Union celebrates student success with annual honors convocation

Rachel Dorroh • April 26, 2024


Union Commonwealth University celebrated student success Thursday with the annual Honors Convocation held in Conway Boatman Chapel. One sports team, one professor, one student group, and 49 individual students were recognized for their academic achievements and demonstration of Union’s core values.


“These students are stellar examples of a Union education,” said President Dr. Marcia Hawkins. “They are knowledgeable and creative. They are curious, disciplined, critical thinkers who push the envelope of accepted wisdom.”

In the chapel, Webb stands side-by-side with Hawkins while holding his President's award, which is in a black certificate holder with gold trim. Both are smiling, and Hawkins wears her academic regalia while Webb wears a blue and white striped shirt with black pants.

Many students received multiple awards, most notably senior William Webb, who was honored with a total of four. The Justice Leaders, a campus group focused on social equality, received the Stansberry Ecology Award for their contributions to environmental improvement during the academic year. This year’s Athletic Team Academic Award, which recognizes the team with the highest cumulative GPA, went to Women’s Tennis. Dr. Katie Flynn, Associate Professor of Psychology and Health, received the Student Government Association (SGA) Distinguished Professor Award for best exemplifying Union’s commitment and dedication to student well-being.


[PHOTO: Webb receives President's Award from Hawkins.]


The new SGA officers for the 2024-2025 academic year were also announced. Current Vice President (VP) for Academic Affairs Kassidy Koogler will replace graduating senior Carlos Sainz Barroso as President. Current VP for Student Development Allie Williams was elected for a second term. Joao Marcos Seguti will serve as VP for Academic Affairs, Frank Osborne as VP for Communications, Zak Hardman as VP for Business Affairs, and Ivan Macias Rodriguez as VP for Athletic Affairs.

Just as the ceremony appeared to be winding down, Executive Vice President and Provost Dr. Marisa Greer surprised President Hawkins by asking her to step centerstage and then announced a new award named in her honor. Hawkins, who is retiring in June after 12 years of service, was visibly moved by the gesture and held back tears as Greer went on.


“This inaugural award is presented to a student who has made substantial contributions to Union Commonwealth University community,” Greer said, explaining that this includes active involvement in campus organizations, athletic teams, residential communities, or community service programs. “The nominee must also demonstrate a strong potential for future leadership roles and civic engagement while embodying unions core values – C.I.R.C.L.E.S.”


Greer concluded, “Dr. Marcia Hawkins etched her name in history in 2012 by becoming the first female president to assume the presidency at Union.”


Junior Raigan King was then announced as the first recipient of the Dr. Marcia Hawkins Leadership Award.


Live music for the convocation was provided by Dr. Yukiko Fujimura on piano and by Dr. Virginia Gay Gandy’s vocal group Union Harmony.


Since Campus Minister the Rev. David Miller was ill, Professor of Religion Dr. Rusell Sisson ended the ceremony with a quote from Apostle Paul's letter to the Ephesians: “May the grace of God which does immeasurably more than we can conceive, direct us and abide with us now and forevermore. Amen.”

  • Eleven members of the Women's Tennis team in formal attire stand side-by-side at the front of the chapel with Athletic Director Tim Curry. One team member wearing a bright blue dress holds the team's award which is in black certificate holder with gold trim.

    Women's Tennis

    Women's Tennis

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  • Seven Justice Leaders in formal and business casual attire stand side-by-side at the front of the chapel with Dr. Fidelis Achenjang. In the center, Malik McCalpine holds the award and leans into Maggie Heinrich, who is pointing to it with a mock shocked expression on her face.

    Justice Leaders

    Justice Leaders

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  • Carlos Sainz Barroso poses with his arm around Kassidy Koogler at the front of the chapel. Both are smiling, and Carlos is wearing a black suit while Kassidy is wearing a black and yellow dress. Behind them, seated faculty members wearing academic regalia and three flags are visible.

    Carlos Sainz Barroso & Kasidy Koogler

    Carlos Sainz Barroso and Kassidy Koogler

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  • Six Union Harmony members wearing orange and black choir robes sing in the chapel while holding song sheets in black folders. Behind them, an arrangement of pink and yellow flowers is visible.

