Maryville College students receive 2022 Academic Awards
Scholarship and the ideals of the liberal arts were celebrated Saturday night, when 63 awards were presented to 69 students at Maryville College’s annual Academic Awards Ceremony.
“All of us at the College take great satisfaction in the accomplishments of these students as we recognize them for their special commitment to learning, their passion for understanding, their sensitivity to nuance, their appreciation for social and cultural diversity, and their willingness to use their growing wisdom for the common good,” said Dr. Daniel Klingensmith, vice president and dean of the College, who served as the evening’s emcee.
Held in person for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ceremony took place in the Ronald and Lynda Nutt Theatre of the Clayton Center for the Arts and was attended by numerous students, parents and family members. Macebearer Dr. Kristin Riggsbee, assistant professor of health and wellness promotion, led the procession of faculty members and administrators.
Below is a list of awards given and students recognized in all nine academic divisions, core curriculum and other departments. Additionally, the ceremony included recognition of eight honor societies, with 88 student members inducted this year.
CORE CURRICULUM
The Glenn Hewitt Award in Ethics is given to the student demonstrating the most outstanding work in Ethics 490. This year’s recipient is Angela Anderton, a senior sociology major from Knoxville, Tennessee.
For earning the highest grade-point average in all core courses taken at Maryville College, Chloe Hamlett, a senior writing communication major from Athens, Alabama, received the Liberal Arts Award.
BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES
The David H. Briggs Award recognizes the senior psychology major with the best academic performance in psychology as judged by classroom performance, overall scholarship and grade point average. This year, Autumn Carroll, a junior psychology major from Benton, Tennessee, was honored.
The Counseling Psychology Award, which acknowledges a senior psychology counseling major with the best academic performance in counseling as judged by classroom performance, overall scholarship and grade point average, went to Maddy Lindsay of Fairview, Tennessee.
Dayana Melgarejo of Knoxville, Tennessee, was presented the Developmental Psychology Award, which goes to a senior developmental psychology major who has achieved outstanding academic performance in the major and within their field.
The Irma Young Outstanding Senior Award in Interpreting, which is presented to the student who has shown exemplary potential for interpreting by performance and scholarship, went to Christina Shelton of Knoxville, an American Sign Language-English Interpreting major.
The American Sign Language (ASL) Outstanding Senior Award is awarded to a senior ASL major who has demonstrated high competence with ASL as indicated by ASL performance and scholarship. This year’s recipient is Linnea Liebert of Palm Harbor, Florida.
Molly Ann Puckett of Spring Hill, Tennessee, received the Lori A. Schmied Neuroscience Award, which acknowledges a senior neuroscience major with the best academic performance in neuroscience as judged by classroom performance, overall scholarship and grade point average.
Puckett was the first student to receive this award, named for Dr. Lori Schmied, who is retiring in May after 33 years on the faculty. Schmied has coordinated the neuroscience major since its inception 10 years ago.
EDUCATION
For exemplifying the knowledge, skills and contributions of a professional educator, Carlos Gonzalez, a senior math with teacher licensure major, received the Outstanding Preservice Teacher in the Secondary Grades Award.
FINE ARTS
The Clark Family Prize recognizes rising juniors or seniors in art who have demonstrated outstanding academic and artistic achievement. This year, the award went to two students: Emily Huffstetler, a sophomore writing communication, design and Spanish triple-major from Maryville, Tennessee, and Brianna White, a sophomore art major from Knoxville, Tennessee.
For outstanding achievement in art history, Heather Mead, a senior art major, was recognized with the Sarah Hardrath Kramer Art History Award.
The Outstanding Senior Design Student Award, which is awarded to the graduating senior design major who has demonstrated the most outstanding achievement in the major field, went to Rebecca Branton of Maryville, Tennessee.
The Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts scholarships are awarded annually to two junior or senior students majoring in art or design and cover tuition, room and board, and art supplies for a weeklong intensive workshop at that prestigious school in Gatlinburg. This year’s recipients are Kensley Chapman, a senior design major from Knoxville, Tennessee, and Nataly Bennett, a senior art major from Nashville, Tennessee.
