Index of University Press Releases

May 4, 2007

DWU students honored at convocation

MITCHELL, S.D.–Several Dakota Wesleyan University students were honored on April 29 at the 2007 Honors Sunday convocation held on campus.

Students were recognized for honors in scholarship and for active participation in a variety of campus clubs or events. In addition, Alumni Medals were presented to outstanding students in various academic departments.

DWU is a private, liberal arts university associated with the Dakotas Conference of the United Methodist Church. Around 700 students are enrolled in various academic majors, with more than 70 percent of them coming from South Dakota.

Following is a list of students and the awards they received:

Alumni Medals for scholarship
Accounting – Tess New, Mission
Biology – Keri Nebelsick, Canistota
Business Administration – Jodi Wright, Armour
Chemistry – David Andersen, Hooker, Okla.
Criminal Justice – Kris Lulf, Sterling, Colo.
Dramatics – Joseph Schoenfelder, Ethan
Education – Angelika Vanden Bos, Platte (elementary); and Tricia Kamps, Tucson, Ariz. (secondary)
Friends of the Middle Border – Dustin Putnam, Mitchell
History – Carey Radway, Milesville
Human Services – Michael Wright, Belle Fourche
Languages – Karen Antique, Lara, Venezuela
Literature – Dustin Putnam, Mitchell
Mathematics – Keri Nebelsick, Canistota; and Brock Seim, Le Grand, Iowa
Music – Michael Wright, Belle Fourche
Nursing – Natalie VanDrongelen, Stickney, Mitchell site; Stephanie Mehling, Wessington, Huron site; ReNae Gibson, Garretson, Sioux Falls site
Physical Education – Andrew Schmaltz, Mission
Psychology – Gordon Dobson, Centennial, Colo.
Religion and Philosophy – Kim Duarte, Seattle
Speech – Tricia Luckett, Mitchell

University Scholars
To graduate as a University Scholar, students are required to complete at least three honors courses, have a 3.5 cumulative GPA and present a senior seminar.
Carey Radway, Milesville

Jerry M. Trimble Leadership Award
This award is presented annually to a student leader who exhibits academic integrity, ability to grow and change, and for influencing students and colleagues.
Keri Nebelsick, Canistota

Jennie Orr Memorial Scholarship
This award is given to an outstanding art student who demonstrates character, culture, citizenship and craft.
Amanda Gortmaker, Miller

Harriet N. Houk Scholarship
Awarded to biology majors who maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Renee Butler, Elko, Nev.; Bronson Heth, Winner; Jason Lanning, Philip; Brett Maag, Tripp

George and Eleanor McGovern Student Leadership and Public Service Award
This award is presented to a public service and leadership major or minor who has proven his/her commitment as an activist for the common good through extraordinary acts of leadership and service.
Katrina Jarding, Alexandria

Oscar Ingram Award
Awarded to an outstanding forensics student in honor of Oscar Ingram, longtime head of the department of speech and drama.
Laura Urban, Presho

Master Craftsman Award in Theatre
This award is given to graduating seniors who have supported theatre in outstanding ways.
Katherine Jarabek, Mitchell

DWU Future Teachers Organization Service Award
This award is presented to students who have exemplified outstanding service in the field of education, including activities of service to DWU, the community, and area public and private schools.
Kristi Anderson, Hitchcock

DWU Future Teachers Organization Local Leader Award
This award is given to a member of FTO who has taken a leadership role and provided superior guidance in the organization.
Amanda Fitzgerald, Philip

DWU REDI (Rapid Education Development Initiative) Scholars
The REDI Scholars are elementary education students who have demonstrated superior professionalism and ability in the collegiate classroom, designating them as ready to begin early professional experiences as teacher aids in a K-8 setting. The students must be a unanimous choice of the education department faculty in meeting a preselected set of criteria that includes evidence of exceeding expectations for all 10 INTASC standards that frame the education department mission.
Kristi Anderson, Hitchcock; Heather Bohlander, Cavour; Erin Day, Mitchell; Tina Glissendorf, White Lake; Beth Kopfmann, Minneota, Minn.; McKenzie Slaba, Geddes; Alison Treib, Mitchell; Sarah Wells, Norfolk, Neb.

Erlow and Maxine Wiseman Journalism Award
This endowed fund provides an annual communications/media award for a student involved in journalism.
Lisa Madore, Mitchell

Edith Heritage Garrison Memorial Prize in Writing
This cash award is given to a student in any field of study whose intellectual curiosity and interest in communicating with others leads to outstanding formal and informal essay writing.
Blythe Novotny, De Smet

Elizabeth Graham Colton Prize in Creative Writing
This cash prize is awarded to a student whose talent, work and promise in creative writing is worthy of recognition.
Dustin Ludens, Geddes

Agnes Hyde Writing Competition
The Agnes Hyde Writing Competition is open to all university students. Prizes are awarded annually for student writing in the categories of essay, poetry and fiction. A student may enter all three categories or enter more than one work in any category. Winners are judged on merit, which is determined by the quality of imagination and sophistication of thought shown by the work, the control of form and skill in the use of language.
Poetry: Heidi Birkley, Osage, Wyo., first; Joseph Schoenfelder, Ethan, second; and Derric Ludens, Geddes, third. Essay: Blythe Novotny, De Smet, first; Anne Martinez, Pasadena, Calif., second; and McKenzie Slaba, Geddes, third. Fiction: Dustin Ludens, Geddes, first; and Dustin Putnam, Mitchell, second.

