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April 15, 2009
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Gail Ament |
Duane Benson |
William Heyborne |
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. William Heyborne, assistant professor of biology, was voted by the student body as the Faculty Person of the Year for his outstanding contributions to Morningside and its students. He teaches zoology, environmental issues, vertebrate biology and invertebrate biology courses at Morningside and organized the college’s Creature Outreach campus organization.
Heyborne has been at Morningside since 2007. His research interests include the many aspects of community ecology, including predator-prey interactions and biodiversity. His research endeavors have included work in the biological roles of snake and spider venoms, insect community ecology, forest entomology, and reptile and amphibian natural history. Heyborne is a member of the National Association of Biology Teachers, the National Education Association, and the Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. He previously taught at Chemeketa Community College in Salem, Ore., and was an instructor and teaching assistant at the University of Northern Colorado.
Heyborne received a bachelor’s degree in biology and zoology from Southern Utah University in 1997, a master’s degree in entomology from Oregon State University in 2000, and a doctorate in biological education from Northern Colorado in 2007.
The First-Year Teaching/Advising Award went to Dr. Gail Ament, professor and department chair of modern languages. 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.
Ament has been at Morningside since 1998. She specializes in contemporary Mayan literature, language, and culture and has published extensively on the subject. Ament was one of 25 scholars from across the nation in 2000 selected to participate in a six-week study tour of “The Maya World,” which included visits to Guatemala, Honduras, and Palenque, and the Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. She was a Fulbright Scholar to Guatemala from 1995-96 and previously served on the faculties at Whitworth College and Gonzaga University, both in Spokane, Wash.
Ament received a master’s degree in Spanish from the University of Montana in 1972 and a doctorate in Spanish from the University of Washington in 1998. She is a member of the Guatemalan Scholars’ Network, Latin American Studies Association, North Central Council of Latin Americanists, and the American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese.
Duane Benson, director of the bookstore, received the Staff Member of the Year Award.
Benson, who came to Morningside in 2005, has instituted features on the bookstore’s web site that allow Morningside students to use the Internet to find textbooks for their classes and to check pricing. He also serves on several campus committees and is active in community organizations such as the Breakfast Sertoma Club and the Community Action Agency of Siouxland. Benson received a 2008 Thomas S. Thompson Staff Excellence Award earlier this academic year.
Benson was a business consultant at Iowa Office Supply before he came to Morningside. Before that he was a store director at Indian Hills Foods and store manager at Super Value and Sunshine Food Markets in Sioux City.
The Tommeraasen Award of Excellence for the outstanding campus organization went to Creature Outreach, which was formed in 2008 and is comprised of Morningside students, most of them biology majors, who take live animals into public schools to educate them about animals and their role in the natural world. The group’s standard presentation is now an official part of the second grade curriculum for Sioux City Community Schools.
The Student Government Student Organization of the Year Award was presented to Delta Sigma Phi, the oldest and largest fraternity on Morningside’s campus. The organization raised over $4,500 for breast cancer research during the current academic year.
The ODK Sophomore Cup was awarded to Rebecca Anderson of Lawton, Iowa. 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: Rebecca Anderson, Lawton, Iowa; Sasha Backhaus, Westside, Iowa; Autumn Collier, Gallatin, Tenn.; Rachel Cooper, La Crescenta, Calif.; Sarah Culp, Newell, Iowa; Megan Davidson, Dakota City, Neb.; Michelle Delaney, Lake Park, Iowa; Marissa Greco, Omaha, Neb.; Steven Hadley, Sioux Center, Iowa; Jeffrey Haupts, Manson, Iowa; Kylie Helmink, Fairbury, Neb.; Alec Henry, Griswold, Iowa; Jeremiah Hughes, Forest City, Iowa; Jackie Lincoln, Colesburg, Iowa; Jamie Maguire, Norfolk, Neb.; Kristina Murphy, Sioux City; Katelyn Nelson, Schleswig, Iowa; Heather Nielsen, Ida Grove, Iowa; Miriam Pfahler, Pierre, S.D.; Alicia Prewett, Lyons, Neb.; Jessica Rix, Sioux Rapids, Iowa; Jacob Sandvick, Sioux City, Iowa; Krystal Shearer, Emerson, Iowa; Kayla Stehlik, Dorchester, Neb.; Katie Stumpf, Laurens, Iowa; Kelsey Uherka, Stanton, Iowa; Emma Vander Zyl, Des Moines, Iowa; Jordan Walsh, Odebolt, Iowa; Alyssa Warnke, Fairbury, Neb.; Jacob Widman, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; Michele Witcombe, Cherokee, Iowa; and RaeChael Zabokrtsky, Endicott, Neb.
