McPherson College recognized the outstanding students of the 2016-2017 academic year at its annual Celebration and Awards Convocation on May 5, 2017. Faculty and staff presented the awards and recognitions.
Recipients were as follows:
Technology Department-Auto Restoration Program
- “Pop” Rice Award – Drew Reich, senior, Sunbury, PA
- Jay Leno/Popular Mechanics Scholarship – Aaron Israel, senior, West End, NC
- Paul Russell Award for Excellence – Matthew Edmonds, senior, Flagstaff, AZ
Business
- Outstanding Business Student Award– Lauren Wankum, senior McPherson, KS
Curriculum & Instruction
- Model Educators – Nikki Thornburg, senior, Cypress, CA
- Teachers of Promise – Megan James, senior, Concordia, KS
History & Politics
- Leland L. Lengel Memorial Scholarship in History – Diamond Blaylock-Norris, freshman, Flower Mound, TX
- Marvin and Doreen Will Scholarship – Kortney Slaughter-Jones, freshman, Brentwood, CA; Kendahl Kelly, junior, Svendborg, Denmark
- History & Politics Best Senior Thesis Award – Destiny Reid, senior, Buffalo, MO
Natural Science
- CRC Press Freshman Chemistry Achievement Award – Kaitlyn van Asselt, sophomore, McPherson, KS
- Merit Research Award – Sheryl Evans, senior, Nassau, Bahamas; Lucas Giesey, senior, Sheridan, WY
- Burkholder Research Award – Nathan Finch, senior, Lindsborg, KS
Behavioral Sciences
- Outstanding Behavioral Science Students – Sawyer Pittenger, senior, Lincoln, KS
Lambda Pi Eta, Communication Honor Society
- Nick Greenway, Caleb Hecker, Jasmine Helms, Johanna Hoffman, Madison Hoffman, Logan Schrag, Tessa Szambecki
Alpha Psi Omega
- Una Yoder Theatre Student of the Year – Abbey Trenkle, senior, Haysville, KS
- Una Yoder Rookie Theatre Student of the Year – Erin Fralick, junior, New Palastine, IN; Liz Thornton, freshman, Karval, CO
Music
- 2016-2017 Outstanding Music Major – Chandler Dohe, senior, Limon, CO
Visual Arts
Excellence in Competitive Exhibitions
- Wichita AIGA Student Portfolio Forum – Jessie Neher, senior, Rochester, MN; Channing Wall, senior, McPherson, KS; Corey Long, senior, McPherson, KS; Jaden Hilgers, senior, Wichita, KS
- Prairie Art Exhibition: Cash Merit Awards – Monica Ewy, senior, McPherson, KS; Nora Grosbach, senior, Evergreen, CO; Jaden Hilgers, senior, Wichita, KS
- Prairie Art Exhibition: All Accepted Entries – Chloe Cloud, junior, Wichita, KS; Alley Domar, senior, McPherson, KS; Monica Ewy, senior, McPherson, KS; Micah Gilbert, sophomore, Elkhart, IN; Nora Grosbach, junior, Evergreen, CO; Jaden Hilgers, senior, Wichita, KS; Lillian Oeding, sophomore, Wichita, KS; Italia Venegas, freshman, Shawnee Mission, KS
Athletics
- Female Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Jasmine Helms, senior, Manhattan, KS
- Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year – Aaron Bachura, junior, Wilsey, KS
Physical Education
- Outstanding Physical Education Major – Molly Kelley, senior, Shawnee, KS; Ethan Winter, senior, McPherson, KS
Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges
- Samantha Brandyberry, senior, Derby, KS
- Carson Clay, senior, Choctaw, OK
- Erika Doty, senior, Ottawa, KS
- Tara Gladding, senior, Marquette, KS
- Alex Glidden, senior, McPherson, KS
- Kathryn Hicks, senior, Keller, TX
- Johanna Hoffman, senior, Hillsboro, KS
- Corey Long, senior, McPherson, KS
- Sawyer Pittenger, senior, Lincoln, KS
- Lauren Wankum, senior, McPherson, KS
- Ethan Winter, senior, McPherson, KS
Campus Ministry
- Outstanding Achievement in Ministry – Callie Atkins, senior, Stillwater, OK; Tara Gladding, senior, Marquette, KS; Johanna Hoffman, senior, Hillsboro, KS
Service Awards
- Rotaract Service Scholarship – Rhianna Smith, junior, Lindsborg, KS; Madison Hoffman, junior, McPherson, KS
- Outstanding Achievement in Service – David Nobo, senior, Topeka, KS; Samuel Nobo, senior, Topeka, KS
Professor of the Year Award – Ami Martinez
Staff Person of the Year Award – Ashley Spencer
2016-2017 Annual Celebration & Awards Convocation Program (pdf)