors Convocation

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

(Hastings, Neb.) –  As the 2011/2012 academic year at Hastings College draws to a close, the community gathered for its annual Honors Convocation.  Students, faculty and friends of the College alike were honored for their achievements throughout the year.  

Dr. Dwayne Strasheim, Professor of English and Dean Emeritus, received the Distinguished Senior Faculty Award.  He has served on the Hastings College faculty since 1965.  

The J. Kent and Normalee Stadler Faculty Achievement  Award was given to Dr. Daniel Deffenbaugh, Associate Professor of Religion and Philosophy, while Dr. Rich Lloyd, Professor of English and Dean Emeritus, received the Vondrak Outstanding Advisor Award.

The members of Alpha Chi, the academic honorary, selected Dr. Anne Fairbanks as the Alpha Chi Outstanding Honorary Member.  Dr. Fairbanks, who is retiring at the end of the year, currently is Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of English.

Dr. Jessica Meeske, a pediatric dentist in Hastings, Neb., received the President’s Award for outstanding and meritorious service to Hastings College.  The 1991 HC alumnae currently serves on the College’s Board of Trustees.

Dr. Mark Zajack, Assistant Professor of Psychology and Dr. Kittie Grace, Professor of Communications and Director of Forensics, were selected by a vote of the students to present the 2012/2013 Artist Lecture Series (ALS) Invited Faculty Lectures on the subject of their choice.

Students receiving recognition are listed below.

NEBRASKA
Alliance
Most Promising Art Student – Beau Robert Neville

Bennington
Outstanding Business Economics Senior – Helene Flaxbeard

Bladen
Duane Freeman Scholarship – Emily Lovejoy
The Outstanding Junior in Mathematics and Computer Science – Emily Lovejoy

Blair
Alpha Chi Outstanding Male Sophomore –Ryan Garder
Reverend Kenneth and Alice Locke Family Scholarship – Ryan Garder

Broken Bow
Student Education Association Outstanding Senior – Rebecca Smith

Cozad
Evans-Storer Lecture in Political Science – Brittany Morse

Elkhorn
The Stephen Lingwall Senior English Award – Michelle Shavlik

Fairbury
Outstanding Student Association Executive Council Member – Cassie Waldron

Grand Island
Alpha Chi Outstanding Female Sophomore – Emily Meyer
Dean Moerer Honorary Service Scholarship – Emily Meyer
Dr. Denny Storer Political Science Award – Thomas Olsen
Mabel Gray Newburn Communication Scholarship – Caitlin Hein
The Outstanding Junior in Mathematics and Computer Science – Hannah Swanson

Hastings
Alpha Chi Outstanding First-Year Male Student –Michael Hull
Dr. Sara Jane Gardner Memorial Scholarship in English/History – Hannah Witt
LeRoy W. and Jean E. Thom Scholarship for Continuing Religious Education – Jon Randall Marx
Louise C. Walter Merit Award Scholarship – Rebecca DeLashmutt
Omicron Delta Kappa Leader of the Year – Jennifer Sharrick
President’s Award – Dr. Jessica Meeske
The Reverend Joseph Kyle Memorial Scholarship – Hannah Witt
The Wendell V. Showalter Scholarship in Biology – Allison Kern

Kimball
The Clement Brindenhagen Memorial Scholar – Charles Ferguson

Lexington
Dorothy Reed Steen Armstrong Scholarship – Jessica Bliven
Pi Kappa Delta Speakers of the Year – Corey Reutlinger

Lincoln
Arnold A. Alberts Outstanding Chemist Award – Rudy Mignon
Dr. Sara Jane Gardner Phi Alpha Theta Memorial Scholarship – Jessica Richard
Udlock-Wachob Memorial Christian Education Scholarship – Adam Neely

Murdock
The Gilbert Adrian Scholarship – Seton Bachle

North Platte
Alpha Psi Omega Dr. Hal Shiffler Award – Seth Fornander

Omaha
Madgett Physics Scholarship – Conner Thomas
The Art and Eunice Langvardt Scholarship in English – Beth Wilkins

Oxford
The Outstanding Senior in Music – Blake Holen

Papillion
The Robert L. Schalock Psi Chi Scholarship – Melissa Thompson

Wahoo
Outstanding Student Association Senator – Nate Mertens
Weyer Hall Award – Bo Jansa

Weeping Water
Outstanding Senior Theatre Student – Samantha Colbert

Wilsonville
Alpha Chi Outstanding First-Year Female Student – Brooke Ballou

COLORADO
Aurora
Outstanding Achievement in Art – Christina Humble

Colorado Springs
Kevin Heineman Outstanding First Year Student – Miranda Klugesherz

Greeley
Outstanding Achievement in Art – Katy Gerwig

Highlands Ranch
Dr. Harry R. James Physics Award – Eric Anttila and Michael O’Neal

Julesburg
Hal Shiffler Memorial Scholarship – Kyle Bell

Lakewood
CRC Press Chemistry Achievement Award – Heidi Roth

Parker
Louise C. Walter Merit Award Scholarship –Margaret Humphries

KANSAS
Hutchinson
Dorothy Reed Steen Armstrong Scholarship – Rubea Stouppe

Olathe
The Outstanding Senior in Mathematics and Computer Science – Ruth Swift

NORTH DAKOTA
Dickinson
Madgett Physics Scholarship – Jake Braunberger

WYOMING
Gillette
Madgett Physics Scholarship –Anthony Kramer

Wheatland
Pi Kappa Delta Speakers of the Year – Aaron Geringer

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.