The University of Virginia’s College at Wise CONVOCATION

MAY 2021

The Awards Program

WELCOME Donna P. Henry

RECOGNITION OF HONOR SOCIETIES Amelia J. Harris Academic Dean & Associate Provost

DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS Department Faculty

PEAKE HONORS PROGRAM John Mark Adrian Director

CHANCELLOR’S FOR UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Chancellor Henry

CLOSING Trisha Folds-Bennett Provost & Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs UVA Wise website. During his sophomore year, Business & Economics he received the Napoleon Hill Scholarship, was Scott Bevins, Interim Department Chair honored as the student spotlight athlete of the week, and was featured for his student leadership Outstanding Achievement Awards on the college’s website. In addition to performing well academically, Drew was also on the UVA Wise The faculty of the Department of men’s basketball team and interned at the Multi- Business & Economics recognizes graduating Cultural Center. Upon graduation, Drew plans on seniors for outstanding work in the majors pursuing his M.B.A. in the fall and continuing his of accounting, business administration and basketball career at Bethel University, IN. Drew economics. Each student receives an individual says he is proud to become an alumni of UVA Wise. commemorative plaque and the names of all recipients are inscribed on a departmental Outstanding Achievement in Economics plaque displayed in Smiddy Hall. This year’s Matthew Robert Van Horn, the son of winners are: Dorian and Thomas Van Horn and a native of Dumfries, Virginia, is this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Achievement in Accounting Outstanding Achievement in Economics award. Christopher John McKnight is a native Since enrolling at the College in fall 2017, he has of St. Paul, Virginia and son to Laurie Marie and exceled both in and outside the classroom, as Gregory Lynn McKnight, Sr. (now deceased). evidenced by making the Dean’s List, earning As a result of his academic success and the 9th Annual Pi Kappa Phi Hawpe- professionalism since coming to the College in fall Donathan Alumni Scholarship, serving as 2018, the Department of Business and Economics treasurer for Pi Kappa Phi and as senior senator has selected Christopher as this year’s recipient for the Student Government Association as well of the Outstanding Achievement in Accounting being an active participant in Club Volleyball. award. He is an accounting major and computer After graduating with a Bachelor of Science science minor. In addition to making the Dean’s degree in economics, he plans to attend George list, he was a member of the college’s Darden Mason University in the fall to pursue a Master of and was selected for the SPEC Science degree in Management. In addition, he is 2020 program. to coming to the College, currently studying for the LSAT to enable him to Christopher completed 63 credit hours in high pursue a law degree in fall 2022. school. While performing strongly academically at UVA Wise, he has worked three jobs throughout David W. Roane Award in Business Ethics his undergraduate career. Christopher is grateful The David Whitfield Roane Award in for his professors at the college and in his own Business Ethics was created in memory of a words says: “I came here and tried my hardest to businessman whose behavior throughout his life get a degree and learn as much from my amazing was aligned to a high degree with his commitment professors as I could. I’m very grateful for the to ethical business practices and his personal wonderful professors and staff that UVA Wise honor. It is presented annually by the Department has.” Upon graduation, Christopher plans to either of Business & Economics to a senior who has pursue a full-time accounting position or attend practiced the highest level of integrity and honesty graduate school for computer science. in his or her interactions with the department’s faculty with respect to coursework and extra- Outstanding Achievement in Business curricular activities. This student has also displayed Administration the same level of behavior in his or her interactions Andrew Dennis Greene, the son of with students and the staff of the College, Scott and Corey Greene and a native of Chapel and exhibited to the department faculty a deep Hill, North Carolina, is this year’s recipient of understanding of what it means to be ethical. This the Outstanding Achievement in Business year’s recipient is Danielle Nicole Nottingham. Administration award. In addition to making Danielle, a native of Duffield, Virginia and the Dean’s List, his academic success has been the daughter of Robyn and Robert Chapman further demonstrated by the scholarships and and wife to Lawrence Nottingham, is this honors he has received. During his freshman year’s recipient of the David W. Roane Award year, Drew received the Tice Achievement Award in Business Ethics. Her academic success is Scholarship, made the SAC-Academic Conference demonstrated by her membership in the college’s Honor Roll, and was a featured student for the 2 Darden Honor Society. Upon graduation, she administration. She is from Bristol, Tennessee plans to continue working in the HR department and is currently working in a social media at Northampton County Public Schools while internship position. Molly intends to graduate pursuing a graduate degree in the hopes of in 2022 after completing both degrees. After becoming the HR Director at NCPS. Danielle graduation, she plans to pursue a career in would like to thank her parents, husband, and media relations and to travel at both local daughter for their support; she says she could and international levels to help promote not have done it without them. organizations that are truly making a difference in their communities and to see where she can Napoleon Hill Achievement Award make a difference in the world. Napoleon Hill, a native of Pound, Virginia, devoted his life to developing a Ronald Heise Award for Excellence in philosophy of success that people of all Communication Studies walks of life could emulate. It was his goal This award was established in honor of to articulate the universal principles that, if Associate Professor Emeritus Ronald Heise, applied correctly, would help every person who was responsible for establishing the achieve his or her major purpose in life. concentration in communication that is now The Department of Business & Economics the Department of Communication Studies. recognizes one graduating senior pursuing a Professor Heise was an innovator, teaching major in accounting, business administration journalism, media studies, rhetorical analysis, or economics who most embodies Mr. Hill’s business communication, and public speaking. principles. This year’s recipient is Kristen Blake The Ronald Heise award is given to students Freeman. who demonstrate proficiency in the three areas Kristen, a native of Wise, Virginia of communication studies offered at UVA Wise: and daughter to Julie and Matthew Mullins, rhetorical studies, interpersonal communication, is this year’s recipient of the Napoleon Hill or journalism/media studies. Achievement award. Her academic success Emilee Grace Helbert is a graduating is demonstrated by making the Dean’s List senior, majoring in communication studies and every semester since enrolling at the College minoring in Spanish. She is a native of Southwest as well as being inducted into the college’s Virginia, born and raised in Lebanon. She is the Darden Honor Society. She accomplished all current president of the National Society for this while being a mom, a wife, and working two Leadership and Success, vice president of Circle jobs, one for the accounting firm of Rodefer K International, and vice president of Lambda Pi and Moss and the other for a local Chinese Eta (the communication honor society). Emilee restaurant. She is also completing two majors, is a member of the Baptist Collegiate Ministries accounting and business administration to earn and the Darden Society and previously served a Bachelor of Science degree. In addition to on the Honor Court. She is a recipient of both her stellar academic record, she is also known the Carl W. Smith Bicentennial Scholarship and for her exceptional generosity, as evidenced the Napoleon Hill Scholarship. One of Emilee’s by regularly bringing cupcakes and snacks to proudest accomplishments has been conducting her classes and extending an invitation to all research for her capstone paper and Research of the accounting majors and the College’s Day presentation, titled “Understanding Teacher two accounting instructors for pictures on Perceptions of the Central Appalachian Accent in graduation day. Relation to Misdiagnosis of Speech Impediments.” Emilee will be attending Radford University in the fall to obtain a Master’s Degree in Communication Communication Sciences and Disorders with the intent to become a speech pathologist in a school system. Studies Rian Fitzgerald Moore, of Clintwood, Amy Clark, Department Chair Virginia, is a senior communication student and president of the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society. Senior Seminar Award Rian works as a video production assistant Molly Elizabeth Frazier is a dual-major at UVA Wise while maintaining a 4.0. Upon studying communication studies and business graduation, he plans to pursue a career in radio/ 3 television/film. honor for all of us in the education department to present Jessica Hibbitts with the 2021 Lois P. Education Lowry Award.

