STUDENT AWARDS



 

The College of Science and Mathematics and its departments present several awards to our outstanding students. Faculty members determine the most deserving students and the awards are bestowed on them at Honors Night. Below is the link to students who were recognized in 2010:

 

Department of Biology

2012 Award Recipients

 

Tri-Beta Outstanding Junior Award

Matthew R. Amoroso

This award is given to a junior Biology or Biotechnology major with an outstanding record of academic achievement.

 

 

Margaret A. Gordon Memorial Scholarship

Branden A. Deyerle     Matthew M. Wallace

Laura N. Lorenz    Kelsey L. Wilson-Henjum

Katherine M. Still

This award was established by family and friends in memory of Margaret Anderson Gordon, who graduated from Madison College in 1957 and spent 27 years teaching in the biology department. Margaret was a genuinely gifted and dedicated teacher who inspired and encouraged students with her passion for biology and her love for students as individuals. Although her career was cut short by breast cancer, she made a lasting impact on both students and faculty. This award is for outstanding research accomplishments by students in biology or biotechnology.

 

 

Excellence in Biology

Brittany M. Aeschlimann    Erin E. Albery       Michael D. Lehman

Melissa A. Seamon       Katherine M. Still       Kelsey L. Wilson-Henjum

This award is given to one or more senior Biology majors who have demonstrated academic

excellence in biology.  Recipients must display exceptional academic records and be exceptionally motivated learners.

 

 

Peter T. Nielsen Award for Botanical Studies

Kathryn G. Holmes

This award was established by Anne W. Nielsen in memory of her husband, Dr. Peter T. Nielsen, a former faculty member of the biology department.  The award shall be used to recruit a graduate student, or should an eligible graduate student not be available, to reward an outstanding undergraduate student in plant biology.  This award is given to a student with an overall GPA of 3.0 and Biology GPA of 3.25 who intends to pursue studies in botanical science

 

 

Norlyn L. Bodkin Scholarship for Arboretum and Botanical Field Studies

John T. Bickel

This award was established by Dr. Ron and Edith Carrier in honor of Dr. Norlyn L. Bodkin, a former botany professor at JMU and first director of the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum. The award is to support and encourage the study of botanical science and botanical field studies at JMU and to strengthen the link between the Arboretum and the biology department. The scholarship will also promote the Arboretum as a valuable public institution with a wealth

of botanical value. This award is given to graduate or undergraduate students who have

completed two years at JMU with a minimum GPA of 3.0, and are conducting botanical field research.

Excellence in Biotechnology

Jennifer Koch

This award is given to one or more senior Biotechnology majors who have demonstrated academic

 excellence in biotechnology.  Recipients must display exceptional academic records and be exceptionally motivated learners.

 

 

Excellence in Teaching

Nathaniel T. Burkholder      Chelsea L. Cockburn       Hailey T. Huebner

Elizabeth J. Tedder        Abigail N. Temoshchuk        Anisa C. Tracy

This award is given to students of any major who have demonstrated excellence in teaching biology.

 

 

Excellence in Service

Kathryn G. Holmes        Kelsey L. Wilson-Henjum

This award is given to students of any major who have demonstrated

excellence in service to the  biology department.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry

2012 Award Recipients

 

R. D. Cool Award

Karen M. Corbett

The R. D. Cool Award is given to an outstanding junior chemistry student.   The award is named for

 R. D. Cool, an analytical chemistry professor who retired in 1972.

 

 

J. W. Chappell Scholarship

Caroline J. Campbell

This award is given to an outstanding junior who intends to pursue a career in health or teaching profession.

 The award consists of in-state tuition credit for the fall semester of the senior year.

Established in memory of J. W. Chappell, Department Head for 25 years.

 

 

D. S. Amenta Award

Alisa A. Leavesley

This junior or senior award was established by the family of a former research student.  It is given in recognition of students with qualities of leadership, citizenship, self-sacrifice and a commitment to working with others.  The award recipient also has strong capabilities as a chemist and a teacher.

 

 

F. A. Palocsay Award in Undergraduate Research

Eric M. Vess

Established in memory of Frank A. Palocsay; an inorganic chemistry professor at JMU.  This award is given to an outstanding undergraduate research student.

 

 

Service Award

Brooke N. Stevens

This award is given in recognition of outstanding service to the department.

 

 

J. W. Chappell Award

 Charles W. Smith

Established when Dr. Chappell retired in 1976, this award is given to a senior going into medical school,

a health profession or a teaching profession.

 

American Institute of Chemists

Seth C. Ensign

This award is given by the American Institute of Chemists to an outstanding senior.


Degesch America Award

Alexa M. DeLuca

This award is given to an outstanding senior with the support of a local chemical company.

 

 

Hypercube Scholar Award

Jindong Kang

This software package is given to an outstanding senior interested in physical chemistry. 

 

 

Liberty Casali Memorial Scholarship Fund

Casey E. Rogers

An endowed scholarship established in honor of Liberty Casali, to an outstanding undergraduate student scholar who is majoring in the field of Chemistry.

