The Austin College Honors Convocation returned to Wynne Chapel this week (April 21), with seniors and faculty processing into Clifford J. Grum Sanctuary for the final formal gathering of the academic year until Commencement weekend.
FACULTY CHAIR INSTALLATIONS
After a welcome from President Steven P. O’Day, four faculty members were installed to faculty chairs and professorships by Dr. Beth Gill, vice president for Academic Affairs, and the President. “An investiture is an ancient academic ceremony that has symbolized the pursuit of knowledge since the Middle Ages,” Gill said. “A faculty chair is created through the establishment of an endowed fund, often by a private donor. The investiture ceremony honors the faculty member and the generosity of donors who create the funds.”
The faculty installed in chairs and professorships:
- Dr. Lisa M. Brown as The Herman Brown Chair in Psychology.
- Professor Mark Warren Monroe in The Craig Professorship in the Arts.
- Dr. Bradley W. Smucker as The Rupert P. Lowe Chair in Chemistry
- Dr. Ashley Ann Tharayil as The Clara R. and Leo F. Corrigan Chair in Economics and Business Administration
2022 HOMER P. RAINEY AWARD
Following the faculty chair installations, President O’Day presented the College’s Homer P. Rainey Award. The award was created by the Board of Trustees in 1975 by the Board of Trustees to be given to a faculty or staff member in recognition of outstanding achievement or exemplary service to Austin College.
Homer P. Rainey was a 1919 graduate of Austin College who earned his doctorate from the University of Chicago. A strong and constant champion of academic freedom, he taught at Austin College and several other colleges around the country and served four institutions as president. He was selected as a member of Austin College’s Athletic Hall of Honor and made a Distinguished Alumnus of the College. He received an Honorary Doctorate from Austin College and the College’s Founders Medal. 
For 2022, two recipients of the Homer P. Rainey Award are honored: Dr.
Hank Gorman, professor of psychology, and Dr. Kevin Simmons, professor of economics.
EXCELLENCE IN TEACHING AWARDS
Austin College also recognized excellence in teaching each year with two faculty awards: The College’s nominee to the Minnie Stevens Piper Foundation Professor Award and the Austin College Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Award.
For 2022, the Piper Professor Nominee is Dr. Jim Hebda, associate professor of biochemistry, and the Excellence in Teaching and Leadership Award recipient is Dr. Syed Kamal, associate professor of business administration.
FOUR RETIRING FACULTY
Recognition of faculty continued with the recognition of retiring faculty. “Great teaching by dedicated teachers, artists, and scholars is at the heart of an Austin College education,” Dr. Gill said to the audience. “Every teacher harbors the hope that they will have made a difference in the lives of students. Today we honor four such teachers. I consider this opportunity a great privilege and an honor to express gratitude to these highly reputed and honorable retiring faculty members who, for 144 years total between them, have inspired students and their colleagues. They have promoted insights and intellectual curiosity that have shaped and will continue to shape our students’ professional and personal lives.”
The retiring faculty are Dr. George Truett Cates of the German faculty, who has been at Austin College since 1979; Dr. Henry “Hank” Gorman, psychology, at Austin College since 1973; Dr. Kevin Simmons, economics, at the College since 2003; and Mr. Mark Smith, art, at the College since 1986.
PRESTIGIOUS SCHOLARSHIPS ANNOUNCED EARLIER
Before proceeding to the day’s student award announcements, Dr. Gill also recognized students who have been honored in prestigious award announcements earlier this spring. Four seniors were named Semi-Finalists for Fulbright Teaching Assistantships this spring: Marissa Graf in Colombia; Katie Gudrun King in Spain; Sarah Elizabeth Harper in Germany; and Trevor William Slansky in Taiwan. Slansky was named an Alternate.
Two students—Anika Katherine Chand and Sydney Hope Versen—were named Goldwater Scholars and received prestigious competitive scholarships for the pursuit of research careers in the natural sciences, mathematics, and engineering.