Paul Andrew “Andy” Cox, Department Chair Richard A. Davidson Education Award The Richard A. Davidson Education Award Jack M. Holland Award in Education honors Professor Emeritus Richard Davidson’s The Jack M. Holland Award is named in thirty-six years of service at The University of honor of the former chair of the Department Virginia’s College at Wise and recognizes his of Education and Professor of Education at the leadership, guidance, vision, support, and care at College. It is given to a rising senior who shows the College and in the education community at remarkable potential as a future elementary large. The award is presented to the graduating teacher. This year’s recipient is Hannah Nicole senior who best exemplifies the potential to Barnett. carry on those qualities demonstrated by Hannah is a liberal arts and science major Professor Davidson. This year’s recipient is Ryan who also serves as a member of the Napoleon Nathaniel Wright. Hill Scholarship Program and the National The Richard A. Davidson Award is Science Teachers Association. Hannah’s strong presented each year to a student who best work ethic and devotion to each task have represents the love of teaching as portrayed by enabled her to succeed in all aspects of her life, the former professor. The Education Department including balancing school and work. Hannah selects a graduating senior who has excelled is an energetic, caring, and dedicated future in coursework and has surpassed the highest teacher, seeking ways to enhance children’s expectations during the teaching internship. knowledge and confidence. Furthermore, The department looks for a person who shares Hannah demonstrates empathy and concern some of the same characteristics and ethics as for all individuals with whom she interacts, both Professor Davidson. This year’s recipient is a children and adults. In conclusion, she exhibits very caring and compassionate person. all of the characteristics of a very successful Ryan’s dedication to engaging and and compassionate teacher, and so Hannah teaching each student in the classroom is Barnett is perfectly deserving of the 2021 Jack equal to Professor Davidson’s. He completed M. Holland Award. his secondary Spanish teaching internship at J.W. Adams Combined School and Central Lois P. Lowry Award in Language Arts High School, and he spent hours creating fun The Lois P. Lowry Award, in honor of and dynamic Spanish lessons and speaking the longtime devoted service of Professor of exercises for his secondary students. Ryan’s Education Lois Lowry, is given to the student lesson plans and lesson delivery were who has demonstrated outstanding academic exceptionally well done. His Spanish lessons performance, creative ability, and great promise were designed to be informative as well as a future teacher in the field of language arts. engaging, and he always motivated his students This year, we are pleased to recognize Jessica to stay on task and do their best. No other Danielle Hibbitts with this award. student this year represents what Professor Jessica is a very focused student who Davidson valued in an effective teacher more balances classes as well as work obligations to than Ryan. It is indeed an honor to present sustain wonderful grades. Jessica has a love the 2021 Richard A. Davidson Award to Ryan of teaching language arts combined with a Wright. compassionate focus on those who struggle with learning. She is particularly interested in Beulah M. Johnson Secondary Teaching Award finding ways to ensure reading and learning are The Beulah M. Johnson Secondary accessible to all students. Jessica is eloquent Teaching Award was established in honor of in articulating her insights and creativity about Beulah M. Johnson of Lee County, for her life-long how children’s literature can be used to teach commitment to teaching. Through Ms. Johnson’s children to become effective readers, writers, unselfishness, positive attitude, courage and and thinkers. Jessica is an excellent role model dedication, she enriched the lives of many people, for other students in the department, and we young and old alike. The recipient of this award expect her to distinguish herself as a Pre-K-6 must demonstrate academic excellence and show teacher for a very long time. It is, indeed, an 4 commitment to a life-long career in teaching. as a work-study student, and completed a very The Beulah M. Johnson award is given to successful internship within the Pre-K-6 public a student who has excelled in his or her teaching school setting. As an intern, Emily created internship for grades 6-12 in history or English. engaging lessons focusing on reading and We are honored to nominate Sophie Elise mathematics, then later cultivated a hands-on Mullins England for the 2021 Beulah M. Johnson approach to her science curriculum lesson plans Secondary Teaching Award. as a way to meet the needs of all of her primary Sophie consistently demonstrated school students. Emily was so successful with exceptional focus, skill, and creativity during her internship within the school that she was her teaching internship. While at Central High recently asked to stay as a long-term substitute. School, Sophie worked tirelessly to establish Emily’s administrators, colleagues, and students a wonderful rapport with her mentor teachers all recognize her compassion, enthusiasm, and her students, as well as mentoring and and commitment to the field of teaching. Our coaching the junior varsity girls’ volleyball department very enthusiastically recommends team. She prepared intriguing and challenging Emily Broadwater as a nominee for the 2021 lessons and activities that inspired students Virginia Scholars Award program as part of the to read, write, and expand their knowledge Delta Kappa Gamma Society International. and love of literature. Even during the crisis of schools closing and moving to virtual learning, Ray Spenilla Award in Health & Physical Sophie prepared engaging online lessons and Education learning experiences that show she will have a This award is named for Ray Spenilla’s wonderful impact on all of her future students. long-time contributions as teacher, coach, It is our privilege to nominate Sophie Elise and athletic director and his seminal work in Mullins England for the 2021 Beulah M. Johnson developing and supporting the Health & Physical Secondary Teaching Award. Our department is Education major here at the College. The award very excited to hear about her successes as a is given to the graduating senior who has secondary English teacher. demonstrated remarkable promise as a future health & physical education teacher. This year’s The Virginia Scholars Award recipient is Johnathan Robert Baker. The Virginia Scholars Award is given by Johnathan is following in his mother’s The Virginia Iota of Delta Kappa Gamma footsteps as a physical educator, knowing, Society International and the Virginia IOTA quote, “for as long as I can remember,” that he State Organization International. Delta Kappa wanted to be a P.E. teacher. John’s diligence Gamma Society promotes quality education and creativity make him an effective and internationally. The Virginia Scholars Award impactful teacher. He is a motivated planner, honors key women in the field of education. enthusiastic instructor, and a reflective individual This award is based on classroom performance, – always looking for new and better ways to employment experience, community service, reach his students. John balances his academic success in the teaching internship, and character pursuits with leadership positions in his fraternity traits that are commensurate with the teaching and UVA Wise’s volleyball club, of which he is profession. One outstanding woman graduate co-president and a founding member. is recognized each year from each of Virginia’s four-year colleges and universities. Gilmer Blackburn Award in Sport Management The woman graduate displaying the best overall This award is named in honor of former potential in the field of education at UVA Wise is Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor Gilmer Emily Christine Broadwater, our recipient of the Blackburn, who was instrumental in supporting 2021 Virginia Scholars Award. sport management as a new field of study Emily will be receiving her Bachelor of here at the College. The award is given to a Arts degree from The University of Virginia’s graduating senior who shows outstanding College at Wise in May 2021, as an honors promise in the field of sport management.This graduate. During her time at UVA Wise, Emily year’s recipient is Dalten Jesse McCoy. has excelled in coursework, been a supporter Dalten is driven to make this world a of our education department in numerous better place through kinesiology. Teaching ways. She created lasting friendships with her Dalten is quite the experience even before he classmates, worked in the education department opens his mouth. He has a steely focus as the 5 teacher lectures, his body language making the Peake Honors Program, and is president- it clear that he doesn’t intend to let a single elect of the Student Government Association. bit of knowledge slip past him. He means Josh is also a Napoleon Hill Scholar. Josh has business, and helping others, particularly those presented at numerous conferences in both coming from challenging backgrounds, is also of his chosen fields, and upon graduation he extremely important to him. Dalten plans to hopes to attend medical school. attend graduate school before pursuing a career in physical therapy and coaching. Edward L. “Buck” Henson, Jr. History Scholarship Edward L. “Buck” Henson was a devoted History & Philosophy and valued member of the history faculty at The University of Virginia’s College at Cindy Wilkey, Associate Professor of History Wise for thirty-three years. This scholarship in his memory is awarded to students who Heather Markusich Scholarship are recommended by the history faculty as Heather Markusich ’89 was an exemplary outstanding junior history majors. This year’s history major at the College. The summer recipients are James Wesley Campbell, following her graduation, and just before Shayleigh May Cire, Emily Leeann Mullins and her departure for graduate school, she was Math Rowe. fatally injured in an automobile accident on James Wesley Campbell is a junior her way to work at the Pentagon. A flood of history major. A native of Norton, he is an memorial contributions came to the College engaged and talented student who came to from all over the country, sufficient to establish us as a member of the Early College Academy. a permanently endowed scholarship in her Having been interested in history from an early memory. The Heather Markusich Scholarship age, he quickly declared his major. Engrossed is awarded to history majors of unusual talent in military history, Wes has excelled in all of his and promise. This year’s recipients are Chloe classes, and his writing abilities are considered Paige Allen, Dakota Blake Cantrell and Joshua among the best in the department. An Ty McCray. excellent critical thinker, Wes has earned the Chloe Paige Allen comes from Bluefield, confidence of his professors who feel that he Virginia. She came to us as a University of has great potential in the field. Virginia deferred admission student and has The History Department has been happy decided to stay. She is an excellent student to welcome Shayleigh May Cire to the major and writes very well. She is working on a this year. From Montvale, Virginia, Shayleigh project to contextualize the life and career brings a number of credits from Central Virginia of Thomas Jefferson, and will be engaged in Community College, and has made her mark helping to develop a diversity timeline for the with the quality of the work accomplished here College this summer. Chloe is concentrating in since the fall. Entering fully into her class work, intellectual history/philosophy. Shayleigh seeks to do the very best she can Dakota Blake Cantrell is an outstanding with each assignment; she not only wants to student who first attended UVA Wise as part of learn history, she wants to do history right, with the Early College Academy. Dakota is unique, attention to sources, detail, and interpretation. however, because he is equally gifted in both Her work for her introductory research class has his science classes, where he is a biochemistry suggested that she will be a good researcher, major, and in the humanities, where he is also one able to balance a number of factors in her majoring in history. Possessing exceptional considerations. The department is proud to writing and analytical skills, Dakota is always a award Shayleigh with this scholarship. stand-out in any course that he takes. Dakota’s Last year a recipient of the Glenn current post-graduation plans are to attend Blackburn Award, this year Emily Leeann medical school. Mullins is being given a Buck Henson A native of Wise, Virginia, Joshua Ty Scholarship. Hailing from Clintwood, Emily is McCray first joined UVA Wise as part of the double majoring in history and English. That Early College Academy where he excelled in all dual perspective enables Emily to understand