Alpha Lambda Delta Senior Book Awards, for the graduating member or members of the freshman women’s honor society with the highest grade point average, were presented to Kari Hansen of Sioux City, and Vanessa Warzecha of Aloha, Ore.
The Alpha Lambda Delta Outstanding Sophomore Award was presented to Rebecca Anderson of Lawton, Iowa, who is this year’s nominee for the national society’s Joanne Trow Award.
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 Justin Moser of Morris, Minn.
Male and Female Academic Athlete of the Year Awards were presented to Brady Helmink, a men’s basketball player from Fairbury, Neb.; and Vanessa Warzecha, a women’s track & field athlete from Aloha, Ore. 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: Holly Becker, Sioux City.
Outstanding Art Awards, by class: junior, Annika Kolbo, Sioux City; sophomore, Jessica Bartak, Ewing, Neb.; and freshman, Haley Banks, Westfield, Iowa.
Kiosk Awards, presented for art work in the annual anthology published by the English department: first place, Mackenzie Maschmeier, Fremont, Neb.; second place, Wyeth Lynch, Prole, Iowa; third place, Anne Torkelson, Norfolk, Neb.; Editor’s Choice, Torkelson.
Biology and Chemistry
Lt. Edward Farnsworth Scholarship, awarded annually to a student who has demonstrated excellence in the natural sciences: Jamie Maguire, Norfolk, Neb.
Business Administration and Economics
Outstanding Accounting Student Award: Adaela Dostal, David City, Neb.
Outstanding Advertising Student Awards were presented to Alicia Runyan of Cleghorn, Iowa; and Samantha Hood of Dodge, Neb.
Outstanding Business Student Awards were presented to Derek Nolan of Hawarden, Iowa; Beau Sudtelgte of Le Mars, Iowa; and Maggie Swenson of Ocheyedan, Iowa.
Education
Maxine Nelson Award: Erin Keitges, Jackson, Neb.
Owens Special Education Award: Andrew Posey, Sioux City.
Dr. Sharon Ocker Endowed Scholarship for Secondary Education: Emily Christen, Anselmo, Neb.
English
Ralph and Margaret Crary Scholarship, for the English student who is an outstanding writer: Amanda Franzen, New Hampton, Iowa.
Kiosk awards, given for the best creative writing pieces in the annual anthology published by the English department: first prize, Ross Wilcox, Elk Point, S.D.; second prize, Tyrel Drey, Storm Lake, Iowa; third prize, Lindsay Washburn, Sioux City.
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: Christina Thomsen, Denison, Iowa.
James Miller Award in History, for the history student who exhibits extraordinary academic achievement in and out of the classroom: Matthew Witt, Hastings, Neb.
James Miller Award in Political Science, for the political science student who exhibits extraordinary academic achievement in and out of the classroom: Steven Postolka, Sioux Rapids, Iowa.
Mass Communication
The Mass Communication Department Student of the Year Award was presented to Jennifer Roemen of Rock Rapids, Iowa.
The Student Contributor of the Year Award was presented to Ashley Catchpole of Clymer, Pa.
Modern Languages
American Association of Teachers of Spanish and Portuguese Excellence in Spanish Award: Joshua Johnson, Hastings, Neb.
Henry F. Kanthlener Romance Languages Book Award: Anne Torkelson, Norfolk, Neb.
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: Megan Beery, Shenandoah, Iowa.
Marvin and Merry Gralnek Klass Music Scholarship: Britt Gebhardt of Sioux City.
Mrs. Ray J. (Mildred) Harrington Scholarship, for a piano student who demonstrates good moral character and citizenship: Elizabeth Lippke, Sioux City.
Nursing Education
Professional Development and Achievement in Nursing Awards, by class: sophomore, Molly O’Neill, South Sioux City, Neb.; junior, Cami Cain, Omaha, Neb.; senior, Brooke Pottorff, Corning, Iowa.
Philosophy
Writing Prize in Philosophy: Alycia Arens, Carroll, Iowa.
Socratic Award: Colin O’Sullivan, Sioux City.
Theatre
Shilhanek Theatre Award for Technical Excellence: Beau Sudtelgte, Le Mars, Iowa.
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