Newman University honored student scholars and leaders for their outstanding academic achievements and accomplishments at the 2016 Academic Honors and Awards Convocation, held April 21 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.
Students Daniella Buedden from Broken Arrow, Okla., and Gabriella M. Rizzi of Blue Springs, Mo., 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. This is the first time the medal has been awarded to two students.
The Newman Academic Honors and Awards Convocation also featured the announcement of the Teaching Excellence Award to Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Chair of the Social Sciences Jill Fort, Ph.D. 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 spring commencement ceremony.
Area recipients included: Education: Baccalaureate - Sister Vivian Miller Award, Brandi Boese, LaCrosse; Student Service And Leadership: Nominees for Ablah Awards - Rubi Torres Rodriguez, Great Bend and Brandi Boese, LaCrosse; Kappa Gamma Pi (Scholarship and Leadership): Baccalaureate - Brandi Boese, LaCrosse.