UA Honors Day Recognizes Excellence

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — The University of Alabama honored its top students for their academic achievements and leadership today during the Honors Day Tapping Ceremony, the highlight of UA’s annual Honors Week, April 4-8.

Tapping on the Mound

Outstanding Student Awards for each class were presented to:

Outstanding Freshman Award: Matthew Tedford, of Knoxville, Tennessee; Mae Crumbley, of Madison.

Outstanding Sophomore Award: Madison Fendley, of Dothan.

Outstanding Junior Award: Chris Lancaster, of Plano, Texas.

Outstanding Senior Award: Justin Pendleton, of Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Outstanding Transfer Student: Olivia Walker, of Alexandria.

Outstanding Graduate Students: Lakeidra Mims, of Monroeville; Vaishali Batra, of Tuscaloosa.

Anderson Society: Anderson Society, a senior honorary, was founded at The University of Alabama in 1975 and seeks to promote excellence in student leadership and service as well as high academic standards. Each year 24 members are selected in recognition of their significant contributions to the University.

The students are: Jordana Baraad, Casey Barberio, Miranda Cobb, Kelsei Coleman, Mary Catherine Connors, Lavinia Doan, Jordan Forrest, Sabrina Gerlich, Cynthia Green, Elizabeth Henderson, Christopher Lancaster, Madeleine Lewis, Sahiti Madireddy, Maunica Malladi, Virginia Morgan, Caroline Morrison, Orion Recke, Alex Reeder, Mackenzie Ross, Jessica Shieh, Paige Sims, Emma Smith, Emily Stebbins, John Stoffer and Kaylyn Williams. Honorary Members: Brink Ambler, Caitlin Baggett, Bonnie Gross, Paul Kolotka, Reece McKenzie, Jesse Sullivan and Caitlin Wall. Honorary Faculty Members: Barbara Lee Black, Stephanie Brewer, Dr. Mary Lee Caldwell and Dr. David Grady.

Blue Key Honor Society: Blue Key was, with Omicron Delta Kappa and the Jasons, one of the first three honor societies at The University of Alabama. 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.

The students are: Cassidy Alwan, Elizabeth Arnold, Casey Barberio, Brigitte Barnes, Marky Bingham, John Booth, Bailey Brock, Michael Burnette, Danielle Cassady, Adam Chalmers, Jaclyn Combs, Michael Dunn, Samantha Dyroff, Jordan Forrest, Lauren Gaskin, Kelly Greene, Faulkner Hereford, Jonathan Hess, Jordan Hill, Amanda Ivy, Hilary Jones, Alexis Kentros, Christopher Lancaster, Ainsley LeBlanc, Sahiti Madireddy, Anne Matthews, Virginia Morgan, Caroline Morrison, Mary Peeples, Peyton Presto, Anna Price, Alex Reeder, Bryonna Rivera Burrows, Hill Robinson, Mackenzie Ross, Sarah Rumfelt, Nicholas Schmitt, Dannelly Shelton, Jessica Shieh, Chandler Shields, Paige Sims, Karter Smith, Emma Smith, John Stoffer, Marissa Turk, Robert Wicks and Lucas Yordy.

Mortar Board: 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.

