Austin College’s annual Honors Convocation was held Thursday, April 22, at 5 p.m. on Clyde L. Hall Graduation Court. Faculty in full academic regalia and seniors in caps and gowns added tradition to the event that highlights academic and leadership achievements of students and faculty. The outdoor location was selected this year to allow faculty and students to be properly distanced within Covid safety standards.
- See the restream of the event
- See the Honors Convocation Program
President Steven O’Day announced the first honor of the evening, the Homer P. Rainey Award, established by the Board of Trustees to be given each year in recognition of outstanding achievement or exemplary service to Austin College from a member of the faculty or staff. Homer P. Rainey was an alumnus of Austin College and a national leader in education.
The award for 2021 went to two individuals. “It is a great privilege for me to present the Homer P. Rainey Award to two individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to Austin College during this past, unprecedented, year,” said President O’Day. “Please join me in congratulating Dr. Saritha Bangara and Mr. Garrett Hubbard.” Bangara is co-director of the Austin College Public Health Program, and Hubbard is director of Information Technology. Both have been called on for many extra duties during the past year, due to Covid responses and other issues that arose.
Faculty excellence and achievement also were additionally recognized with announcement of the Austin College Excellence in Teaching Award and the College nominee for the Minnie Stevens Piper Award. Dr. Beth Gill, vice president for Academic Affairs and dean of the faculty, announced Dr. John Richardson (biochemistry) as the 2021 recipient of the Austin College Excellence in Teaching Award and Dr. Erin Copple Smith (media studies, First-Year Program) as this year’s Piper Professor Nominee. At Austin College, the nomination is considered a teaching award.
In addition, Dr. Renee Countryman (psychology, neuroscience) was installed in an endowed faculty chair by President O’Day and Dr. Gill. She now holds the Richardson Chair for the Center for Research, Experience And Transformative Education (CREATE) and will become director of that program in August.
The recognition of students was, of course, different this year due to Covid restrictions, but recipients were able to come to the front of the assembly to be recognized. Some 70 named scholarships and fellowships were awarded, several with multiple recipients, based on excellence and achievement in various Austin College academic departments. Divisional deans announced the various academic department awards.
The honorees and their awards follow:
Mariam Abeje of Murphy, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Saif Ahmad of Frisco, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Alex Anderson of Dallas, Texas, The Lois Jenkins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in English and The Mary Edna Finch Bryson Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in the Austin Teacher Program;
Chloe Bachofen of Waco, Texas, The Jayne C. Chamberlin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies;
Kolbie Banks of Galveston, Texas, The Sig Lawson Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Shannon Berry of Austin, Texas, The Lemuel Scarbrough Summer Research Fellowship in the Humanities and Social Sciences (Political Science);
Kiara Bilberry of Kansas City, Missouri, The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Erin Bobbitt of Dallas, Texas, The Dr. Thomas Baker Memorial Endowed Academic Honors Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Clay Bourne of Texarkana, Texas, The Rev. David A. Sharp Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Music and Religious Life;
Yasmine Bukhari of Dallas, Texas, The Hanschen Pre-Medical Studies Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies and The John Peyton and Mary Louise Shoap Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Modern Languages;
Liberty Chanin of Irving, Texas, The Folbre Prize for an Outstanding Student in History and The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Sonia Charales of Sunnyvale, Texas, The S. D. Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in English;
Shallon Cox of Mansfield, Texas, The John Peyton and Mary Louise Shoap Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Modern Languages;
Callier Creedle Reynolds of Austin, Texas, The Temple Foundation Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Zoe Crews of River Oaks, Texas, The Bonnie J. Beardsley Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies;
Destiny Daniel of Pottsboro, Texas, The Gerald H. Hinkle Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Philosophy;
Alyssa Daniels of El Paso, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Delice Dembe of Houston, Texas, The Grace Dupree Ridings Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Literature;
Allyson Doan of Houston, Texas, The Dr. Arthur N. Springall Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Cecilia Dominguez Garcia of Valley View, Texas, The Bernice and Sara Rebecca Honea Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Taylor Dornseifer of Wylie, Texas, The Dr. Paul E. Geers Award for Excellence in Pre-Medical Achievement;
Karson Dykes of Sherman, Texas, The Paul W. Beardsley Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies;
Leslie Erwin of Fort Worth, Texas, The Virginia H. Love and Bill Freeman Creativity in Teaching Award for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Brandon Evans of Fort Worth, Texas, The William B. “Bill” Davis Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Shannon Fagen of Carson City, Nevada, The Hope Ridings Miller Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in American History or Literature;
Caroline Fowler of Austin, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Abbey Franke of Nacogdoches, Texas, The Temple Foundation Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Lilly Garza of San Antonio, Texas, The Hope Ridings Miller Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in American History or Literature;
Marissa Graf of Austin, Texas, The S. D. Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in English;
