Union celebrates student success with annual honors convocation

Union Commonwealth University celebrated student success Thursday with the annual Honors Convocation held in Conway Boatman Chapel. One sports team, one professor, one student group, and 49 individual students were recognized for their academic achievements and demonstration of Union’s core values.

“These students are stellar examples of a Union education,” said President Dr. Marcia Hawkins. “They are knowledgeable and creative. They are curious, disciplined, critical thinkers who push the envelope of accepted wisdom.”

Many students received multiple awards, most notably senior William Webb, who was honored with a total of four. The Justice Leaders, a campus group focused on social equality, received the Stansberry Ecology Award for their contributions to environmental improvement during the academic year. This year’s Athletic Team Academic Award, which recognizes the team with the highest cumulative GPA, went to Women’s Tennis. Dr. Katie Flynn, Associate Professor of Psychology and Health, received the Student Government Association (SGA) Distinguished Professor Award for best exemplifying Union’s commitment and dedication to student well-being.

The new SGA officers for the 2024-2025 academic year were also announced. Current Vice President (VP) for Academic Affairs Kassidy Koogler will replace graduating senior Carlos Sainz Barroso as President. Current VP for Student Development Allie Williams was elected for a second term. Joao Marcos Seguti will serve as VP for Academic Affairs, Frank Osborne as VP for Communications, Zak Hardman as VP for Business Affairs, and Ivan Macias Rodriguez as VP for Athletic Affairs.

Just as the ceremony appeared to be winding down, Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Marisa Greer surprised President Hawkins by asking her to step centerstage and then announced a new award named in her honor. Hawkins, who is retiring in June after 12 years of service, was visibly moved by the gesture and held back tears as Greer went on.

“This inaugural award is presented to a student who has made substantial contributions to Union Commonwealth University community,” Greer said, explaining that this includes active involvement in campus organizations, athletic teams, residential communities, or community service programs. “The nominee must also demonstrate a strong potential for future leadership roles and civic engagement while embodying unions core values – C.I.R.C.L.E.S.”

Greer concluded, “Dr. Marcia Hawkins etched her name in history in 2012 by becoming the first female president to assume the presidency at Union.”

Junior Raigan King was then announced as the first recipient of the Dr. Marcia Hawkins Leadership Award.

Live music for the convocation was provided by Dr. Yukiko Fujimura on piano and by Dr. Virginia Gay Gandy’s vocal group Union Harmony.

Since Campus Minister the Rev. David Miller was ill, Professor of Religion Dr. Rusell Sisson ended the ceremony with a quote from Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians: “May the grace of God which does immeasurably more than we can conceive, direct us and abide with us now and forevermore. Amen.”

2024 Honors Convocation Individual Student Awards:

Megan Baker

Outstanding Student in Criminal Justice Award

Noah Canady

Dr. Paul Muncy Memorial Award

Skylar Rae Carnes

Dr. Mary Alice Lay Service Award

Paulo Carvalheiro

Thomas Storrar Award

Niccolò Chiriatti

Calculus Award

Tia Cobb

Connie Danner Book Award

William Faulkner Rushton Memorial Awards (prose)

Joshua Crawford

Educational Studies Award for Middle Grades Education

Michael Dixon

Educational Studies Award for Elementary Education

Abigail Grace Erby

Wimmer Chemistry Award

David Muniz Espin

Iota Sigma Nu Freshman Award

Billy Fields

Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award

Carter Finlay

H. B. Jones Business Enterprise Award

Dr. Katie Flynn

Student Government Association (SGA) Distinguished Professor Award

Jenna Grayson

Dr. Paul S. Moore Wellness, Human Performance, and Recreation Management Award

Taylor Gwynette

Sampson Political Science Award

Madison Hebert

William Faulkner Rushton Memorial Awards (poetry)

Margaret Heinrich

Outstanding Sociology Major Award

Anna Nevada Henriksen

Iota Sigma Nu Freshman Award

Mackenzie Herman

Educational Studies Award for Secondary Education

McKenzi Himes

The Madison Taylor Triple ‘A’ Award

Rena Milliken Award

Rachel Jones

Leadership in Nursing Award

Tabitha Jordan

The Jones Foundation Award in Education

Educational Studies Award for Middle Grades Education

Kassidy Koogler

Judge W. W. Tinsley Family Memorial Award

H. H. Owens History Award

Sarah Lowe

Daniel Drinkard Award

Malik McCalpine

Jane Minton Blair Endowed Award for the Arts

Hope McKeehan

Dr. Erwin S. Bradley History Award

Kandace Messer

Outstanding Psychology Major Award

Excellence in Research Award

Emilyann Miller

Educational Studies Award for Elementary Education

Johnathon Mills

Educational Studies Award for Elementary Education

Taryn Mills

Ronald & Mary Alice Marley Mass Communication Award

Ernesto Moreno

Dr. L. A. Geiss Senior Award

Laurel Nolan

Theodore R. Davies M.D. Senior Biology Award

Emma Phillips

Iota Sigma Nu Freshman Award

Kathy Brick Award

Lain Prather

John Henry Wilson Sophomore Award

Isabelle Proctor

Iota Sigma Nu Sophomore Award

Garomme Ramon Hanna

Dr. L. A. Geiss Junior Award

Kinsley Redmon

Iota Sigma Nu Freshman Award

Kayla Richardson

Dr. Cecil H. Wilson Junior Award

John Schneider

Blackwell Political Science Award

Joao Marcos Seguti

Arthur E. Spurlock Business Award

Mayhgen Shoemaker

Accounting Award

Lindsey Smith

Excellence in Research Award

Sammy Serrano

The Literature Award

Ryan Thomas

Bjornstad Freshman Composition Award

Nathaniel Turner

The Literature Award

Virginia Wagers

Dr. L. A. Geiss Computer Award

William Webb

Dr. Mahlon A. Miller President Emeritus Award

Governor James D. Black Senior Award

President’s Award

Steve Jones Memorial Award

Macy Yother

Katherine V. Sutphen Memorial Award

Educational Studies Award for Secondary Education

Zachary Young

Dr. Albert D. Graham, Jr. Social Studies Award