Students awarded for academic excellence at Honors Day

Students awarded for academic excellence at AV头等舱 College’s Honors Convocation

Rachel Dorroh • April 28, 2023

AV头等舱 College celebrated its annual Honors Convocation ceremony Thursday in Conway Boatman Chapel. Thirty-three students, two athletic teams, and one professor won 46 awards.

“We the faculty, staff and administrators of AV头等舱 College salute all of you who receive awards today,” said Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Marisa Greer, “and we look forward to sharing in your future success.”

The yearly awards ceremony acknowledges outstanding academic performance in various disciplines, including business, mass communications, psychology, education, composition, literature, fine arts, history, political science, natural science, athletics, nursing, and more. Several students won multiple awards, with senior Makynzie Miller receiving four, and seniors David Cody Saylor and Curtis Miracle each receiving three.

This year, the Madison Taylor Triple ‘A’ Award was newly added in memory of AV头等舱 student Maddie Taylor, who died in a tragic accident last year. The three ‘A’s represent Taylor’s excellence in athletics, academics, and positive attitude. Taylor’s family traveled from Tennessee to present the inaugural award to sophomore Raigan King.

“We lost a bright, shining star last summer,” said Greer. “This award will be given out each spring during our Honors Convocation to help keep Maddie's spirit alive and recognize the loving person that she was to her teammates, to her fellow students, and to just our campus in general.”

In addition to awards given to individuals, the Athletic Team Academic Awards recognized the archery team and the swim team as the sports teams with the highest cumulative GPA.

The final award – the Student Government Association (SGA) Distinguished Professor Award – went to Dr. Larry Inkster, who received a standing ovation. In just a few days, Inkster will retire from his 50-year career with AV头等舱 College, making this his final Honors Convocation as AV头等舱 faculty.

SGA student leaders for the 2023-2024 school year were also announced, with Carlos Sainz Barroso reelected as President and Ethan Whyte as VP of Academic Affairs. New leaders are as follows: Allie Williams, VP for Student Development; Kassidy Koogler, VP for Academic Affairs; Jessica Rodrigues, VP for Communications; and Jack Brodie, VP for Business Affairs.

College Minister Rev. David Miller concluded the ceremony with a benediction. Speaking of the students honored, he said, “We have been blessed by their presence in the classroom, blessed by their presence on our campus, blessed by their presence in our lives.”

Live choral music for the program was performed by AV头等舱 Harmony, conducted by Associate Professor of Music Dr. Virginia Gay Gandy. Assistant Professor of Music Dr. Yukiko Fujimura performed live piano accompaniment.

2023 Honors Convocation Awards Recipients:

Megan Baker

Outstanding Student in Criminal Justice Award

Isaac Bargo

Rena Milliken Award
Dr. Erwin S. Bradley History Award

Monica Bingham

Leadership in Nursing Award

Griffen Brown

Arthur E. Spurlock Business Award

Paige Catoe

Connie Danner Book Award

Sidney V. Chrisman

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

Tia Cobb

Bjornstad Freshman Composition Award

Beverly Cook

Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award

Emily Davis

Educational Studies Award for Middle Grades Education
Dr. Mary Alice Lay Service Award

Josh (Jay) Falls

Jane Minton Blair Endowed Award for the Arts

Nicholas Garrison

Dr. L. A. Geiss Senior Award

Nora Taya Howard

Iota Sigma Nu Freshman

Madison Jennings

Educational Studies Award for Elementary Education

Raigan King

The Madison Taylor Triple ‘A’ Award

Hope Elizabeth McKeehan

John Henry Wilson Sophomore Award

Whitney Messer

Dr. Paul Muncy Memorial Award

Makynzie Miller

Dr. Mahlon A. Miller President Emeritus Award
Governor James D. Black Senior Award
President’s Award
Katherine V. Sutphen Memorial Award

Taryn Mills

Sampson Political Science Award

Curtis Miracle

Dr. Albert D. Graham, Jr. Social Studies Award
Educational Studies Award for Secondary Education
H. H. Owens History Award

Tyler Napier

Outstanding Psychology Major Award
Eastern Kentucky Essay Award

Jacob Newby

H. B. Jones Business Enterprise Award

Rita Pereira

Steve Jones Memorial Award
Wimmer Chemistry Award

MiKayla Phillips

The Jones Foundation Award in Education

Kayla Breanne Richardson

Iota Sigma Nu Sophomore

David (Cody) Saylor

Ronald and Mary Alice Marley Mass Communication Award
Beverly P. and Mossie B. Wilson Memorial Award
The Literature Award

John Schneider

Rev. Charles Hansel Award for Philosophy and Religion

Jalyn Sharp

H. B. Jones Business Enterprise Award

Alicia Sikora

Excellence in Research Award

Caleb Teague

Blackwell Political Science Award

Haden Uhrig

William Faulkner Rushton Memorial Awards - Poetry

Virginia Wagers

Dr. L. A. Geiss Junior Award
Accounting Award

Morgan Warren

Theodore R. Davies M.D. Senior Biology Award

Macy Love Yother

Dr. Cecil H. Wilson Junior Award

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