    Union Harmony

    Union Harmony

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2024 Honors Convocation Individual Student Awards


Megan Baker

  • Outstanding Student in Criminal Justice Award


Noah Canady

  • Dr. Paul Muncy Memorial Award


Skylar Rae Carnes

  • Dr. Mary Alice Lay Service Award


Paulo Carvalheiro

  • Thomas Storrar Award


Niccolò Chiriatti

  • Calculus Award


Tia Cobb

  • Connie Danner Book Award
  • William Faulkner Rushton Memorial Awards (prose)


Joshua Crawford

  • Educational Studies Award for Middle Grades Education


Michael Dixon

  • Educational Studies Award for Elementary Education


Abigail Grace Erby

  • Wimmer Chemistry Award


David Muniz Espin

  • Iota Sigma Nu Freshman Award


Billy Fields

  • Clinical Excellence in Nursing Award


Carter Finlay

  • H. B. Jones Business Enterprise Award


Dr. Katie Flynn

  • Student Government Association (SGA) Distinguished Professor Award


Jenna Grayson

  • Dr. Paul S. Moore Wellness, Human Performance, and Recreation Management Award


Taylor Gwynette

  • Sampson Political Science Award


Madison Hebert

  • William Faulkner Rushton Memorial Awards (poetry)


Margaret Heinrich

  • Outstanding Sociology Major Award


Anna Nevada Henriksen

  • Iota Sigma Nu Freshman Award


Mackenzie Herman

  • Educational Studies Award for Secondary Education


McKenzi Himes

  • Rena Milliken Award
  • The Madison Taylor Triple ‘A’ Award


Rachel Jones

  • Leadership in Nursing Award


Tabitha Jordan

  • The Jones Foundation Award in Education
  • Educational Studies Award for Middle Grades Education


Kassidy Koogler

  • Judge W. W. Tinsley Family Memorial Award
  • H. H. Owens History Award


Sarah Lowe

  • Daniel Drinkard Award


Malik McCalpine

  • Jane Minton Blair Endowed Award for the Arts


Hope McKeehan

  • Dr. Erwin S. Bradley History Award


Kandace Messer

  • Outstanding Psychology Major Award
  • Excellence in Research Award


Emilyann Miller

  • Educational Studies Award for Elementary Education


Johnathon Mills

  • Educational Studies Award for Elementary Education


Taryn Mills

  • Ronald & Mary Alice Marley Mass Communication Award


Ernesto Moreno

  • Dr. L. A. Geiss Senior Award


Laurel Nolan

  • Theodore R. Davies M.D. Senior Biology Award


Emma Phillips

  • Iota Sigma Nu Freshman Award
  • Kathy Brick Award


Lain Prather

  • John Henry Wilson Sophomore Award


Isabelle Proctor

  • Iota Sigma Nu Sophomore Award


Garomme Ramon Hanna

  • Dr. L. A. Geiss Junior Award


Kinsley Redmon

  • Iota Sigma Nu Freshman Award


Kayla Richardson

  • Dr. Cecil H. Wilson Junior Award


John Schneider

  • Blackwell Political Science Award


Joao Marcos Seguti

  • Arthur E. Spurlock Business Award


Mayhgen Shoemaker

  • Accounting Award


Lindsey Smith

  • Excellence in Research Award


Sammy Serrano

  • The Literature Award


Ryan Thomas

  • Bjornstad Freshman Composition Award


Nathaniel Turner

  • The Literature Award


Virginia Wagers

  • Dr. L. A. Geiss Computer Award


William Webb

  • Dr. Mahlon A. Miller President Emeritus Award
  • Governor James D. Black Senior Award
  • President’s Award
  • Steve Jones Memorial Award


Macy Yother

  • Katherine V. Sutphen Memorial Award
  • Educational Studies Award for Secondary Education


Zachary Young

  • Dr. Albert D. Graham, Jr. Social Studies Award 


2024 Honors Day Photos

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