of his classes. Josh is currently double majoring the often complex relationship between in both history and biochemistry. Josh is also historians and their subjects. She has excelled an active member of Phi Alpha Theta, is part of in courses such as African-American Writers 6 and the History of Appalachia. A native of Wise, Virginia, Georgia Math Rowe hails from Duffield, Virginia, Elizabeth Horne first came to UVA Wise to and is a graduate of Union High School in Big attend the Early College Academy, where it Stone Gap, Virginia. In May 2019, Math received quickly became apparent that she excelled at an Associate’s Degree in General Studies from history and had a particular interest in women’s Mountain Empire Community College. He history. Over the past few years Georgia has graduated Summa Cum Laude. Math is gifted sharpened her skills and become particularly in the sciences and mathematics, but his love adept at presentations and debates. A strong of history, and especially the Civil War, steered writer and excellent critical thinker, Georgia’s him into the history department in the fall of papers encompass a variety of fascinating 2020. Math is double majoring in history and topics and are always a pleasure to read. government with concentrations in public Georgia will be attending the University of history and foreign affairs. Last summer he Denver next fall. interned with the Miller Center at the University Mackenzie Rose Mason comes from of Virginia. This summer he has been selected as Rocky Mount, a small town in Franklin County a UVA Wise Slemp Summer Scholar to develop Virginia. She chose to attend UVA Wise after a National Register Nomination for a historic coming here on her first official college tour property in Wise County. and finding that none of the other schools she subsequently looked at could compare. She William Elbert Fraley Awards has lived on-campus all four years and has The William Elbert Fraley Awards in worked on the Highland Cavalier Newspaper, History and English are presented yearly in is a member of Phi Alpha Theta, the History memory of William Elbert Fraley by his children. Honors Society, and the Darden Society. History Mr. Fraley was born in Duffield, Virginia in 1883, is her first love. She is an excellent student who attended the College of William and Mary, and writes very well and has great critical analytical taught for several years in the public schools skills. She has completed a thesis on Jim Crow in Southwest Virginia. He later founded and imagery in contemporary commentary for the operated hardware and furniture stores in Peake Honors Program. After graduation, she Cleveland, Norton, and Clintwood. He remained will be attending James Madison University supportive of public education throughout his to study for a masters in history with a life. The Fraley Award in History recognizes concentration in United States history. a student who has demonstrated unusual academic ability and promise in the field. This Glenn Blackburn Scholarship for Intellectual year’s recipients are Zoe Grace Crihfield, History and Philosophy Georgia Elizabeth Horne and Mackenzie Rose Glenn Blackburn joined the faculty of Mason. Clinch Valley College in 1969 and played a major Zoe Grace Crihfield is another role in the College’s transition to a four-year outstanding student who comes to the college institution. He served as chair of the Department from the local community of Wise. Since of History and Philosophy for many years, choosing history as her major, Zoe has never and as Dean of the Faculty from 1995 until his failed to impress her professors with her intellect retirement in 2000. This scholarship is awarded and her hard work. Zoe is particularly good at to rising junior or senior history majors who synthesizing details while also understanding demonstrate outstanding ability in their studies. the larger historical framework, and this nice Preference will be given to history majors blend always makes her work stand out. Zoe taking the concentration in intellectual history/ spent the past year engaging in research philosophy or philosophy minors. This year’s of the history of Wise County lynchings, for recipient is Jeron Neal Stidham. which she received the Chancellor’s Medal for Born and raised in Pound, Virginia, Jeron Excellence in Undergraduate Research. She also grew up with a deep love and appreciation completed an analysis of Dr. Miriam Fuller—an for the beauty and people of Southwest accomplished educator who was also the first Virginia. He graduated from Central High African American to attend the College. After School in Norton, Virginia and joined UVA Wise completing her degree, Zoe will be attending in 2019. Jeron immediately set himself apart the University of Tennessee next fall to study with his sharp mind, impressive work ethic, public administration. and admirable aspirations. Jeron has a broad 7 range of academic interests. He is majoring in European history. Cory has a wide array of in psychology, and minoring in philosophy. talents, and it is fitting that he is the winner of an He is working towards his goal of attending award named for another historian who refused graduate school and earning his doctorate in to be pigeon-holed: Cory is this year’s recipient clinical psychology. It is clear from his work in of the L. Stanley Willis Award in History. his philosophy courses, that he is one of the premier philosophy minors. He recognizes that N. Brent Kennedy Scholarship in Appalachian the critical thinking skills and broad perspectives Studies of life he is studying in philosophy will help him The N. Brent Kennedy Scholarship understand the motives of others and aid him in in Appalachian Studies was created by the administering the best care possible. Jeron has Department of History and Philosophy, friends, a bright future. His sharp mind, work ethic, kind and alumni to honor N. Brent Kennedy, an personality, and stellar work in philosophy have alumnus and former employee of the College. earned him this year’s Glenn Blackburn Award. Kennedy’s research into his ancestry resulted in new information about the Melungeons and led The David Rouse Minor Award to several publications. Kennedy played a key In keeping with the College’s commitment role in establishing the sister city relationship to a broad liberal arts education, each spring between Wise, Virginia and Cesme, . The the Department of History and Philosophy intent of the scholarship is to encourage further awards a to the outstanding student who is student work in a variety of fields associated minoring in one of the minor programs directed with the Appalachian region. This award is given by department faculty: Appalachian studies, to a student who minors in Appalachian studies philosophy, religious studies, or women’s studies. with preference to history majors. This year’s This year’s recipient is Abagale Dawn Johnson. recipient is Hannah Elizabeth Robinson. A native of Clintwood, Virginia, Abagale Hannah is a native of Wise and a junior is the first in her family to attend college. She History major. Interested in American history came to UVA Wise to follow her dream to and women’s studies, she is an excellent student become a nurse, and she would like to work possessing a seriousness about the subject. A in an intensive care unit in the future. Over the strong writer and skilled researcher, she has past years, Abagale not only excelled in our drawn the attention of her professors as one challenging nursing program, but decided to add of the department’s most reliable students. In a minor in religious studies, which she finished addition to her coursework, Hannah works for with excellent grades. As she explained, her the Center for Appalachian Studies on a project motivation to join this minor was “to be able archiving local history sources at UVA Wise. better understand the cultural and spiritual needs of patients and take care of them holistically.” The Lu Ellsworth Scholarship in Public History The Lu Ellsworth Scholarship in Public L. Stanley Willis Award History was established in 2017 by Tom The L. Stanley Willis Award in History Costa and Lu Ellsworth. The Lu Ellsworth was established by the Department of History Scholarship in Public History will be awarded and Philosophy and friends to honor Professor to rising junior or senior history majors who Stan Willis, who taught history at the College have demonstrated outstanding ability in their from 1969 to 1996. It is awarded annually to a studies. The scholarship honors Lu Ellsworth rising senior history major who demonstrates who is a graduate of the College of Wooster in outstanding ability in his/her studies. Preference Wooster, Ohio earning his Master of Arts Degree is given to students from far Southwest Virginia, and PhD. in American history from the University but students from outside the area may be of Delaware. He is a former faculty member considered. This year’s recipient is Cory Scott and administrator at UVA Wise. Preference will Belcher. be given to majors pursuing a concentration Cory, of Grundy, Virginia, is a triple- in Public History. This year’s recipient is Aidan hitter at UVA Wise. A double major in history Riley Wells. and business administration, Cory is also earning Aidan is a Norton, Virginia native and secondary teaching licensure at the same graduate of John Burton High School. He is time. Cory has done solid work in his majors, currently a junior pursuing his BA in history with performing well in research and working widely a minor in education and concentration in public 8 history. He has an equally strong interest in the through, conveying an excitement about the fine arts, however, and is considering a second subject that his instructors are confident he will major in that field. Mr. Wells has a lifelong convey to his students. Grant plans to teach in passion for paleontology and dinosaurs. His Japan after graduation, where he says he hopes career aspirations blend all of these interests as to gain “a lot of new knowledge about a whole he plans to attend graduate school to become other culture.” an archaeologist. Preston Mitchell Scholarship Language & The Preston Mitchell Scholarship was established in 2017 by Tom Costa, family and Literature friends in honor of Preston Mitchell, who taught history at UVA Wise for a number of years. In John Cull, Department Chair addition, Mitchell served as the Head Coach for Women’s Basketball at the College from 1989- Language and Literature Award for French 1992 and the Head Coach of the Men’s program This award is to recognize outstanding from 1992-1995. The Preston Mitchell Scholarship work in French language and literature. This will be awarded to students who major in year’s recipient is Morgan (Mo) Lees. History, and are student-athletes with preference Mo is a highly accomplished and engaged given to those who participate on the men’s or student on our campus whose work in the women’s basketball teams. This year’s recipient fields of chemistry, French, and theater is a is Austin Ray Yeary. testament to her diverse interests and many Central High School’s Austin joined talents. Mo has been involved in numerous the history department three semesters ago theatrical productions, engaging her creative and has brought a wealth of talents with him, passion of lighting design. She is the founder of including a block of credits from Mountain DevHub@Wise, a newly chartered organization Empire Community College. A member of on our campus seeking to teach all students the cross-country team, Austin is also working about app development and technology-based on secondary education teaching licensure. community outreach. Additionally, Mo is in the He balances a major, a minor, and athletics, Honors Program and Darden Society and has and makes it look far easier than it is. Austin’s participated in our campus Research Day. Her work is consistently very good indeed; his work in French is as impressive as her many observations in papers and essays, sound and other accomplishments. well-stated. Austin is adventurous in his class choices, never shying away from courses that Augusto Portuondo Award in Spanish promise to be challenging. Instead he embraces The Augusto Portuondo Award in Spanish the work, and demonstrates a real talent for the honors Professor Portuondo’s years of service field. His students will be lucky to have him in to the College. The award recognizes a Spanish their classroom. major whose demonstrated aptitude for Spanish and for teaching places him or her among those CVC History Award who will carry on the tradition of academic The CVC History Award is given to a excellence and who will continue Professor promising history major who exhibits great Portuondo’s dedication to the promotion of enthusiasm in his or her classes. This year’s Spanish language, literature, and culture. This recipient is Grant Thomas Quinn. fund is made possible with support from Daisy Grant is a history major working toward Portuondo, Maria-Elena Portuondo Nootbaar licensure as a high school teacher. A volunteer and Cristina Portuondo Marcus. This year’s for his Kingsport, Tennessee church, he