The students are: Paaras Agrawal, Grace Alexander, Elizabeth Arnold, Katherine Baggett, Casey Barberio, Brigitte Barnes, Emma Bjornson, Erica Boden, Bailey Brock, Abigail Calhoun, Danielle Cassady, Kathryn Cater, Lacey Cencula, Justin Chambers, Mary Catherine Connors, Michael Dunn, Samantha Dyroff , Payton Edberg, Anthony Fiacco, Margaret Filippini, Anna Freeman, Allexa Gardner, Lauren Gaskin, Kelly Greene, Ansley Griffith, Russell Hancock, Abby Hayes, Faulkner Hereford, Jonathan Hess, Amanda Ivy, Hilary Jones, Frederick Killion, Christopher Lancaster, Kelsi Long, Sahiti Madireddy, Sydney Malin, Randolph Malone V, Anne Matthews, Sara McCord, George McMillan, Virginia Morgan, Caroline Morrison, Linda Owen, Josie Perry, Taylor Petersen, Peyton Presto, Anna Price, Kelsey Proudfoot, Emily Raines, Alex Reeder, Hunter Richey, Jeffrey Rogers, Mackenzie Ross, Sarah Rumfelt, Nicholas Schmitt, Daniel Selman, Dannelly Shelton, Jessica Shieh, Grant Smith, Karter Smith, Clinton Smith, Emma Smith, Rachel Sodee, John Stoffer, Jacqueline Visina, Madison Wauchope, Ashleigh Whitehorn, Kaylyn Williams, Lucas Yordy and Megan Zartman. Honorary Members: UA President Stuart R. Bell, Dr. Chapman Greer and Rosalind L. Moore.

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.

The students are: Elizabeth Adams, Hendrick Adams, Brink Ambler, Catherine Angelo, Elizabeth Arnold, Caitlin Baggett, Brigitte Barnes, Jeromey Beaman, Erica Boden, John Booth, Bailey Brock, Ashley Brown, Danielle Cassady, Lacey Cencula, Nicole Chambers, Justin Chambers, Aaron Clement, Mary Katherine Clements, Miranda Cobb, Kelsey Daugherty, Michael Dunn, Payton Edberg, Shannon Egan, Grace Ernstberger, Chayni Farmer, Margaret Filippini, Jordan Forrest, Gianna Gagliardi, Will Green, Kelly Greene, Ansley Griffith, Ashley Henson, Faulkner Hereford, Jonathan Hess, Dalton Hopper, Elisabeth Humphrey, Amanda Ivy, Sarah Anne Jenkins, Hilary Jones, Lauren Jones, Alexis Kentros, Paul Kolotka, Christopher Lancaster, Mallory Lane, Ainsley LeBlanc, Kever Lewis, Molly Lipski, Haley Loflin, Margaret Long, Kelsi Long, Cara Lunceford, Sydney Malin, Anne Matthews, Joan Leslie McGill, Michaela McLaughlin, George McMillan, Virginia Morgan, Caroline Morrison, Louisa Murray, Rachel Paikoff, Mary Peeples, Taylor Poe, Peyton Presto, Anna Price, Kelsey Proudfoot, Emily Raines, Orion Recke, Alex Reeder, Bryonna Rivera Burrows, Whitney Roberts, Jeffrey Rogers, Mackenzie Ross, Ashley Ross, Hunter Ross, Caroline Ruder, Nicholas Schmitt, Dannelly Shelton, Chandler Shields, Paige Sims, Catherine Skelton, Grant Smith, Karter Smith, Caroline Smith, Christopher Smith, Rachel Sodee, Pamela Sox, Renee Stullich, Matthew Tucker, Marissa Turk, Sarah Urbanski, Mackenzie Valentin, Ashleigh Whitehorn, Kaylyn Williams, Lauren Williams, Lucas Yordy and Megan Zartman.

National Alumni Association

The National Alumni Association recognizes and honors one male and one female in the senior class to receive the Alumni Student Award. The recipients of the 2016 Alumni Student Awards are Courtney Marie Rentas, of Naperville, Illinois; and Thomas Ludwig, of Brunswick, Ohio.

The association also recognizes and honors students in the senior class. The students have excelled in academics and extracurricular activities, shown strength of character and maturity, and displayed exceptional hospitality toward guests and friends of the University.

The 2016 Alumni Outstanding Senior Award winners are: Elizabeth Esther Cook, of Houston; Mitchell David Griest, of Brighton, Michigan; Katelyn Katsafanas, of Naperville, Illinois; Jenny Lamberth, of Alexander City; Vel Lewis, of Birmingham; Patrick W. Mitchell, of Mandeville, Louisiana; Abigail Paulson, of Cary, North Carolina; Amanda Przekora, of Tuscaloosa; Brandon Skinner, of Downington, Pennsylvania; Whitney Leigh Smith, of Woodstock; and Samantha Grace Tilson, of Littleton, Colorado.

