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April 18, 2007
Awards for student achievement, Faculty Person of the Year, and other awards were presented Wednesday during the annual Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Honors Assembly at Morningside College.
ODK is the national leadership honor society that recognizes and encourages superior scholarship, leadership, and exemplary character.
 Dr. Jane Hey, professor and department chair of biology & chemistry, was voted by the student body as the Faculty Person of the Year for her outstanding contributions to Morningside and its students. She teaches zoology, physiology, and endocrinology at Morningside.
Hey has been at Morningside since 1979. Hey’s current research involves conservation biology. She and Dr. Eugenia Farrar, associate professor of ecology, evolution, and organismal biology at Iowa State University, were the recipients of a research grant from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources’ Wildlife Diversity Program (WDP) in support of their ongoing research at the Owego Wetland Complex and Owego Historic Townsite, a 1,350 acre restored wetland ecosystem located three miles northwest of Hornick, Iowa. Hey is a frequent presenter on the subject of amphibian and reptile diversity and distribution.
Hey received her bachelor’s degree in biology from Monmouth College in 1963, a master’s degree in preventative medicine and environmental health from the University of Iowa in 1966, and a doctorate in zoology and genetics from Iowa State in 1994.
The First-Year Teaching/Advising Award went to Dr. Leslie Werden, assistant professor of English and director  of first year studies. The award, presented with assistance from the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of the United Methodist Church, is given to an exemplary teacher who has helped first-year students succeed in making the transition into college.
Werden, in her first year at Morningside, was previously a visiting scholar at Winona State University from 2005 to 2006 and was a graduate teaching assistant at the University of North Dakota from 2001 to 2005. She served as an adjunct instructor and a teaching assistant at Winona State from 1998 to 2000. While at North Dakota, Werden became director of the university’s annual writers conference and served as reading editor and marketing advisor for “North Dakota Quarterly,” the university’s literary journal.
Werden graduated from the University of Minnesota with a bachelor of arts degree in communications in 1991. She received a master’s degree in English from Winona State in 2001 and earned her doctorate in English from the University of North Dakota in 2006.
 Jim Fisk, reference and instructional services librarian at the Hickman-Johnson-Furrow Library Center, received the Staff Member of the Year Award.
Fisk has been at Morningside since 2001. He came to Morningside from Compaq Computer Corporation in Overland Park, Kan., where he was a business analyst. He is co-author of “Got Distance Services? Marketing Remote Library Services to Distance Learners,” which appeared in the 2005 edition of Internet Reference Services Quarterly published by Haworth Press, Inc. The manuscript was also published as a chapter in the reference book “Improving Internet Reference Services to Distance Learners,” also by Haworth Press, Inc.
Fisk graduated from Gustavus Adolphus College with degrees in political science and Scandinavian studies. He holds master’s degrees in library sciences from Emporia State University and in public policy and administration from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.
The Tommeraasen Award of Excellence for the outstanding campus organization went to the Morningside Student Alumni Association, whose purpose is to assist the Alumni Relations Office in continuing to forge connections between current Morningside students and the college’s alumni throughout the nation. The award is presented in honor of the late Miles Tommarasen, former Morningside president.
The ODK Sophomore Cup was awarded to Kari Hansen of Sioux City. This award is given annually to a sophomore for outstanding leadership and campus participation.
New ODK inductees were recognized for their scholarship and campus leadership. The inductees were: Tanya Anderson, Piedmont, S.D.; Rebecca Bauer, Alliance, Neb.; Melissa Campbell, Graettinger, Iowa; Jessica Delaney, Lake Park, Iowa; Breanne Evans, Crofton, Neb.; Nichole Hagerty, Spearfish, S.D.; Kari Hansen, Sioux City; Kellie Harris, Omaha, Neb.; Brady Helmink, Fairbury, Neb.; Miranda Heyer-Stroh, Sioux City; Katie Hoaglund, Mapleton, Iowa; Yuichi Ichinose, Tokyo, Japan; Andrea Jenson, Pocahontas, Iowa; Kimberly Jessen, Everly, Iowa; Roxana Karimzadeh, Dakota Dunes, S.D.; Kathryn Kotlik, Bellevue, Neb.; Katie Kromminga, Dakota Dunes, S.D.; Grant Leavitt, Marcus, Iowa; Stephanie Loeschen, Ocheyedan, Iowa; Wyeth Lynch, Prole, Iowa; Kristina McGrain, Mapleton, Iowa; Lindsey Mohr, Ocheyedan, Iowa; Amanda Morrow, Lakeville, Minn.; Justin Moser, Morris, Minn.; Derek Nolan, Hawarden, Iowa; Amanda Plemel, Northboro, Iowa; Teryn Pomerenke, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; Tarah Sagedahl, East Bethel, Minn.; Christina Thomsen, Denison, Iowa; Anne Torkelson, Norfolk, Neb.; Vanessa Warzecha, Oloha, Ore.; and Kristen Westergaard, Mapleton, Iowa.
