Hiram’s annual Celebration of Excellence commemorates the academic achievements of our students, their service to the College, and dedication to the larger community. The accomplishments recognized encompass every part of campus life and signify the positive and lasting impact these students have made on the College.
Please find below a description of each award and the 2023 recipients.
President’s Achievement Award
The President’s Achievement Award is given annually to two students 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 of these problems. In sum, the President’s Achievement Award goes to those whose records best symbolize the educational goals of Hiram College.
2023 Recipients: Morgan Rekstis and Mackenzie Flaherty
Morgan Rekstis is a junior from Canton, Ohio, and is an integrative exercise science major. She is a student leader who has served as a Resident Assistant, tutor for Anatomy and Physiology I and II and Statistics, treasurer of the IES Club, secretary and soon-to-be president of CRUSH, as well as the treasurer and coach of the Women’s Lacrosse Club.
Mackenzie Flaherty is a junior from Mentor, Ohio and is a political science major with minors in crime, law and justice & sociology. She has served as the Vice President of Activities for Student Senate and was recently elected as President of the Student Senate. Additionally, Mackenzie has served in the role of student ambassador, orientation leader, and peer mentor.
Distinguished Student Leadership Award-Dively
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, founder of the Gerald R. Ford Institute for Leadership in Public Policy and Service, three-term member of the Michigan House of Representatives and former faculty member at Albion College, is the founder of the award.
2023 Recipients: Haley Thompson
Haley Thompson is an integrative exercise science major from Elkridge, Maryland. After coming to Hiram to continue her high school basketball career, she spent three years as a Resident Assistant, with two of those years as Head RA.
Hal Reichle Memorial Award
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.
2023 Recipient: Jared LaPointe
Jared LaPointe is an educational studies major and communications minor and intends on earning a master’s degree in student affairs and higher education at Miami University. Jared has participated in leadership on campus by serving as an orientation leader, serving as a Resident Assistant, serving as the Treasurer of PRYSM, and serving as the Vice President and President of the Education Club.
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award
The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Award is given annually by Hiram College to a student or students 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.
2023 Recipient: Maya Henry
Maya Henry is a business management major from East Cleveland, OH. She has been a member of Student Senate and President of the Black Student Union and recently helped establish Hiram’s AmeriCorps Student Resource Center.
Yuksel Ismail Scholarship in Humanities
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.
2023 Recipient: Kerry Hamilton
Kerry Hamilton is an English major and has dedicated much of her curiosity to filmmaking, theater, history, philosophy, and the classics. This scholarship is “awarded to honor the senior student in the Humanities who best exemplifies the love of learning and high standards lived out at Hiram College by Yuksel Ismail, Professor of Languages and Literature.”
Phi Beta Kappa
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 during the week of commencement.
2023 Recipients: Madison M. Buckles, Emma R. Cromwell, and Rafah Hussain
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
| Colton Allen | Laura Alspaugh |
| Logan Bailey | Marisa Bolton |
| Allison Buckles | Madison Buckles |
| Mason Cebulla | Emma Cromwell |
| Sydney Finley-Houston | Julia Frank |
| Meghan Griffin | Patricia Harness |
| Lauren Hildum | Rafah Hussain |
| Elizabeth Jaber | Victoria Jackson |
| Lyndsey Johns | Carlene Kopp |
| Andrew Kuch | James Lane |
| Alyssa Maraia | Camdyn Miller |
| Daphney Miller | William Muirhead |
| Julie Nalow | Jenelle Nemire |
| Andrew Pemberton | Dennis Pranjic |
| Kellie Ristau | Gerald Saunders |
| David Schmeider | Katherine Starr |
| Taylor Valaitis | Victoria Valetta |
| Dana Vetrano | Linda Wasil |
| Maggie Yarcusko |
Alpha Society Underclassmen
| Maxwell Alexander | Mahmood Al-Omeri | Emma Bago |
| Dylan Baliker | Ethan Barnes | Kearan Barnett |
| Dylan Baumgardner | Jared Biller | Madeline Billock |
| Alison Bredek | Erin Burke | Allydia Byard |
| Logan Cabrera-Rosales | Kayla Campbell | Lisha Ciani |
| Rebecca Cotterman | Carly DeMille | Meghan Falkowski |
| Lauren Felvus | Jacob Fergis | Heidi Fife |
| Brooke Fishback | Mackenzie Flaherty | Halley Fritz |
| Isabella Galecki | Logan Gallentine | Kaitlyn Goldan |
| Holly Grable | Aidan Griffin | Chelsea Hixon |
| Kelly Hoffman | Skyler Huda | Samantha Humphrey |
| Jonathan Hybil | Brett Johnson | Camden Kane |
| Catlyn Kauffman | Joshua Kester | Jason King |
| Craig Koon | Jacob Kowal | Julianna-Marie LeQuay |
| Andrew Madden | Joslyn Marion | Valerie Martin |
| Kyle Martini | Drew Mason | Marciano McCowan |
| Trisha Miller | Aidan Moneypenny | Jade Mongold |
| Annabelle Moore | Jillian Moore | Mackenzie Morrison |
| Megan Moser | Amanda Murphey | Brooke Norris |
| Aurora Nunnery | Kieran Pellin | Sarah Peshko |
| Angel Peterson | Tayleigh Price | Bryce Pruszynski |
| Sadie Qualls | Allison Redman | Hunter Reich |
| Madison Reikowski | Morgan Rekstis | Mineko Roach |
| Rafael Rodriguez | Henry Roeth | Angelina Ross |
| Yue Sasaki | Abriana Schwartz | Alivia Selander |
| Grace Spehn | Sydney Spitler | Marissa Steidel |
| Jane Sterling | Ryan Streator | Hallie Talbot |
| Stephenie Travis | Briana Troyan | Jillian Turcola |
| Emily Turk | Brandon Turner | Katelin Tuttle |
| Carisa Vollman | Bailey Wilhite | Katey Wohlers |
| Bo Wen Ivan Yang | Reece Zeigler | Karissa Zelenak |
| Jacob Zimmerman |
By Elyse Pitkin