has recipient is Abigail Dominique Castro. assisted with their backpack and “laundry day” Abigail, a junior from Wise, Virginia, programs, and will spend the upcoming summer is a Spanish major with a minor in education. putting his Skills, USA training to work when he Academically, she is interested in linguistics helps with the church’s building construction and Hispanic literature. She is a member of programs. Grant has been a participant in the Darden Society, the Student Government College service programs, and is also a member Association, and the Spanish Honor Society, of the college’s new chess club. Grant’s genuine Sigma Delta Pi. After graduation, Abigail plans enthusiasm for the subject matter always shines to pursue a master’s degree and teach Spanish 9 at the high school or university level. Abigail writing, taking creative writing in the English studied for a semester abroad in Spain and was department, as well as playwriting in performing honored last year as the winner of one of the arts, and contributing poetry to the literary two Spanish awards. journal, Jimson Weed. She has served on the editorial staff of Jimson Weed, and will take over Language and Literature Award for Spanish as its arts editor next year. This award is to recognize outstanding Trevor Wesley Meade is an English work in Spanish language and literature. This major from Scott County, Virginia, with a minor year’s recipients are Ryan Nathaniel Wright and in secondary education. He is a rising senior Madison Noel Collins. with an interest in film, having recently taken Ryan Nathaniel Wright is a senior from Global Cinema in the English department and a Wise County, Virginia who will be graduating practicum in filmmaking in performing arts. He with a Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and minor in is a member of the Peake Honors Program and secondary education. He will be receiving his a recent inductee into the Darden Society, the license to teach Spanish in Virginia shortly after College’s academic honor society. He has served graduation. He plans to teach for a few years on the editorial staff of the literary journal, before attending graduate school. He was last Jimson Weed, for which he will assume the year’s winner of the Portuondo Scholarship as duties of assistant managing editor next year. well as the German Award. We reiterate our assessment of Ryan’s proficiency with foreign Outstanding Senior English Major languages: “Ryan combines an exceptional This award recognizes a student who has linguistic talent with a good ear, enthusiasm for exhibited outstanding academic merit in the language learning and an emphatic desire to study of English literature. This year’s recipient is expand his rapidly growing knowledge...” He will Autumn Stover-Bailey. be an outstanding teacher. Autumn is an English major from Bland Madison Noel Collins, identified as County, Virginia, with a minor in German. For a rising star by her Spanish professors, is a two years, she served as managing editor of sophomore from Wise County, Virginia. She the literary journal, Jimson Weed, to which she is a Spanish major with a minor in education. also contributed. She has presented papers Academically, she is interested in Spanish and chaired panels at the College’s Medieval conversation and grammar, and plans to practice Renaissance Conference and won the Alfred her Spanish degree in the summers by taking a and Shirley Wampler Caudill Best Paper Award trip to Nicaragua and possibly studying abroad for her Research day presentation. Autumn is in the fall of 2022. After graduation in 2023, a member of the Peake Honors Program, the Madison plans to become a high school Spanish English honors society, Sigma Tau Delta, and a teacher and to later pursue a master’s degree to recent inductee of the College’s academic honor teach college courses at the high school level. society, the Darden Society. After graduation, she will be attending James Madison University Language and Literature Award for German to pursue a master’s degree in English. This award is to recognize outstanding work in German language and literature. This William Elbert Fraley Award in English year’s recipient is Ryan Nathaniel Wright. This award recognizes a student who has exhibited outstanding academic merit in the Frances Currie Peake Scholarship study of English. This year’s recipient is Autumn Frances Currie Peake taught in the Stover-Bailey. mountains of Tennessee and instilled in her students and her children a love of literature. Language and Literature Senior Thesis The Frances Currie Peake Scholarship is awarded Distinction to a rising junior or senior English major who has In honor of Professors M. John Mahony demonstrated excellence in literary studies. The and Richard H. Peake, who designed the 2021-2022 scholarships are awarded to Jessica Department of Language & Literature’s senior Faith Wells and Trevor Wesley Meade. thesis, the English faculty recognize students Jessica Faith Wells is an English major who have distinguished themselves in this from Wise County, Virginia. She is a rising capstone course. Majors who enroll in senior senior with an interest in French and creative thesis conduct research in literature and write 10 a scholarly essay. Students are also required to Outstanding Senior in Management Information give two public presentations of their projects. Systems Award This year’s recipient is Emily Gordon-Proffitt. Erik Montgomery Howard is this Emily is an English major from Russell year’s recipient of the Outstanding Senior in County, Virginia. She is a senior who has excelled Management Information Systems Award. Erik in both British and American literatures from has an excellent work ethic with the capabilities Chaucer to the contemporary. Her deeply to excel in the classroom. He has impressed researched senior thesis, titled “Morrison’s the faculty with his easy going attitude and Methodology: The Literary Function of Black willingness to work with others. Eric plans to go to Youth in The Bluest Eye,” received warm praise graduate school at Old Dominion University this from the English faculty for its sustained insight coming fall. It is our pleasure to present Erik with and careful attention to a deeply nuanced work this award. of literature. Outstanding Senior in Engineering Award Mathematics & Jackson W. Erb is this year’s recipient of the Outstanding Senior in Software Engineering Computer Science Award. Jackson’s work ethic and keen mind help him to stand out among his peers. He Jacob Somervell, Department Chair worked diligently with his software engineering teammates to update and improve an augmented The Department of Mathematics and reality, campus navigation application for Android Computer Science recognizes graduates who (Google) devices. It is our pleasure to present this have distinguished themselves in their majors. award to Jackson. These awards are given at the discretion of faculty to graduating seniors especially Outstanding Senior Double Major Award deserving of recognition. This year’s award Buddy John White is this year’s recipient winners are: of the Outstanding Double Major Award. Buddy double majored in Computer Science and Outstanding Senior in Computer Science Software Engineering. Buddy’s most outstanding Anastasia Eden Smith is this year’s characteristics are his hard work and diligence. He recipient of the Outstanding Senior in Computer is not shy about asking questions and seeking help Science Award. Ana came to Wise from Mountain when he doesn’t understand something, and it is Empire Community College to complete her that approach that impacted the faculty. That skill, degree. She made an immediate impact on the knowing when to seek assistance, is invaluable faculty through her work ethic and commitment. and will serve him well as he pursues graduate She worked as an intern at the Department of studies this fall. It is our pleasure to present the Mines Minerals and Energy (DMME) and parlayed Outstanding Double Major award to Buddy. that experience into a position at OnePartner, a tech firm in Kingsport, Tennessee. Ana graduated Inspirational Award in December 2020, and is still working with Timothy Justin Conner is a bit shy and OnePartner. doesn’t really talk about his path to graduation. He started college several years ago and Outstanding Senior in Mathematics Award struggled a bit. He took time off and dealt with Georgia Lynn Smith is this year’s recipient some difficult personal situations. With his of the Outstanding Senior in Mathematics return to study, Justin has shown a remarkable Award. Her intelligence in combination with her turnaround in his work ethic and dedication. work ethic makes Georgia one of the strongest He has completed a double major in computer Math students our department has ever seen. A science and software engineering and has really testament to her skill is that she will be attending impressed the faculty with this change. This award the University of Colorado’s Anshutz Medical is unique and is not often awarded, but Justin is Campus to study biostatistics in pursuit of her truly an inspiration, showing that hard work and Ph.D. The department is very proud of Georgia perseverance always lead to success. It is our and we are excited to see what wonderful things pleasure to present the department’s Inspirational she will accomplish. Award to Justin. 11 collegial approach to her college career has Natural Sciences earned her admission to the doctoral program in the Life University Chiropractic College. Robin Woodard, Department Chair Philip C. Shelton Outstanding Environmental CRC Freshman in Chemistry Award Science Award Each year the chemistry faculty selects This award is given to a graduating the student judged to be most outstanding in senior in environmental science who has freshman chemistry. The student receives a copy demonstrated outstanding environmental of the CRC Handbook of Chemistry and Physics. leadership and vision. The award is named in This year’s recipient is Kert Lance Gibson. honor of Professor Emeritus of Biology Philip Kert came to UVA Wise after graduating C. Shelton who, through his teachings and as valedictorian of Gate City High School’s lifestyle, promotes a better balance between class of 2020. Upon enrolling, he decided to the advance of technology and preservation major in biochemistry with his eye on medical of the environment. The recipient of this school. Although Kert has excelled in all of his award embodies Professor Shelton’s lifelong studies while attending UVA Wise, he has shown commitment to stewardship of the land. This particular aptitude for both the course work year’s recipient is Caleb Zachary Mullins. and hands on laboratory aspects of college A passion for fieldwork is expected of chemistry. For this reason, the faculty of the most any Environmental Science major, but Department of Natural Sciences has awarded Caleb has displayed a drive for field studies Kert Gibson the Freshmen Chemistry Award in that is unmatched among our students in recognition of his accomplishments. recent memory. Whether it has involved belly- J. Rex Baird Outstanding Biologist Award crawling through rhododendron to search for salamanders, assisting in cave surveys, or This award was created in recognition volunteering to dive into a sediment-choked of Professor J. Rex Baird for his outstanding river to measure boulders, Caleb has displayed contribution to the Department of Natural a unique knack for translating the knowledge Sciences during thirty years of service. he has learned in the classroom into real-world Professor Baird was a devoted and passionate scientific inquiry. That work is already producing teacher and, as a founding member of the tangible results: Caleb’s FINS research is being department, he was instrumental in the design used to improve the sustainability of a timber and implementation of the first undergraduate management project planned for the Jefferson curriculum in biology. This award recognizes National Forest, and the data he has collected the accomplishments of a graduating senior in on the Eastern Hellbender habitat is currently biology whose efforts express the exhilaration being used by engineers to design a nearly and rigor of investigative work that marked $1M river restoration project at a working farm Professor Baird’s career. This year’s recipient is Morgan Danielle Blair. in Smyth County. Simply put, these are the kinds of real-world impacts that we tell our Morgan will earn a Bachelor of Science in students they might one day be able to achieve Natural Science with a concentration in cellular in their careers, but Caleb has done it all as and molecular biology in May 2021. Morgan has an undergraduate. He is both an outstanding an exemplary academic record and is a Peake ambassador of the college and Southwest Honor student. She has actively integrated her Virginia and a deserving recipient of the Phillip love of biological sciences into an interdisciplinary C. Shelton Environmental Science Award. course of study that has expanded her perspectives on the interface of biology and Bruce William Crystal Award society. Morgan is