Aal Gray of Fort Worth, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Jacob Hanes of Arlington, Texas, The Verta Eckman Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Music;
Amna Haque of Plano, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Stephanie Hardin of Tulsa, Oklahoma, The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Classics;
Clara Harper of Louisville, Kentucky, The Rev. David A. Sharp Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Music and Religious Life;
Sarah Harper of Sulphur Springs, Texas, The Clara Zauk Binkley and James Binkley Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in German and The Charles Curtis McKinney Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Psychology;
Andres Hernandez of Hurst, Texas, The Margaret Zauk Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Music and Andres Hernandez of Hurst, Texas, The Henry L. and Laura H. Shoap Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Taylor-Jade Higgins of Fort Worth, Texas, The Henry L. and Laura H. Shoap Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Jack Hittson-Smith of Rockwall, Texas, The Anne Lorraine Dennis Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry;
Jessica Hoffman of Argyle, Texas, The Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Erwin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies;
Julia Holloway of Coppell, Texas, The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics;
Erick Huang of Dallas, Texas, The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Classics;
Araceli Idario Cortes of Dallas, Texas, The Bernice and Sara Rebecca Honea Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Evelyn Inovejas of Austin, Texas, The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Tyler James of Forney, Texas, The John S. and Rachel Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Religious Studies and The Thomas W. Folbre, Jr., Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in History;
Sarah Joseph of Sunnyvale, Texas, The Alfred Lafayette Ridings Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Prithvi “Vee” Kalkunte of Frisco, Texas, The E. Don and Ann R. Williams Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Mathematics and Computer Science;
Jade Kemp of Katy, Texas, The Bradshaw Frederick Armendt Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry;
Sameeha Khaled of Plano, Texas, The Shellene Kelley Memorial Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Roopika Kishore of Frisco, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Jacob Kobos of Grapevine, Texas, The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics;
William Koelzer of Richmond, Texas, The Wilbur Powell Award for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences and The E. Don and Ann R. Williams Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Mathematics and Computer Science;
Michael Le of Tyler, Texas, The Stephen Dudley and Lillie S. Heard Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in the Sciences;
Kieran Leahy of Clearwater, Florida, The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Alex Lee of Plano, Texas, The P. S. Wharton Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry;
Brian Linares of Sherman, Texas, The Laura H. Shoap Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Music;
Jackson Lockhart of Longview, Texas, The Hope Ridings Miller Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Journalism;
Alyssa Longaker of El Granada, California, The Charles “Bo” Miller Award for an Outstanding Athlete who Excels in Academics;
Jack Lyon of Plano, Texas, The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Classics;
Graciella Martinez of Houston, Texas, The Dr. Thomas Baker Memorial Endowed Academic Honors Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Cody McCasland of Keller, Texas, The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Carrie McIntyre of Houston, Texas, The Charles Curtis McKinney Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Psychology;
Carrie McIntyre of Houston, Texas, The Lemuel Scarbrough Summer Research Fellowship in the Humanities and Social Sciences (Psychology);
Travis McSwain-Shaw of Addison, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Madison Messerle of The Colony, Texas, The E. H. Black Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Mariagisse Morales of Brownsville, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Katrina Munoz of Brownsville, Texas, The Frank W. Mayborn Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Journalism;
Isabel Murphy of Frisco, Texas, The Catherine Rosalie Fincher Kucera Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in English;
Trinity Naile of Dallas, Texas, The Scott H. Boyd, M.D., Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Psychology;
Aguicle “Agui” Ndoungla Fobasso Awah of Douala, CAMEROON, The Will Mann Richardson Prize for Outstanding Scholarship and Service and The Clara Zauk Binkley and James Binkley Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in German;
Elizabeth Nguyen of Richardson, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Madelyn Oliver of Spring, Texas, The John Peyton and Mary Louise Shoap Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Modern Languages and The Dr. and Mrs. J. C. Erwin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Pre-Medical Studies;
Sophie Oliver of Houston, Texas, The Hope Ridings Miller Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in the Humanities;
Rebecca Osei of Mesquite, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Hersh Patel of Richardson, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award, The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics; and The Dr. George L. Landolt Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry;
Rahi Patel of Irving, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Valery Piachonkina of Hayward, California, The Erwin E. Smith Research Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in History and The Lemuel Scarbrough Summer Research Fellowship in the Humanities and Social Sciences (History);
Isbah Plumber of Plano, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Ananya Potu of Plano, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Mari Prazak of Fort Worth, Texas, The Sally Posey Leadership Institute Fellowship as an Outstanding Student in Leadership;