Adkins Mathematics Award
This award is given to encourage mathematics students.
Victoria Swanson, Winner

Janet Glenny Farney Memorial Award
This award is given to a student majoring in mathematics who has overcome extraordinary difficulties in order to maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.
Carolina Rodriguez, Waco, Texas

The Sinfonia Service Award
This award is given to a member of the choir who best represents the characteristics of “Sacrifice or Service” to the music department.
Amy Price, Marquette, Neb.

Mary E. Anderson Freshman Nursing Merit Award
This award is presented to a freshman student in the nursing program who shows scholarship and promise for excellence in nursing.
Becka Schelske, Mitchell

Raymond and Helen Trent Paulsen Memorial Nursing Award
This award is given to a student in the nursing program who is interested in an elderly care career.
Jamie Spoelstra, New Holland

Katherine McKillop Sophomore Nursing Award
This award is presented to a sophomore student in the nursing program whose scholarship is worthy of recognition.
Jenna Linke, Woonsocket

Nursing Faculty Awards
These awards are given to students who demonstrate an enthusiasm for learning, giving quality care and who have a positive attitude.
Freshmen (Mitchell): Helen Konechne, Kimball; Joan Kramer, Freeman; Anita Nicholson, Mitchell
Sophomores (Mitchell): Veronica Adame, Dodge City, Kan.; Brett Maag, Tripp; Julie Schlimgen, Scotland
Freshman (Huron): Angela Mausbach, Huron
Sophomore (Huron): Tracy Regnier, Huron
LPN-RN (Sioux Falls): Kelly Glanzer, Bridgewater; Gina Veldhuizen, Sioux Falls

Mildred Montag Nursing Scholar Award
This award goes to a student who participates in extracurricular activities and demonstrates an outstanding ability in a clinical setting.
Danielle Rathjen, Hitchcock

Nursing Leadership Award
This award is given to a graduate of the nursing program who has demonstrated leadership skills within student nursing organizations and community activities.
Mitchell: Tonya Estabrook, Mount Vernon
Huron: Jennifer Anderson, De Smet

Army Nurse Corps Spirit of Nursing Award
This award is given to a student who exemplifies the “Spirit of Nursing.”
Mitchell: Nathel Cody, Stickney
Huron: Stephanie Mehling, Wessington
Sioux Falls: Amy Gage, Sioux Falls

Irene Grace Wendt Endowed Scholarship
This award is presented to the top freshman and to a nontraditional student in the nursing program.
Sarah Easton, Fulton; Jaimee Keiner, Chamberlain

Jennifer Dawn (Hoffman) Hauptman Annual Scholarship
This scholarship was established in memory of Jennifer Dawn (Hoffman) Hauptman ’01 who was killed in an air ambulance crash near Dodge City, Kan.
Sara Van Zee, Corsica

Methodist Hospital Endowed Scholarship
Rachel Vanleur, A.A., Emery; Danielle Rathjen, B.A.N., Hitchcock

Mitchell First United Methodist Church/Methodist Hospital Endowed Scholarship
Katharine Leuthold, Larchwood, Iowa; David Pursell, White Lake; Justin Shinkle, Douglas, Wyo.

St. Joseph Hospital Endowed Scholarship
Bronson Heth, Winner; Jason Lanning, Philip

Warren W. Coxe Sociology Award
This award is given to an outstanding junior or senior sociology major.
Danielle Rathjen, Hitchcock

Student Support Service Participant Award
This award is given to the outstanding student support members who have demonstrated exceptional personal and academic growth in the current academic year.
Keaton Cummings, Pierre; Mary Palmer, Memphis, Tenn.

American Association of University Women DWU Scholarship
This award is given to female nontraditional junior students with a GPA of 2.5 or above. The cash award is set up as a fund at the campus bookstore.
Carla Chesbrough, Stacy, Minn.; Kristy Klinetobe, Mitchell; Ada Morales, Mitchell

DAKOTACARE Annual Scholarship
This scholarship is awarded annually to an incoming freshman who is a South Dakota resident with a stated major in a medically related field such as nursing, sports medicine or biology.
Sarah VandenBerg, Armour

Virginia A. Harms Endowed Scholarship in Elementary Education
Scholarship recipients are selected by the education faculty based on scholarship, service, ability and a passion for helping all students learn.
Amanda Fitzgerald, Philip; Sarah Wells, Norfolk, Neb.

