Scholarship, Leadership Recognized at 2009 UA Honors Day

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama honored its top students of 2008-2009 for their academic achievement and leadership Friday, April 10, during the Tappings and Awards Ceremony, the highlight of UA’s annual Honors Week, April 6-10.

Outstanding Student Awards for each class were presented to:

Outstanding Freshman – Alan Blinder of Norcross, Ga.

Outstanding Sophomore – Brad Lee of Wilsonville

Outstanding Junior – Laura Dover of Jasper

Outstanding Senior – Daniel Sullivan of Millry

Outstanding Transfer Students – Laura Leigh Meherg and Katie Marie Sandlin, both from Tuscaloosa

Outstanding Graduate Student – Michelle Senter Harcrow of Tuscaloosa

Recipients of UA’s 2009 Premier Awards were recognized. These top awards, given by the UA president, include the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, the William P. Bloom Scholarship Award, the John Fraser Ramsey Award, the Morris Lehman Mayer Award and the Dr. Catherine J. Randall Award.

This year’s Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award was presented to one man and one woman of the graduating class. The Sullivan Award recognizes excellence of character and service to humanity. Winners of this year’s Sullivan Award are Alex Flachsbart of Concord, Calif., and Caroline Ann Ball of Glenview, Ill.

The William P. Bloom Scholarship Award honors a junior who has improved intergroup relations within the University community; this year’s winner is William C. Thomas of Madison, a student majoring in finance.

The John Fraser Ramsey Award, named in honor of the late University history professor emeritus, recognizes in a junior the versatility of gifts and attainments, as well as the breadth of excellence in mind and character, that have traditionally been the goals of a liberal education. The recipient of the Ramsey Award is Dana Lewis of Huntsville, a public relations and political science double major.

The Morris Lehman Mayer Award is named in honor of the late Morris Lehman Mayer, a beloved UA teacher and a guiding force in student life. The award recognizes a member of the graduating class who exemplifies integrity, selfless service and leadership at UA and in the community while making significant contributions to student life. Emerald Greywoode of Montgomery is the recipient of the Mayer Award.

The Dr. Catherine J. Randall Award, named for the former director of UA’s innovative Computer-Based Honors Program, is given to a graduating senior. The Randall Award recognizes the most outstanding student scholar at UA, based on GPA, rigor of course study and extraordinary scholarly or creative endeavor. Laura Godorecci of Northport, a student in New College, is this year’s recipient of the Randall Award.
The Frances S. Summersell Award, sponsored by UA’s Iota Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, was given to Sen. Richard C. and Dr. Annette N. Shelby. Established in 1992, this award recognizes an individual or individuals who have aided the educational mission of the University and improved the quality of life in the state. UA Athletics Director Mal Moore was named recipient of the 2008-2009 ODK Living Legend Award in recognition of his contributions to the goals and ideals of higher education.

The Walter R. Guyton Student Service Award was presented to Dr. Jacqueline V. Morgan, director of the University Honors Program. The Guyton Award recognizes outstanding commitment to the service of UA students.

The University’s Amanda Grace Taylor Watson Distinctive Image Award, given by the UA Capstone Men and Women organization, was presented to Mary Spiegel, executive director of undergraduate admissions at UA.  The award, named in memory of former Capstone Woman Amanda Grace Taylor Watson, is given to persons who exemplify the essence of the University in all aspects of life.

The National Alumni Association recognizes and honors one male and one female in the senior class to receive the Alumni Student Award. The recipients of the 2009 Alumni Student Award are Sara Kristen McDonald of Birmingham and Alex Flachsbart of Concord, Calif.

UA Black Scholar Awards recognizing high academic achievement included:

The Sandral Hullett Award was presented to freshmen Camilla Armstead, Kassondra Bryant-Collins, Chelsea Chatman, Samaletta Collins, Sherell Denise Harrison, Kierra Stevenson, Kelvin Williams and Whitley Wilson.

The Earnestine Tucker Award was presented to sophomores David Fernandez, Patrick Louis, Victor Luckerson and Desiree Mahr.

The Archie Wade Award was presented to juniors Angel Everett, Jessica Hatcher, Adrienne Haywood, Elyse Love, Okechukwu Mgbemena and Brandi Powe.

The Cleophus Thomas Award was presented to seniors Tiffany Blevins, Iesha Ellerbe, Nylyn Oubre and Alicia Sharper.

Okechukwu Mgbemena was recognized as the recipient of the Vivian Malone Jones Endowed Scholarship, and Teresa Snowden was recognized as recipient of the Autherine Lucy Foster Endowed Scholarship.

UA students were also inducted into these campuswide honoraries:

Omicron Delta Kappa — The purpose of ODK is to recognize students who have attained high standards in collegiate activities, to inspire others to strive for similar attainments and to bring together students in all areas of college life: scholarship; athletics; campus or community service; social and religious activities; campus government; journalism, speech and mass media; and, creative and performing arts.