THE AWARDS OF THE DAY
In addition to the recognition of faculty, Honors Convocation is an opportunity to highlight the achievements of Austin College students through the awarding of more than 100 endowed scholarships and awards. The students are chosen by departmental faculty to represent academic excellence in departments across the Humanities, Social Sciences, and Sciences. Some of these scholarships have existed for decades, having been established by donors in memory of faculty, family, or fellow alumni. “All have been made possible by the generosity of those who believe in the mission of Austin College and its students, Gill said.
Departmental chairs or their representatives, along with the divisional deans, will congratulate students. The Dean of Social Sciences is Dr. Lisa Brown, psychology; Dean of Sciences is Mr. Mike Higgs, mathematics and computer science; and Dean of Humanities is Dr. Greg Kinzer, English.
Following is a list of student award recipients, in alphabetical order, along with their award names. Students newly selected for The Noyce Austin College STEM Education Leadership Scholarships, The Scarbrough Summer Research Scholarships, and The Sumners Scholarships also are included in the list, as are those completing the Departmental Honors Program and Sally Posey Leadership Fellowships.
Paula Ejemhen Akhigbe received The Karen Toda Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Alex Catherine Anderson received The Mary Edna Finch Bryson Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in the Austin Teacher Program;
Briana Marie Arevalo received The E. H. Black Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Kate Leslie Askew received The Shellene Kelley Memorial Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Computer Science;
Avery Jade Atencio received The Will Mann Richardson Prize for Outstanding Scholarship and Service;
Hali Paige Bailey received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Shaina Banh received The Alfred Lafayette Ridings Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Charley Francis Bartolo completed the Departmental Honors Program in Anthropology, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Siran Elisabeth Berberian received The Jayne C. Chamberlin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies;
Marianna C Bert received The Emily A. Coe Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Exercise and Sport Science and The Scott H. Boyd, M.D., Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Psychology;
Beau Christopher Beshires received The P. S. Wharton Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry;
Lillian Faith Boessen received The Foster Award for an Outstanding Student in Music;
Clay William Bourne received The Rev. David A. Sharp Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Music and Religious Life;
Madison M. Bradley received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Rhett Lee Cassan received The Paul W. Beardsley Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies;
Anika Katherine Chand received The Bradshaw Frederick Armendt Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry;
Sonia Charales completed the Departmental Honors Program in English, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Katherine Grace Cox received The Lemuel Scarbrough Jr. Summer Research Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences to support faculty-sponsored student research;
Riley Grace Cregg received The Russell V. Rogers Sr. Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student Studying for the Ministry;
Sophie Helene Daniel received The John S. and Rachel Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Religious Studies;
Nicole S. Deluna completed the Departmental Honors Program in Anthropology, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Delice Dembe completed the Departmental Honors Program in English, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Hector Maximuz Diaz III received The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics;
Zoe Astrid Doyle received The Paul W. Beardsley Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies;
Peter Leo Dubois received The Daniel L. and Martha P. Nuckols Award for an Outstanding Student in Economics;
Nicholas Michael Estes received The Sumners Foundation Scholarship for students with academic excellence, civic responsibility, and potential for leadership;
Shannon Claire Fagen completed the Departmental Honors Program in Psychology, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Enson Andres Flores received The Henry L. and Laura H. Shoap Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Hannah Marie Fraga received The E. H. Black Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Matilda Lydia Gajardo received The Grace Dupree Ridings Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Literature;
Larissa Margaret Gamble received The Temple Foundation Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Lilly Kate Garza received The Folbre Prize for an Outstanding Student in History and The Dr. Thomas Baker Memorial Endowed Academic Honors Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Josue Gonzalez received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Frank Sean Goodavish received The Brittain Memorial Biology Student Research Award for an Outstanding Student in Biology;
Zachary Roderick Griffith received The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Classics;
Christian Alan Hallum received The William B. “Bill” Davis Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Tyler Harrison Hanes received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Amna Haque received The Hanschen Pre-Medical Studies Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies;