The Alpha Lambda Delta Senior Book Award, for the graduating member of the freshman women’s honor society with the highest grade point average, was presented to Amy Anderson of Estherville, Iowa.
The Phi Eta Sigma Senior Book Award, for the graduating member of the national freshmen honor society with the highest grade point average, went to Zach Hindman of Sioux City.
Student-Athlete Scholar Awards were presented to baseball player Ryne Young of Sioux City, for the men’s division and to volleyball player Laura Andersen of Omaha, Neb., for the women’s division. The awards are based on cumulative grade point average and contributions to their sports.
The following departmental awards were presented:
Art
Marion Shapiro Art Award, presented in Shapiro’s memory by her family and friends to the student who best represents her commitment to excellence in art and life: Judy Leinen, Des Moines, Iowa.
Outstanding Art Awards, by class: junior, Danielle Westphal, Lenox, Iowa; sophomore, Anne Torkelson, Norfolk, Neb.; and freshman, April Parkison, Omaha, Neb.
Kiosk Awards, presented for art work in the annual anthology published by the English department: first place, Torkelson; second place, Daniel Widrowicz, Sioux City; third place, Grant Wittstruck, Jefferson City, Mo.; editor’s choice, Wittstruck.
Biology
Lt. Edward Farnsworth Scholarship, awarded annually to a student who has demonstrated excellence in biology: Chad Clancy, Spencer, Iowa.
Business Administration and Economics
Iowa Society of Certified Public Accounting Senior Award: Corey Jorgensen, Sioux City.
American Advertising Federation Senior Advertising and Marketing Achievement Award: Brianna Blake, Wiota, Iowa; and Erin Eckerman, Sioux City.
Outstanding Business Student Award: Nicole Allen, North Sioux City, S.D.; and Talon Sowienski, Sioux City.
A Certificate of Completion for the Business Education Initiative was presented to David McKeown, Belfast, Ireland.
Education
Maxine Nelson Award: Ashley Krause, Sioux City.
Owens Special Education Award: Katherine Billings, Mount Prospect, Ill.
Steve C. Walker and Dr. Everette Walker Special Education Award: Staci Holm, Story City, Iowa, and Jessica Delaney, Lake Park, Iowa.
Dr. Sharon Ocker Endowed Scholarship for Secondary Education: Clint Little, Crab Orchard, Neb.
English
Ralph and Margaret Crary Scholarship, for the English student who is an outstanding writer: Victoria Reed, Mission Viejo, Calif.
Kiosk awards, given for the best creative writing pieces in the annual anthology published by the English department: first prize, Gregory Anderson, Sioux City; second prize, Audrey Hantla, Sioux City; third prize, Anderson.
History and Political Science
Albert Sellen Award, for the senior history student who best exemplifies a sense of service to the department, to the college, and to the field of history that marked Sellen’s career: Joshua Wilkerson, Lincoln, Neb.
James Miller Award in History, for the history student who exhibits extraordinary academic achievement in and out of the classroom: Jill Bohnker, Underwood, Iowa.
James Miller Award in Political Science, for the political science student who exhibits extraordinary academic achievement in and out of the classroom: Samantha Wenger, Danbury, Iowa.
Mass Communication
The Outstanding Senior Award was presented to Dana Rossmeier of Norfolk, Neb.
Modern Languages
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Excellence in Spanish Award: Maria Tran, Sioux City.
Henry F. Kanthlener Romance Languages Book Award: Kari Skalisky, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa.
Music
Berdina Hospers Woodwind Award, for the student judged to have given the best performance for the school year: Emily Cox, Council Bluffs, Iowa.
Dorothy Paulson McLarnon Music Scholarship, for a junior or senior vocal music student showing exceptional potential: Amanda Flater, Marshalltown, Iowa; and Brandon Shostak, Le Mars, Iowa.
Merry Gralnek Klass Music Scholarship: Sarah Chilton, Sioux City; and Justin Taylor, Des Moines, Iowa.
Mrs. Ray J. (Mildred) Harrington Scholarship, for a piano student who demonstrates good moral character and citizenship: Yuki Takishima, Tokyo, Japan.
Nursing Education
Professional Development and Achievement in Nursing Awards, by class: sophomore, Bryan Hansen, Sioux City; junior, Heidi Meyer, Alta, Iowa; senior, Amos Schonrock, Moville, Iowa; and senior registered nurse, Ruth Uhl, Lawton, Iowa.
Philosophy
Writing Prize in Philosophy: Sharona Ernst, Falls City, Neb.
Socratic Award: Jonathan Green, Lone Tree, Iowa.
Religious Studies
Robert Jewett Senior Book Award, for the outstanding graduating senior with a major or minor in religious studies: Elizabeth Kelly, Falls City, Neb.
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