ODK inductees include: Ted Achorn, Jessica Autrey, Margaret Bailey, John Berney, Tom Berryman, Nicholas Blanchard, Terry Brumback, Jake Burchfield, Stephanie Casto, Joshua Cirulnick, Mary Allison Crawford, Caroline Crow, Mitchell De Anda, Michael Dodson, Catherine Emens, William Evans, Sarah Gieger, Shannon Gilligan, Melanie Goodsell, Lindsay Gower, Meggan Graham, Margaret Greer, John Hagood, Jennifer Hallock, Heather Hannah, Sarah Beth Henson, Daniel Hinton, Megan Honeycutt, Mary Cypress Howell, Kathryn Hyde, Calli Johnson, Meredith Julian, Sarah Kimrey, Bethany Knowles, Whitney Kupferer, Brittany Magee, Addie Mancuso, Steven Marlowe, Margaret McNeill, Molly McPherson, Sarah Minkel, Katy Montalto, Wyatt Montgomery, Steven Oliver, Ashley O’Neal, Jacquelynn Parks, Anna Pendleton, Laura Peters, Gregory Poole, Kassi Price, Nichole Ramirez, Lesley Reynolds, Joshua Richey, David Roebuck, Ashley Ross, Emily Ross, Ian Sams, Sara Sanderson, Katie Sandlin, Mallory Scogin, William Schildknecht, Brian Selman, Joseph Siegelman, Miland Simpler, Erin Sims, Kate Sparks, Brittany Stephenson, Catherine Stokes, Stacey Summerville, Phillips Thomas, Cooper Trent, Ruth Tucker, William Vandervoort, Chris Vinson, Robert Walston, Frances Watts, Matthew Williams, James Wills, Elizabeth Yarbrough and Sarah Young. Faculty/Staff inductees include: Dr. John Beeler, Dr. Charles Karr, Dr. Tan-Yu Lee, Dr. Utz McKnight and Coach Mal Moore.

Blue Key Honor Fraternity — Blue Key was one of the first honor societies at the University. Blue Key members are selected during the spring semester of the junior year and must represent high scholastic ideals, leadership and diversity of background. Selection is one of the highest honors bestowed on rising seniors.

New Blue Key members include: Diana Andrews, Robert “Tyler” Argent, Tom Berryman, Wilson Boardman, Jessica Boyd, Mary Kathryn Brock, Stephanie Casto, Mary Allison Crawford, Caroline Crow, Mitchell De Anda, Laura Dover, Catherine Emens, Britton Farrell, Sarah Gieger, Susan Gorin, Heather Hannah, Sarah Beth Henson, Elizabeth Jones, Benjamin Kallam, Sarah Kelly, Kendra Key, Whitney Kupferer, Barrett Lyle, Greg McElroy, Katy Montalto, Whitney Montgomery, Milton Nettles, Jacquelynn Parks, Anna Pendleton, Kassi Price, Sarah Ragusa, Ashley Ross, Kathryn Schieffer, Joseph Siegelman, Erin Sims, Carter Slappey, Kate Sparks, Brittany Stephenson, Jessica Triplett, William Vandervoort, Margaret Vickers, Robert Walston, Matthew Williams and Alicia Wright.

Anderson Society — Anderson Society is a senior honorary comprised of 24 members who are chosen in recognition of their significant contributions to the University. The society seeks to promote high academic standards as well as excellence in student leadership and service.

Anderson Society inductees include: Tom Berryman, Marcus Bishop, Wilson Boardman, Mary Kathryn Brock, Aubrey Coleman, Laura Dover, Britton Farrell, Amy Frees, Shannon Gilligan, Heather Hannah, Sarah Beth Henson, Elizabeth Jones, Sarah Kelly, Kendra Key, Bethany Knowles, Dana Lewis, Matthew May, Molly McPherson, Milton Nettles, Jacquelynn Parks, Anna Pendleton, Sarah Ragusa, Alise Randolph, David Roebuck, Kathryn Schieffer, Mallory Scogin, Phillips Thomas, William Thomas and Sarah Young. Faculty/Staff inductees include Star Bloom and Dr. David Lanoue.

Mortar Board — Election to Mortar Board, a national honor society for men and women, is based on leadership, scholarship and service. It is one of the highest honors that can be granted to seniors. Members must display outstanding dedication to service and leadership.

Mortar Board inductees include: Robert Argent, Hailey Beeman, John Berney, Wilson Boardman, Samuel Bone, Kristin Boyle, Mary Allison Crawford, Emily Crow, Caroline Crow, Michael Dodson, Laura Dover, Catherine Emens, William Evans, Britton Farrell, Brandi Freeman, Amy Frees, Sarah Gieger, Melanie Goodsell, Laura E. Goodwin, Margaret Greer, Heather Hannah, Sarah Beth Henson, Joseph Holland, Mary Cypress Howell, Elizabeth Jones, Benjamin Kallam, Sarah Kelly, Kendra Key, Hannah Lanford, Kelly Lovell, Addie Mancuso, Daniel Marbury, Matthew May, Katy Montalto, Whitney Montgomery, Veronica Nowicki, Jacquelynn Parks, Anna Pendleton, Rachel Phillips, Kassi Price, Ashley Ross, Sara Sanderson, Kathryn Schieffer, Joseph Siegelman, Catherine Simon, Erin Sims, Carter Slappey, Kate Sparks, Brittany Stephenson, Gregory Stewart, William Vandervoort, Chris Vinson, Robert Walston, Frances Watts, Bryan Webb, Alicia Wright and James Young. Faculty/Staff inductees include: Dr. Mark Nelson and Sandee Kirby Witt.