Stephanie Brooke Hardin received The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Classics and The Lemuel Scarbrough Jr. Summer Research Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences to support faculty-sponsored student research;
Clara Michelle Harper received The Stephen F. Austin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in History and The Rev. David A. Sharp Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Music and Religious Life;
Hannah Elizabeth Herron received The Anna Laura Page Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Music, The Verta Eckman Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Music, and The Brittain Memorial Biology Student Research Award for an Outstanding Student in Biology;
Mia Jin Hibner received The Anna L. Anderson Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Jessica Lynn Hoffman completed the Departmental Honors Program in Biology, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Samuel Alan Ivie received The Anne Lorraine Dennis Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry;
Tyler K. James received The Virginia H. Love and Bill Freeman Creativity in Teaching Award for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education and The William B. “Bill” Davis Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Carrie Lynn Johnson received The Frank W. Mayborn Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Journalism and The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Prithvi Satyan Kalkunte completed the Departmental Honors Program in Mathematics, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Jade Makenna Kemp completed the Departmental Honors Program in Chemistry, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Jonathan Houston Lawrence received The Christopher L. Elliott Memorial Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Political Science;
Miles S. Ledet received The Bernice and Sara Rebecca Honea Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Maya Yongshuo Leisey received The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics and The E. Don and Ann R. Williams Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Mathematics and Computer Science;
Jedidiah Lim received The Suzanna B. and Joe M. Norwood Endowed Award for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies;
Yazmin Loredo Guerrero received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Abbigal Gihee Maeng received The Howard McCarley Biology Student Research Award for an Outstanding Student in Biology;
Kennon Wynne Magers received The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics;
Nereida Alejandra Martinez received The Mary Foulks Gourley and Lloyd E. Gourley Prize for an Outstanding Student in Physics;
Katherine Elizabeth McBroom received The M. D. “Bud” Bryant Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Biology;
Carrie Elizabeth McIntyre completed the Departmental Honors Program in Psychology, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Mayson Luke Metcalf received The John Peyton and Mary Louise Shoap Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Modern Languages (German);
Mariagisse Morales received The Lemuel Scarbrough Jr. Summer Research Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences to support faculty-sponsored student research;
Joy Mugaju received The John W. Cameron Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in French;
Isabel Ana Murphy received The Sig Lawson Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Tate Parker Nelson received The E. Don and Ann R. Williams Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Mathematics and Computer Science;
Addison Victoria Norman received The Lois Jenkins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in English;
Elizabeth H. Nunneley received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Madelyn Grace Oliver completed the Departmental Honors Program in Biology, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Sophie Emma Scott Oliver received The Virginia H. Love and Bill Freeman Creativity in Teaching Award for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education and The Charles “Bo” Miller Award for an Outstanding Athlete who Excels in Academics;
Rebecca Ama Osei received The Karen Toda Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences and The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Lillian Marie Pappas received The Bernice and Sara Rebecca Honea Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Valery Piachonkina completed the Departmental Honors Program in History, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Isbah Mansur Plumber completed the Departmental Honors Program in Public Health, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Theresa Claire Pohl received The Catherine Rosalie Fincher Kucera Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in History;
Savanna Rey Polen received The Scott H. Boyd, M.D., Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Psychology;
Evan Christopher Preston received The Bonnie J. Beardsley Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies;
Larry Ramirez Quintana received The Lemuel Scarbrough Jr. Summer Research Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences to support faculty-sponsored student research; The Clara Zauk Binkley ad James Binkley Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in German; and The Grace Dupree Ridings Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Literature;
Shruti Veera Raghavan received The Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Erwin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies;
Medhini Padmaja Ramesh received The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics;
Nathan Daniel Reed received The Will Mann Richardson Prize for Outstanding Scholarship and Service and The Gerald H. Hinkle Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Philosophy;
