Elizabeth Hall

Senior Honors and Awards
College of Arts and Sciences

Congratulations to all of our Outstanding 2022 Seniors!

American Studies

The Dian Christensen Award in American Studies

Dian Christensen (February 2, 1968 – April 4, 1991) graduated from Stetson University in 1990 as an American Studies major. She was completing her master’s degree in counseling and applying to graduate programs in American Studies at the time of her death in the spring of 1991. The faculty of the American Studies Department established this award to honor her memory and to extend her influence to the generations of students she had hoped to teach.  

Recipient: D'Angelo Brown

For his good work in the classroom as a double major in American studies and political science, with a community engagement minor; for his eagerness to understand “structural forces to help “counter the inequality that permeates our society”; and for his upcoming service as an intern in Washington, DC, with the International Fund for American Studies, the American Studies Program is proud to celebrate the mind and heart of D’Angelo Brown with the 2022 Dian Christensen Award. 

Outstanding Student in American Studies

Biology

Dorothy L. Fuller Award

The Dorothy L. Fuller Award is named for a longtime faculty member and former chair of the Biology Department who was also an outstanding teacher. It is awarded annually to the most overall outstanding senior. 

Recipient: Laura E. Jones

Outstanding Seniors

Chemistry

American Institute of Chemists Foundation Outstanding Senior Award

The award is sponsored by the American Institute of Chemists Foundation and is awarded to the outstanding senior majoring in Biochemistry or Chemistry.

Recipient: Savannah Rheingold

Outstanding Seniors

Communication and Media Studies

The Michael McFarland Award for Outstanding Senior in Communication and Media Studies

The Michael McFarland Award for Outstanding Senior in Communication and Media Studies is named for Dr. Michael McFarland, who founded the Communication and Media Studies program when he began his long career at the university in 1988. The award recognizes a graduating senior, selected by the department faculty, who is outstanding in academics and who uses communication to contribute to the community, be it in the department, the University, or the world beyond Stetson.

Recipient: Isabel Solorzano

Outstanding Seniors

Creative Arts, Art, Art History, Digital Arts, Theatre

Louis and Elsie Freund Young Artist Award

Louis Freund, artist-in-residence and Stetson Art Department Chair from 1949-1959, and his wife Elsie, an artist, art teacher, and founding member along with her husband of the Florida Craftsmen organization, wanted to leave a legacy to Stetson that would impact the lives of promising young artists. Before their deaths (his in 1999 and hers in 2001) they had left word of their intentions, and following their deaths a special endowment was established which has resulted in this special award in their honor, first presented in the spring of 2004. The award-winning work becomes part of the University’s permanent art collection. 

Recipient: Carol Makky

Ed Hamill Award to Outstanding Senior

In late 1979, Edwin N. Hamill, a significant donor of artwork to Stetson University, desired to establish an annual scholarship-based award to be presented to an outstanding senior art major. At the time, it was the first award of its kind for the department, and in the fall of 1980 the first award was presented.

Recipient: Jade Ammones

Marjorie Forster Gilbert Award

The Marjorie Forster Gilbert Award for Outstanding Student Performer recognizes a Theatre Arts major who has demonstrated excellence as an actor or director in theatre production. Mrs. Marjorie Gilbert was a professor at Stetson from 1969 until her retirement in 1989. She was dedicated to drawing the best from her students, both in the classroom and on the stage, and her immense contribution to the department over the years is commemorated with this award.  

Recipient: Shanellie Figueroa and Liza Tananbaum

Outstanding Seniors

Economics 

Outstanding Student in Economics

This award is presented to the top student in Economics based on his or her coursework, with an emphasis on the student’s senior research.

Recipient: Cynthia Brea

Outstanding Senior

Education

Ray V. Sowers Elementary Education Award

This award recognizes the most outstanding graduate in Elementary Education.

Recipient: Gretchen Nerber

Outstanding Seniors

English

Byron H. Gibson Award

The Byron H. Gibson Award, named for a former long-time chair of the English Department, was established by Dr. Gibson’s son and former students, and it is the most prestigious honor bestowed by the Department. It is presented annually to a student whose outstanding scholarly work in the classroom is complemented by other, also outstanding contributions to the Department and the University.

Recipient: Calista Headrick 

Outstanding Seniors

Environmental Science and Studies

Outstanding Seniors

Gender Studies

Outstanding Senior in Gender Studies

This award recognizes the academic excellence and the overall contribution of a graduating senior, minoring in Gender Studies, to the mission of the program.

Recipient: Kadhapriya Lindo

Health Sciences

Health Sciences Scholarship and Service Award

The Health Sciences Scholarship and Service Award is presented to Health Sciences seniors who have demonstrated outstanding academic performance and research skills and commendable service to the Department of Health Sciences, Stetson University, and the DeLand community.

Recipients: Royce Newman and Lindsey Turmelle

Outstanding Seniors

History

Gilbert L. Lycan History Award

Gilbert Lycan, PhD, was a popular and well-respected History professor at Stetson University from the ’50s through the ’70s. He also wrote the first history of the University. An award was established in his name to honor the outstanding seniors every year within the Department of History.

Recipients: Alyssa Louk and Trenten T. Ward

Outstanding Seniors

Mathematics, Applied Mathematics, Computer Science

Outstanding Seniors

Philosophy

Ronald L. and Margaret Smith Hall Philosophy Award

The Ronald L. and Margaret Smith Hall Philosophy Award is given to honor the most outstanding graduating senior in the Department of Philosophy.

Recipient: Kadhapriya Lindo

Outstanding Seniors

Physics

The Jack Gibson Endowed Physics Research Award 

The Jack Gibson Endowed Physics Research Award was established in 2008 by Physics alumnus Jack Gibson, Stetson class of 1956 to “acknowledge the outstanding senior in the Physics Research and in so doing, honor the memory of George L. Jenkins, PhD, a former chair of the Physics Department. Jenkins was a gifted educator and mentor whose guidance helped shape the life and career of Mr. Gibson and so many of Jenkins’ students. Presented annually, it goes to the student who demonstrates excellence in the entire senior project sequence.

Recipient: Justin Piel

Political Science, Public Management, International Studies

William Amory Underhill Award

Named for the late William Amory Underhill, Stetson alumnus, former trustee, and one of the most admired lobbyists in Washington, DC, this award is given annually to the student who has most demonstrated the discipline, integrity, and desire to pursue a successful career in public service and who is most likely to have a positive impact on government.

Recipient: Madelyn Wiseman

Outstanding Seniors

Psychology

The Psychology Department Award for Excellence in Research

The award is presented each year to the student who has completed the most outstanding psychological research project.

Recipient: Morgan Lipkin

Outstanding Seniors

Public Health

Outstanding Seniors

Religious Studies

Outstanding Student in Religious Studies

Russian, Eastern European and Eurasian Studies

Sergei Zenkovsky Prize in Russian Studies

Stetson University acquired its first specialist in Russian Studies with Serge A. Zenkovsky, who was born in Kyiv, studied in Prague, and taught at Indiana and Harvard Universities. His wife, Betty Jean, began the Russian Language program at Stetson. By an agreement in the early 1960s of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida, Stetson University has designated the member institution that would focus on the study of the Russian area, and the Russian Studies Program was born. The Serge A. Zenkovsky Award is reserved for the top student of the Russian language and culture.

Recipient: Jonah Helwig

Social Science

Recipient: Kristyn Mackenzie Shaw

Sociology

Outstanding Seniors