an active student researcher, The Bruce William Crystal Award was and was an active author on a successful grant established in 2013 by the family of Bruce application to the Commonwealth Health William Crystal, a retired optometrist; a veteran Research Board to support her research on the of the Korean War, having served in the U.S. Air molecular mechanisms of DNA repair in humans. Force; an alumnus of Michigan State Normal One of the most superlative aspects of Morgan is College (now Eastern Michigan University) and her interactions with her fellow students. It is not of the University of California at Berkeley and uncommon to find Morgan tutoring, assisting, and a world traveler. While growing up in Brooklyn, encouraging her classmates. Overall, Morgan’s 12 New York, Mr. Crystal developed a love for year of high school. The ECA was a cohort of the natural sciences. He was an avid butterfly high achieving high school students who took collector as a child and a serious seashell college chemistry, college chemistry lab, and collector as an adult. The award is based on American history together during their senior merit and is granted to seniors majoring in the year of high school. Ashlyn’s hard work and natural sciences. This year’s recipient is Marcus determination ensured that she did well in Jerryd Meade. the ECA, and she was awarded a Chancellor’s Jerryd began his college career at UVA Scholarship. As a result, she decided to stay at Wise with the desire to work in a scientific UVA Wise as she prepared herself for medical field and he has taken advantage of numerous school. Ashlyn has been accepted to West opportunities to make it a reality. Shortly after Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and his freshman year he began a mentorship with she (along with her cats) has already located Professor Bruce Cahoon to learn how to conduct an apartment. Ashlyn is eager to start the next research in molecular genetics. For three years phase of life as a first year medical student. he conducted several projects where he learned how to manipulate and sequence DNA and RNA American Chemical Society Outstanding to explore the unusual genomic structures of Chemist Award algal organelles and how they process messenger The Northeast Tennessee section of the RNAs. He presented his discoveries at four American Chemical Society annually recognizes scientific conferences in the Southeast and New senior chemistry majors in Northeast Tennessee England and helped author three peer-reviewed and Southwest Virginia for their outstanding published scientific studies, a remarkable achievements in chemistry. This year’s recipient accomplishment for an undergraduate scholar. is Jesse Wayne Shaffer. He plans to take a year off and then continue his Jesse, from Bristol Virginia, came to UVA work in biochemistry and molecular biology by Wise as a transfer student from the Virginia attending a graduate program. Highlands Community College system. Always interested in science, Jesse found a place in American Institute of Chemists Award for the UVA Wise Department of Natural Sciences Biochemistry and developed a true passion for chemistry. The American Institute of Chemists Jesse will be graduating with an American Foundation annually honors seniors majoring Chemical Society (ACS) certified Bachelor of in biochemistry. The award is also based on Science degree in Chemistry this spring, and the student’s ability, character, scholastic has already been offered employment at the achievement and potential for advancement in Eastman Chemical Company after graduation. the field of chemistry. This year’s recipient is In recognition of his accomplishments and Madelyn Leigh Lawrence. dedication to the field of chemistry, the faculty of the Department of Natural Sciences has Dr. Autumn Starnes and Dr. Christopher awarded Jesse Shaffer the ACS Outstanding Starnes Medical Award Graduating Senior Award. This award was also Established by Dr. Christopher Starnes, recognized by the ACS at the regional Northeast this award recognizes the accomplishments of a Tennessee section’s annual awards ceremony on graduating senior in the natural sciences who is April 21st 2021. entering a professional program in medicine, and his/her potential to have a positive impact on Joseph C. Smiddy Science Award the citizens of this region. Dr. Starnes is a 1998 The Natural Sciences faculty presents an alumnus of the College and the Department of award to the most outstanding senior in natural Natural Sciences and a 2002 graduate of the sciences in honor of Joseph C. Smiddy, the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He and College’s first biology professor and chancellor. his wife, Dr. Autumn Starnes, founded Cutting The award was established by the department Edge Dermatology in Norton, Virginia, in 2011. and members of Chancellor Smiddy’s inaugural This year’s award goes to Ashlyn Nikole Jones. biology class in recognition of his years of Ashlyn is a Bachelor of Science service and commitment to the academic Biochemistry major from Wise. Her first integrity of the College and the department. experience at UVA Wise came when she applied This year’s recipient is Madelyn Leigh Lawrence. to the Early College Academy during her junior Madelyn will earn a Bachelor of Science 13 in Natural Science with a concentration death. Mrs. Holyfield graduated from the in biochemistry in May 2021. She has an University of Virginia School of Nursing in 1957 and unimpeachable academic record in a very served the health care community in Wise, Virginia, rigorous degree program. Madelyn has been for many years as a noted teacher and nurse. an extremely active and productive student The Department of Nursing honors Mrs. researcher, collaborator, and mentor, resulting Holyfield by awarding scholarships to nursing in a first-author manuscript published in the students who exhibit academic achievement, journal Inorganica Chemica Acta, and she has leadership potential, motivation, and the talent to presented her research in a variety of national achieve excellence in nursing practice. This year and regional venues. These accomplishments we have two students who will receive this award, are even more impressive as Madelyn is a Ethan Matthew Ray and Alexandra Fay Willis. student athlete and key player/leader of Ethan Matthew Ray is a great student the UVA Wise Volleyball team. Madelyn’s who actively participates in all learning exceptional work ethic and high academic activities in both the classroom and in clinical standards exemplify the archetype of a student- environments. He often assumes a leadership scholar. Her holistic efforts and dedication role when working in student groups. Ethan to scholarly excellence have been rewarded is a member/coordinator in Alpha Gamma by admission to the Virginia Commonwealth Omega, the National Society of Leadership and University School of Dentistry. Success, and a member of the Student Nurses Association. He will spend this summer working as an extern at Pikeville Medical Center in Nursing Kentucky. In the future, Ethan plans to work as a traveling nurse to enable him to care for diverse Nancy Haugen, Department Chair populations and plans to pursue a graduate degree in nursing. Congratulations, Ethan! Outstanding Graduate in Nursing The Department of Nursing faculty Alexandra Fay Willis is consistently in established the Outstanding Graduate in the top five of her nursing cohort academically. Nursing Award in honor of the inaugural She is proactive in the clinical environment, graduating class, which earned Bachelor of receives exemplary feedback from her preceptors Science in Nursing degrees in 1996. The award and serves as a resource for other students. is presented annually in recognition of academic Alex exhibits a positive attitude, has excellent performance, College and community service, communication and teamwork skills, and goes and commitment to the nursing profession. This above and beyond to maximize her learning in and year the award goes to Anthony Mason Phillips. outside the classroom. Alex is the president of the Mason is an excellent student. He junior class for the Student Nursing Association, is exemplifies what a nursing student should a freshman mentor and also volunteered STEM-H be. He works hard at all aspects in his life and for two years. She was awarded an internship with juggles many roles at the college including Ballad Health this year to continue her clinical Student Government Association Body President, learning while in the nursing program. Alex intends Student Conduct Board Chief Justice, a freshman to further her career as a Certified Registered seminar mentor, and a member of the National Nurse Anesthetist. Congratulations, Alex! Society of Leadership and Success. He excels in the classroom, in clinicals and in doing things Karen Denice Lane Nursing Challenge Award for the college community. Mason engages in This award was established by friends and community service with Samaritans Purse and family in memory and honor of Karen Denice goes on medical mission trips. It has been a joy Lane. The award will be made to a graduating and pleasure to work with Mason. He was a Ballad senior who plans to attend graduate school intern and will work in the ICU/CCU at Clinch and who, faced with the challenges of a non- Valley Medical Center. Congratulations, Mason! traditional student, achieved a high level of academic performance while promoting and Velta Collins Holyfield Memorial Scholarship supporting his/her classmates and emulating The Velta Collins Holyfield Memorial excellence in nursing practice, and is committed Scholarship was established by family members to community service and life-long learning. This and friends in 1991, shortly after Mrs. Holyfield’s year’s recipient is Jill Renee Talbert. 14 Jill is a fabulous student. Although she completed degrees in 1999. This year’s award is experienced challenges which lead her to presented to Charlotte Jane Inman Hess. withdraw from the program, she returned to Charlotte, a native of Trabuco Canyon, fulfill her goal of receiving a BSN degree. She California, is a lacrosse player, a member of the worked diligently to excel in her coursework executive board for Student Athlete Advisory while maintaining her professional leadership Council and a member of Phi Sigma Sigma. Following graduation, Charlotte plans to become role. Congratulations, Jill! a member of the San Diego Police Department. Betty M. Johnson Clinical Excellence Award Congratulations to Charlotte. This award honors Professor Betty Outstanding Research Contribution in Johnson, the Department of Nursing’s founding Psychology Award chair. Professor Johnson worked to bring a During each academic year, psychology quality baccalaureate nursing program to students have original research accepted Southwest Virginia, and continues to be an in a competitive review process at national advocate for excellence in nursing education. conferences. The department congratules these She was a founding member of the American students for their excellent work and recognizes Association of Colleges of Nursing’s accrediting this work with a plaque. This year’s recipient is body, the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Katherine Grace Pridemore. Education, of which the Department of Nursing This award goes to a student who has been a member since inception. This award came from Pennington Gap, Virginia. She is given to a student who exhibits the highest graduated in 2020 with a BS in Psychology. She standard of care in clinical practice. This year currently works at Farmers and Miners Bank. the award goes to Burley Walter Ball. Her hobbies include local community theater Burley is an awesome student. He has and volunteer coaching soccer for Lee Middle always been an astute critical thinker, being School. This student, under the mentorship of able to connect manifestations and patient Dr. Madelynn Shell, has conducted research interventions in the “early” part of his medical on predictors of bullying and victimization, surgical clinical. He is a natural leader with social factors in predicting college graduation a vivacious personality that allows his “soft rates, has presented at five conferences, and skills” to innately emerge when caring for his is working on a manuscript with Dr. Shell for patients. Burley has always taken initiative in his publication. Graduate school is also in her plans. academic studies and has always been “up for Congratulations to Katherine. any challenge” given to him. In fact, I have been told that Burley loves a challenge, which again Leon and Helen Lederer Memorial Award in is appreciated and seen through the eyes of his Applied Psychology clinical instructors when he is taking care of more The Leon and Helen Lederer Memorial patients requiring more complex care. Burley Award is presented to a graduating senior, plans to pursue a nursing profession in critical based on academic performance, College care with the ambition of becoming a Certified and community service, and commitment to Nurse Anesthetist. Congratulations, Burley! the psychology major and to counseling in

