BOONE - Each spring the College of Arts and Sciences honors exemplary students, faculty and alumni during the annual Honors Day Reception. Among the awards given are the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Alumni Award and the Richard N. Henson Outstanding Adviser Award. This year’s awards were presented to Mr. Michael Peoples and Dr. Carol Babyak, respectively. This year’s reception took place Wednesday, April 20, 2016.
Since 2015, Mr. Michael Peoples has served as the Director of Enterprise Services for the City of Gastonia. Michael has over 15 years of experience in local government management and prior to coming to Gastonia, served as Town Manager for the Town of Cramerton from 2005 to 2015 and as Town Administrator in Grifton, NC from 2000 to 2005.
Michael graduated from Western Carolina University in 1998 with a B.S. in History and a B.S. in Political Science and then from Appalachian State University in 2000 with a Masters Degree in Public Administration with a concentration in Town, City, and County Management. Michael has also completed the UNC School of Government’s Municipal Administration Course, Effective Management Course, the Public Executive Leadership Academy, and the ICMA Gettysburg Leadership Institute. Michael is a member of the International City and County Management Association where he has achieved the Credentialed Manager status, NC City and County Management Association, where he serves as Chairman of the Professional Development Committee, President of the Appalachian State University Local Government Alumni Association, and a member of the NC League of Municipalities Legislative Action Committee. Michael was also awarded the 2014 Harley B. Gaston, Jr. Public Service Award from the Montcross Area Chamber of Commerce. Michael is from the Iredell/Alexander County area and is married to Jamie Peoples who is an Assistant Principal at Hunter Huss High School. They have two children, Bryson and Tucker.
The College of Arts & Sciences presents the Outstanding Alumni Awards to former students from departments in the College. The award was instituted in 1998 to honor alumni who have distinguished themselves through contributions to a profession, leadership, public service activities, creative endeavors, or through other accomplishments.
Each year a Selection Committee gathers, composed of faculty members, to choose that year’s Outstanding Alumni. This year’s Selection Committee included Mark Bradbury (Director MPA program, Government and Justice Study); Baker Perry (Geography and Planning); Alison Gulley (English), Cindy Luiktus (Geology); and Elaine Quinn (English).
During the spring term students are given an opportunity to nominate their faculty advisor for the Richard N. Henson Outstanding Adviser Award. The nominations reflect the satisfaction the students have with advising.
The recipient of the 2016 College of Arts & Sciences Richard N.Henson Outstanding Adviser Award, Dr. Carol Babyak, received her B.S. in Environmental Chemistry from Saint Vincent College in Pennsylvania and her Ph.D in Analytical Chemistry from West Virginia University in 2004. She joined Appalachian State University’s A. R. Smith Department of Chemistry in the fall of that year. Since joining the department she has taught Introductory Chemistry I Lecture, Introduction to Environmental Chemistry, Quantitative Analysis Lecture & Lab, Instrumental Methods of Analysis Lecture & Lab, Senior Level Environmental Chemistry Lecture & Lab, and Undergraduate Research in Environmental Chemistry.
Dr. Babyak has developed a vigorous research program in Environmental Chemistry and has mentored more than 25 students since the fall of 2004. Many of the students she has mentored have attended or are attending excellent graduate programs in chemistry. She was the advisor of the Appalachian Chemical Society Student Affiliate (Chemistry Club) and while she was the advisor of the Club our students received an honorable mention by the American Chemical Society.
The college also honored numerous students for their academic achievements in the 2015/2016 school year. Those students are listed below.
