BUCKHANNON, W.Va. – West Virginia Wesleyan College honored students, faculty and staff in its annual Academic and Leadership Awards Ceremony held Sunday, April 18 in Wesley Chapel. The awards are presented to honor students in academics, athletics, campus life and more.
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty Dr. James Moore said, “We are very proud to honor students for their success in academic pursuits and their significant contributions to the quality of life on this amazing campus. We also salute parents and other members of their community who have supported them in their efforts and played a key role in their success.”
The following is a list of awards announced during the ceremony.
Sam Ross Scholar Athlete Awards were given to Brittany Stawovy ’21, of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania; and Jake Hakey ‘21, of Fairfax, Vermont. Beverly Toothman ‘21, of Nutter Fort, West Virginia, received the Campus Life Staff Member of the Year Award.
The Center for Community Engagement gave Sullivan Foundation Awards to Caitlin Cottrell ‘20, of Elizabeth, West Virginia; and Nate Chalmers ‘21, of Newark, Delaware. John Wesley “Do All The Good You Can” Awards were given to William ‘Jake’ Fox ‘21, of Nitro, West Virginia; Kendra Heinburch ‘21, of Accokeek, Maryland; Thomas Hughart ‘21, of Birch River, West Virginia and Matthew Vicini ‘21, of Kenna, West Virginia. Wesleyan Values Awards were announced for Hannah Benson ‘21, of Wheeling, West Virginia; Stephanie Plum ‘21, of Tunnelton, West Virginia; and Abby Shaffer ‘21, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Outstanding Peer Leader Awards were given to Jaimee Martin ‘20, of Wheeling, West Virginia, and Sarah Wilmoth ‘21, of Fairmont, West Virginia. Maranda Peggs ‘21, of Buckhannon, West Virginia; Maggie Petitto ‘21, of West Milford, West Virginia; and Madison Robinson ‘21, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, were recognized for Outstanding Community Outreach.
Greek Man of the Year Joseph Kelsh ‘22, of Charleston, West Virginia, and Greek Woman of the Year Emily Shaw ‘21, of Fairmont, West Virginia were named during the ceremony.
Outstanding Leadership Awards in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion were presented to Trisayna Mitchell ‘21, of St. Catherine, Jamaica; and Summer Matlack ‘21, of Arlington, Virginia; Abigail ‘Cat’ Saporito ‘21, of Philippi, West Virginia, received the Trailblazer Award and Sai Sakamoto ‘22, of Toyoko, Japan, was named a Rising Star.
Outstanding Senior Art Major Christopher Folio ‘21, of Hurricane, West Virginia; Outstanding Senior Graphic Design Major Kay Lange ‘21, of Hanover, Germany; Outstanding Junior Art and Design Major David Hooper ‘22 of Clarksburg, West Virginia; Outstanding Sophomore Art and Design Major Chloe Perdue ‘23, of Lansing, West Virginia; and Outstanding Freshman Art and Design Major Shaela Croston ‘24, of Philippi, West Virginia, were also honored.
Outstanding Seniors in Biology Carson Cochran ‘21, of Clifftop, West Virginia; and Hannah Dunn ‘21, of Bridgeport, West Virginia; Outstanding Juniors in Biology Orian Bar ‘22, of Denver, North Carolina, and Molly Milleson, ‘22, of Springfield, West Virginia; Outstanding Sophomores in Biology Betty Abdelgelil ‘23, of Summersville, West Virginia; Hayden Hess ‘23, of Bridgeport, West Virginia; and Olivia Carpenter ‘23, of Canvas, West Virginia; Outstanding Freshman in Biology Logan Nelson ‘24, of Wenatchee, Washington, and Outstanding Student in Environmental Science Haley Zinn ‘22, of Tunnelton, West Virginia were all recognized. Additionally, Outstanding Researcher in Biology Garric Ross Young ‘21, of Cheverly, Maryland, and Outstanding Student Workers in Biology/Environmental Science Cameron Wilson ‘21, of Buckhannon, West Virginia; Carson Cochran ‘21, of Clifftop, West Virginia; and Alayna Thompson ‘21, of Charleston, West Virginia, received awards.
The School of Business recognized Outstanding Accounting Student Gunnar Christianson ‘21, of Owings, Maryland; Outstanding Business Administration Student Sumire Ebioka ‘21, of Shizuoka, Japan; Outstanding Economics Student Rodrigo Michael ‘21, of Caxias Do Sul, Brazil; Outstanding Marketing Student Cole Skaggs ‘21, of St. Clairsville, Ohio; and Outstanding 5-year MBA student Kate Le ‘21, of Buckhannon.
