Newman University honored student scholars and leaders for their outstanding academic achievements and accomplishments at the 2014 Academic Honors and Awards Convocation, held April 23 on the Newman campus.The university-wide event is presented each year to acknowledge superior performance by students, and includes recognition of honor society inductees, campus leaders, students selected for this year’s Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, and top scholars in business, information technology, education, science, nursing and other academic disciplines.
Newman University sophomore Emilie Leivian received the prestigious St. Catherine Medal, which is awarded annually to a sophomore or junior who has demonstrated outstanding service to the university, and has established an excellent record for scholastic achievement.
Newman Student Government Association Secretary and Treasurer Chase Blasi was also recognized for successfully spearheading an effort to create and help pass resolutions in the Kansas House of Representatives and the Kansas Senate commemorating the history, values, contributions to the community and 80th Anniversary of the founding of Newman University. Read more here.
The Newman Academic Honors and Awards Convocation also featured awards to several Newman faculty members, including Associate Professor of History Kelly McFall, Ph.D., who received the Teaching Excellence Award. The award is presented each spring to a full-time faculty member who has demonstrated an innovative or dynamic approach to courses, course revisions, and teaching techniques. The recipient has the honor of speaking at the following fall and spring commencement ceremonies.
2014 NEWMAN UNIVERSITY ACADEMIC HONORS AND AWARDS
STUDENT LIFE AWARDS
Creative Initiative Award
Elizabeth Peuchen – Assaria, Kan.
Dedication and Service Award
Miranda Kohls – Wichita, Kan.
Club of the Year Award
Board Games Club
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
Graduate Achievement Award
Danelle Urban – Wichita, Kan.
Graduate Outstanding Achievement Awards:
Building Leadership
Kerri Steelman – Garden City, Kan.
Organizational Leadership
Kathryn Trilli – Wichita, Kan.
ESOL Curriculum and Instruction
Tanya Belcher – Wichita, Kan.
Reading Specialist Curriculum and Instruction
Andrea Sobba – Garden City, Kan.
Undergraduate Awards
Sister Vivian Miller Award
Christopher Villatoro – Round Rock, Tex.
Teacher of Promise Award
Mary Wilkerson – Derby, Kan.
Outstanding Intern Award
Kelly McMains – Rose Hill, Kan.
DIVISION OF BUSINESS
Outstanding Business Student Award
Rachel Leland – Wichita, Kan.
Outstanding Information Technology Student Award
Nguyen H. Le – Wichita, Kan.
DIVISION OF ARTS AND LETTERS
Creative Achievement Award
Francisco Fields – Newton, Kan.
Sister Regina Buchholz Visiting Artist Fellowship Award
Amber Skelton – Maize, Kan.
SCHOOL OF NURSING AND ALLIED HEALTH
Distinguished BSN Graduate Award
Heather Quinn – Sedgwick, Kan.
Outstanding OTA Student Award
Angela Entz – Wichita, Kan.
DIVISION OF HUMANITIES
Humanities Achievement Award
Kristin Martin – Goddard, Kan.
Freshman History Paper
Diana Stanley – Goddard, Kan.
Randall Austin Senior Scholar Award
Alaina Garrett – Cheney, Kan.
DIVISION OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
Social Science Achievement Award
Stephanie Aipperspach – Wichita, Kan.
Michael Jausel – Wichita, Kan.
Caitlyn Maksymiak – McHenry, Ill.
Alexander Prine – Wichita, Kan.
Peggy Sanson – Wichita, Kan.
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK
Outstanding MSW Student Leader Award
Shawna Allen – Wichita, Kan.
MSW Student of the Year Award (Wichita)
Sherrie Harrison – Wichita, Kan.
MSW Student of the Year Award (Colorado)
Mallory Lipscomb – Colorado Springs, Colo.
DIVISION OF SCIENCE/MATHEMATICS
Outstanding Calculus Student Award
Jennifer Mendez – Arkansas City, Kan.
Outstanding Mathematics Student Award
Nathan Brooks – Wichita, Kan.
Outstanding Senior Chemistry Student Award
Elizabeth Peuchen – Assaria, Kan.
Sister Margaret Knoeber Outstanding Lower Division Chemistry Award
Olivia Hull – Derby, Kan.
Kayleigh Renfro – Carrollton, Tex.
Surendra P. Singh Outstanding Freshman in Biology Award
Jacob Bailey – Omaha, Neb.
Steve Palubicki Outstanding Sophomore or Junior in Biology Award
Blair Benton – Benton, Kan.
Sister Claudine Axman Award in Biology
Jessica Steiner – Wichita, Kan.
STUDENT SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP
Nominees for Ablah Awards
Gladys Azzun – Edmond, Okla.
Jaimie Dungan – Kechi, Kan.
Francisco Fields – Newton, Kan.
Alaina Garrett – Cheney, Kan.
Cliff Kissling – Wichita, Kan.
Miranda Kohls – Wichita, Kan
Suzanne Kucera – Wichita, Kan.
Caitlyn Maksymiak – McHenry, Ill.
Elizabeth Peuchen – Assaria, Kan.
Joshua Prilliman – Wichita, Kan.
Lorenzo Serna – Wichita, Kan.
Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities
Nhat Bang Chau – Wichita, Kan.
Nichole Marie Cunha – Fountain, Colo.
Haley Sue Hungate – Wichita, Kan.
Valeria R. Jones – Colorado Springs, Colo.
Mallory Rae Lipscomb – Colorado Springs, Colo.
Elizabeth Peuchen – Assaria, Kan.
Nicole M. Saigeon – Colorado Springs, Colo.
Alisa Renee Sooter – Wichita, Kan.
Jessica A. Sponsel – Goddard, Kan.
Christopher Villatoro – Round Rock, Tex.
Kappa Gamma Pi (Scholarship and Leadership)
Baccalaureate
Robin Allard – Marmande, France
Francisco Fields – Newton, Kan.
Elizabeth Peuchen – Assaria, Kan.
Jessica Steiner – Wichita, Kan.
Graduate
Shawna Allen – Wichita, Kan.
Dawn Booher – Newton, Kan.
Sebastien Negro – Wichita, Kan.
Special Student Recognition
St. Catherine Medal
Emilie Leivian – Wichita, Kan.
Special Recognition
Chase Blasi – Colwich, Kan.
PRESIDENTIAL AWARD
Teaching Excellence Award
Kelly McFall – Wichita, Kan.
