USAO Minerva Awards highlight student achievement
Published:
April-16-2012
Photo Cutline:
A total of 30 seniors graduating with honors were recognized during the 2011-12 Minerva Awards held on April 11 at USAO . They are (from left, front row) Nicole Duncan, Genevieve Cagaoan, Roberta Lake, Leslie Bross, Lexxa Kever (from left, back row), Taylor Peterson, Bled Nguessan, Autumn Fosburg, Alyssa Roeske, Niall Crick and Gabrielle Barros. Not pictured are Christopher Bennett, Cody Bogle, Melanie Clason, Meghan Duggins, Jeffrey Eike, John Gardner, Allison Gordon, Jessica Gray, Jennifer Griswold, Lauren Halleran, Norma Jones, Christopher Kiefer, Rebekah Kiefer, Gennifer Majors, Alyssa Pence, Meghan Scott and Shaylea Shebester. The Minerva Awards provides public recognition for outstanding students at USAO.
Students at the University of Science and Arts were honored for a variety of achievements during the sixth annual Minerva Awards Ceremony at the USAO Ballroom April 11.
The Minerva Awards provide public recognition for outstanding students at USAO. Students are honored for excellence in academics, community service, athletics, campus involvement and other areas.
In addition to individual honors, the ceremony recognizes honor society members, recipients of Who's Who, seniors graduating with honors, Presidential Leadership Council and Student Government members.
Six graduating seniors were recognized by the college’s four academic divisions as Distinguished Graduates for spring 2012.
Drama major Jessica Gray from Walters received distinction from the Division of Arts and Humanities. Gennifer Majors, a physics major from Morrilton, Ark. was named the outstanding graduate for the Division of Business and Social Science. Gabrielle Barros, a elementary education major from Moore, and Meghan Duggins, a deaf education major from Kansas City, Mo., were distinguished by the Division of Education and Speech Language Pathology. Jeffrey Eike, a Blanchard resident with double majors in music and computer science from Ames, and Shaylea Shebester, a biology major from Pauls Valley, were named the outstanding graduates for the Division of Science and Physical Education.
Ten students received the NAIA Scholar Athlete Award. Honorees included Gabrielle Barros, Leslie Bross, Erin Coggan, Niall Crick, John Gardner, Lexxa Kever, Caleb Martin, Ashley Sanders, Tyrone Tarbitt and Christina Wilson. Barros, Bross and Crick were additionally recognized for being named Academic All-District.
The annual Bill & Pat Smith Scholar-Athlete Award was presented to Crick and Annie Zoch.
The George Austin Award for Campus Leadership was presented to Matthew Watson of Tuttle. Anadarko resident Lori Spray received the Te Ata Award for Creative Expression.
The Emerging Leaders Award went to Chris Collins of Hugo, Sara Gibbs of Claremore, Kelsea Malette of Spencer, Paige Pulliam of Newcastle and Kylee Taylor of Tulsa. Molly Tracy, Matthew Watson and Dexter Nelson were presented with the Evolving Leaders award.
Heather Heck, a sophomore art major from Tulsa, was honored with the Commitment to Diversity Award.
Works of Distinction Awards went to senior business major, Autumn Fosburg and Jeff Eike.
The Drover Pride Award was presented to Kayla Hurd. Colleges Against Cancer was named the Outstanding Student Organization of the Year and Jillian Caldwell, USAO admissions counselor, was given the award for Outstanding Student Advisor of the Year for her work with the USAO Ambassadors.
Dr. Brenda Brown, professor of English, presented the Stuart Meltzer English Scholarship to Christopher Bennett. Wendy Chambers received the Derald Swineford Art Scholarship from Jacquelyn Knapp, associate professor of art. Gennifer Majors was also presented with the Gladys Emerson award for Undergraduate Research.
Five students received graduation cords for their involvement in the President’s Leadership Council. They include Robert Heidlage of Claremore, Chelsea LaGace of Wayne, Gabrielle Barros, Kyle Daily of Noble and Brooke Stephenson of Anadarko.
Heidlage, along with Jeff Eike, received a special graduation cords for their roles in the Student Government Association.
Two students were honored as Student Government Senators of the Year, Matthew Watson and Dexter Nelson.
Twenty-nine students across multiple studies and classifications were recognized for their inclusion in Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities:
Altus — Genevieve Cagaoan
Anadarko — Brooke Stephenson
Ardmore— Keith Townley
Blanchard— Kale Barnett, Emily Yeo
Chickasha — Sara Cox, Nicole Duncan
Claremore — Robert Heidlage
Del City — April Lawrence
Edmond — Emily Kirk
Locust Grove — Emily Potter
Manitou — Elizabeth Stevens
Moore — Kerye Hartzell, Taylor Peterson
Mustang — Sara Rowe
Noble — Kyle Daily
Oklahoma City — Kathryn Daniels, Shane Hagan
Piedmont — Ashley Paxton
Tulsa — Lindsey Cathey, Kassie Jones
Tuttle — Norma Jones, Matthew Watson
Walters — Tashina Ototivo
Out of State
Gridley, Calif. — David Forsythe
Albqerque, N.M. — David Garcia
Middletown, R.I. — Molly Tracy
Collierville, Tenn. — Matthew Crow
Out of Country
Pretoria, South Africa — Tyrone Tarbitt