Anthropology
Ricki A. Draper, Dr. Susan Keefe Practicing Anthropology Award & Stephen Richard Weller Memorial Scholarship for Anthropology
Jillian G. Ingle, Outstanding Senior & Dr. L. Jill Loucks Memorial Scholarship in Anthropology
Rebecca E. Long, Dr. L. Jill Loucks Memorial Scholarship in Anthropology
Victoria T. Olender, Dr. L. Jill Loucks Memorial Scholarship in Anthropology
Biology
Marybeth Arceo Burriss, Outstanding Senior Award & Mary U. Connell Award
Morgan Scout Fitch, Outstanding Senior Award
Jenni Lyn Loveless, Meritorious Senior Award
Matthew Ryan Mayberry, Meritorious Senior Award
Kaitlin "Katie" Anne Proctor, Meritorious Senior Award
Savannah Jordan Ray, Outstanding Senior Award
Oscar Rolando Reyes, Jr., Meritorious Senior Award
William Vaughn Vannoy, Meritorious Senior Award & Secondary Education Award
Jacqueline Lee Walczak, Outstanding Senior Award & R. Wayne Van Devender Award
Chemistry
Caroline Donaghy, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Lydia Harris, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Julia Rose Hinds, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Hannah Holmes, A.R. Smith Scholarship
John Jackson, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Noah Reid Kosnik, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Colleen Lasar, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Marina Leonidas, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Jacob Pawlik, Outstanding Senior Award
Lindsay Preston, Service and Leadership Award
Lauren Elizabeth Rogers, A.R. Smith Scholarship & Lloyd L. Hobbs Scholarship
William Sink, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Natalie Smith, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Samantha Kate Steyl, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Rachel Sarah Stevens, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Alyssa Stuller, A.R. Smith Scholarship
George "Travis" Tabor, A.R. Smith Scholarship
Howard "DJ" Leroy Willett III, A.R. Smith Scholarship & Jake Whitaker Memorial Scholarship
Computer Science
Jacob Creagh Mulford, Outstanding Senior
Dakota Scott Murray, Outstanding Senior
Christopher Keegan Waldon, Outstanding Senior
Interdisciplinary Studies
Melanie Catherine Lech, Outstanding Senior
Global Studies
Anna C. Somerville, Outstanding Senior
Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies
Amy Stenzel, Outstanding Senior
English
Veronica Nawojcyzk, Outstanding Senior
Evyan Gainey, Graydon and Daisy Eggers English Scholarship & Cratis D. Williams Memorial Scholarship in English
Kelsey Ferrell, Loyd Hilton Endowed Award for Excellence in English
Samantha Harvey, Graydon and Daisy Eggers English Scholarship & Mary Montgomery Dunlap Scholarship in English
Myra McCoury, Graydon and Daisy Eggers English Scholarship & Outstanding Senior
Amber Jones, Henree Rupp Study Abroad Scholarship
Joshua Wharton, Henree Rupp Study Abroad Scholarship
James B. Faulkner, Outstanding Senior
Nicole M. Hoffman, Outstanding Senior
Kendall E. MacVean, Outstanding Senior
Jenna N. Massengale, Outstanding Senior
Krysta N. Purcell, Outstanding Senior
James Briggs, Ella Thompson Hobbs English Scholarship
Caleb Crotts, Ella Thompson Hobbs English Scholarship
Alan Dickens, Ella Thompson Hobbs English Scholarship
Joshua Whitehead, Ella Thompson Hobbs English Scholarship
Christopher Auber, Kate Peterson Scholarship for English & Jeni Gray Memorial Scholarship in English
Tiffany Barnes, Kate Peterson Scholarship for English
Katherine Benfield, Kate Peterson Scholarship for English & Department of English Scholarship
