In advance of Hiram College’s 166th Commencement, students were honored for academic, leadership and community achievements during the 2015-2016 Honors Convocation on May 11, 2016.
President’s Achievement Award
Nina Lester and Antwand Hill
The President’s Achievement Award is given annually to a woman and man in the junior class whose academic records, campus leadership and devotion to the ideals and objectives of Hiram College distinguish their performances as outstanding. Students selected for this award have demonstrated, during their years at Hiram College, marked growth in academic achievement and in personal development. They have displayed sensitivity to the needs of their fellow students, to those in the College community and of society in general, and they have made constructive contributions to the solutions to these problems. In summary, the President’s Achievement Award goes to those whose records best symbolize the educational goals of Hiram College.
Distinguished Student Leadership Award-Dively
Ann Riddle
The Distinguished Student Leadership Award is given annually by Hiram College in recognition of an outstanding senior student whose contributions to campus life have earned peer respect and admiration. The award recipient receives a gift of $1,000. Michael Dively, a former Hiram College Trustee, threeterm member of the Michigan House of Representatives and adjunct faculty member at American University, is the founder of the award.
Hal Reichle Memorial Award
Heather Brant
The Hal Reichle Memorial Award is presented annually to an individual student who has demonstrated significant acts of kindness, generosity and compassion toward other human beings. The award recipient is chosen on the basis of humanitarian efforts, community involvement and volunteerism. The value of the Hal Reichle Memorial Award is based on investment returns and typically exceeds $5,000. Nancy Moeller Award 2016 Recipient: Chad White Established in the memory of Nancy Moeller, this award is given to the student who maintained high standards while achieving the goal of a college education and in so doing, earned the respect of faculty members and fellow students.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award
Alexis Armstead
The Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award is given annually by Hiram College to a student who, through the quality of his or her leadership and overall character, exemplifies a spirit of inclusiveness and an appreciation for multiculturalism and diversity. The value of the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award is based on investment returns and typically exceeds $500.
Yuksel Ismail Scholarship in Humanities
Kristin Schroll
Established in 1986 by the Ismail family, colleagues, friends and former students, the Yuksel Ismail Scholarship honors the senior in humanities (humanities shall include classical studies, English, foreign languages, history, philosophy and religious studies) who best exemplifies the love of learning and high standards lived out at Hiram College by Yuksel Ismail, professor of languages and literature, until his death in 1986.
ODK National Leadership
Professor Anisi Daniels Smith, Human Resources Director Lynn Kostrab, Colin Brothers, D’Nautica Philpot, Andrew Torres and Jacob Vaughan
Omicron Delta Kappa (O?K), also known as The Circle or more commonly as ODK, is a national leadership honor society. It was founded Dec. 3, 1914 at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia by 15 student and faculty leaders. Chapters, known as Circles, are located on more than 300 college campuses. The society recognizes outstanding achievement in the following areas: scholarship; athletics; campus community service; social/ religious activities; campus government; journalism, speech and mass media; and creative and performing arts. As the identities of newly selected members are kept secret for a period of time, ODK is fondly considered a quasi-secret society. Membership in the Omicron Delta Kappa Society is regarded as one of the highest collegiate honors that can be awarded to an individual, along with Phi Beta Kappa. In addition to meeting rigorous leadership and service criteria, student membership requires a grade point average of 3.5 or above.
Phi Beta Kappa 2016 Inductees:
Professor Colin Anderson, Mackenzie Barry, Logan Brewer, Renee Brumbaugh, Emily Gilmore, Kayla Kennedy, Danielle Kohut, Cristian Loyola Padilla, Hannah Platt, Emma Poduska, Ryogo Suzuki and Chimi Wangchuk
Phi Beta Kappa membership has long been recognized as the highest distinction an individual can receive for scholarly excellence in undergraduate studies in the liberal arts and sciences. Founded in 1776, Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest undergraduate honors society. The official induction ceremony into Phi Beta Kappa takes place on the morning of commencement.
Alpha Society
Alpha Society is one of Hiram’s highest academic honors. Membership is limited to students who have completed 12 or more hours of graded coursework at Hiram College and whose cumulative grade point average is 3.75 or better.
Alpha Society Graduating Seniors
Steven Ahern | Therese HOcevar | Jenna Nelson | Nicholas Suetta |
Mackenzie Barry | Troy Janashak | Hannah Platt | Ryogo Suzuki |
Jenelle Bayus | Kayla Kennedy | Joseph Popiel | Mary Swallow |
Megan Bisbee | Carrie Kraft | Katrina Port | Megan Thompson |
Renee Brumbaugh | Melissa Kywa | Matthew Pozderac | Jacob Vaughan |
Celia Bruner | Danielle Latine | Timothy Prall | Will Weisman |
Emma Caylor | Faith Lemon | Ann Riddle | Chad White |
Jason Close | Cristian Loyola Padilla | Kristin Schroll | Kelly Wynne |
Delisa Ellis | Emily Marsteller | Monica Semosky | Melannie Young |
Kathleen Enoch | Tanner Mathews | Michael Sidoris | Paige Zeigler |
Tricia Fincham | Carol Milani | Odishius Sledge | |
Caroline Georskey | John Montello | Melissa Smith | |
Emily Gilmore | Sharon Nawalaniec | Trey Solon |
Alpha Society Underclassmen
Amy Almashy | Anderson Gardner | Amber Levering | Zoe Sajen |
Thea Angeli | Patrick Garrod | Paige Lewis | Stacia Schaffer |
Stacey Barnauskas | Tara Gaughan | Alan Lewis | Sara Shearer |
Sophie Bell | Katherine Geric | Andrew Lisak | Lilia Siers |
Mary Benjamin | Antoine-Olivier Gladu-Corbin | Shelby List | Matthew Sisserson |
Seiji Bessho | Adelaide Goodrich | Savannah Lorinchack | Jaden Slovensky |
Lindsay Bierman | Kimberly Hahn | Zakari Martinjako | Mark Sobnosky |
Rachel Boehm | Lindsey Harris | Kristen Maslach | Cole Soldo |
Chantelle Brady | Macey Hickman | Sarah McClellan | Corey Stamco |
Heather Brant | Hannah Hilty | Danni McDonald | Abigail Stevenson |
Baylee Capaldi | Kara Hokes | Nathan Metze | Griffin Sukel |
Jacqueline Cegelka | Matthew Hollis | Richard Milford | Emily Syrjala |
Megan Chaplin | Emily Hruska | Samantha Mullenax | Sydney Turnbull-Green |
Hallie Chavez | Tabitha Hubbell | McKenna Murphy | Brad Valka |
Hayley Christani | Melissa Johnson | Heather Pahoresky | Maya Watkins |
Mikenzi Daniels-Smith | Kim Jones | Brittany Paletta | Marcus Weatherbee |
Alexandre Delgado Gabriela | Elizabeth Keller | Carly Palgut | Sarah Whitman |
Jennifer Drake | Laura Kelly | Robin Peshick | Isabella Williams |
Sandra Drewek | Gabriel Kemble | Hannah Petelin | Alexis Wojtowicz |
Brandy Emery | Megan Kern | Michelle Phelps | Jared Wright |
Claire Esposito | Colton Kinderknecht | Matthew Port | Matthew Wright |
Clare Fekete | Jennifer Kistler | Jasmine Prezenkowski | Emily Yeckley |
Joseph Ferrara | Travis Koteles | Rebecca Richards | |
Meredith Fitschen-Brown | Ritchie Leap | Kathleen Rockhold | |
Josselyn Frazier | Colleen Leibas | Andrew Runyon |