Index of University Press Releases

April 30, 2008

DWU students honored at convocation

MITCHELL, S.D.–Several Dakota Wesleyan University students were honored on April 27 at the 2008 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 775 students are enrolled in various academic majors, with 75 percent of them coming from South Dakota.

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

Alumni Medals for scholarship
Accounting – Tristan Larsen, Mitchell
Biology – Brett Maag, Tripp
Business Administration – Marcus Vontz, Cambridge, Neb.
Chemistry – Chris Ogle, Woonsocket
Criminal Justice – Kristy Klinetobe, Mitchell
Dramatics – Joseph Schoenfelder, Ethan
Education – Amanda Williams, Plankinton (elementary); and McKenzie Slaba, Geddes (secondary)
Friends of the Middle Border – Dustin Ludens, Platte
History – Thomas Mack, Mobridge
Human Services – Anne Reindl, Mitchell
Literature – Dustin Ludens, Platte
Mathematics – Victoria Swanson, Winner; and Andrew Vanden Berg, Armour
Music – Amy Price, Marquette, Neb.
Nursing – Jennifer Beckman, Stickney, Mitchell site; Mary Lee, De Smet, Huron site; Abbey Bonte, Sioux Falls, Sioux Falls site
Psychology – Eric Caylor, Ethan
Sociology – Eric Caylor, Ethan
Speech – Katrina Jarding, Alexandria

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.
Erin Haber, Sioux Falls; Amy Price, Marquette, Neb.; Joseph Schoenfelder, Ethan; Victoria Swanson, Winner

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.
Erin Haber, Sioux Falls

Jennie Orr Memorial Scholarship
This award is given to an outstanding art student who demonstrates character, culture, citizenship and craft.
Danna McCloud, Mitchell

Harriet N. Houk Scholarship
Awarded to biology majors who maintain a 3.0 GPA.
Jason Lanning, Mitchell; Courtney Konicki, Madison, Wisc.; Kyle Meier, Kennebec; Nicholas Tolsma, Rapid City

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.
Kelsey Miller, Belle Fourche

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.
Erin Day, Mitchell

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.
Jennifer Van Pelt, Fedora

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.
Brett Abbotts, Owen Sound, Ontario, Canada; Emily Bastian, Henry; Heather Bohlander, Cavour; Christina Bonrud, Tea; Erica Carmichael, Sioux Falls; Erin Day, Mitchell; Cassie DeRocher, Hinton, Iowa; Erin Haber, Sioux Falls; Allison Hofer, Hitchcock; Gina Klumb, Dimock; Beverly Olson, Yankton; Alison Treib, Mitchell

Erlow and Maxine Wiseman Journalism Award
This endowed fund provides an annual communications/media award for a student involved in journalism.
Anne Martinez, South Pasadena, Calif.

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.
Jeanne Krome, Mitchell

Elizabeth Graham Colton Prize
This cash prize is awarded to a student whose talent, work and promise in creative writing is worthy of recognition.
John McDaniel, Mission

Adkins Mathematics Award
This award is given to encourage mathematics students.
Cassidy Potter, Casper, Wyo.

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.
Monica Jacobson, Tripp

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.
Jacqueline Gall, Pickstown

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.
Helen Eimers, Kimball

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

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): John D. Moro, Joseph, Ore.; Kathryn Nelson, Sioux Falls; Angela Noteboom, Corsica; Theresa Schulte, Chamberlain
Sophomores (Mitchell): Erin Dore, Sioux Falls; Sarah Easton, Fulton; Blake Gades, Mitchell; Leah Rezac, Mitchell
Freshman (Huron): Desiree Rand, Huron
Sophomore (Huron): Kayla Evans, Huron
LPN-RN (Sioux Falls): Mary Ann Godes, Brookings; Cami Van Wyhe, Canton

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.
Becka Schelske, Mitchell

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: Anita Nicholson, Mitchell
Huron: Angela Mausbach, Huron

Army Nurse Corps Spirit of Nursing Award
This award is given to a student who exemplifies the “Spirit of Nursing.”
Mitchell: Joan Kramer, Freeman
Huron: Vanessa Myers, Huron
Sioux Falls: Rakel Gibson, Sioux Falls

Irene Grace Wendt Endowed Scholarship
This award is presented to the top freshman and to a nontraditional student in the nursing program.
Jenna Bietz, Tripp; Misty Tolsma, Avon

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.
Melanie Johnson, Corsica

Methodist Hospital Endowed Scholarship
Rachel VanLeur, Emery; Whitney Weier, Mitchell

Mitchell First United Methodist Church/Methodist Hospital Endowed Scholarship
Laura Guericke, White Lake; Heather Love, Norfolk, Neb.; John Olson, Saint Cloud, Minn.

