UVa-Wise honors students at Academic Awards Ceremony

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise recognized the scholastic achievements of non-graduating students during the Academic Awards Ceremony on April 22.

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 is home to 1,900 students and offers undergraduate and professional programs in the liberal arts tradition of Thomas Jefferson.

EDUCATION

Sonia Gilly of Big Stone Gap received the Jack M. Holland Award in Education. The award is named in honor of the former chairman of the Department of Education and Professor of Education at the College. It is given to a rising senior who shows remarkable potential as a future elementary teacher.

Whitney M. Lane of Nickelsville received the Lois P. Lowry Award in Language Arts. The award, in honor of the longtime devoted service of Professor of Education Lois Lowery, is given to the student who has demonstrated outstanding academic performance, creative ability and great promise as a future teacher in the field of language arts.

HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

Matthew Wayne Wright of Wise was awarded the Edward L. “Buck” Henson, Jr. History Scholarship. Henson was a devoted and valued member of the history faculty at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise for 33 years. This scholarship in his memory is awarded to a student who has been recommended by the history faculty as the outstanding junior history major.

Debra Gibson of Castlewood and Jennifer D. Maggard of Pound each received a Heather Markusich Scholarship. A 1989 graduate of the College, Markusich was an exemplary history major. The summer following her graduation, and just before her departure for graduate school, she was fatally injured in an automobile accident on her way to work at the Pentagon. A flood of memorial contributions came to the College from all over the country, sufficient to establish a permanently endowed scholarship in her memory. The Heather Markusich Scholarship is awarded to history majors of unusual talent and promise.

Sean T. Murphy of Newport News received the Dana Sample History Award. Created in 2007 to honor the late associate professor of history, the Dana Sample History Award is designed to support student international travel and presentations at historical conferences, particularly under the auspices of the history honorary society, Phi Alpha Theta, or any of the other student-related activities that Dr. Sample embraced as a faculty member at UVa-Wise.

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

Daniel G. Helbert of Coeburn and Sara D. Hurd of Dublin each received a Frances Currie Peake Scholarship. Frances Currie Peake taught in the mountains of Tennessee and instilled in her students and her children a love of literature. The Frances Currie Peake Scholarship is awarded to rising junior or senior English majors who have demonstrated excellence in literary studies.

Reuben J. Swindall of Big Stone Gap received the Language and Literature Award for French. This award recognizes outstanding work in French language and literature.

Olga C. Hayes of Clintwood received the Language and Literature Award for Spanish. This award recognizes outstanding work in Spanish language and literature.

NATURAL SCIENCES

Shadrack M. Nthusi of Wise received the Philip C. Shelton Outstanding Environmental Scientist Award. This award is given annually to an environmental science student who has demonstrated outstanding environmental leadership and vision at UVa-Wise. The award is named in honor of Philip C. Shelton who, through his teachings and lifestyle, promoted a better balance between the advance of technology and preservation of the environment. The recipient of this award embodies his lifelong commitment to stewardship of the land.

NURSING

Marissa L. Jones of Norton received the Velta Collins Holyfield Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was established by family members and friends in 1991, shortly after Mrs. Holyfield’s death. Mrs. Holyfield graduated from the University of Virginia School of Nursing in 1957 and served the health care community in Wise for many years as a noted teacher and nurse. The Department of Nursing honors Mrs. Holyfield by awarding scholarships to nursing students who exhibit academic achievement, leadership potential, motivation and the talent to achieve excellence in nursing practice.

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Andrew W. McQuillan of Stafford received the Achievement in Administrative Justice Award. This award honors the commitment and hard work of an Administration of Justice major in the field of law enforcement.

Posted May 25, 2007