BRISTOL, Tenn., April 19, 2022 — King University recently applauded a number of students for their academic, athletic, and community service accomplishments during the 2022-2023 academic year.
“Gathering to recognize our students’ achievements is something we look forward to each spring,” said Matthew Roberts, Ed.D., provost of King. “The students who are now in process of completing their studies are those who experienced significant disruption to their learning environments and social circles in the past few years. We’re very proud of the ways they have adapted and excelled, and delighted to applaud them.”
During the annual Honors Convocation, held at King’s Memorial Chapel on Monday, April 17, students received the following awards, fellowships, scholarships, and recognitions (listed among the varying colleges of study):
Jack E. Snider Honors Fellows
These students have completed an additional 17 hours of honors credit through participation in independent research; a publicly presented and defended senior honors thesis; overseas and domestic travel, study, and service; and campus and community service.
- Erin Peters – Humble, Texas
- Liz Medved – Winterville, North Carolina
- Lauren Lawson – Knoxville, Tennessee
- Ammi Green – LaFollette, Tennessee
- Maggie Danroth – Edmonton, Canada
- Abigail Williams – Bean Station, Tennessee
- Amanda Meadows – Bristol, Tennessee
- Katy Neubert – Johnson City, Tennessee
King Institute for Faith & Culture Award
Given to a student who demonstrates the mission of the King Institute for Faith and Culture (IFC). The IFC brings some of the contemporary faith landscape’s most influential thinkers, writers, and artists to campus to cultivate conversation on issues of Christian faith and popular culture.
- Aidan Swatzell – Black Mountain, North Carolina
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
Philosophy Award
Given to a philosophy student who has excelled academically, and has exhibited the scholarly qualities of creative questioning, analytical reasoning, and critical thinking.
- Shane Webb – Bluff City, Tennessee
Graham Landrum Memorial Scholarship
Awarded to the rising senior in the English Department with the highest GPA.
- Samuel Cox – Johnson City, Tennessee
Spanish Language Award
Given to the student who demonstrates the best performance in Beginning Spanish.
- Donna Walker – Bluff City, Tennessee
Advanced Studies in Spanish Award
Given to the student who demonstrates the best performance in upper level Spanish courses.
- Vanessa Neubauer – Greensboro, North Carolina
History Award
Given to a graduating senior who exhibits a strong performance in the field of history.
- Hannah Rogers – Soddy Daisy, Tennessee
Women’s History Club Award
Given to outstanding rising seniors in the field of History and supported by a special endowment from the Women’s History Club.
- Aidan Swatzell – Black Mountain, North Carolina
John W. Burgess Award in Political Science
This award is named for Tennessee native John W. Burgess, the first president of the American Political Science Association, and is sponsored by the Tennessee Political Science Association.
- Peyton Perez – Peoria, Illinois
Security and Intelligence Scholar (SIS) Award
Given to the student with the highest cumulative grade point average across all courses taken for the SIS major.
- Ammi Green – LaFollette, Tennessee
Psi Chi – National Honor Society in Psychology – Inductees
- Grace Beatty – Conover, North Carolina
- Michelle Morlock – North Hollywood, California
- Katy Neubert – Johnson City, Tennessee
- Maria Perkins – Saltville, Virginia
- Claire Wilson – Knoxville, Tennessee
Eula Cosby Coffey Awards in the Basic Sciences
Given to the female students with the highest overall grade point averages for the two semesters of each basic science course.
- Biology – Brooklyn Quark – Winnipeg, Canada
- Biology – Jessica Campbell – Graysville, Tennessee
- Chemistry – Nora Wahlquist – Doha, Qatar
- Physics – Kara Miller – Abingdon, Virginia
Betty Wallace Cornelius Mathematics Excellence Award
Given to a senior who has demonstrated exceptional skill in mathematics.
- Gideon Bezuidenhout – Wake Forest, North Carolina
Natural Science and Mathematics Award
Given to the most outstanding graduate in the basic sciences and mathematics.
- Erin Peters – Humble, Texas
Interdepartmental Sciences & Mathematics Seminar Award
Presented to the student who achieves the top scoring presentation in seminar.
- Kaitlynne Eggleston – Knoxville, Tennessee
- Erin Peters – Humble, Texas
Arthur W. King Memorial Scholarship in Physics
Made possible through the generosity of the Louis King family, this scholarship is awarded annually to a physics major who, in addition to maintaining an outstanding academic record, exhibits an enthusiasm for experimental and theoretical physics.
- Gideon Bezuindenhout – Wake Forest, North Carolina
Howard and Pearl Weaver Award in Organic Chemistry
The Howard and Pearl Weaver Award in Organic Chemistry was established in 1993 by Max Weaver, an alumnus of King University, in honor of his father and mother.
- Sean McDermott – Suffolk, Virginia
Sarah Katherine Stamper Award in Biology
This award honors the memory of the daughter of a 1950s assistant to the President of King University.