The purpose of the Distinguished Alumni Awards is to honor alumni of The University of Alabama for their loyalty and service to the University and to the association. Recipient selection is also based on character, professional achievements and community service at the local, state or national levels. The Distinguished Alumna Award recipient is Dr. Judy Bonner, of Tuscaloosa. Tim Parker, of Tuscaloosa, received the Distinguished Alumnus Award.

UA Black Faculty and Staff Association Awards

The UA Black Faculty And Staff Association recognizes the scholastic achievement of African-American undergraduate students. Awardees included:

Autherine Lucy Foster Endowed Scholarship: Alayna Watson.

Vivian Malone Jones Endowed Scholarship: Shakia G. Brantley.

James Hood Endowed Scholarship: Jermel Richmond.

African-American Alumni Network Endowed Scholarship: Shena-Kaye, Alexandra Butler, and Asia McNealy.

John England Award: Briana Knox.

Joffre Whisenton Award: Antoinette Afriyie Barffour and Andraa M. Barrett.

Cleophus Thomas Award: Georgia H Floyd, Ayana Ashley Gibson, Johanna Obenda and Sylvia D. Turner.

Harold Bishop Award (seniors): Amanda K. Bennett, Marcus N. Hill, Kierra L. Howell, Jennifer Shirley Miguel and Jaylaan K. Parker.

Archie Wade Award (juniors):  Rikisha Bridges, Courtenay DeJournelle Brooks, Kaylynn Christigail Cain, Camille C. Carr, Norris L. Davis III, Kynnedi Jasmin Elizabeth Fye, Alexandria Evon Gholston, Kayla O. Krueger, Anthony R. Lipscomb, Kelsi Arrinel Long, Perry T. Mcneill, Obie J. Moultrie Jr., Ronald Roy Nelson Jr., Yvonne F. Russell and Kaylyn M. Williams.

Earnestine Tucker Award (sophomores): Diarra LaShae Bender, Kimberly Anne Brothers, LaDaria Denise Duffie, Khiante’ La’Princia Falls, Kenichi Nyansa Haynie, Danielle L. Jones, Malina Grace McAfee, Kenneth Coleman McCall, Jessica Lanette McTier, Marcus D. Murray Jr., Serena Jurnee Promisee, Rayven Dawnielle Rice, Tedra Jasmine Roper, Resha T. Swanson, Tyesha C. Turner, Shanna Jarea Wallace, Erin L. Washington, Alayna J. Watson and Hannah N. Woodard.

Sandral L. Hullett Award (freshmen): Alexis N. Banks, Byron J. Bennett, Randi Michelle Blackmon, Charity  C. Brown, Jasper J. Edwards II, Ronterika T. Exford, Alexis Q. Finklea, Jazmine N. Hall, Malik A. Harkness, Angelo L. James, Anna B. Johnson, Rayven Sheree Lane, Renesha K. Matthews, Kyra Victoria Milton, Austin D. Moore, Jamesia S. Morris, Alex Nyairo, Bianca Pinkard, Adrian Lincoln Robertson, Valencia N. Scott, Breancha M. Scott, Teryn Denae Shipman, Brianna Renee Stephens, Sierra Chanel Stockley, Linzie Colette Stovall, Myles Greggory Taste, Kaitlyn E. Thomas, Alishia J. Thurman, Lauren Michael Tucker, Jasmyne Williams, Aeriel Chantel Winn and Gabrielle Selina Xuarez.

Outstanding Graduate Student Awards

Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation: Dr. Nicholas Helms.

Outstanding Master’s Thesis: Joanna Clark.

Excellence in Teaching by a Master’s Student: Katy Rossing.

Excellence in Teaching by a Doctoral Student: Sara Steele.

Excellence in Research by a Master’s Student: Alice Kleinhuizen.

Excellence in Research by a Doctoral Student: Mohammad Hokmabadi.

Outstanding Service of a Graduate Student: Rachel DeLacy.