Elisabeth Jackson, a music education (vocal) with teacher licensure and music education (instrumental) with teacher licensure double-major from Hendersonville, Tennessee, and Abigail Robertsen, a psychology and music double-major from Rogersville, Tennessee, received the Barraclough Choir Award, which is given to a senior who has been a Maryville College Choir member for at least two years, who is judged to have been outstanding in service to the choir, and who has been a successful student.
The Robert Bonham Music Faculty Award for Superior Performance, which is presented to a music student with a high standard of performance, went to Daniel Vilaire, a sophomore music major from Friendsville, Tennessee.
David Steele, a theatre studies and psychology double-major from Maryville, Tennessee, received the Bates Forensics Drama Award, which is awarded to the most outstanding senior in drama.
Connor Goins, a sophomore theatre studies major from Cleveland, Tennessee, received the Evelyn Seedorf Prize in Dramatic Arts, which goes annually to the most deserving student majoring in theatre.
Makayla Nance, a theatre studies and writing communication double-major from Clinton, Tennessee, took home the Outstanding Senior Theatre Student Award, which is presented to the graduating senior theatre major who has demonstrated the most outstanding achievement in the major field.
HEALTH SCIENCES & OUTDOOR STUDIES
Parker Owens, a health and wellness promotion major from Caryville, Tennessee, was awarded the Phi Epsilon Rho Scholarship Award. The award goes to a rising senior in Health Sciences & Outdoor Studies who has at least a 3.0 GPA and has exhibited leadership in campus and departmental activities and in professional organizations.
Davis Clothier, an exercise science major from Knoxville, Tennessee, received the Health Sciences & Outdoor Studies Outstanding Senior Award. This award recognizes a graduating senior in Health Sciences & Outdoor Studies who has at least a 3.5 GPA, serves as a role model in the classroom and community and is involved in professional organizations.
HUMANITIES
Jason Nix, a senior philosophy major from Memphis, Tennessee, received the T.T. Alexander Award, which is given to a student with the best paper on a subject from one of the following areas: the relationship of philosophical or theological inquiry to social issues; the application of such inquiry to social issues; the consequences of social, theological or philosophical problems on religious doctrine; the consequences of religious doctrine upon social, political or economic thinking or social science method; or the consequence of religious doctrine upon social, political or economic issues and conflicts.
The Verton M. Queener Award for History went to Scotty Leach, a history major from Loudon, Tennessee. The award recognizes outstanding study of American and English history by a junior.
Dani Abell, a senior history with teacher licensure major from Mokena, Illinois, received the Otto P. Pflanze Prize for Excellence in History.
Senior Katie Leming of Seymour, Tennessee, was the recipient of the Frank A. Kramer Student Award, which is given to a history major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, exceptional service to the college and significant involvement in extracurricular activities.
LANGUAGES & LITERATURE
For achieving the best four-year record in the study of English, Chloe Hamlett, a senior writing communications major from Athens, Alabama, was awarded the Alexander English Prize.
Emily Huffstetler, a sophomore writing communication, design and Spanish triple-major from Maryville, Tennessee, received the Charlotta Cook Hensley Memorial Award for outstanding academic achievement and significant involvement on the staff of The Highland Echo campus newspaper.
Literature in English major Madyson Fowlkes of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, received the division’s Edwin R. Hunter Award for Excellence in Research in English or American Literature, which goes annually to the senior judged to have produced the most outstanding Senior Study in English or American Literature.
The Ruth Lloyd Kramer Memorial Award is given to a junior English major who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement, exceptional service to the College and significant involvement in extracurricular activities. The 2022 recipient is Rebecca Raney of Knoxville, Tennessee, who is double-majoring in English for teacher licensure and writing communication.
The Outstanding Spanish Major Award recognizes the Spanish major who demonstrates the best academic performance judged by classroom performance, overall scholarship, study abroad experience and grade point average. The award went to Kiley Force, a sophomore Spanish and American Sign Language-English Interpreting double-major from Jacksonville, Illinois.