Madison Carr, Kate Peterson Scholarship for English & Ella Thompson Hobbs
Jennifer Compton, Kate Peterson Scholarship for English & Dr. Hans G. Heymann Scholarship
Lindsay Darnell, Kate Peterson Scholarship for English
Jordan Parkhurst, Kate Peterson Scholarship for English & Ella Thompson Hobbs English Scholarship
Tyler Saunders, Kate Peterson Scholarship for English & Ella Thompson Hobbs English Scholarship
Emily Sedlacek, Kate Peterson Scholarship for English
Sara Bickers, Department of English Scholarship
Matthias Kramer, Marian Coe Creative Writing Scholarship Competition
Victoria Borders, Marian Coe Creative Writing Scholarship Competition
Sarah Jeter, Marian Coe Creative Writing Scholarship Competition
Kisun Kirkbride, John Foster West Scholarship Competition in Poetry
India Raven Moffett, John Foster West Scholarship Competition in Poetry
Environmental Science
Kimberly A. Bowman, Roy C. Sidle Award for Outstanding Achievement in Research
Grant W. Harvey, Outstanding Leadership Award
Kylee M. Mroz, Most Outstanding Senior Award
Alex W. Prevatte, Outstanding Junior Writing Award & Lloyd L. Hobbs Memorial Scholarship
Fermentation Sciences
Philip Layton Ashmore, Outstanding Senior
Geography
Lauren Andersen, Faye and Moses Crutchfield Award
Abie Bonevac, ASU Local Government Alumni Association Planning Scholarship
Trevor Bowman, Outstanding Planning Senior
Christopher Ely, Julian Yoder Scholarship in Geography
Connor Jones, Robert E. Reiman Planning Scholarship
Timothy Kinlaw, Neal Lineback "Geography in the News" Scholarship
Marty Little, Outstanding Geography Student
Evan Montpellier, Julian Yoder Scholarship in Geography
Joseph Rudolph, Outstanding Geography Graduate Student
Zachary Shadomy, Geography Scholarship for International Study
Geology
Joseph B. Anderson, Distinguished Senior Award & Academic Achievement Award
Haviv Avrahami, Distinguished Senior Award
Cameron Jean Batchelor, Quantitative GeoscienceDistinguished Senior Award and Outstanding Geology Senior
Kevin Bynum, Loren A. Raymond Student Research Grant
Gina M. Carney, Mineralogy Award
Taylor Craig, Distinguished Senior Award
Brian S. Dewitt, Distinguished Senior Award
Erin Elizabeth Epperson, Distinguished Senior Award
Adam Esker, Distinguished Senior Award
Kelley Fraser, Mark DeBroder Scholarship
Laura Anne Heinen, Distinguished Senior Award
Devin K. Hoffman, McKinney Paleontology Scholarship & Fred Webb, Jr. and Barbara Haynes Scholarship for Summer Field Course
Emma Savannah Idol, Distinguished Senior Award
Benjamin Lawson, Distinguished Senior Award
Luke J. Price, Distinguished Senior Award
Mathew L. Sandefur, Distinguished Senior Award
Jacob Nelson Shearer, Distinguished Senior Award
Benjamin Strauss, Distinguished Senior Award
Robert Thomas, Jr., Lloyd L. Hobbs Memorial Scholarship
Jared Thomas Voris, Distinguished Senior Award
Matthew Whilton Wilson, Distinguished Senior Award
Political Science
Nathanial Ray Arnold, Dr. David Sutton Scholarship for Political Science
Julie Anna Blakesmith, Outstanding Senior in Political Science - American Politics
April Nicole Buchanan, Outstanding Senior in Criminal Justice
Shaleeya Diane Lothery, Dr. Edward M. Allen Jr. Scholarship in Political Science
Matthew Bryan Sciascia, Outstanding Senior in Criminal Justice
Olivia N. Tatum, Outstanding Senior in Political Science - Pre-Professional Legal Studies
Cody Ray Taylor, Outstanding Senior in Political Science - Public Administration
Dolly Carlene Reaves, Dr. Edward M. Allen Jr. Scholarship in Political Science
