USAO’s 2024 Minerva Awards highlight student achievement
The University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma celebrated the achievements and dedicated service of students during the annual Minerva Awards ceremony.
“At the conclusion of every school year, it is so important to celebrate the accomplishments of our student body,” said Dawn Brockman, dean of students. “This year also marked the conclusion of Dr. John Feaver’s tenure as president and it was fitting that our Alumni Association honored his years of service to USAO and the broader community with a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award.”
The Minerva Awards recognize outstanding students at USAO. Students are honored for excellence in academics, leadership, community service, campus involvement, diversity and many other areas. In addition to individual awards, the ceremony recognizes honor society members and seniors graduating with honors.
The following students were the recipients of the 2024 Minerva Awards.
The Derald Swineford Art Award, funded by the Swineford family, is named for Derald Swineford, who was an integral part of the university’s art department across four decades and two name changes. The award is the highest award bestowed on a junior or senior art major.
Derald Swineford Art Award
Addison Courtney
Leadership Awards honor outstanding students who have shown leadership qualities during their time at USAO. A Leadership Award recipient has demonstrated the willingness and ability to involve others and hold leadership roles on campus.
Freshman Leadership Award
Sierra Frailey
Hayla Wilson
Sophomore Leadership Award
Thomas Buchanan
Ryan Moses
Junior Leadership Award
Trinity Albao-Cozad
Harry Cracknell
Senior Leadership Award
Amanda Hibdon
Emily Loughridge
The Kaleidoscope Award recognizes a student that is simply out of the box in how they think, educate, solve problems and/or improve the USAO community in a significant way. To be considered, the student must be innovative, creative, unique and demonstrate resourcefulness. The student may solve a problem or address an issue in a way that exemplifies not only excellence, but also the values of the university.
Kaleidoscope Award
Mason Alldredge
Gabi Guyse
The Green and Gold Award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated extraordinary support for the campus community, embodying the Drover spirit through participation and achievement. These students contribute their time and energy to support their fellow students on and off campus at all types of events, including academic, arts, athletic and social.
Green & Gold Award
Bella Wilson
Jaden Johnston
The Drover Difference Maker Award honors students who have demonstrated initiative and exceptional commitment to service at USAO as well as in the community. This award is intended to recognize students who have dedicated their time and efforts to promote service to others, community awareness, involvement, and civic engagement on campus and in the community.
Drover Difference Maker
Dylan Guillen
Maddyson McMorris
Few Oklahomans have garnered as much attention around the world as Native American storyteller Te Ata, recognized for a lifetime of achievement in the arts by governors, presidents, kings and her alma mater, the Oklahoma College for Women. The Te Ata Creative Expression Award honors a USAO student who has best distinguished themself in the arts. This student must have produced substantial creative work in music, art, drama or creative writing. Preference is given to students who have publicly performed, exhibited or published their work.
Te Ata Creative Expression Award
Alexys Thompson
The George Austin Award for Campus Leadership is given to a junior or senior who has been on the forefront of campus life, including taking leadership roles in activities such as serving as an officer in student groups, organizing service projects, leading programs and helping build the leadership skills of other students at USAO.
George Austin Award for Campus Leadership
Savannah Alldredge
View the full photo album of the 2024 Minerva Awards at usao.edu/minerva
About the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma
As Oklahoma’s liberal arts college, the University of Science & Arts of Oklahoma provides a distinctive education in the liberal arts and sciences, supporting both its interdisciplinary core curriculum and major fields of study with superior teaching. USAO fosters diversity of thought and practice to help students realize meaningful, purposeful and productive lives as global citizens in a rapidly-changing world.