Bluefield University recognized the academic excellence of its students at its annual Honors Convocation held Wednesday, April 23 in Harman Chapel.
Accounting professor Dr. Mike Bandy offered the invocational prayer. Music and worship arts professor Dr. Jeremy Yowell performed “Let Your Faith Be Stronger Than Your Fear” accompanied by Mellisa Yowell, adjunct music professor and coordinator for the university’s Fine Arts Community School.
Dr. Steve Peterson, the institution’s President, introduced faculty speaker Dr. Emily Lambert. Dr. Lambert is the dean of the College of Science & Health Sciences and chair of the Honors Program. As the 2024 recipient of the Margaret Newcomb Leonard Excellence in Teaching Award, she shared reflections on the privilege of serving others.
Dr. Yowell led the congregation in the hymn “In Christ Alone.”
Provost Dr. Michael Salmeier began the award presentations by honoring 213 students from Spring 2024 and 203 students from Fall 2024 who made the Dean’s List with a 3.5 to 3.89 semester GPA or the President’s List with a 3.9 to 4.0 semester GPA.
The 2025 Honors Convocation award recipients included:
- Freshmen Award for Highest Cumulative Grade Point Average: Savannah Taylor
- Freshmen Certificates of Recognition for cumulative grade point averages of 3.80 and above: Enrico Alaia, Jack Dennis, Kara Kimbrough, Sarah Pennington, Mia Peterson and Zander Slough
- Sophomore Award for Highest Cumulative Grade Point Average: Dusty Cash
- Sophomore Certificates of Recognition for cumulative grade point averages of 3.80 and above: Jessica Aristy, Damien Drake, Elei Haynes, Jacob Mitchell and Solomon Stephens
- Junior Award for Highest Cumulative Grade Point Average: Abigail Bradley
- Junior Certificates of Recognition for cumulative grade point averages of 3.80 and above: Lauren Bragg, Dorian Crabtree, Courtney Frame, Alayshia Griffith, Cameron Justis, LoriAne Lester, Gary Pettrey, Tyler Rakes and Chesed Russell
- Senior Award for Highest Cumulative Grade Point Average: Michael Bucklen, Brayden Surface and Tammy Younger
- Senior Certificates of Recognition for cumulative grade point averages of 3.80 and above: Hannah DeWick, Savannah Holmes, Madilyn Howington, Jessica Justus and Arin Robinson-Fowler
- Marvin G. Williams Award for the Outstanding Biology Graduate: Macy McBride
- Frank S. Easley Award for the Outstanding Business Administration Graduate: Abigail Mlynski
- Outstanding Master of Business Administration Graduate: Misty Bandy
- Outstanding Communication Arts Graduate: Abigail Gasperson
- Outstanding Master of Arts in Counseling Graduate: Cynthia Johnson
- Outstanding Criminal Justice Traditional Graduate: Georgia Lewis
- Outstanding Criminal Justice Online Graduate: John Embrescia
- Outstanding Cybersecurity Graduate: Jonathan Collier
- Outstanding Early Childhood Education Graduate: Leeanna Mullins
- Gerald E. Clay Award for the Outstanding Teacher Education Graduate: Shawn M. Johnson
- Outstanding Master of Arts in Education Graduate: Robyn Thurston
- Outstanding English Graduate: Sydney Horton
- Outstanding Exercise and Sport Science Graduate: Chara Wootten
- Outstanding History Graduate: Shawn M. Johnson
- Outstanding Graphic Communication Graduate: Jenny Mitchell
- Outstanding Leadership and Innovation Graduate: Amanda Foutz
- Outstanding Music Graduate: Amaya Brooks
- Outstanding Bachelor of Science in Nursing Graduate: Tanner Wimmer
- Outstanding RN to BSN Graduate: Elyssa McGlothlin
- Outstanding Master of Science in Nursing Graduate: Brett Showalter
- Ronald W. Hedrick Award for the Outstanding Psychology and Human Service Graduate: Grace Trent
- Alpha Chi Honor Society Graduates: Elise Clary, John Embrescia, Abigail Gasperson, Chase Hodges, Sydney Horton, Macy McBride and Abigail Mlynski
- Honors Program Scholar Graduate: Jonathan Collier, Sydney Horton and Macy McBride
- Biblical Languages Award: Dorian Crabtree
- Rampage Scholar Awards: Jenny Mitchell and Chesed Russell
- David M. Armbrister History Award: Shawn M. Johnson
- Louisa Sowers History Scholarship: Molly Kay Belton
- Excellence in Law Enforcement Studies Award: Destiny Long and Kyle Orris
- Excellence in Legal Studies Award: Georgia Lewis
- Walls-Farmer Criminal Justice Scholarship: Jessica Aristy
- Dr. Gerald E. Clay Scholarship: Seth Johnson
- Heather M. Smith Scholarship: Michael Ashton Bucklen
- Delta Kappa Gamma Education Award: Jaala Maurer
- Margaret Newcomb Leonard Outstanding Future Teacher Award: MacKenzie Hataway
- Marsha A. Mead Scholarship: Sara Cole
- Paul W. Beasley Servant Leadership Award: Grace Trent
- Margaret Newcomb Leonard Excellence in Teaching Award: Wendy Beavers
Dr. Yowell led the congregation in singing the Alma Mater, and Paula Beasley offered the benediction.
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