Honors Convocation 2016: Students' achievements honored

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

Alpha Society Underclassmen