51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ

51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Celebrates Academic Excellence

The week of April 22-26 was Academic Excellence Week at WBU, a week dedicated to highlighting the unique academic disciplines and scholarly achievements within each of 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s eight Academic schools and the members of 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s Honors Program and Honor Societies. An event that has been taking place every April since 2016, Academic Excellence Week honors the “best-of-the-best” student scholars for their persistence in academic achievement, scholarly research, and artistic performance.

The idea was introduced when 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ’s current president, Dr. Bobby Hall, who at the time served as Provost and Executive Vice President, proposed the idea of celebrating a school champion in each of the school’s academic units, where each champion student would present at one of three chapels in the spring term. Though a school champion is still named for each academic school each spring, academic schools now host one or two events each that highlight academic excellence in their specific area.

“Acknowledging and promoting students for their intellectual and artistic gifts and abilities,” said Vice President of Academic Affairs at WBU, Dr. Cindy McClenagan, “sets them up to be successful adults and good citizens who support the growth and continued development of their communities, and our world.”

Monday was dedicated to the School of Behavioral and Social Sciences, who hosted an event called ‘Celebrating Society.’ Tuesday recognized the School of Languages and Literature and the School of Creative Arts. These schools’ events consisted of a Writer’s Symposium at Plainview LimeLite and the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Spring Choral Concert. The School of Business was highlighted on Wednesday through the Business Champion Presentation, the Awards Chapel, and the Business Honor Students and Graduate Reception.

The School of Education and the School of Nursing were featured on Thursday. Their festivities included the 4th Annual Don A. Williams School of Education Summit: Emerging Technology in Education and Exercise Sport Science, Nursing: Academic Excellence Assembly and Awards Ceremony, and Celebration of Excellence: WBU Honor Society Induction Ceremony for all schools and disciplines. Finally, Friday was dedicated to the Honors Program and the School of Mathematics and Sciences. This day included the Honors Program luncheon, the dedication of Dr. Kenneth Mattox display case, Mathematics and Sciences: Undergraduate Research Day, and Mathematics and Sciences: Awards and Ticketed Dinner.

“When a university ceases to have students who can demonstrate academic excellence in their discipline,” said Dr. McClenagan, “the institution ceases to be a true university.”

Academic award recipients and champions of each academic school are listed below:

School of Behavioral and Social Sciences

History Award: Ethan Byers

History Education (7-12) Award: Maison Dickinson

Political Science Award: David Snellgrove

Psychology Award: Marchelle Bowden

Sociology Award: Aubrey Jaramillo

Criminal Justice Award: Isaiah Edgerton

School of Business

Accounting Award: Hans Doughtie

Business Administration Award: Michael Zaccardo

Cyber Security Award: Dylan McDougal

Digital Marketing Award: Tyler Hartgrove

Economics Award: Jamol Williams

Finance Award: Rennen Sousa

Health Care Administration Award: Megan Nestor

Management Award: Conner Dipprey

Marketing Award: Daniel Ruiz Vallejo

Sports Management Award: Edgar Bermudez

School of Education

Elementary Education Award: Alexis Shedd

Middle School Education Award: Ryan Wood

Secondary Education Award: Dylan Jerden

All-Level Education Award: Perla Trujillo

Allied Health Award: Maria Ghaleb

Exercise and Sports Science Award: Adrian Massimo C. Coppolecchia

School of Creative Arts

School Champion: Cooper Trollinger

Media Award: Devin Acosta

Art Award: Zeah Clark

Graphic Design Award: Alli Ferguson

Communications Award: Joshua Tucker

Vocal Performance Award: Cooper Trollinger

Choral Music Education Award: Cooper Trollinger

Musicological Studies Award: Rosa Ramirez

School of Languages and Literature

Spanish Award: Jesus Soto

Humanities Award: Lillian Jolly

English Award: Madison Casanova

School of Mathematics and Sciences

Biology Award: Celeste Lozano

Chemistry Award: Elizabeth Wirth

Mathematics Award: Ben Lubker

Molecular Biology Award: Luke Brockway

Environmental Science Award: Francisca Maria Castello Gonzalez

Computer Science Award: Manu Donmeza

J.H. 51³Ô¹ÏÍøÊÓƵ Medical Award: Luke Brockway

School of Christian Studies

Amelia Bishop Women’s Ministerial Award: Raylee Parker

Arthur E. Boyd Award: Marco Arturo Flores

Timothy Award: Christopher Chadwick

Pioneer Scholars

Ethan Byers

Hector Hernandez

Isaiah Edgerton

Kaitlyn Jerden

William Bundy

Spinning Wheel Awards

Brooklyn Araujo

Christian Ortega

Devin Acosta

Elizabeth Wirth

Emily Sigala

Hope Castillo

Joshua Tucker

Luke Brockway

Maria Ghaleb

Matthew Alarcon

Ryan Wood

Outstanding Freshman Awards

Freshman Woman of the Year: Gabriella Chapa

Freshman Man of the Year: Cyrus Mejia

Citizenship Awards

Female Citizenship Award: Elizabeth Wirth

Male Citizenship Award: Christian Ortega