Lesly Fuentes,a junior psychology major from Knoxville, Tennessee, was the recipient of the Outstanding Spanish Minor Award. This award is given to the Spanish minor demonstrating the best academic performance judged by classroom performance, overall scholarship, study abroad experience, and grade point average.
Impressions, MC’s campus literary magazine, presented awards to magazine contributors. The award for best art or photography went to Emma Haines, a first-year student from Oak Ridge, Tennessee; the award for best poetry went to Lauren Gaines, a sophomore writing communication and design double-major from Knoxville, Tennessee; and the award for best prose went to sophomore Alese Hudgins, an American Sign Language and Deaf Studies major.
Seven students were recognized for outstanding achievement in foreign language study.
Nélida Djassi, a sophomore international studies major from Praia, Cape Verde, was honored for outstanding achievement in French.
The award for outstanding achievement in Italian went to Grace Brandl, a sophomore music major from Cordova, Tennessee.
Recognition for outstanding achievement in Latin went to Meghan Kimbirl, a first-year psychology and exercise science double-major from Belmont, North Carolina.
Lillian Bryan, a first-year English and writing communication double-major from Knoxville, Tennessee, and Matthew Gaston, a first-year mathematics and history double-major from Lenoir City, Tennessee, were both recognized for outstanding achievement in German.
The award for outstanding achievement in Japanese went to Paige Jones, a first-year international business major from Louisville, Tennessee.
Brianna White, a sophomore art major from Knoxville, Tennessee,was recognized for outstanding achievement in Spanish.
MATHEMATICS & COMPUTER SCIENCE
Jonathan Meystrik, a senior math and computer science double-major from Knoxville, Tennessee, was the recipient of the Russell N. and Frances Lane Edwards and Troy Bell Lane Waggoner Award. The award is presented to the most outstanding junior or senior in the Division of Mathematics and Computer Science.
Meystrik also was presented with the Jerry L. Pietenpol Computer Science Award, which recognizes the most outstanding and most promising junior or senior student majoring in computer science.
The George A. Knapp Mathematics Award, which goes to the most outstanding and most promising junior or senior student majoring in mathematics, went to Lainey Hudolin, a junior mathematics major from Maryville, Tennessee.
The West Chevrolet Academic Award recognizes a student who scores in a top 10 on the mathematics competition conducted by Maryville College’s Division of Mathematics & Computer Science or to an outstanding first-year or sophomore from Blount, Loudon or Sevier County majoring in the division. Three students were recognized: Gabe Hatcher, a first-year music major from Seymour, Tennessee; Zach Hollman, a first-year business analytics major from Walland, Tennessee; and Will Stallions, a junior engineering major from Townsend, Tennessee.
Stallions also was presented the William H. Dent Calculus Award for having the most outstanding performance in calculus.
Two students received the Outstanding Achievement in Statistics Award: Jace Brittain, a junior business analytics major from Cherryville, N.C.; and Jeremy Seeders, a junior business analytics major from Knoxville, Tennessee.
NATURAL SCIENCES
Kaitlin Koster, a biology major from Hendersonville, Tennessee, received the Robert K. Godfrey first-year Biology Award for demonstrated excellence in the study of biology in the first year.
Carmela Lewis, a biology major from Maryville, Tennessee, received the Sophomore Biology Award for outstanding ability and promise in the biological sciences.
The Susan Allen Green Award is annually presented to the most outstanding biology major in the junior or senior class. This year’s award was presented to Samantha Stacey, a junior biology major from Springfield, Tennessee.
Stacey also received the Outstanding Performance in Organic Chemistry Award, which recognizes outstanding ability in the study of organic chemistry and structural analysis.
The A. Randolf Shields Award, which recognizes the graduating senior who has the most outstanding four-year record in biology, went to Becca Roberson from Trinity, Florida.
Recognized as a woman in the junior class who shows excellence in the study of chemistry, Mackenzie Lamb, a chemistry major from Knoxville, Tennessee, was awarded the Elizabeth Hillman Award.
The award for Outstanding Performance in General Chemistry was given to Reese Bailey, a sophomore biochemistry major from Brentwood, Tennessee.