Benjamin Rafalski of Waco, Texas, The Dorothy Abernathy Memorial Award Scholarship for Outstanding Leadership In The Church;
Cindy Ramos of El Paso, Texas, The William B. “Bill” Davis Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Syeda “Tavassul” Raza of North Richland Hills, Texas, The Minnette C. Shipley Endowed Award for an Outstanding Student in Art and The Karen Toda Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Ashley Renfrew of Richmond, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Alyssa Rivera of Princeton, Texas, The Thomas Edgar and Kathryn Heard Craig Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics;
Erika Rosado of Tomball, Texas, The Carl B. and Florence E. King Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Classics;
Odalys Sarabia of Dallas, Texas, The E. H. Black Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Erika Sarmiento of Dallas, Texas, The E. H. Black Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Ruthann Schmeige of Tyler, Texas, The M. D. “Bud” Bryant Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Biology;
Tawfeeq Shaik of Coppell, Texas, The John W. Cameron Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in French;
Lara Shehadeh of Southlake, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Logan Shevalier of Sherman, Texas, The Stephen F. Austin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in History and The Foster Award for an Outstanding Student in Music;
Cassandra Silva Salas of The Colony, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Brett Skinner of Flower Mound, Texas, The Mary Foulks Gourley and Lloyd E. Gourley Prize for an Outstanding Student in Physics;
Trevor Slansky of Allen, Texas, The Jerry Lincecum and Peggy Redshaw Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in English;
Lucas Slingerland of Tucson, Arizona, The Will Mann Richardson Prize for Outstanding Scholarship and Service;
Avery Smith of Everman, Texas, The Russell V. Rogers, Sr. Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student Studying for the Ministry;
Emma Solis of Houston, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award and The Howard McCarley Biology Student Research Award for an Outstanding Student in Biology;
Christian Spurlock of Frisco, Texas, The William B. Steele, Genevieve Wakefield Steele and Sue Steele Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in the Liberal Arts and The Grace Collins and Will Collins Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Business and Economics;
Jennifer Su of Pflugerville, Texas, The Daniel L. and Martha P. Nuckols Award for an Outstanding Student in Economics;
Brooklyn Talley of Commerce, Texas, The Paul W. Beardsley Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies and The Emily A. Coe Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Exercise and Sport Science;
Harsha Tamtam of Seguin, Texas, The Anna L. Anderson Endowed Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences and The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award;
Claudia Theriot of Boerne, Texas, The Erwin E. Smith Research Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in History;
Jessica Thoennes of Flower Mound, Texas, The Virginia H. Love and Bill Freeman Creativity in Teaching Award for an Outstanding Student in Teacher Education;
Andrew Thomas of Austin, Texas, The Bonnie J. Beardsley Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies;
Paola Torres of San Antonio, Texas, The Mary Foulks Gourley and Lloyd E. Gourley Prize for an Outstanding Student in Physics;
Kathy Tran of Garland, Texas, The Alfred Lafayette Ridings Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Health Sciences;
Olivia Trusty of Fort Worth, Texas, The Jayne C. Chamberlin Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Communication Studies;
Lora Vaughan of Spring, Texas, The Scott H. Boyd, M.D., Memorial Scholarship for an Outstanding Student in Psychology;
Carolina Vazquez Saavedra of Austin, Texas, The Hatton W. Sumners Scholar in Political Science;
Jonathan Voos of Universal City, Texas, The Daniel L. and Martha P. Nuckols Award for an Outstanding Student in Economics;
Zoya Waheed of Richardson, Texas, The P. S. Wharton Memorial Fellowship for an Outstanding Student in Chemistry;
Regan Wilkins of Terrell, Texas, The Charles “Bo” Miller Award for an Outstanding Athlete who Excels in Academics; and
Madison Wilson of Richmond, Texas, The Sara and Robert Hallam Citizen Scholar Program Award.
The Honors Convocation also allows recognizes students selected this year for induction into international and national honor societies based on academic achievement. Austin College honor societies and related academic departments are Phi Beta Kappa, overall academic excellence; Alpha Chi, overall academic accomplishment; Alpha Psi Omega, drama; Beta Beta Beta, biological sciences; Delta Phi Alpha, German; Eta Sigma Phi, classics; Omicron Delta Epsilon, economics; Phi Alpha Theta, history; Phi Beta Delta, honor society for international scholars; Pi Delta Phi, French; Pi Sigma Alpha, political science; Psi Chi, psychology; Sigma Delta Pi, Spanish; and Sigma Pi Sigma, physics.
Austin College, a private national liberal arts college located north of Dallas in Sherman, Texas, has earned a reputation for excellence in academic preparation, global awareness, pre-professional foundations, leadership development, committed faculty, and hands-on, adventurous learning opportunities. One of 40 schools profiled in Loren Pope’s influential book Colleges That Change Lives, Austin College boasts a welcoming community that embraces diversity and individuality, with more than 50 percent of students identifying as persons of color. The residential student body of approximately 1,300 students and an expert faculty of more than 100 educators allow a 12:1 student-faculty ratio and personalized attention. Related by covenant to the Presbyterian Church (USA), Austin College cultivates an inclusive atmosphere that supports students’ faith journeys regardless of religious tradition. The College, founded in 1849, is the oldest institution of higher education in Texas operating under original name and charter.