 

 

American Chemical Society-Merck Award

Michael A. Salim

This award is given to an outstanding senior with the support of Merck Chemical and ACS.

 This is typically regarded as our highest senior award.

 

 

American Chemical Society

Undergraduate Award in Environmental Chemistry

Allison E. Wickham

The Division of Environmental Chemistry sponsors this award, which recognizes an outstanding full-time undergraduate student currently enrolled in chemistry, environmental engineering or other programs emphasizing environmental chemistry.

 

 

American Chemical Society

POLYED Undergraduate Award in Organic Chemistry

Alisa A. Leavesley 

This award recognizes outstanding performance in organic chemistry by a student whose future plans include a career in the field of chemistry.  The award is sponsored by POLYED, the National Information Center for Polymer Education.

 

 

American Chemical Society

Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry

Brian A. Huffman

This award was established in 1967 by the ACS Division of Analytical Chemistry to encourage student interest in analytical chemistry and to recognize students who display an aptitude for a career in the field.

 


Department of Geology & Environmental Science

2012 Award Recipients

 

W. T. Harnsberger Scholarship

Zachary Kiracofe

Established in memory of Wilbur T. Harnsberger, founder and first head of the Geology & Environmental Science Department.  Annual award made to a geology major to partially defray costs of a summer field camp.

 

 

Philip R. Cosminsky Award

Catherine Patterson

The recipient of this award is chosen by the geology faculty members for outstanding

service to the department and university in both academic and other functions.

 

 

Catherine King-Frazier Scholarship

Kathleen Meierdiercks 

Established in memory of Catherine King-Frazier for the most promising new freshman geology major.

 

 

W. A. Tarr Award

Selina Cole 

Scholarship and academic award to a graduating senior member of the JMU Chapter of

Sigma Gamma Epsilon, the National Honor Society for the Earth Sciences.

 

 

W. Cullen Sherwood Outstanding Senior Award

Selina Cole and Kyle Hazelwood 

Presented to graduating Geology or Earth Science major(s) who

has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.

 

 

William Frangos Memorial Endowment in Geophysics & Quantitative Environmental Geology

Ellen Keel

An endowed scholarship established by Suzan Frangos to honor the memory of Will Frangos,

a JMU geology professor. This scholarship provides funds to an undergraduate student

doing research in Geophysics and/or Quantitative Environmental Geology.

 

 

 


Alison MacDonald Doherty Scholarship

Adrian Lam and Michael Bulas 

An endowed scholarship established by Michael Doherty to honor the memory of

Alison MacDonald Doherty, a 1980 JMU geology graduate, who emphasized the

importance of research.  This scholarship provides funds to outstanding undergraduate

student scholar(s) conducting research in the field of Geology & Environmental Science.

 

 

The Cullen Sherwood Scholarship

Victoria Stempniewicz

An endowment in honor of Cullen Sherwood established by Geology Alumni.  It is an annual award

made to an undergraduate student with a commitment to pursuing a geology focused career.  

 

 

Most Promising Earth Science Teacher Award

Brittany Wolchak

Presented to an Earth Science major based on achievements and

observations from Geology & Education Professors.

 

 


Department of Mathematics & Statistics

2012 Award Recipients

 

Ikenberry Award

Luke M. Makai

This award is presented to the outstanding graduating senior in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics.

 

 

Amy Vess Crizer Applied Mathematics Award

Richard J. Shafer

This award recognizes a graduating senior for exceptional accomplishment

in applied mathematics and mathematical modeling.

 

 

Future Mathematics Teacher Award

Brittany A. Wilhelm

This award recognizes outstanding accomplishment by a senior mathematics major who is

completing a minor in education and preparing for a career in pre-college teaching.

 

 

Mathematical Statistics

Jesse P. Jeter

This award recognizes a graduating senior for exceptional accomplishment in mathematical statistics.

 

 

Applied Statistics

Melinda F. Vergara

This award recognizes a graduating senior for exceptional accomplishment in applied statistics.

 

 

Statistics Minor Award

Kristen L. Smith

This award recognizes an outstanding graduating senior with a major in

another discipline who has completed a program of study in statistics.

 

 

IDLS Mathematics Award

Katherine M. Rosko

This award recognizes outstanding accomplishment in mathematics by a graduating senior in

IDLS who is preparing for a career in teaching at the elementary or middle grade level.


Mathematics and Statistics Research Awards

William R. Henderson   Mathematics

Betsy A. LaRue   Mathematics

David O. MacDonald   Mathematics

William J. Rau   Mathematics

Richard J. Shafer   Mathematics

Brittany A. Wilhelm   Mathematics

This award recognizes research accomplishments in the mathematical sciences.


Physics & Astronomy Department

2012 Award Recipients

 

Outstanding Senior Physics Major

Nora C. Swisher

This award is presented to an outstanding senior physics major with the highest GPA

 

 

Outstanding Junior Physics Major

Brandon K. Eskridge

  This award is presented to a student with junior standing in the university and with

the highest GPA after having taken a substantial portion of the physics curriculum. 