Honor Societies
Phi Kappa Phi – faculty, top 10% of seniors and 5% of juniors: Susan Almjeld, Mitchell; Kristi Anderson, Hitchcock; Brock Ball, Woonsocket; John Husmann, Mitchell; Danielle Rathjen, Hitchcock; Daniel Selvig, Platte; McKenzie Slaba, Geddes; Victoria Swanson, Winner; Sarah Wells, Norfolk, Neb.
Pi Gamma Mu – social science fraternity: Seniors – Veronica Adame, Dodge City, Kan.; Karen Antique, Lara, Venezuela; Shane Cochran, Ogallala, Neb.; Zane Duarte, Seattle; Amanda Fitzgerald, Philip; Tricia Kamps, Tucson, Ariz.; Grant Konechne, Kimball; Kris Lulf, Sterling, Colo.; Mario Martinez, Dodge City, Kansas; Tara Miller, Mitchell; Scott Moerike, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada; Sarah Myers, Huron; Tess New, Mission; Blythe Novotny, De Smet; Jennifer Pommer, De Smet; Adelle Puffer, Hitchcock; Danielle Rathjen, Hitchcock; Andrew Schmaltz, Mission; Brock Seim, Le Grand, Iowa; Victoria Swanson, Winner; Davis Vanden Berge, Corsica; Randy Veurink, New Holland; Catherine Weavill, Burbank; Chance Wiedmeier, Rapid City; Jodi Wright, Armour. Juniors – Tristan Larsen, Mitchell; Paula Mettler, Wessington Springs; Rudy Niewenhuis, Corsica; McKenzie Slaba, Geddes; Tyler Thill, Mitchell; Marcus Vontz, Cambridge, Neb.; Sarah Wells, Norfolk, Neb.
Pi Kappa Delta – forensics: Jereme Burch, Mitchell; Katrina Jarding, Alexandria; Anne Martinez, Pasadena, Calif.; Danna McCloud, Mitchell
Psi Chi – psychology: Tiffany Hixon, Springfield; Paula Mettler, Wessington Springs; Lisa Redlin, Alexandria
Sigma Tau Delta – English language and literature: Heidi Birkley, Osage, Wyo.; Jenna Durrin, Winner; Dustin Ludens, Geddes; Michael Molitor, Smithwick; McKenzie Slaba, Geddes
Sigma Zeta – science and mathematics: Jason Lanning, Philip; Kyle Meier, Kennebec; Chris Ogle, Woonsocket; Carolina Rodriguez, Waco, Texas

Special Faculty Recognition
Academic Achievement: Janice Ford earned a Master of Science in nursing with specialization in nursing/health care education from the University of Phoenix.
Promotion and Tenure: Janice Ford promoted to assistant professor; Vincent Redder promoted to associate professor and granted tenure; and Vicki Welch promoted to associate professor.
Exemplary Teacher Award: Diane Sandhoff, associate professor of nursing

Hughes Grant-in-Aid for Summer Experiences Award
The Hughes Grant-in-Aid for Summer Experiences provides an award of up to $2,000 to a biology or mathematics major to pursue summer field and/or research experiences that are not available at Dakota Wesleyan.
John Brown, Tripp; Leslie McCain, Mitchell

Phi Beta Lambda Scholarship
Shannon Engel, Mitchell; Nicholas Unruh, Otto, Wyo.

Anonymous III Scholarship
Katherine Jarabek, Mitchell

Homer Carhart Prizes in Science
Renee Butler, Elko, Nev.; Jason Lanning, Philip

Marjorie Linton O’Byrne and Laura Linton Scholarships
Kristi Anderson, Hitchcock; Jessica Bahmuller, Alexandria; Heather Bohlander, Cavour; Erica Carmichael, Sioux Falls; Erin Day, Mitchell; Cassie DeRocher, Westfield, Iowa; Traci Dufek, Geddes; Clint Farrar, Hurley; Gail Fisher, Winner; Amanda Fitzgerald, Philip; Tiffany Fraser, Mitchell; Taylor Johnson, Brookings; Gina Klumb, Dimock; Gwendolyn Moore, Mitchell; Nicole Plooster, Mitchell; Jennifer Pommer, De Smet; Cody Svatos, Lake Andes; Alan Swartz, Dell Rapids; Alison Treib, Mitchell; Malori Webb, Mitchell; Amanda Williams, Plankinton

Bishop’s Leadership Scholarship
Awarded to a freshman who has exhibited leadership in the United Methodist Church and academic achievement.
Sean Binder, Spearfish

National United Methodist General Scholarship;
Zane Duarte, Seattle; Clint Farrar, Hurley; Taya Kayser, Stickney; Danielle Knight, Gregory; Heidi Larson, De Smet; Thomas Mack, Mobridge; Jayna Morrill, Creighton, Neb.; Jill Viedt, Winner; Tosha Vogel, Brookings; Michael Wright, Belle Fourche

National United Methodist Foundation Scholars Program
Kim Duarte, Seattle; Katie Ford, Huron; Paula Mettler, Wessington Springs; Patrick Ryan, St. Charles, Ill.

Hatterscheidt Foundation Scholarships
Emily Bastian, Henry; Angela Noteboom, Corsica; Taylor Olson, Arlington; Ashley Pommer, De Smet

Residential Life Program
Heath Eggleston, Howard, Colo.