During Hastings College’s Honors Convocation on April 29, students and faculty were recognized for their exceptional accomplishments.
The Don and Nancy Seaton Faculty Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Bobbi Buchholz, professor of mathematics and chair of the department. This award is presented to a faculty member for “unusually significant and meritorious achievement in teaching.”
Dr. Eleanor Reeds, associate professor of English, received the Anderson Mentoring and Advising Award. This award is presented to an employee who has advised, mentored or made a significant difference in the life of a Hastings College student.
The Vondrak Outstanding Advisor Award was given to Dr. Rachael Robinson-Keilig, who is an associate professor of psychology and chair of the department. This award is presented to any faculty or staff member who is a student advisor.
Members of the academic honorary Alpha Chi selected Dr. Rhesa Ledbetter, associate professor of biology, as the Alpha Chi Outstanding Faculty. This is presented to a faculty member who excels at their work and goes above and beyond for students while inspiring academic excellence and achievement in their students.
Dr. Juliana Cardoso, associate professor of psychology, and Dr. Brie Myre, assistant professor of biology, were elected to present the 2026-27 Invited Faculty Lectures on the subject of their choice. Invited Faculty Lectures, chosen through a joint faculty and student vote, began in 1967 and continue to be the highest and longest-standing faculty honor at Hastings College.
Photos from the event, which are free to download, are here.
The livestream is here.
Hastings College students receiving recognition as part of Honors Convocation are listed below by state and city; with international students at the end.
ARIZONA
Peoria
- Anastasiia Popova – Outstanding Criminology Major
CALIFORNIA
Gardena
- Sophia Lee – Adrian Award
COLORADO
Bennett
- Peyton Wallace – Dr. Harold Shiffler Award
Colorado Springs
- Kaylee Gentsch – Wendell V. Showalter Award
- Dylan Shaw – Hastings College Outstanding Performer in Music
Centennial
- Edward Pallotto – Outstanding Senior in Business and Economics
Denver
- Ben Mages – Fred Mattes Outstanding First Year Chemistry Student Award
Eagle
- Hailey Gifford – Outstanding Student Association Senator
Erie
- Liam Sites – Outstanding Achievement Award in Art
Florissant
- Michaela White – Squash-Buckler Award for Outstanding History Student
Highlands Ranch
- Kailani Smile – Dr. Art and Eunice Langvardt Award and Squash-Buckler Award for Outstanding History Student
Merina
- Brooklyn Sutter – Alpha Chi Outstanding First-Year Student
Montrose
- Eleanor Waldon – Harry James Physics Award
Morrison
- Story Talbert – Arnold A. Alberts Outstanding Chemist Award
Thornton
- Emma Morelli – Outstanding Senior in History
Westminster
- Victoria Mallory – Tamara Babcock Award
Windsor
- Lily Sporleder – Outstanding Communication Studies and New Communicator Award
NEBRASKA
Auburn
- Meg Dedic – Tamara Babcock Award
Bellevue
- Bri Narick – Steven Lingwall Senior English Award
Broken Bow
- Zeph Fowler – Outstanding Engagement Award in Art
Cambridge
- Leah Downer – Clara Altman Award for Foreign Languages
Franklin
- Madi Holman – Pi Kappa Delta Outstanding First Year Student
Glenvil
- Aaron Ochsner – Outstanding PE Major of the Year
Gothenburg
- Ally Goad – Pi Kappa Delta Speaker of the Year
Hastings
- Angela Amaya – Hastings College Outstanding Senior in Music
- Lainey Benson – Outstanding Sophomore Student in Mathematics and Alpha Chi Outstanding Sophomore Student
- Abigail Fielder – William R. Welton Physics Award
- Andrew Heckman – Outstanding Student Association Executive Council Member
- Taylor Holdsworth – Teacher Education Outstanding Senior – K-6
- Owen Weiss – Outstanding First-Year English Award
Hildreth
- Gus Phye – Harry James Physics Award
Lincoln
- Avery Usher – Outstanding Sophomore English Award
Omaha
- Makenna Meraz – Outstanding Student Association Programming Board Member
Shickley
- Malinda Kamler – Lloyd S. and Helen M. Jones Theatre Accolade
Sutherland
- Molly Kammerer – Teacher Education Outstanding Senior – 7-12
NORTH CAROLINA
Wilson
- Lilac Ramsey – Chuck Eigenberg Outstanding Psychology Senior Award
OREGON
Newberg
- Ronak Crossley – Wendell V. Showalter Award
TEXAS
League City
- Victoria Harris – Outstanding Communication Studies Scholar Award
WISCONSIN
Jim Falls
- Larissa Kaz – Outstanding Exercise Science Major
WYOMING
Casper
- Brendyn Nelson – Outstanding Community Health and Wellness Major
INTERNATIONAL
THE BAHAMAS
Nassau
- Tyesha Tynes – Outstanding Achievement Award in Art
INDIA
Rawal Pindi
- Hamza Abbasi – Denny Storer Political Science Award
Hastings College is a four-year residential college that focuses on student academic and extracurricular achievement. Founded in 1882, the College is dedicated to student success and service to the community. Discover more at hastings.edu.