By Hannah Hecht–Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), Morningside’s upperclassman leadership honor society, put on its annual Honors Convocation on Wednesday.
The event allows academic departments and other organizations to present end-of-the-year awards to students who excel in academic achievement. Other awards presented include: Male and Female Athlete of the Year, Event of the Year, the Tommeraasen Award, the Sophomore Cup, Faculty Member of the Year, and Staff Member of the Year. ODK also tapped new members for the 2014-2015 school year.
The Miles Tommeraasen Award is the award given to the highest achieving group on campus. This year’s winner was the Morningside Women’s Basketball Team. The team won the award for its contributions to community service, along with its athletic achievement.
The Faculty and Staff Member of the Year awards were presented to Dr. David Elder, professor of writing and rhetoric, and Shari Benson, director of new students.
The Sophomore Cup is an award that ODK gives to the sophomore with the highest potential for current and future leadership. This award went to both Natasha Hongsermeier and Nick Misukanis.
The Male and Female Athlete of the Year awards went to basketball player Danny Rudeen and golfer Cameron Oakley. The Event of the Year Award went to the Waitt Lecture; which featured Jared Cohen, founder of Google Ideas.
The honor societies Phi Eta Sigma and Alpha Lambda Delta also presented the following awards: Stemler Study Abroad Scholarship to Natasha Hongsermeier, Joanne Trow Sophomore Scholarship Nominee to Mikayla Cooper, Maria Leonard Book Award to Kelsie Pomerenke and Oakley, and Phi Eta Sigma Book Award to Nick Brincks.
Departmental award winners are as follows:
Art:
Outstanding Freshman- Kelsey Ahart
Outstanding Sophomore- Amber Burg
Outstanding Junior- Laura Tomjack
Marion Shapiro Award- Rachel Eisenbraun
Biology and Chemistry:
Faculty Award in Biology- Quinton Behlers and Tanner Ferguson
Faculty Award in Chemistry- Kyle Kinney
Stephen Jay Gould Award- Kalee Gross
Business:
Outstanding Business Students- Emma Remy and Jordan Sitzmann
Outstanding Accounting Students- Brett Cropley and Brandon Widman
Outstanding Advertising Student- Demi Dunn
Education:
Maxine Nelson Scholarship- Allison Schreiner
Marcia McNee Elementary Education Award- Kelsie Pomerenke
Sharon Ocker Endowed Scholarship for Secondary Education- Jon Hauswald
Cathy Posey Simons Annual Memorial Scholarship in Special Education- Leann Osten
English:
Margaret Coleman Crary Scholarship in Literary Arts- Ryan Ingalls
Bill and Lorraine Knepper Outstanding Junior English Student Award- Hannah Hecht
History and Political Science:
The James Miller Award in History- Nick Misukanis
The James Miller Award in Political Science- Kyle McGlade
The Albert Sellen Prize in History- Sarah Swan and Emily Greenlee
Mass Communication:
Outstanding Senior- Nick Brincks
Outstanding Media Contributor- Michael Lewis
Modern Languages:
Jenna Bowmaster – Doohan Award
Maggie Vander Stelt – Modern Languages Book Award
Music:
Berdina Hospers Woodwind Scholarship- Sarah Hutchins
Dorothy Paulson McLarnon Music Scholarship- Noah Towns
Music Department Award- Noah Towns
Nursing:
Nursing Professional Development and Achievement Award- Kathleen Smith, Amber Patzlaff, and Nathan Johnson
Religion:
Robert Jewett Senior Book Award: Jesus Cendejas and Allie Harris
Philosophy:
Uemura Award: Patrick Whitsell
Philosophy Department Writing Award: Hannah Hecht
Writing and Rhetoric:
First Year Writing Award Narrative Essay-Jenni Beaver
First Year Writing Award Persuasive Essay-Kayla Samek
ODK initiates are as follows: Tyler Arensdorf, Allison Bachman, Kara Bentz, Amber Burg, Tiffany Brasby, Anna Christensen, Douglas Collins, Mikala Cooper, Kay Drenkhahn, Nicholas Drenth, Eric Gahlon, Austin Granatowicz , Jonathan Hoagland, Natasha Hongsermeier, Joel Hoogland, Katsuhiro Ishii, Victoria Jones, Allison Kjar, Alex Kurtenbach, Katie Larson, Tasha Lechtenberg, Nicole Loe, Taylor McCloskey, Anna Milone, Nicholas Misukanis, Jackson O’Brien, Brendan Pinto, Alexander Quinlan, Hannah Roberg, Samuel Shelton, Jennifer Theisen, Garrett Thomas, Alyssa Turnquist, and Amy Widman
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