The University of Virginia’s College at Wise AWARDS CONVOCATION MAY 2021 The Awards Program WELCOME Donna P. Henry Chancellor RECOGNITION OF HONOR SOCIETIES Amelia J. Harris Academic Dean & Associate Provost DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS Department Faculty PEAKE HONORS PROGRAM John Mark Adrian Director CHANCELLOR’S MEDAL 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 award 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 Fraternity 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 Honor Society and was selected for the SPEC Science degree in Management. In addition, he is 2020 program. Prior 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 fellow 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.