Achievement and Leadership Recognized at UA Honors Day

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – The University of Alabama honored its top students of 2004-2005 for their academic achievement and leadership Friday, April 15, during the Tappings and Awards Ceremony on the Mound, the highlight of UA’s annual Honors Week, April 11-15.

Outstanding Student Awards for each class were presented to:

• Anna Walley of Albertville, Outstanding Senior Award
• Catherine McCord of Gadsden and Cody Locke of Boaz, Outstanding Juniors
• Sarah Kate Sullivan of Birmingham (zip code 35213), Outstanding Sophomore
• Graham Hixon of Montgomery and Laura Hayes of Huntsville, Outstanding Freshmen
• Lindsey Fincher of Hackleburg, Outstanding Transfer Student (presented by Freshman Forum)
• Raegan Lemmond of Tuscaloosa, Outstanding Graduate Student (presented by Graduate Student Association)

Recipients of UA’s Premier Awards were recognized. These top awards, given by the UA president, include the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, the William P. Bloom Scholarship Award, the John Fraser Ramsey Award and the Morris Lehman Mayer Award.

This year’s Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award was presented to one man and one woman of the graduating class and one non-student who has been helpful to, and associated with, the University. The Sullivan Award recognizes excellence of character and service to humanity. Student winners of this year’s Sullivan Award are William Zachary Riddle of Trussville and Jessica Gillilan of Boaz.

Dr. Edward H. Cleino received the Sullivan Award as a non-student honoree.

The William P. Bloom Scholarship Award honors a junior who has improved intergroup relations within the University community; this year’s winner is Taylor Nichols of Northport.

The John Fraser Ramsey Award, named in honor of the late University history professor emeritus, recognizes in a junior the versatility of gifts and attainments, as well as the breadth of excellence in mind and character, that have traditionally been the goals of a liberal education.

The recipient of the Ramsey Award is Jon David Conolley of Moody.

The Morris Lehman Mayer Award, named in honor of the business professor emeritus, recognizes one member of the graduating class and one faculty member who exemplify integrity, selfless service and leadership at UA. Grace Shelby of Huntsville received the Mayer Award as the graduating recipient. Dr. Kathryn Oths has been selected as the faculty recipient of the Mayer Award.

Dr. Kathleen Cramer, UA senior associate vice president for student affairs, was named recipient of this year’s Frances S. Summersell Award, sponsored by UA’s Iota Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa. Established in 1992, this award recognizes an individual or individuals who have aided the educational mission of the University or improved the quality of life in the state. Paul W. Bryant Jr., Tuscaloosa businessman and a member of the UA Board of Trustees, was named the ODK 2005 Living Legend in recognition of his lifetime contributions to the goals and ideals of higher education, historical scholarship and preservation.

The University’s Amanda Grace Taylor Watson Distinctive Image Award, given by the UA Capstone Men and Women organization, was presented to Dr. Joseph Hornsby, director of the Blount Undergraduate Initiative at UA. The award, named in memory of former Capstone Woman Amanda Grace Taylor Watson, is given to a person who exemplifies the essence of the University in all aspects of life.

The Walter R. Guyton Student Service Award was presented to Jim Oakley, placement director for the UA College of Communication and Information Sciences. The Guyton Award recognizes outstanding commitment to service of UA students.

The Other Club Outstanding Faculty Award went to Darren Evans-Young, administrator in the UA Office of Information Technology. The Other Club Outstanding Student Award went to Christina Corley of Tuscaloosa. The Other Club is a student-run honorary organization that brings together undergraduate leaders, concerned faculty and local citizens to discuss timely issues in an Oxford-style atmosphere; it was originally founded in London in 1911.

The 2005 Distinguished Alumna Award winner is Anne McAliley Moman of Tuscaloosa, and the 2005 Distinguished Alumnus Award winner is G. Richard Cowart of Louisville, Tenn.

The Alumni Student awards honor members of the senior class who have achieved academic excellence, participated in numerous extracurricular activities, shown strength of character and maturity, and displayed exceptional hospitality toward guests and friends of the University.

