Held in Biggers Sports Center, the event included more than four dozen departmental and college-wide awards. The top graduating senior was named, a new John B. Begley Scholar was awarded and the top professors of the year were recognized. Honor cords were also awarded to more than two dozen graduating seniors.
LWC human services and counseling senior Bailey Scott of Auburn, Ky., received the President’s Award, which is presented to the graduating senior who in the opinion of the LWC president best embodies the LWC mission.
Aleksi Pahkasalo -- a recreation, tourism and sports management sophomore from of Vantaa, Finland, and member of the LWC varsity men’s soccer team -- was named the returning John B. Begley Scholar, which is the college’s most prestigious undergraduate scholarship.
The Lindsey Wilson Singers was named the top student organization by the LWC Student Government Association.
Two faculty members were honored. Associate Professor of Business Trudy Morlino was named Teacher of the Year by the LWC SGA, and Associate Professor of Counseling and Human Development Holly Abel received the Exemplary Teacher Award from The United Methodist Church Division of Higher Education.
Several student groups and academic honor societies were also recognized. Particularly noteworthy was the report from Director of Civic Engagement Amy Thompson-Wells, who is also co-director of the Bonner Scholars program. She reported that collectively the Bonner Scholars seniors completed almost 31,700 hours of service, and 11 AmeriCorps terms at 29 partner sites. The value of their volunteer time was estimated to be $229,825.
LWC’s 101st commencement ceremony will be 10 a.m. CT Saturday, May 9, in Biggers Sports Center, 360 Spickard Drive.
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Presidential Awards
* President’s Award: Bailey Scott of Auburn, Ky.
* Alma Jones Wade Scholarship: Jessica Burnett of Lewisport, Ky.
* Returning John B. Begley Scholar: Aleksi Pahkasalo of Vantaa, Finland
Campus Awards
* Club of the Year: Lindsey Wilson Singers
* Evening College Outstanding Achievement Award: Rachel Smith of Columbia
* Federal Student Employee of the Year: Jonathan Lewis of Somerset, Ky.
* Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Branden Cresap of Shelbyville, Ky.
* Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year: Elizabet Madjarac of Brondby Strand, Denmark
* Teacher of the Year: Associate Professor of Business & Economics Trudy Morlino
* United Methodist Church Division of Higher Education Exemplary Teacher Award -- Associate
Academic Division Awards
Applied and Interdisciplinary Studies Division
* Media Studies Award: Hannah Warren of Columbia
* Journalism Award: Zachery Oakes of Russell Springs, Ky.
* Student Publication Award: Shelia-Marie Stacy of Paducah, Ky.
Business & CIS Division
* Accounting: Fabricio Morales of Cancun, Mexico
* Human Resources: Katherine Dickerson of Louisville, Ky.
* Management: Renan Serafim of Sorocaba, Brazil
* Recreation, Tourism & Sports Management: Issac Martinez of Somerset, Ky.
* ENACTUS: Chunyan Liang of Guangxi, China
Education Division
* Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in P-5 Education: Lois Jean Lanham of Lebanon, Ky.
* Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in 5-9 Education: Rachel Johnson of Russell Springs, Ky.
* Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in 8-12 English: Bethany Oakes of Columbia
* Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in P-12 Music: Caitlyn Harrod of Springfield, Ky.
* Outstanding Academic Achievement Award in P-12 Health and PE: Loren Ceriface of Columbia
Humanities and Fine Arts Division
* Christian Ministries Award: Amber Clark of Kennesaw, Ga.
* English Student of the Year Award: Chelsea Dermody of Fairdale, Ky., and Glen Jennings of Prospect, Ky.
* Outstanding Thespian Award: Jeremy Cloyd of Tompkinsville, Ky., and Erika Finley of Hopkinsville, Ky.
* Women’s Studies Award for Excellence in Scholarship and Service: Liz Wright of Columbia
* Orpheus Awards -- Fiction: Paul Pelly of Columbia; Poetry: Liz Wright of Columbia
Natural and Behavioral Sciences
* Psychology: Katherine Koper of Central City, Ky.
* Mathematics: Sara Tarter of Columbia
* Psychophysiology: Hannah Hayduk of Kutztown, Pa.
Nursing
* Academic Excellence in Nursing (Highest Overall GPA): Alison McGaughey of Mount Eden, Ky.
* Dr. Elizabeth Lowe Whitfield Nursing Professional Development Award: Destiny Ryan of Manchester, Ky.
* Marit B. Robb & Sheila K. Robb Nursing Award: Susana Salvador Meda of Marriottsville, Md.
* Outstanding BSN Pre-Licensure Nursing Student Award: Cohort III – Cambry Underwood of Greensburg, Ky.; Cohort IV – Kristina Cundiff of Russell Springs, Ky
Outstanding RN to BSN Nursing Student: Cassandra Brown of Edmonton, Ky.
School of Professional Counseling
* Outstanding Counseling and Human Development Graduate Student: Natalie Vickous of Columbia and Ruth Jeffries of Columbia
* Human Services and Counseling Award: Bailey Scott of Auburn, Ky.
Social Sciences
* Communication Ambassador: Jonathan Joseph of Louisville, Ky.
* Outstanding Communication Student: Taylor Watson of Burkesville, Ky., and Haven Williams of Burkesville, Ky.
* Criminal Justice Award: Travatia Bowden of McKenzie, Tenn., and McKenzie Martin of Columbia
* Noma Dix Winston History Scholarship Award: Ryan Leamy of Louisville, Ky.
* Social Science Award: Jon W. Rich of Columbia
* Excellence in Writing Center Peer Tutoring: Rebecca Wynn of Closplint, Ky.