- Sean McDermott – Suffolk, Virginia
William E. Torbert Memorial Scholarship
Given to a returning outstanding mathematics major.
- Samantha Jerrell – Gate City, Virginia
SCHOOL OF HEALTH & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Mary Richmond Social Work Student of the Year Award
Bestowed upon students who are active members of both Chi Omega and the Social Work Action Group, and best exemplify the Social Work Code of Ethics. The award is named for Marcy Richmond, who brought professional standards of practice to the profession of social work in the late 19th century.
- Bethany Patrick – Johnson City, Tennessee
Jane Addams Social Work Student of the Year Award
Given to the students who strongly uphold the Social Work Code of Ethics and are nonjudgmental innovators who exemplify outspoken advocacy, while being fully dedicated to the enhancement of communities and to the service to and empowerment of vulnerable populations. The award is named for Jane Addams, who introduced the social work profession to community well-being through the provision of services to vulnerable populations and excellence in scholarship.
- Amy McAfee – Powell, Tennessee
- Patricia Lawson – Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Phi Alpha | Chi Omega Outstanding Humanitarian Service Award – Inductees
- Abigail Williams – Bean Station, Tennessee
- Sheila Walsh – Derwood, Maryland
- Kathleen Summers – Clarksville, Tennessee
- Conner Lloyd – Castle Rock, Colorado
Alpha Phi Sigma | National Honor Society in Criminal Justice – Inductees
- Michelle Morlock – North Hollywood, California
- Jakob Allison – Knoxville, Tennessee
- Haley Chapman – Bristol, Tennessee
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, ECONOMICS, & TECHNOLOGY
The School of Business and Economics presents awards to graduating students in each of its degree programs. The recipients are selected based on their grade point averages and on their services to the University and to the School of Business, Economics, and Technology.
Outstanding Business and Economics Graduate Award
- Ashli Linkous – Abingdon, Virginia
Outstanding Master of Business Administration Graduate Award
- Daniel Everhart – Bristol, Tennessee
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
John S. Gaines Excellence in Student Teaching Awards
Named in honor of Professor Emeritus John S. Gaines, who came to King in the fall of 1969 and began the process of establishing what is now the School of Education.
- Lesly Chatten – Bristol, Tennessee
Outstanding M.Ed. Graduate
Presented to an outstanding graduate education student whom the faculty believe will be a standard-bearer of King’s mission and be a teacher who will make a difference in the lives of their students and the community in which they serve.
- Amanda Kilby – Jonesborough, Tennessee
Teachers of Promise Award
The Teachers of Promise Institute, which celebrates the decision to be a teacher, invited King’s School of Education to identify its best and brightest future educators.
- Nicholas Blankenship – Collierville, Tennessee
- Mary Jones – Friendsville, Tennessee
- Amanda Kilby – Jonesborough, Tennessee
- Louis Sharp – London, England
Heart of Education Award Sandy Sanders Award
Established in honor of Sandy Sanders’ compassion and belief in students, this award recognizes a student who demonstrates outstanding student advocacy.
- Khyra Lowe – Abingdon, Virginia
edTPA Merit Award
Given to students who score 50 or higher on Tennessee’s educative Teacher Performance Assessment, which is required for educational licensure.
- Katie Nichols Burke – Sneedville, Tennessee
SCHOOL OF NURSING
Nursing Pillar Awards
The Nursing Pillar Awards are based on the School of Nursing professional pillars of Integrity, Commitment, Service, Accountability, Civility, and Compassion.
- Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Logan Taylor-Deskins – Abingdon, Virginia
- Master of Science in Nursing: Amy Rosenbalm – Knoxville, Tennessee
STUDENT AFFAIRS
Student Leadership Award
- Kaitlynne Eggleston – Knoxville, Tennessee
Resident Assistant of the Year Award
- Emma Bice – Church Hill, Tennessee
Faculty Appreciation Award
Selected by the SGA Senate, this award recognizes a faculty member who has excelled in service to students and provided new and exciting opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.
- Han Chuan Ong, Ph.D., Professor of Biology
Staff Appreciation Award
Selected by the SGA Senate, this award recognizes a staff member who has gone above and beyond in service to students, exhibited a genuine care for student needs and concerns, and worked fervently to assist students in achieving their goals.
- Jeremiah Sidi, Area Coordinator, Student Affairs
Faculty/Student Lecture Series for 2022-2023
The Faculty/Student Lecture Series dates back to 1959, when the faculty and senior students voted for the first faculty and student lecturers. Since then, the faculty nominate and select two students and the students select two faculty members to deliver lectures during the upcoming academic year.
- Faculty: Kyle Osborn, Assistant Professor of History, and Tommie Loudy, Nursing Instructor
- Students: Lee Byington – Bristol, Tennessee, and Aidan Swatzell, Black Mountain, North Carolina