Averett University recognized more than 30 students at its annual Honors Recognition Program on Tuesday, April 11. Honorees and their guests, along with faculty and staff, filled the University’s Pritchett Auditorium in the Violet T. Frith Fine Arts Center to celebrate outstanding accomplishments of students from the 2022-2023 academic year.
Averett President Dr. Tiffany M. Franks welcomed attendees and opened the program with her thoughts and congratulations on the academic achievements by the honored students.
“When we walk away at the conclusion of this ceremony, we will have celebrated the very best of what Averett does. We will have celebrated each of you – your achievements, your dedication, your flexibility, your resourcefulness and your resilience,” said Franks.
Students who made the President’s List and Dean’s List stood in recognition. The first group of students recognized were on the Dean’s List with a grade point average of 3.4 or above. The second group of students achieved a GPA of 4.0 and were on the President’s List. Certificates were presented to the students for both lists, in addition to standing to be recognized.
Department and program awards were then presented to students who earned them. Those students and their awards are in alphabetical order by last name:
Toni Barlund – Norma Roady Physical Education, Wellness and Sports Science Award
Jan Philipp Bohnenkamp – Student Success Academic Leadership Award
Rebecca Booth – Outstanding Student in Sociology Award
Abigail Briscoe – Highest Sophomore Grade Point Average in Nursing Award
Rebekah Chase – Alexander and Violet Allen Choral Award
Brian Daniels – Theatre Department Outstanding Student of the Year Award
Curtis Darnell – Outstanding Student in Criminal Justice Award
Morgan Dearing – Education Department Leadership Award
Baylee French – Outstanding Student in Education Award; Outstanding Student in English Award
Alejandra Garcia Lopez – Student Success Academic Leadership Award; Donald Ethington Outstanding Student in Mathematics
Savannah Harlow – Highest GPA in Education Award
Mary Hawkins – Religion honor society; Ember Award for Written Arts (Honorable Mention)
Jonathan Hollis – Ember Award for Written Arts (Honorable Mention)
Saige Johnson – Highest Junior Grade Point Average in Nursing Award
Katri Kakko – Norma Roady Physical Education, Wellness and Sports Science Award
Alyssa McDaniel – Russell C. Brachman Biology Award
Trinity Malone – Outstanding Student in African American Studies Minor Award
Sarah Marlowe – Outstanding Student in Business Administration Award
Anne Morgan – Outstanding Equestrian Studies Award
Colby Morris – Outstanding Student in History & Political Science Award
Rebecca Nelson – Equestrian Studies Academic Honors Award
Gabriella Nunley – Theatre Department Outstanding Student of the Year Award; Ember Award for Written Arts (1st place)
Salla Raatikainen – Ember Award for Visual Arts (1st place)
Kaitlyn Ritchie – Virginia Scholar Award
George Roos – Nursing Faculty Award
Rebekah Sabin – Outstanding Student in Computer Science Award
Brenda LaFlamme Taylor – Ember Award for Visual Arts (Honorable Mention)
Abraham Timm – Ember Award for Visual Arts (Honorable Mention)
Caitlin Towler – David Hoffman Interdisciplinary Honors Award; Outstanding Communication Student Award
Jordan Turner – Nursing Leadership Award
Haley Whitlow – Highest Senior Grade Point Average in Nursing Award
Sebastian Widen – Outstanding Student in Sociology Award
Noah Williams – Alexander and Violet Allen Choral Award
Caitlin Towler, a senior from Danville who graduated in May, was recognized for winning both the David Hoffman Interdisciplinary Honors Award and Outstanding Communication Student Award. She best summed up her Averett experience and what the last four years have meant to her.
“I’ve never been someone who does things halfway,” Towler said. “When I applied at Averett, I was determined to be the best that I could be. I immersed myself in the assignments, essays and projects and it all contributed to my success today.
“However, it was the experiences and people that truly enriched my time at Averett. Professors who felt more like family and classmates became close friends, this is what they really mean when they said that Averett is a family. These awards mean everything to me, not simply because they are from my hard work, but also because they are given by professors who have been with me every step of the way.”
The Averett Show Choir performed the “Alma Mater,” and representatives from the presenting academic departments read the names of their respective honorees.
Rev. Dr. Gary Tucker ’85, professor of mathematics, delivered the invocation and benediction, and Interim Vice President for Academic Affairs Virginia Henderson recognized the honorees. Individual academic departments nominated outstanding students from the year and some recognized the student with the highest grade-point average.