The recipients of the 2005 Alumni Student Awards are Courtney Hummer Graham of Tuscaloosa and William Key Norvell Jr. of Florence.

The 2005 Alumni Outstanding Senior Award winners are: Desiree Adams of Chickasaw, Leigh Alexander of Shreveport, La., Jason Chesser of Ozark, Philip Dean of Dothan, Jessica Gillilan of Boaz, Laura Neergaard of Memphis, Tenn., Robert (Bobby) Puppione of Castro Valley, Calif., William (Zac) Riddle of Trussville, Jason Spruell of Tuscaloosa, and Maridi Thompson of Tuscaloosa.

Morgan Clark of Robertsdale received the 2005 Penny Allen Award. This award recognizes a student who has demonstrated outstanding leadership. The award also recognizes University employees who have contributed to the quality of student life, and was presented this year to Kelly Brennan, associate director of the Enterprise Integration Lab at UA. The award was established in honor of the late Sara Bell Penrod “Penny” Allen of the UA School of Social Work.

UA Black Scholar Awards included:

• Recognition of Tiffany M. Mosley of Mobile as recipient of the Autherine Lucy Foster Endowed Scholarship; Ashley N. Smith of Montgomery as recipient of the Vivian Malone Jones Endowed Scholarship; Peggy Grant of Montgomery as recipient of the James Hood Endowed Scholarship; Christina Daniel of Aliceville (2004) and Shanel Lightfoot-Brown of Tuscaloosa (2005) as recipients of the African-American Alumni Network Endowed Scholarship.
• Monica Renee Richey of Tuscaloosa received the John England Award
• Joy Francette Johnson of Hueytown received the Joffre and Zadie Whisenton Award
• Tiffany M. Mosley of Mobile received the Earnestine Tucker Award
• Derricka S. Broaden of Montgomery, Tameka R. Jackson of Fitzpatrick, Warren F. Jones of Birmingham (35226), Cynthia M. Mills of Ozark, John H. Lewis of Anniston, Brittany C. Sims of Montgomery, Danielle Y. Mitchell of Hoover, and Jessica A. Smith of Irondale received the Sandral Hullett Award.

The top University-wide honor societies also tapped new members. They include:

Anderson Society

Anderson Society is a senior honorary comprised of 24 members who are chosen in recognition of their significant contributions to the University. The society seeks to promote high academic standards as well as excellence in student leadership and service.

Regular Members — Tracy Lynn Bradshaw of Germantown, Tenn., Katherine A. “Katie” Carmon of Savannah, Ga., Daniel Pelham Carroll of Tuscaloosa, Lauren Baker Elliot of West Memphis, Ark., Mary Catherine “Katie” Finch of Spanish Fort, Amy N. Gillis of Columbus, Miss., John Eugene Griffin of Trussville, George M. Handey of Montgomery, Mary Ila Heard of Decatur, Lauren Castañeda Kraselsky of Snellville, Clinton Matthew Light of Arab, Cody J. Locke of Boaz, Megan E. May of Roanoke, Amanda Kaye McMillan of Monroeville, Taylor R. Nichols of Northport, John G. Phillips of Decatur, Holly C. Radford of Athens, Adam G. Rankin of Bristol, Tenn., Courtney J. Sanders of Steele, Martin McCain Smith of Tuscaloosa, Tiffany M. Summerville of Springville, Amy Catherine Wilkinson of Clinton, Miss., Anna Ruth Williams of Denver, Colo., Stephanie LeeAnn Wilson of Vestavia Hills

Honorary Members–Andrew Christopher Coley, Huntsville, Ryan Patterson Davis of Huntsville, Virnetta S. Greene, Birmingham (35214), Lara Ann Santini of Mobile, Aaron Jonathan Vold of Tuscaloosa, John C. Watkins V of Tuscaloosa.

