Newman University will honor the best, brightest, and most committed students at the first annual Academic Awards Banquet, 5:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 19, in the Dugan-Gorges Conference Center, hosted by faculty and Student Affairs.
Students receiving an award are encouraged to RSVP and may bring two guests: the event is open for all to attend with an RSVP at EventBrite. Reservations must be made by Wednesday, April 12. Dress is business casual.
The academic awards convocation has been a longstanding tradition at Newman for over two decades. This is the first year a banquet will be hosted for the academic awards.
Forty student awards will be presented primarily to undergraduates, but some graduates will be recognized as well. The awards are heavily aimed toward academics though some awards are for service. Athletic awards are not included in this ceremony. Each award is individualized based upon criteria set up by the specific programs offering the awards. There will also be group awards.
Two awards — the Teaching Excellence Award and the St. Catherine’s Medal — have not yet been announced as they are saved as a surprise for the night; otherwise, this year, students have been notified in advance the award they are receiving.
These two awards are a special honor; the former recognizes an innovative full-time faculty member, and the latter recognizes a sophomore or junior who has exhibited exceptional service to the university along with superb academic achievement. View last year’s recipients and photos of the event.
A stronger emphasis on missions is the focus of this year’s awards banquet thanks to Charlotte Rohrbach, ASC, director of mission effectiveness and archives. Also, Sr. Charlotte helped secure the funds for the banquet through her hard work. She knew having a banquet would take the award ceremony to a more prestigious level by sending a stronger message that the university is proud of its students.
Debbie Edens, senior administrative assistant to the provost, said, “It’s an uplifting evening.”
Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs, Rosemary Niedens said, “It makes you feel like as faculty and staff that ‘All the work I’ve done is worth it.’” She further emphasized, “We have fantastic students who have done fabulous things.”
Awardees names will be placed on a plaque just west of the elevator in the library that will go up before the semester is over.