St. Joseph Hospital Endowed Scholarship
Renee Butler, Elko, Nev.; Cariann Drake, Mitchell

Warren W. Coxe Sociology Award
This award is given to an outstanding junior or senior sociology major.
Eric Caylor, Ethan

Outstanding TRiO Student Support Service Participant
This award is given to the outstanding student support members who have demonstrated exceptional personal and academic growth in the current academic year.
Bronson Heth, Winner; Stephanie Traversie, Mitchell

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.
Sara Borgstadt, Mitchell; Gail Duley, Wood; Allison Hofer, Hitchcock; Beverly Olson, Yankton; Nichole Rueckert, Spencer

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.
Trevor Salmonson, Mitchell

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.
Beverly Olson, Yankton

Vicki Clarke Memorial Endowed Scholarship for Leadership and Service
This scholarship is awarded annually to a student who has demonstrated the conviction and ability to model Vicki Clarke’s example of leadership and service.
Heath Eggleston, Howard, Colo.; Laura Guericke, White Lake

Ralph Roth Annual Merit Scholarship for Business
The scholarship recipient is selected by the business department faculty to a student who displays great potential in the area of business.
Donna Spier, Mitchell

Honor Societies
Alpha Psi Omega - theatre: Benjamin Floyd, Sioux Falls; Melody Howell, Sherman, Texas; Charity Kear, Bismarck, N.D., Kelsey Miller, Belle Fourche; Danielle Richardson, Wichita, Kan.; Kerrie Roozen, Spearfish; Trisha Schleich, Mitchell; Joseph Schoenfelder, Ethan; Melissa Tafoya, Pueblo, Colo.; Abhishek Chan Tiwari, Nepal
Phi Kappa Phi – top 10 percent of seniors and 5 percent of juniors: Erin Day, Mitchell; Cariann Drake, Mitchell; Eric Gillen, Bridgewater; David Hoffman, Mitchell; Tristan Larsen, Mitchell; Dustin Ludens, Platte; John Olson, Saint Cloud, Minn.; Donna Spier, Mitchell. Faculty: Laurie Langland, Jack Mortenson
Pi Gamma Mu – social science fraternity: Seniors – John Brown, Tripp; Erin Day, Mitchell; Gordon Dobson, Broomfield, Colo.; Misty Dogskin, Chamberlain; Jenna Durrin, Winner; Gail Fisher, Winner; Beth Kopfmann, Minneota, Minn.; Jeanne Krome, Mitchell; Amanda Long, Ethan; Dustin Ludens, Platte; John McDaniel, Mission; Michael Molitor, Smithwick; Christie Priebe, Mitchell; Whitney Richey, Waco, Texas; Carolina Rodriguez, Waco, Texas; Kari Schnathorst, Huron; Nicole Tyhurst, Wakonda; Andrew Vanden Berg, Armour; Malori Webb, Mitchell. Juniors – Heather Bohlander, Cavour; Sara Borgstadt, Mitchell; Preston Broughton, Corsica; Sarah Duff, Greensboro, N.C.; David Hoffman, Mitchell; Jason Lanning, Mitchell; Cassidy Potter, Casper, Wyo.; Isaac VanDyke, Chester, Mont.
Sigma Tau Delta – English language and literature: Gail Duley, Wood; Colin Hacker, Conifer, Colo.; Lisa Madore, Mitchell; Anne Martinez, South Pasadena, Calif.; Danna McCloud, Mitchell; Kerrie Roozen, Spearfish; April Teel, Stickney.
Sigma Zeta – science and mathematics: Renee Butler, Elko, Nev.; Cariann Drake, Mitchell; Katherine Shubeck, Centerville; Andrew Vanden Berg, Armour; Isaac VanDyke, Chester, Mont.

Special Faculty Recognition
Exemplary Teacher Award: Vincent Redder, associate professor of English and Languages

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.
Heath Eggleston, Howard, Colo.; Isaac VanDyke, Chester, Mont.

Anonymous III Scholarship
Benjamin Floyd, Sioux Falls

Homer Carhart Prizes in Science
Alexander Liberty, Box Elder; Katherine Shubeck, Centerville

Marjorie Linton O’Byrne and Laura Linton Scholarships
Amanda Aman, Nemo; Emily Bastian, Henry; Heather Bohlander, Cavour; Christina Bonrud, Tea; Morgan Carlson, Huron; Erica Carmichael, Sioux Falls; Erin Day, Mitchell; Cassie DeRocher, Hinton, Iowa; Clint Farrar, Hurley; Leah Howes, Tea; Gina Klumb, Dimock; Stephanie Leist, Canton; Nicole Plooster, Mitchell; Jodi Stevenson, Mitchell; Cody Svatos, Lake Andes; Alison Treib, Letcher; Jacqueline Weier, Freeman

National United Methodist General Scholarship;
Nicole Benning, Pierre; Erica Carmichael, Sioux Falls; Clint Farrar, Hurley; Amanda Fitzgerald, Philip; Nicole Foos, Canton; Shannon Mack, Mobridge; Thomas Mack, Mobridge; Abby Mettler, Wessington Springs; Paula Mettler, Wessington Springs; Katie Poppen, De Smet; Tyler Poppen, De Smet; Amy Price, Marquette, Neb.; Danielle Rathjen, Huron; Elizabeth Stewart, Meadow Grove, Neb.

National United Methodist Foundation Scholars Program
Katharine Leuthold, Larchwood, Iowa; Robert Salmonson, Plankinton; McKenzie Slaba, Geddes

Hatterscheidt Foundation Scholarships
Rosemarie Decker, Beresford; Caitlyn Heezen, Alexandria; Abby Mettler, Wessington Springs; Wendy Schmaltz, Mission