Recognized as the graduating senior who has demonstrated the most outstanding accomplishments in chemistry, Ben Walker of Maryville, Tennessee, was awarded the Distinguished Achievement in Chemistry Award.
SOCIAL SCIENCES
The John W. Burgess Award for meritorious achievement in the field of political science went to two students: Jane Meadows, a senior political science major from Greenbrier, Tennessee; and Caston Weeks, a senior political science major from Greenback, Tennessee.
The Judson B. Murphy Endowed Business Award, which is presented annually to a senior who demonstrates outstanding work in business and organization management with outstanding character and well-rounded achievement and career promise, went to three students: Ian Campbell, a finance/accounting major from Oak Ridge, Tennessee; Meredith Bonee, a senior marketing, international studies and international business triple-major from Powell, Tennessee; and Emily Huffstetler, a sophomore writing communication, design and Spanish triple-major from Maryville, Tennessee.
Huffstetler and Riley Cook, a junior criminal justice major, were presented the Agnes Thornton Bird Award, which is given to a locally residing sophomore or junior woman interested in pursuing a career in the legal profession.
The Kyle and Roberta Myers Petree Endowed Award is given to an outstanding local student majoring in business. The 2022 recipients are Emily Bridges, a junior marketing major from Knoxville, Tennessee, and Tyler Ramsey, a junior finance/accounting major from Greenback, Tennessee.
The Outstanding Senior Award in Sociology, which is awarded to a senior with high achievement in the sociology major, went to two students: Hailey Carmichael of Kodak, Tennessee, and Angela Anderton of Knoxville, Tennessee.
The Hall “Ethical Thinking” Award recognizes a member of the junior class whose creative or practical essay on ethical thinking on a particular theme from a variety of perspectives, including historical, literary, theological, psychological and sociological analyses, could be published in a journal or magazine. Two students were recognized with this award: Sara Koonce, a junior marketing and business analytics double-major from Fayetteville, Tennessee, and Lainey Hudolin, a junior mathematics major from Maryville, Tennessee.
ADDITIONAL AWARDS
Paola Perez Gonzalez, a senior finance/accounting major from Knoxville, Tennessee, and Grant Agnew, a senior management major from Belfast, Tennessee, both received the Ryan Newhouse Award. The recognition goes to the junior or senior student who, in the judgment of the business, fine arts and humanities faculty, typifies the finest characteristics of the liberal arts by uniting the fields of business and the humanities or fine arts in his or her academic life, personal growth and values.
Ahmed Mesbah Etman, a business analytics major from Egypt, was presented the Jackson Outstanding International Student Award, which goes to a senior who has been a student at the College for one academic year, has a minimum GPA of 3.5 and has shown leadership inside and outside the classroom.
Nadia St. Thomas, a senior biochemistry major from Pembroke Pines, Florida,received the prestigious LeQuire Award by Maryville College President Dr. Bryan F. Coker. Named for Granville Dexter LeQuire, a Maryville physician, and his wife, Ellen Brickey LeQuire, the award was created in 1987 to help defray the expenses of applying to medical school, so preference is shown to a student who has chosen medicine as a career goal.
CARL ’63 AND JEAN MCDONALD OUTSTANDING SENIOR AWARD
Proceeding the introduction of the 2022 Outstanding Senior Award nominees was introduction of Carl McDonald ’63 and wife Jean McDonald, who were recognized for recently endowing the award, which is one of the most prestigious honors given a student. It recognizes a senior who has been active in a broad range of activities, who most exemplifies the “ideal” Maryville College graduate and who has the potential to be an outstanding alumnus.
Nicholas Clifton, a senior elementary education major from Sylvania, Georgia,was named the 2022 Carl ’63 and Jean McDonald Outstanding Senior.
Finalists for the award included Grant Agnew, a management major from Belfast, Tennessee; Rebecca Branton, a design major from Maryville, Tennessee; Sarah Cardall, an international studies major from Clinton, Tennessee; Jose Hernandez Chavez, a business analytics major from Knoxville, Tennessee; and Chloe Hamlett, a writing communication major from Athens, Alabama.