Kayla Marie Young, Outstanding Senior in Political Science - International/Comparative Relations
History
Austin James, The Worth Sweet History Scholarship in Secondary Education
Janet Katelyn Hammond, Robert D. Warren History Scholarship
Ayako Nakano, Professor Thomas K. Keefe History Scholarship (undergraduate)
Robert L. Sealey, Outstanding Senior
Jimmie Lee Vaughn, Professor Thomas K. Keefe History Scholarship (graduate) & Clara Dougherty Brown Memorial Scholarship in History
Rebekah Rae Washburn, Evelyn Shepherd-Brenda Greene History Scholarship
Language, Literature, & Culture
Sara L. Davis, Outstanding Senior
Courtney E. Boyd, Outstanding Senior
Mathematical Sciences
Laurel G. Bates, Outstanding Senior - Mathematics
Reed C. Bowman, Outstanding Senior - Mathematics Secondary Education
Lee A. Fisher, Outstanding Senior - Mathematics
Ronald A. Kolodziej, Outstanding Senior - Actuarial Science
Kathryn Poslusny, Outstanding Senior - Mathematics
Philosophy and Religion
Ashley L. Thompson, Departmental Honors & Outstanding Senior
Larisa L. Cambel, Departmental Honors & Outstanding Senior
Sean Michael Cobb, Departmental Honors & Outstanding Senior
Christina H. Falceto, Departmental Honors & Outstanding Senior
Stephen Fitch, Departmental Honors & Outstanding Senior
Benjamin T. Parker, Departmental Honors & Outstanding Senior
Victoria Alyce Small, Departmental Honors & Outstanding Senior
Kelly Koon, Departmental Honors & Outstanding Senior
Physics/Astronomy
Mariah N. Birchard, NC Space Grant and Departmental Honors
Brandon E. Buchanan, NC Space Grant
Jared M. Day, Departmental Honors
Ethan M. Finlay, Walter C. Connolly Award for Physics
Silver Frank, Jeremy & Rebecca Ehret Scholarship in Physics & Astronomy
Nykesha J. Fyffe, Lloyd L. Hobbs Scholarship and NC Space Grant
Benjamin J. Groelke, Karl C. Mamola Award for Outstanding Physics Research
Miles E. Guzman, Andy Graham Lecture Demonstration Scholarship
Sarah A. Harvey, Departmental Honors
Evyn L. Lee, J.W. Byrd Outstanding Senior Award and NC Space Grant
Michael A. Paolino, NC Space Grant
Ravi B. Patel, NC Space Grant & Laurance Brown Memorial Scholarship
Quinlin S. Riggs, Karl C. Mamola Award for Outstanding Physics Research
Alfred E. Scher, Departmental Honors
Kaitlyn L. Smith, Departmental Honors
Psychology
Elisabeth Artz, Psychology Department Honors
Cameron L. Brown, Psychology Department Honors
Sally N. Defelice, Psychology Department Honors
Heather Edwards, Terrant Scholarship
Brian M. Froeb, Psychology Department Honors
Megan B. Goetzl, Psychology Department Honors
Shauna R. Joyner, Psychology Department Honors
Kayla Kirk, Terrant Scholarship
Rebekah C. Knight, Psychology Department Honors
Allison Kohler, Terrant Scholarship
Savannah Luciano, Psychology Department Honors
Meagan R. Maclellan, Psychology Department Honors
Elizabeth D. McNamara, Distinguished Senior & Psychology Department Honors
Kelsey Noonan, Hatch Scholarship
Kate E. Rawson, Psychology Department Honors
Caroline S. Roberts, Psychology Department Honors
Michael C. Ryan, Psychology Department Honors
Meghan E. Shaul, Psychology Department Honors
Cassandra L. Smith, Psychology Department Honors
Jacob Sorensen, Psychology Department Honors
Marissa M. Stockstad, Outstanding Senior and Psychology Department Honors
Sociology
Grayson Bodenheimer, Albert and Maxine Hughes Scholarship
Emily Hitchner, Janice Rienerth Scholarship
Bria Ikard, Outstanding Senior
Heather Rhymer, Outstanding Senior
Jeremiah Stanton-Rich, Outstanding Senior
Elizabeth Tate, Outstanding Senior