Meghan Ashley Reeves received The Margaret Zauk Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Music;
Tristan Lee Reno received The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education and The Virginia H. Love and Bill Freeman Creativity in Teaching Award for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Alexis Nicole Ross received The Dr. Arthur N. Springall Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Zuni-Ire Vera Rubio received The S. D. Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in English and The Hope Ridings Miller Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in the Humanities;
Austin Bradley Rue received The Stephen Dudley and Lillie S. Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in the Sciences and The Dr. George L. Landolt Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry;
Alejandra Salinas Garza received The Hope Ridings Miller Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in American History or Literature;
Ruthann Helen Schmiege completed the Departmental Honors Program in Biology, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Michael A Selby received The Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Erwin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies;
Lara Iyad Shehadeh received The Dr. Paul E. Geers Award for Excellence in Pre-Medical Achievement;
Cassandra Silva Salas received The Joaquin Johnson Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Law;
Brett R. Skinner completed the Departmental Honors Program in Physics, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Samuel Edward Skinner received The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Emma Alexandra Solis completed the Departmental Honors Program in Biology, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Berenice Soto received The Laura H. Shoap Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Music and The Anna Laura Page Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Music;
Faith Ruby Strong received The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Claudia Marie Theriot received The Temple Foundation Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education and completed the Departmental Honors Program in History, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis;
Rebecca Annis Tobias received The P. S. Wharton Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry;
Christine Juliet Tomasino received The Minnette C. Shipley Endowed Award for an Outstanding Student in Art;
James Christopher Truitt received The Thomas W. Folbre Jr. Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in History;
Olivia Leeann Trusty completed the Departmental Honors Program in Theatre, recognizing students with excellent research potential and exceptional performance who have completed a bachelor’s thesis and received The Noyce Austin College STEM Education Leadership Scholarship for talented STEM majors to become math and science teachers;
Lora Lee Vaughan received The Charles Curtis McKinney Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Psychology and The Lemuel Scarbrough Jr. Summer Research Scholarship in the Humanities and Social Sciences to support faculty-sponsored student research;
Sydney Hope Versen received The Peggy Redshaw and Jerry Lincecum Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Biology and The William B. Steele, Genevieve Wakefield Steele, and Sue Steele Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in the Liberal Arts;
Jonathan Cole Voos received The Charles “Bo” Miller Award for an Outstanding Athlete who Excels in Academics;
Michaela Renee Wallick received The Hope Ridings Miller Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Journalism;
Clemon Ward White IV received The Joaquin Johnson Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Law and The Sumners Foundation Scholarship for students with academic excellence, civic responsibility, and potential for leadership;
Rebecca Kate Willeford received The Clara Zauk Binkley and James Binkley Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in German and The Christopher L. Elliott Memorial Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Political Science;
Dylan Anthony Williams received The Wilbur Powell Award for an Outstanding Student in Computer Science;
Madison Joy Wilson received The Thomas Edgar and Kathryn Heard Craig Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics;
Kristen Jean Worley received The Daniel L. and Martha P. Nuckols Award for an Outstanding Student in Economics; and
Janet Bowen York received The Noyce Austin College STEM Education Leadership Scholarship for talented STEM majors to become math and science teachers.
Members of the College’s 17 national and international honor societies are also recognized at Honors Convocation with all current members listed in the event program. The College houses chapters of Phi Beta Chi, national undergraduate honor society; Alpha Chi, national college honor society; Alpha Psi Omega, national theatre honor society; Beta Beta Beta, national biological honor society; Chi Alpha Sigma, the College’s recently affiliated national college athlete honor society; Delta Phi Alpha, national German honor society; Eta Sigma Phi, honor society for classical studies; Omicron Delta Epsilon, international honor society of economics; Phi Alpha Theta, national history honor society; Pi Delta Phi, national French honor society; Pi Sigma Alpha, national political science honor society; Psi Chi, international honor society in psychology; Sigma Delta Pi, national collegiate Hispanic honor society; Sigma Pi Sigma, physics honor society; Sigma Tau Delta, international English honor society; and Sigma Xi, international scientific research honor society.
Other participants in the program were Sallie Majors Religious Life Intern Cara Clark ’22; Dr. John Williams ’84, College chaplain; and Dr. Lisa Thomas, College organist.