UVa-Wise awards students at Honors Convocation

The academic departments of The University of Virginia’s College at Wise recognized the scholastic achievements of members of the Class of 2008 and other students on May 16.
 
The only branch of the University of Virginia, UVa-Wise is ranked among the nation’s top public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. UVa-Wise offers undergraduate and professional programs in the liberal arts tradition of Thomas Jefferson.
 
The following UVa-Wise students received awards during the Honors Convocation:


BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS
 
John Blake Graham of Wise received the Napoleon Hill Achievement Award, which is presented to the graduating senior who most embodies Hill’s principles for success.
 
Kaylee Janelle Hutchinson of Clinchco and Irvin Taylor Hill of St. Paul received the Outstanding Achievement in Accounting Award.
 
Jason Scott Shuler of Exeter received the Outstanding Achievement in Business Administration Award.
 
Oktay Duymaz of Istanbul, Turkey, received the Outstanding Achievement in Economics Award.
 
Eli Jordan Owens of Wise received the David W. Roane Award in Business Ethics, which recognizes a senior who has practiced the highest level of integrity and honesty in his or her interaction with the department’s faculty, fellow students and staff of the College.
 

COMMUNICATION STUDIES
 
Kathrine Baldwin of Norton received the Senior Capstone Award, which recognizes students who have distinguished themselves in the capstone course by conducting and presenting outstanding original research in communication.
 
Kathrine Baldwin of Norton received the Ronald Heise Award for Excellence in Communication Studies, named for the man responsible for establishing the concentration in communication at UVa-Wise that has now developed into the Department of Communication. The award recognizes a senior who has demonstrated excellence in the diverse areas of communication represented in the current department.
 

EDUCATION

Jarred Curtis Soles of Yorktown received the Richard A. Davidson Education Award, which is presented to the graduating senior who best exemplifies the potential to carry on the qualities of leadership demonstrated by Professor Davidson during his 36 years at UVa-Wise.
 
Matthew Martin Mullins of Wise and Jessica Wampler of Wise each received a Beulah M. Johnson Award, which recognizes academic excellence and a student’s commitment to a life-long career in teaching.
 
Ashlie Munsey Baker of Gate City was named the Outstanding Woman Scholar in Education.
 

HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY
 
Leeza Marie Dos Santos of Virginia Beach and Reuben Jay Swindall of Big Stone Gap each received a Clinch Valley College History Fund Award, which recognizes history majors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.
 
Eric Thomas Vanover of Wise and Matthew Wayne Wright of Wise each received a William Elbert Fraley Award in History, which recognizes unusual academic ability and promise in the field of history.
 
Lindsay Michelle Lipps of Wise received the Dana Sample Phi Alpha Theta/Travel Award created in 2007 to support student international travel, presentations at historical conferences. The award goes to a student who has traveled and studied under Professor Sample.


LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE
 
Emahunn Campbell of Fredricksburg and Autumn Rhea Lauzon of Bristol each received a William Elbert Fraley Award in English, which is presented to graduating seniors who have demonstrated excellence in English studies and who plan to attend graduate school.
 
Sara Danielle Hurd of Dublin and Brooke Ann McCowan of St. Paul received Outstanding Senior English Major Awards. The award recognizes students who have exhibited outstanding academic merit in the study of English language and literature.
 
Brooke Ann McCowan of St. Paul received the Senior Seminar Award, which recognizes students who have distinguished themselves in this capstone course by conducting and presenting outstanding original research in literature.
 
Reuben Jay Swindall of Big Stone Gap received the Language and Litterature Award for French. This award recognizes outstanding work in French language and literature.
 
Olga C. Hayes of Big Stone Gap was presented an Augusto Portuondo Award in Spanish, which recognizes a Spanish major whose demonstrated aptitude for Spanish and for teaching places him or her among those who will carry on the tradition of academic excellence and who will continue Professor Portuondo’s dedication to the promotion of Spanish language, literature and culture.
 

MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE
 
Zachary Jordan Lawson of Wise received the Outstanding Senior in Computer Science award.
 
Sarah M. Albert of Castlewood was named the Outstanding Senior in Mathematics.

Tyler Edward Osborne of Castlewood was named Outstanding Senior in Mathematics and Computer Science.

 
Michael Roger Conrad of Hurley was named the Outstanding Senior in Management Information Systems.
 

NATURAL SCIENCES

Mark Eric Cox of Fort Blackmore was presented the American Institute of Chemists Award, which recognizes a student's ability, character, scholastic achievement and potential for advancement in the field of chemistry.
 
Amber Nicole Ward of Williamsburg was the recipient of the J. Rex Baird Outstanding Biology Award. This award recognizes the accomplishments of graduating seniors in biology, whose efforts and accomplishments incorporate the rigor and diligence of modern biology, and express the exhilaration of investigative work that marked Professor Baird’s career.
 
Peter Henning Julius Lloyd Kuich of Hamburg, Germany, received the Joseph C. Smiddy Science Award, presented to the outstanding senior in natural sciences, in honor of Joseph C. Smiddy, the College’s first biology professor and chancellor.
 
Amanda Faye Meade of Coeburn received the Starnes Medical Award, given to an outstanding senior in the natural sciences who is entering a professional program in medicine.
 

NURSING

Allison Lea Miller of Wise was presented the Outstanding Graduate in Nursing Award in recognition of academic performance, College and community service, and commitment to the nursing profession.
 

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
 
Andrew William McQuillan of Stafford was presented with the Outstanding Graduate in Administration of Justice Award, which recognizes a graduating senior based on academic performance, College and community service, and commitment to the administration of justice profession.

Sarah Noel Hamilton of St. Paul received the Leon and Helen Lederer Memorial Award in Applied Psychology, which is presented to graduating seniors who will attend graduate school in applied psychology, and who have demonstrated excellence in academics, scholarly research, leadership, and service to the College and community.
 
John W. King of Cromma, Ky., received the Outstanding Non-traditional Student in Psychology Award.
 
Crystal June Birchfield of Bristol was presented the Scholar in Sociology Award in recognition of outstanding scholarship and student leadership.
 
Lindsay Michelle Lipps of Wise received the Scholar in Government Award, presented to students who have excelled in the study of government.
 
Adam Robert Bauguess of Danville received the Joseph M. Scolnick, Jr., Excellence in Government and Public Service Award, which honors the College’s long-time political science professor. The award recognizes a senior who has served the College community in a variety of posts, guarding the values of the institution and promoting the well-being of its student body. Lawson plans to pursue a career in social services. Bauguess also received the Joseph M. Scolnick, Sr. Memorial Pre-Law Award, presented to outstanding students who plan to pursue a career in law.
 

PEAKE HONORS PROGRAM
 
Matthew Charles Carter of Wise and Sara Danielle Hurd of Dublin both graduated with College Honors due to their completion of the Peake Honors Program, which requires students to engage in interdisciplinary coursework beyond the requirements of their major.

Posted May 21, 2008