Outstanding Sophomore — Sarah Kate Sullivan of Birmingham (35213)

Honorary Faculty Members — Dr. Guy Caldwell, Dr. Robert Halli, Dr. Tim Hebson, Dr. Jacqueline Morgan, Mr. Marion Pearson

New Faculty Adviser — Dr. Louise D. Cary

Blue Key Honor Fraternity

Blue Key was, with Omicron Delta Kappa and the Jasons, one of the first three honor societies at the University. During the Great Depression, Blue Key ceased operating on the campus, but it returned in 1987. Blue Key members are selected during spring semester of the junior year and must represent high scholastic ideals, leadership, and diversity of background. Selection is one of the highest honors that can be bestowed on rising seniors.

2005–06 New Members: Matthew Edward Benak of Birmingham (35243), Elizabeth Blackwell of Talladega, Tracy Lynn Bradshaw of Germantown, Tenn., Katherine A. “Katie” Carmon of Savannah, Ga., Daniel Pelham Carroll of Tuscaloosa, John Charles Cochran of Tuscaloosa, Ryan Patterson Davis of Huntsville, Lauren Baker Elliott of West Memphis, Ariz., Katherine Lynne Ellis of Vestavia Hills, Latoya Louise Flint of Muscle Shoals, Drayton L. Green of Suwanee, Ga., John Eugene Griffin of Trussville, George M. Handey of Montgomery, Thomas J. House Jr. of Decatur, Laura Lynn Lester of Luverne, Clinton Matthew Light of Arab, Catherine Ann McCord of Gadsden, Natalie P. McElveen of Birmingham (35253), Shermeen Memon of Tuscaloosa, Christina Newell of Trussville, Taylor R. Nichols of Northport, Divya Shank Patel of Enterprise, John G. Phillips of Decatur, Natalie Pope of Hattiesburg, Miss., Holly C. Radford of Athens, Courtney Sanders of Steele, William A. Shaffer of Burke, Va., Martin McCain Smith of Tuscaloosa, Lauren Melissa Steed of Birmingham (35242), Tiffany M. Summerville of Springville, Alison Leigh Terry of Madison, Elizabeth B. Thompson of Montgomery, Jonathan Patrick Thompson of Vestavia Hills, James Gerald “Jimmy” Welch of Mobile, Laura A. White of Prattville, Amy Catherine Wilkinson of Clinton, Miss., Stephanie LeeAnn Wilson of Vestavia Hills, Wesley K. Winborn of Florence, Tess Winkler of Stafford, Va., and Jonathan Wright of Florence.

Honorary Member: James Kelly Williamson of Tuscaloosa

Mortar Board

Election to Mortar Board, a national honor society for men and women, is based on leadership, scholarship, and service. It is one of the highest honors that can be granted to seniors. Members must display outstanding dedication to service and leadership.

2005–06 New Members: Sonya Adams of Durham, N.C., Arthur Brown Jr. of Selma, Haley J. Carpenter of Reform, John Charles Cochran of Tuscaloosa, Beth Davis of Gadsden, Ryan Patterson Davis of Huntsville, Heather R. Edwards of Montgomery, Lauren Baker Elliott of West Memphis, Ark., Katherine Lynne Ellis of Vestavia Hills, Christopher H. Ezell of Sylacauga, Mary Catherine “Katie” Finch of Spanish Fort, Latoya Louise Flint of Muscle Shoals, V. Joan Garrett of Pelham, Virnetta S. Greene of Birmingham (35214), John Eugene Griffin of Trussville, George M. Handey of Montgomery, Wendy Hardegree of Mountain Brook, Breanna R. Harris of Cullman, Mary Ila Heard of Decatur, Laura Kitchens of Jasper, Lauren Castañeda Kraselsky of Snellville, Ga., Julian Lamber of Tuscaloosa, John D. Lane of Braxton, Miss., Cody J. Locke of Boaz, Lindsay Maples of Mobile, Megan E. May of Roanoke, Catherine Ann McCord of Gadsden, Amanda Kaye McMillan of Monroeville, Shermeen Memon of Tuscaloosa, Lindsey Miller of Monroeville, John Musser of Adamsville, Taylor R. Nichols of Northport, Laura B. Osburn of Wilmer, John G. Phillips of Decatur, Natalie Pope of Hattiesburg, Miss., Caitlin Diana Prickett of Wellington, J. Hayden Pruett of Madison, Adam G. Rankin of Bristol, Tenn., Christopher K. Richardson of Dothan, Courtney Sanders of Steele, Kathleen “Katie” Shields of Vestavia Hills, Martin McCain Smith of Tuscaloosa, Sarah Smitter of Escondido, Calif., Lauren Melissa Steed of Birmingham (35242), Ryan Scott Stephens of Nashville, Tenn., Tanya Szymberski of Tuscaloosa, Alexandra S. Terry of Mobile, Elizabeth B. Thompson of Montgomery, Jonathan Patrick Thompson Vestavia Hills, and Stephanie LeeAnn Wilson of Vestavia Hills.