particular. The award was established to honor the most promising student who intends to Social Sciences pursue counseling as a profession. This year’s award is presented to Andrei Sergeyevich Bryan Hoyt, Department Chair Tregubov. This student is a second generation Outstanding Graduate in Administration of American Citizen, who graduated from Staunton Justice River High School in Moneta, Virginia with an The Outstanding Graduate in advanced degree. At UVA Wise, he became a Administration of Justice Award is presented founding member of the Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia to a graduating senior based on academic fraternity, became a resident assistant and performance, College and community service, became RA of the year. He also served as vice and commitment to the administration of justice president of Psi Chi, and the International profession. The award was established in honor of Honor Society of Psychology. He participated in the first administration of justice graduates who 15 three research projects with Dr. Kristina Feeser at The University of Virginia’s College at dealing with student stress. Upon graduation, Wise. Professor Scolnick valued service to this student plans to go to a graduate school the community and modeled this both in his counseling program. Congratulations to Andrei. writing and public addresses designed to promote understanding of political issues Outstanding Non-traditional Student in outside the classroom. The Excellence in Psychology Award: Government and Public Service Award goes Students who return to college after to a senior who has served the College leaving to work, joining the military or raising community in a variety of posts, guarding the families have special challenges. Often they values of the institution and promoting the work or have other obligations in addition to well-being of its student body. The recipient of attending class. Because the faculty realize this honor is Conor Nash Jessee. the special contributions that these students Conor is from Fredericksburg, Virginia. make and the exceptional effort they exhibit, an His family, however, is from Wise County so outstanding non-traditional student award was he chose UVA Wise as a second home. He created in 1992. This year’s recipient is Nicole is a member of the ROTC and places great Yvonne Sexton. importance on leadership and accountability. This student is married and has three Following graduation, he will report to Ft. children and began her college journey 20 years Campbell and serve as a medical service officer ago. During her senior year, she left college to in the U.S. Army. Congratulations to Conor. become a stay-at-home mom. After her children began school, she started working for the school Joseph M. Scolnick Sr. Memorial Pre-Law system and is currently a Registered Behavior Award Technician in Wise County. She returned to This award is named for Joseph M. Scolnick college to finish her degree. Her goal upon Sr., who attended the University of Virginia and graduation is to become a special education George Washington University and made his teacher and later a Board-Certified Assistant career as a lawyer in Norfolk and . Behavior Analyst. Congratulations to Nicole. Mr. Scolnick valued education throughout his life, especially higher education. This award was Scholar in Sociology Award created in his honor because of the great pleasure The Scholar in Sociology Award is he would receive from knowing he had a hand presented to a graduating senior who has in encouraging an outstanding undergraduate excelled in academics, scholarship, service to who will pursue a career in the field of law that the community, student leadership, and the he loved so much. The recipient of this honor is study of sociology. This year the department is Amelia Morgan Strouth. pleased to recognize Jayme Leigh Salyers. Amelia is from Monticello, Georgia. She This award goes to a student who came graduated from Ridgeview High School as from St. Paul, Virginia. She is a member of the valedictorian and graduated from Mountain National Society of Leadership and Success Empire Community College at the same time. and a Napoleon Hill Scholarship Recipient. Her At UVA Wise, she won the Constitutional leadership roles at UVA Wise have included Jeopardy in the fall of 2020. After graduation, freshman seminar student mentor, a 2021 she plans to attend Appalachian School of Law. student representative on the Women in Congratulations to Amelia. Leadership and Gender Issues Committee, and a current student liaison for the UVA Wise CONNECTS Initiative for promoting campus- Visual & to-community engagement. Upon graduation, this student plans to attend Western Kentucky Performing Arts University and obtain a degree in speech and language pathology. Congratulations to Jayme. Ben Mays, Department Chair