Chemistry and Biochemistry Outstanding Junior Chemist Chris Neil ‘22, of Kenna, West Virginia, and Lauren Baumgartner, ‘22, of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Outstanding Senior Biochemist Brittani Greene ‘21, of Hurricane, West Virginia; and Outstanding Senior Chemist Jake Hakey ‘21, of Fairfax, Vermont, received awards.
Tanner McCallister ‘21, of Alderson, West Virginia, was named Outstanding Student in Communication while the Leadership in the Communication Department Award went to Charlie Fox ‘21, of Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Computer Science Outstanding Senior Holly Miller ‘21, of Ripley, West Virginia, and Criminal Justice Outstanding Criminal Justice Senior Tera Adkins ‘21, of Coal City, West Virginia, were recognized in their respective departments.
Dance and Theatre Awards were given to Jakob Spruce ‘22, of Charleston, West Virginia (Larry Reed Technical Theatre Award), Haylee Shires ‘21, of Alderson, West Virginia (Outstanding Dance Senior) and Pippa McGinley ‘22, of Morgantown, West Virginia (Outstanding Theatre Student).
Under Education, Outstanding Academic Achievement Awards were announced for freshman Hanna Davis ‘24, of Elkins, West Virginia, sophomore Abby Wetzel ‘23, of Clarksburg, West Virginia, junior Kelly Houghton ‘22, of Sutton, West Virginia, and seniors Madison Moats ‘21, of Philippi, West Virginia, and Joe Jerden ‘21, of Jane Lew, West Virginia. Jessica Parker ‘21, of Baker, West Virginia, received the Dr. Ruth Mansberger Shearer Education Award and Kelly Houghton ‘22, of Sutton, also received the Dorie McHugh O’Brien ’64 Award. Joseph Jerden ‘21, of Jane Lew, and Jessica Parker ‘21, of Baker, West Virginia, were named Outstanding Seniors in English.
For the School of Exercise Science and Athletic Training, Hunter Coates ‘21, of Kearneysville, West Virginia, Jessica Klinzing ‘21, of Fombell, Pennsylvania, and Jacob Hanshaw ‘21, of Eleanor, West Virginia earned the Outstanding Senior in Athletic Training Awards, Brine Murray ‘21, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, received the Leadership in Athletic Training Award, Mary Carson ‘23, of Buckhannon, West Virginia was named a Young Professional in Athletic Training and Olivia Simmons ‘21, of Gainesville, Virginia, was given the Delta Psi Kappa/David E. Reemsnyder Award. Summer Matlack ‘21, of Arlington, Virginia, received the Developing Clinician in Exercise Science Award.
Gavin Wilson ‘21, of Webster Springs, West Virginia, received the Outstanding Senior Major for History and Hannah Benson ‘21, of Wheeling, West Virginia, was named Outstanding Senior in International Studies.
Brittani Greene ‘21, of Hurricane, West Virginia, and Angel (Siara) Dorsey ‘21, of Charleston, West Virginia, and Brittany Stawovy ‘21, of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, were named the Outstanding Honors Students.
Mari-Jane “Gracie” McLeod ‘22, of Ridgeley, West Virginia, Ashlyn Ray ‘22, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Kay Lange ‘21, of Hanover, Germany, received Outstanding Academic Leadership Awards.
Elizabeth Harvey ‘23, of Cross Lanes, West Virginia; Justin Knotts ‘22, of Morgantown, West Virginia, Rebecca Osborne ‘22, of Hurricane, West Virginia, and Eric Roy ‘22, of French Creek, West Virginia, earned the Hallam Mathematics Awards.
Kennedy Cowart ‘21, of Houston, Texas, received the Outstanding Senior in Music award.
The School of Nursing honored Savanna Bostic ‘21, of Renick, West Virginia; Alyssa Christiansen ‘21, of Daniels, West Virginia; and Siobhan Settle ‘21, of Dunbar, West Virginia as Outstanding Seniors in Nursing, Owen Lindsay ‘22, of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica; Joseph Kelsh ‘22, of Charleston, West Virginia, and Katherine Kell ‘21, of Follansbee, West Virginia, as Outstanding Juniors in Nursing; Sky Pulliam ‘23, of Round Rock, Texas, Mariah O’Hara ‘23, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, and Emily Wilcox, ‘23, of Parkersburg, as Outstanding Sophomores in Nursing.
Sarah Wilmoth ‘21, of Fairmont, West Virginia, was named Outstanding Religious Studies Senior.