Omicron Delta Kappa

The purpose of Omicron Delta Kappa is to recognize those students who have attained high standards in collegiate activities, to inspire others to strive for similar attainments, and to bring together students in all areas of college life: scholarship; athletics; campus or community service; social and religious activities; campus government; journalism, speech, and mass media; and creative and performing arts.

2005–06 New Members: Jessica L. Banks of Birmingham (35216), Mari Bayer of San Jose, Calif., Malinda J. Brown of Enterprise, Katherine A. “Katie” Carmon of Savannah, Ga., Tara Carney of Brentwood, Tenn., Candace Channell of Alexander City, Daniel Pelham Carroll of Tuscaloosa, Beth Davis of Gadsden, Jordan Davis of Raleigh, N.C., Ryan Patterson Davis of Huntsville, Jennifer DeFrance of Tuscaloosa, Ismenia DeSouza of Tuscaloosa, Heather R. Edwards of Montgomery, Lauren Baker Elliott of West Memphis, Ark., Katherine Lynne Ellis of Vestavia Hills, Zane Feldman of Birmingham (35242), Latoya Louise Flint of Muscle Shoals, John B. Graham of Southside, Jennifer Gray of Decatur, Virnetta S. Greene of Birmingham (35214), Clint Haggard of Northport, George M. Handey of Montgomery, David Hawke of Saraland, Erin Heffner of Ft. Wayne, Ind., Michelle Hilgeman of Tuscaloosa, Rachel Holland of Daleville, James Hudson of Tuscaloosa, Ali Jones of Montgomery, Laura Kitchens of Jasper, Lauren Castañeda Kraselsky of Snellville, Ga., Clinton Matthew Light of Arab, Megan E. May of Roanoke, Ashley McCabe of Fairhope, Jason McCain of Opelika, Sean McCarty of Hoover, Catherine Ann McCord of Gadsden, Lauren McCowan of Crane Hill, Natalie P. McElveen of Birmingham (35253), Amanda Kaye McMillan of Monroeville, Shermeen Memon of Tuscaloosa, Megan Mitchell of Birmingham (35243), Erin Montalto of Trussville, Brett Morris of Northport, Yukio Nara of Tuscaloosa, Christina Newell of Trussville, Taylor R. Nichols of Northport, Sarah Noble of Tuscaloosa, Molly E. Page of Rainbow City, Divya Shank Patel of Enterprise, Bryant Patrick of Franklin, Tenn., James Patton of Vestavia, Natalie Pope of Hattiesburg, Miss., Holly C. Radford of Athens, William A. Schaffer of Burke, Va., Katherine Soppet of Dothan, Mary E. Spencer of Alabaster, Lauren Melissa Steed of Birmingham (35242), Alexandra S. Terry of Mobile, Alison Leigh Terry of Madison, Elizabeth B. Thompson of Montgomery, Barbara Torgusen of Northport, Aaron Jonathan Vold of Tuscaloosa, James Gerald “Jimmy” Welch of Mobile, Amy Catherine Wilkinson Clinton, Miss., Anna Ruth Williams of Denver, Colo., Stephanie LeeAnn Wilson of Vestavia Hills, Tess Winkler of Stafford, Va., Elizabeth Wood of Montgomery, Laura Young of Spencerport, N.Y.