Joseph M. Scolnick Jr. Excellence in Roxbury Hyde Crystal Music Scholarship Government and Public Service Award Award This award honors Joseph M. Scolnick The Roxbury Hyde Crystal Music Jr., a longtime professor of political science Scholarship Award was established in 2017 16 by Roxbury and her children. Born in 1928 and reared in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Roxbury Music Scholarship Award Maclay Hyde attended Brown University where This award recognizes the music she majored in music, accompanied the Brown major who, in the past academic year, has University Chorus, and won the 1949 Hope demonstrated the strongest commitment to Chatterton Award for Piano Performance. After learning and the broadest understanding of graduating in 1950, she attended the University the theoretical, historical, and pedagogical of California at Berkeley where she studied for underpinnings of the discipline. Ashlyn Gabrielle a master’s degree in music and met her future Mullins receives this award. husband, Bruce William Crystal. Following Dr. Ashlyn is a sophomore from Wise, Crystal’s graduation from the U.C.-Berkeley’s Virginia majoring in both theatre and music, with School of Optometry in 1956, the young couple a minor in psychology. Ashlyn is a member and moved to Longmont, Colorado. There, Ms. section leader of the UVA Wise Concert Choir, Crystal raised three children while teaching a member of the UVA Wise Madrigal Singers, private piano lessons, playing organ at St. and a recent inductee of the Darden Society. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, serving as the Ashlyn has performed most recently in several youth choir director at the First Congregational professional theatrical productions with The Church, working as an accompanist, and playing Appalachian Center for the Arts (The App) in percussion for and managing the Longmont Pikeville, Kentucky, including two of her favorite Symphony Orchestra for many years. Until shows, Alice in Wonderland and A Christmas her passing on March 27, 2020, Roxy lived in Carol. She is excited to perform in both a Charlottesville, Virginia. Roxy was a patient, kind, feature film Directed by David Alford, and in generous and cheerful spirit who had a deep The Marvelous Wonderettes this summer at The love and respect for music. The Roxbury Hyde App. After graduating from UVA Wise, Ashlyn Crystal Music Scholarship Award is presented hopes to continue performing professionally and to a music major who has demonstrated the plans to attend graduate school where she will strongest commitment to learning and the pursue a degree in music therapy. broadest understanding of the theoretical, historical, and/or pedagogical underpinnings of Music Leadership Award the discipline. Haley Alexis Barker receives this This award recognizes the music student year’s award. who has best exemplified commitment, Haley is a senior music major as well as a cordiality, and competence in their leadership psychology minor. Her primary instrument is the role in the music program during the past soprano clarinet. She has been a musician in the academic year. We are pleased to present this College’s Highland Cavalier Marching and Pep year’s award to Tyler Dean Widener. Bands, Highland Winds concert bands, clarinet Tyler is a senior music major, with a choir, and a musician in several college theatre primary focus on voice, as well as a French minor. productions. Haley’s musical accomplishments They are the current president of the UVA Wise before her higher education include: performing Concert Choir, as well as section leader. They are in Virginia Tech’s honor band programs in 2015 also a member of Ars Nova, Highland Chorale, and 2016, and participating in the highest- and is the current vice president and music ranked Golden Hokie Band in 2017. As for her director of the Sigma Omicron chapter of Phi Mu accomplishments at the College, she was chosen Alpha. In past years, Tyler has held the positions by the music faculty to perform in the 2018, of FEO of the Sigma Omicron chapter of Phi 2019, 2020 and 2021 Honors Recitals featuring Mu Alpha, and Guard Captain in the Marching the best performers in the music department. Highland Cavaliers. While at UVA Wise, Tyler has Additionally, in 2019, she became a sister of Phi had the honor of performing in the 2021 Honors Sigma Sigma. Haley plans to attend graduate Recital. Outside of performances, Tyler had school at Radford University to obtain her the opportunity to present their research, “The Master of Science in Music Therapy. Until then, Neurological Effects of Singing” for Research she will be teaching private clarinet and flute Day 2021. After graduation, Tyler plans to attend lessons to children and young adults who graduate school to pursue a master’s degree in wish to use music to help them through their vocal pedagogy. Their goal is to help individuals struggles in life. find their voice and show that anyone and everyone has the capacity to create music. 17 Musicianship Award The Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Best The Musicianship Award recognizes the Poster Award music major who has not only excelled as a The Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill performer in the past academic year, but who Best Poster Award recognizes the best has demonstrated the strongest work ethic demonstration of research, innovation, and and dedication to the study of their principal intellectual synthesis by a poster presentation at instrument. We are pleased to present this award an academic conference or meeting. to Timothy Seth Boyd. Seth is a junior music education major, Each year in the spring, the College with a primary focus on clarinet. Seth is a holds Research Day, a day when all classes are member of several performing groups at the canceled and students and faculty present college and in the community. He has performed the results of their scholarly work. We were in multiple honor bands and recitals. Seth is unable to hold this widely attended event also a staff member at several music camps in our normal format this spring because of during the summer. After graduation, Seth plans COVID-19 and the need to keep our community to teach music in the area and hopes to grow safe. As the recipients of all three Alfred and music education in Southwest Virginia. Shirley Wampler Caudill Awards are determined by members of the Undergraduate Research Council based on student presentations during The Alfred and Research Day, it was impossible to make the determinations necessary to confer these awards Shirley Wampler this year. Caudill Fund Graduation with The Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Fund was established in 2015 by Dr. Donald W. College Honors Caudill, in honor of his mother and in memory of his father. Dr. Caudill has received many John Mark Adrian, Director educational and personal rewards as a result of the sacrifice made by his parents, and in The mission of the Peake Honors establishing these awards he expresses his program is to provide academically-motivated profound appreciation and gratitude to Alfred students with further opportunities for and Shirley Wampler Caudill. Dr. Caudill is a intellectual growth. Students graduating with professor of marketing in the Broyhill School of Peake Honors have maintained a 3.5 grade point Management in the Godbold School of Business average. In addition to their regular degree at Gardner-Webb University. A panel of faculty requirements, students are required to take judges selected by the Office of Academic three interdisciplinary honors seminars, attend Affairs chooses the recipients. eight honors cultural events, and conduct independent research with faculty mentors. The Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Best Their hard work is worth celebrating not only Paper Award because of the personal achievement that it The Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill represents, but also for the contribution that Best Paper Award honors a scholarly essay in it has made to the intellectual climate of UVA any discipline that has been presented at an Wise as a whole. academic conference. The following students have completed all requirements necessary to graduate with college The Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Best honors. Each one will receive a Peake Honors Presentation Award medallion to wear in their graduation ceremony. The Alfred and Shirley Wampler Caudill Best Presentation Award honors a scholarly/ Bailey Rhianna Anderson creative presentation in any discipline given at For her first project, Bailey collected a regional or national undergraduate research data on the fireflies of High Knob. She and conference. Wally Smith were particularly interested in documenting the local mating patterns of 18 Photinus carolinus, famed for its synchronous molecules (CORMs) in cancer treatments. mating “light shows.” Her second project, Working with Floyd Beckford, she synthesized under the direction of Cody Sanders, examined and characterized CORM complexes and then the lower-than-average support for physical attempted to determine their anti-bacterial and education in Southwest Virginia public schools, cytotoxicity functions. Her second project, and identified administrative strategies that under the direction of Ryan Huish, examined the could improve these programs. efficacy of medicinal plants used by traditional Coursework: A.I. in Film (Ray); Sixth Extinction healers in Tonga for treatments of common dental (VanGundy); Magic (McNulty) ailments. Coursework: A.I. in Film (Ray); Sixth Extinction Morgan Danielle Blair (VanGundy); Magic (McNulty) Morgan’s first project probed the collaborative roles of XPC proteins and XPA Mackenzie Rose Mason sensors in the body’s repair of DNA. Her second For her first project, Mackenzie studied project examined the bone-setting and massage historical caricatures of African Americans methods of traditional Tongan healers and and demonstrated the ways in which many of evaluated them in relation to modern medical them—including the infamous cartoon of Serena practices. Under the direction of Mike Shell and Williams following the 2018 U.S. Open—persist Ryan Huish, respectively. in American culture. For her second project, Mackenzie interviewed teachers and students Zoe Grace Crihfield in local high schools in to determine the For her first project, Zoe researched strengths and weaknesses of virtual education three early twentieth century lynchings in Wise during the pandemic (with an eye towards County and worked with community leaders to possible improvements for the future). Under document and commemorate these events. Her the direction of Tom Costa and Elizabeth Dotson- second project chronicled the life and career Shupe, respectively. of Miriam Delois Morris Fuller, the first African Coursework: A.I. in Film (Ray); Religion & Pop American student to attend UVA Wise (in 1960). Culture (Wolny); Italian Renaissance (Adrian) Both projects were mentored by Tom Costa. Coursework: Sixth Extinction (VanGundy), Autumn Brooke Stover-Bailey Making of the Working Class (Leech); Cataclysm Autumn’s first project examined the & Cultural Memory (Clark) nature of Fortune in Boethius’s Consolation of Philosophy and then showed how the medieval Georgia Elizabeth Horne Pearl poet used the classical tradition and Georgia’s capstone project conducted also combined it with providence in order to a historical analysis of the Church of Satan, Christianize the convention. For her second founded by Anton LaVey in 1966. Unlike theistic project, Autumn wrote an essay in which she Satanism or “devil worship,” LaVey’s rationalistic analyzed the tension that Chaucer creates philosophy sees Satan as an archetype—rather between religious and secular themes in Troilus than a literal figure—who is associated with pride, and Criseyde. Both projects were directed by individual empowerment, vital existence, and Ken Tiller. undefiled wisdom. Georgia’s paper explored Coursework: Newsreal (McNulty); A.I. in Film how theistic and rational Satanism became (Ray); Italian Renaissance (Adrian) conflated by mainstream culture and media; she then attempted to untangle the two in order Rachel Alexis Ward to provide a critical analysis of the history and For her capstone project, Rachel examined religious philosophy of LaVey’s church. Co- the effects of the pandemic on the friendship directed by Cindy Wilkey and Anthony Cashio. relationship. She worked with Anthony Cashio Coursework: End of the World (Wolny, Huish, to identify the philosophical underpinnings of Purscell); Love, Sex, & Friendship (Cashio); friendship as well as the ways in which these Politics of Game of Thrones (Evans) relationships are traditionally maintained. Rachel then looked at the particular challenges posed Madelyn Leigh Lawrence by COVID-19, including the effects of prolonged Madelyn’s first project explored the social distancing. Finally, under the direction potential use of carbon monoxide releasing of Kristina Feeser, she used the principles of social psychology to identify strategies— 19 communication, listening, nonverbal expression, Alabama, a foundation established by Civil empathy, etc.—for maintaining meaningful Rights lawyer Bryan Stevenson that addresses connections. the historical roots of current injustices African Coursework: Italian Renaissance (Adrian); Love, Americans face across the country. Sex, & Friendship (Cashio); Magic (McNulty) Crihfield completed several other research projects while engaged with the Community Remembrance Committee Chancellor’s Medal including work on a biography of Dr. Miriam Delois Morris Fuller, the first African American for Excellence in student to attend what was then Clinch Valley College (1960). Undergraduate She has presented her work on various projects at regional and national conferences, Research including the Phi Alpha Theta History Conference, meetings of the Appalachian The College recognizes and honors students Studies Association, and the regional COPLAC who have attained a high level of scholarship as conference. She has also presented here undergraduates. To that end, the Chancellor’s at UVA Wise for Black History Month and Medal is awarded annually to a student who Research Day. has demonstrated excellence in the pursuit of knowledge beyond the classroom. To be eligible for the Chancellor’s Medal, a student must have Graduation with been nominated by a faculty mentor in response to an exceptional project, and members of the Academic Distinction Undergraduate Research Council must have judged the student’s work to be particularly Students graduating with honors are meritorious and deserving of public recognition. distinguished by the wearing of gold tassels with the Honors charm at Commencement. This year’s recipient is Zoe Grace Crihfield. Grade point averages for honors status Zoe is an outstanding student who comes include courses completed at The University to the college from the local community of of Virginia’s College at Wise as well as Wise. A major in history with a minor in women’s coursework transferred from other institutions. studies, she has become an impressive scholar. For purposes of this publication only, honors She is particularly good at synthesizing details designations are based on coursework while also understanding the larger historical completed at the end of the Fall 2020 semester framework, and this nice blend always makes and may be adjusted based on all reported her work standout. She is receiving this well- college coursework. Final honors will be deserved award for her research and publications published on all official transcripts. on the three Wise County lynchings. In summer 2019, she was one of a team of Summa Cum Laude (“With highest honor”) three students who worked with Professor Tom 3.900-4.000 grade point average Costa on researching the three lynchings that occurred in Wise County in 1902, 1920, and 1927. Magna Cum Laude (“With high honor”) Her work resulted in the publication of an essay 3.700-3.899 grade point average on the lynchings on the “Racial Terror: Lynching in Virginia,” hosted by Professor Gianluca DeFazio Cum Laude (“With honor”) of James Madison University. She is currently 3.500-3.699 grade point average working with Professor Costa to revise a chapter on the Wise lynchings for a book to be published Summa Cum Laude by the University of Virginia Press. Sydney Elise Bates Her research was part of a larger effort, the Wise Emilee Grace Helbert County Community Remembrance Project to Conor Nash Jessee memorialize the historical injustice of lynching. Madelyn Leigh Lawrence As a member of the Community Remembrance Rian Fitzgerald Moore Committee, she is part of a group which partnered Georgia Lynn Bolling Opalesky with the Equal Justice Initiative of Montgomery, 20 Ryan Nathaniel Wright Andrei Sergeyevich Tregubov Richard Hugh Turner Magna Cum Laude John Bryce Varner Morgan Danielle Blair Rachel Alexis Ward Zoe Grace Crihfield John Tyler Webb Lenora Wynn Dingus Haley Elizabeth Wright Logan Daniel Dollarhide Megan Elizabeth Greear Andrew Dennis Greene Honor Societies Mitchell Blake Tanner Holbrook Georgia Elizabeth Horne Alpha Phi Sigma Ashlyn Nikole Jones The mission of Alpha Phi Sigma is to Mackenzie Rose Mason promote analytical thinking, rigorous scholarship Sophie Elise Mullins and lifelong learning, to keep abreast of the Devin Sean Patrick advances in scientific research, to elevate the Anthony Mason Phillips ethical standards of the criminal justice professions, Katherine Grace Pridemore and to sustain in the public mind the benefit and Jayme Leigh Salyers necessity of education and professional training. Makenzie Carson Sheets The inductee for 2020-2021 is: Anastasia Eden Smith Kaitlyn Nicole Stapleton Kellie Suzanne Henderson Blake Allan Stinson Autumn Brooke Stover-Bailey The Darden Society Caleb Aaron Street The Darden Society, the College’s oldest Kira Alixandrya Rene Sturgill honor society, is named for Colgate W. Darden, Nicholas Vinson Trosper president of the University of Virginia when the College was founded. Criteria for membership Cum Laude requires that students be on the Dean’s List Claudia Jane Alsup for their first three full-time semesters (a grade Bailey Rhianna Anderson point average of 3.500 or higher). Juniors and Johnathan Robert Baker seniors may be nominated for selection by their Burley Walter Ball III departments. Darden Society inductees for the Haley Alexis Barker 2020-2021 academic year are: Aleksander Tobias Belcher Emily Christine Broadwater Destiny Savannah Addair Haley Rebecca Caudill Chloe Paige Allen Andrea Ellen Church Megan Brooke Austin Cameron B. Cowan Diamonta Levare Ball Kaitlyn Davis Cory Scott Belcher Hunter Braydon Dorton Abigail Grace Blankenship Erik Montgomery Howard Adam Drake Bowen Kalee Colleen Johnson Dakota Blake Cantrell Aundrea Renee Jones Rachel Kerr Cohen Casey Marie Kelly Molly Elizabeth Frazier Logan Tyler Lane Rachel Paige Gibson Raychel Lynn Lapallo Amanda Dawn Greear Noah Aaron Maxfield Andrew Dennis Greene Dalten Jesse Liam McCoy Jessica Danielle Hibbitts Elizabeth Christine Moore Mitchell Blake Holbrook Alexandria Gale Mullins Brittany Briana Horton Bryson Cole Mullins Keaton Seth Ingle Hanna Leigh Oliver John Robert Kilgore Madison Layne Ray Logan Cade Lagow Kelsey Madison Sexton Kaeli Rosse McKinney Sierra Nicole Thacker Christopher John McKnight 21 Kayleigh Danielle McNew Trevor Wesley Meade Pi Sigma Alpha Rian Fitzgerald Moore Pi Sigma Alpha is a national honor society Ashlyn Gabrielle Mullins for the study of political science. Members must Olivia Faith Mullins have completed at least ten semester credits of Danielle N. Nottingham work in political science including at least one Anthony Mason Phillips upper-division course, with an average grade Zoe Brooke Phillips of B or higher in those courses. They must have Haley Katherine Quillen achieved an overall GPA placing them in the top John Luke Sage one-third of their class. Saidee Leigh Sexton Katerina Fern Sheads Bryson Patrick Roberson Connor Ray Short Math Rowe Amelia Morgan Strouth Amelia Morgan Strouth Haley Ann Sykes Kaley Brook Sykes Psi Chi Clara Isabel Taylor Psi Chi is a national honor society founded Jordan Marshall Wampler to encourage, stimulate and maintain excellence Emily Sierra Ward in scholarship and to advance the study of Rachel Alexis Ward psychology. Psi Chi members for the 2020-2021 academic year are: Lambda Pi Eta Lambda Pi Eta is the honor society Noah Jason Anderson of the National Communication Association, Leah Katherine Baker whose purpose is to recognize, foster and Sydney Vail Collins reward outstanding scholastic achievement in Sarah Margaret Crawford communication studies. The Rho Xi Chapter Matelyn Buchanan Gibson inductees for the 2020-2021 academic year are: Colleen Elizabeth Gilliam Alexis G. Horton Cameron Bailey Cowan Shimon Chrisophe Hunt Leroy Green III Courtney Emalee Johnson Laura Kate Love Cassidy Faith Owens Haley Katherine Quillen Hannah Brooke Phelps Kaylee Faith Sexton Phi Alpha Theta Alexander Elizabeth Sturgill Phi Alpha Theta, one of the nation’s largest Sierra N. Thacker honor societies, is devoted to excellence in the Marshara Nicole Thompson study of history. Requirements for induction Andrei Sergeyevich Tregubov include an overall grade point average of 3.00 Kaitlyn Denise Wagoner and a minimum of 3.00 in history classes. Rachel Alexis Ward Inductees for the 2020-2021 academic year are: Sigma Tau Delta Chloe Paige Allen Sigma Tau Delta’s central purpose is to confer James Wesley Campbell distinction upon students of the English Dakota Blake Cantrell language and literature. Sigma Tau Delta Shayleigh May Cire inductees for the 2020-2021 academic year are: Elizabeth Grace Dingus Mitchell Blake Holbrook Chloe Rebecca Collins Alexis Grace Horton Emily P. Gordon-Profitt Sydney Paula Laney Trevor Wesley Meade Joshua John Miklandric Alli Marie Miller Makayla Danielle Mitchell Emily Mullins Benjamin Bryce Moore Jessica Faith Wells Hannah Elizabeth Robinson Kaitlyn Nadara Smith Kailyn Joyce Spencer 22 Sigma Theta Tau The mission of Sigma Theta Tau, the Honor Society of Nursing, is advancing world health and celebrating nursing excellence in scholarship, leadership, and service. Members must have a grade point average of at least 3.500 and be in the top 35 percent of their class. Inductees for the 2020-2021 academic year are:

Claudia Jane Alsup Burley Walter Ball Haley Rebecca Caudill Hunter Braydon Dorton Ericka Brooke Fisher Anthony Mason Phillips Kaitlyn Nicole Stapleton Jill Renee Talbert

Sigma Zeta Sigma Zeta is a national honor society whose purpose is to promote interest in the study of mathematics, computer science and the sciences, and to recognize students who have attained outstanding achievement in those fields. To be eligible for membership, students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 in all math and science courses completed. Alumni of the Alpha Xi Chapter of UVA Wise include physicians, dentists, engineers, scientists, teachers, and professionals in many other fields. The Alpha Xi chapter inductees for the 2020- 2021 academic year are:

Landon Jeffery Elkins Michaela Faith Hall Logan Tyler Lane Raychel Lynn Lapallo Morgan G. Lees Andrew Kinnel Mullins Caleb Zachary Mullins

23 UVA Wise College Board

2020-2021

Marcia A. Gilliam ’82, Chair Lewey K. Lee ’64, Vice Chair

Michael L. Allen ’81 Jonette Dixton Carpenter ’01 Katheryn B. Curtis

Marvin W. Gilliam Jr. James M. Gott ’72 Don M. Green ’61 Leton L. Harding Jr. ’78 George E. Hunnicutt Jr. ’72 Fran G. Hunt ’80 Karen S. Mullins ’74 Ruby W. Rogers ’74 Joseph F. Smiddy, M.D. ’60 Robert F. Stallard ’76 Jeffery A. Sturgill ’74 J. Michael Thomas Roger C. Viers ’64 Dawneda F. Williams

Elizabeth M. Cranwell, Board of Visitors Representative Joseph R. Carico ’95, Alumni Association Board Representative Madelyn L. Lawrence ’21, Student Member

24 Special Appreciation

The following people have provided invaluable assistance for this event.

Rosa Bott

Chris Davis

Heather Eisenhart

Valerie Lawson

Darlene Moore

Bobbi Mullins

Jenny Salyers

Sass Sheppard

Terry Winters

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