The Physics and Engineering honored Brycen Pearl ‘22, of Boonsboro, Maryland, Arthur Assfeld ‘21, of Toul, France, Justin Knotts ‘22, of Morgantown, West Virginia, Carlos Dodero Fernandez ‘21, of Madrid, Spain, and Michael Marion ‘22, of Weston, West Virginia with Outstanding Bachelor of Science in Physics Awards; Madisyn Fox ‘23, of Caldwell, West Virginia; Garrett Hobson ‘22, of Martinsburg, West Virginia; Allyson Moore ‘24, of Catlettsburg, Kentucky; Logan Proud ‘24, of Keyser, West Virginia; and Oliver French, ‘23, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, with Outstanding Bachelor of Arts in Physics, Baylee Senator ‘22, of Chapmanville, West Virginia; Noah Osborne ‘22, of Martinsburg, West Virginia; Abigail O’Shields ‘23, of Dagsboro, Delaware; Richard Calo ‘21, of Martinsburg, West Virginia; and Anthony McIntosh ‘23, of Charleston, West Virginia, as Outstanding Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics students. Additionally, Ahmed AbdelSalam ‘24, of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Jackson Igo ‘23, of Cross Lanes, West Virginia, Ethan Cutright ‘24, of French Creek, West Virginia; Rebekah Sikora ‘23, of Morgantown, West Virginia, and Payton Hefner ‘23, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, were named Outstanding Bachelor of Arts in Physics-Engineering Dual Degree winners.
Caitlin Cottrell ‘20, of Elizabeth, and Jackie Peate ‘21, of Tampa, Florida, received the Outstanding Senior in Political Science Awards.
Jaelyn Moore ‘21, of Shady Spring, West Virginia, and Dylan King ‘21, of Jane Lew, West Virginia, were named Outstanding Seniors in Psychology. The John Warner Sociology Award was given to Kaley Williams ‘21, of Cowen, West Virginia, Nathan White ‘22, of Camden, West Virginia, received the Vijaya Rao Global Awareness Award and Katelyn Garrison ‘21, of Cumberland, Maryland, was named the Outstanding Senior in Sociology Award.
Wesleyan Spirit Awards went to freshmen Makenzie Yates ‘24, of Hedgesville, West Virginia; and Roman Moore ‘24, of Elkview, West Virginia, sophomores Kristen Crowder ‘23, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, and Khalil Smith ‘23, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, juniors Faith Hammerberk ‘22, of Stokesdale, North Carolina, and Trey Milam ‘22, of Summersville, West Virginia, and seniors Lauren Bolen ‘21, of St. Johns, Florida, and Kobe Vinegar, ‘21, of Trotwood, Ohio.
Eighteen students were awarded the Senior Academic and Leadership Awards: Hannah Benson ‘21, of Wheeling, West Virginia, Richard Calo ‘21, of Martinsburg, West Virginia, Alyssa Christianson ‘21, of Daniels, West Virginia; Samuel Chase Dotson ‘21, of Newark, Ohio, Kayla Fay ‘21, of Howell, New Jersey, Brittani Greene ‘21, of Hurricane, West Virginia, Lauren Leaman ‘21, of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Owen Lindsay ‘21, of St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, Jaimee Martin ‘20, of Wheeling, West Virginia, Summer Matlack ‘21, of Arlington, Virginia, Holly Miller ‘21, of Ripley, West Virginia, Jaelyn Moore ‘21, of Shady Spring, West Virginia, Maranda Peggs ‘21, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, Madison Robinson ‘21, of Buckhannon, West Virginia, Meema Saadevandi ‘21, of Vienna, West Virginia, Emily Shaw ‘21, of Fairmont, West Virginia, Brittany Stawovy ‘21, of Belle Vernon, Pennsylvania, and Mattthew Vicini ‘21, of Kenna, West Virginia.
The following were named Outstanding Seniors: Nathaniel Chalmers ‘21, of Newark, Delaware; Caitlin Cottrell ‘20, of Elizabeth, West Virginia; Hannah Dunn ‘21, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, Trisayna Mitchell ‘21, of St. Catherine, Jamaica, Beverly Toothman ‘21, of Nutter Fort, West Virginia, Sarah Wilmoth ‘21, of Fairmont, West Virginia and Gavin Wilson, ‘21 of Webster Springs, West Virginia.
Dean of Students and Director of Campus Life Alisa Lively was honored as Staff Member of the Year and Dr. Tamara Bailey, assistant professor of history and head of the study abroad program, was named Faculty Member of the Year by the Student Senate.