 

 

Physics Department Research Award

Anita Jo Vincent-Johnson

This award is presented to a student who has demonstrated the highest level of

achievement in research with our faculty.  The success we recognize also requires a mastery

of technology to carry the art of experimentation and computation to the next level.

 

 

Physics Department Service Award

Tyler M. Mullins

This award is presented in recognition of outstanding service to the department.

 

 

Physics Department Teaching Award

Christina M. Hanks

The teaching award goes to a student who has demonstrated outstanding skills in classroom teaching and the maturity he/she exhibits promises continued growth as a lifelong teacher of physics and astronomy.

 

 

Alumni/Faculty and Serway Scholarships

Brandon K. Eskridge

Nicholas A. Hagans

These two students each share two scholarships awarded to students who demonstrate high

academic achievement.  The Physics Alumni/Faculty scholarship was established using donations from

Physics Department alumni and faculty. It is awarded to a sophomore or junior physics major to be

used toward educational expenses in the following academic year.  The Raymond A. & Elizabeth A. Serway scholarship was established with the generous support Raymond Serway (Department Head 1980-1986) in conjunction with the Saunders College Publishing Company. It is awarded to a sophomore or junior

physics major to be used toward educational expenses in the following academic year.     

        


Henry W. Leap Scholarship

Joshua T. Jarrell

This scholarship is in honor of Dr. Henry W. Leap who had an avid interest in photography and astronomy and became the director of the John C. Wells Planetarium in 1988.  It is presented to those students whose academic success and involvement in our program reflect Henry’s commitment to the department. 

 

 

         Outstanding Symposium Presentations

1st Place – Anthony T. Chieco

2nd Place – Anita Jo Vincent-Johnson

3rd Place –Anthony A. Saikin

Each spring, the Department of Physics and Astronomy hosts a department symposium

at which our students present their research.  The faculty selects the students who make

the best presentations of the best research to recognize with small monetary awards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


College of Science and Mathematics

 2011-2012 Award Recipients

 

 

Elizabeth McConnell Bliss Endowment for Undergraduate Research

Benjamin Boward (Biology)             Matthew Wallace (Biology)

An annual endowment in support of undergraduate research.

 

 

Dawson Math/Science Scholarship

Dora Hsieh (Biology)     Shvan Kareem (Biology)   Luis Parada (Math)

An annual scholarship for local students from Shenandoah or Rockingham County, Virginia

who are pursuing a major in science or mathematics.

 

 

Judith R. Hoffman Science & Mathematics Scholarship


William Henderson (Physics)        Jennifer Koch (Biology)

                Jindong Kang (Chemistry)        Luke Makai (Mathematics)                  

This scholarship is awarded annually to a student majoring in science and/or mathematics who plans

to make a career in science or mathematics or a related field.

 

 

Frances Hughes Pitts Memorial Scholarship

     Erin Albery (Biology)           Eun Park (Chemistry)

                         Selina Cole (Geology)        Katherine Still (Biology)

   Alisa Leavesley (Chemistry)            Nora Swisher (Physics)

      Cynthia McGrath (Mathematics)        Elisabeth Visosky (Physics)


Established in memory of Frances Hughes Pitts, this scholarship is awarded annually to a female student majoring in one of the natural sciences.

 

 

Jeffrey E. Tickle ’90 Family Endowment in Science & Mathematics


             Alison Blackman (Biology)            Casey Rogers (Chemistry)

     Harry Hicock (Biology)           Michael Salim (Materials Science)

          Zachary Kiracofe ( Geology)                    Richard Shafer (Mathematics)      

           William Rau (Mathematics)          Benjamin Williamson (Biology)


The goal of this gift is to facilitate excitement about science and math that will lead to careers in these fields as

 K-12 teachers, college professors, and professional scientists and mathematicians.


Dean’s Outstanding Senior Recognition Award

 

 

Biology Department

Brittany M. Aeschlimann (Biology)

Mary Kate Brannon (Biotechnology)

 

Chemistry & Biochemistry Department

Bernard W. Newman

 

Geology & Environmental Science Department

Victoria A. Stempniewicz

 

Mathematics & Statistics Department

Luke M. Makai

 

Physics & Astronomy Department

Nora C. Swisher

 

 

Highest Academic Achievement Award

Luke M. Makai

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Phi Beta Kappa


Dorottya K. Boisen   Biology

Karen M. Corbett   Chemistry

Alyssa R. Franklin   Biology

Jennifer G. Franko   Biology

Irene E Lainiotis   Biology

Jennifer L. Monk   Mathematics

Abigail N. Temoshchuk   Biology

Matthew M. Wallace   Biology

Kelsey L. Wilson-Henjum   Biology

This honor society is a leading advocate for excellence in the liberal arts and sciences.  An invitation to membership in Phi Beta Kappa is a reflection of outstanding achievement.

 

 

Phi Kappa Phi


Keith W. Zirkle   Statistics

The oldest and largest collegiate honor society dedicated to the recognition and promotion of academic excellence in all disciplines.