Wesleyan College held its annual Honors and Awards Convocation on Wednesday, April 21, 2021. This event honors students, faculty, and staff for their work in the classroom as well as on campus. This year’s event was held with limited/socially distanced seating in Porter Auditorium, and was live streamed so family and community members could enjoy the event on their devices all around the country.
Eve Stump ’21 received the highest student-nominated honor, Wesleyan Student of the Year. Given each year to a graduating senior, this award is based on three principal traits: leadership, dedication to the Wesleyan community, and friendship to others. Eve served as Red Class president her senior year, as a Junior Marshal, a resident advisor, a biology teaching assistant and tutor, and was co-captain of Hyperion, Wesleyan’s color guard team. A biology pre-med major, she plans to spend the next year focusing on clinical and medical experiences in the field before attending medical school in the fall of 2022.
Kayla Nobles ’21 was honored as Wesleyan Student of Success, an award given annually to a junior or senior who stands out in academics, community service, and extracurricular activities. While on campus, Kayla volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and participated in community vaccine clinics, the College’s mental health fair, and WOW! A Day for Wesleyan. She also volunteered at blood drives, Relay For Life walk, and other community outreaches, earned a spot on the National Student Nursing Association board, and contributed to the Wesleyan Nursing newsletter. Kayla graduated in May with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree and has accepted a position at Atrium Navicent Health on the ortho/trauma floor.
Head Equestrian Coach and Director of the Equestrian Center Catherine Baker and Student Affairs Program Coordinator Theresa Abercrombie were each honored with a Presidential Staff Award. Theresa Abercrombie was also honored as SGA Staff Member of the Year. Assistant Dean for Equity and Inclusion Tonya Parker ’01 was honored with the SGA Faculty/Staff Workhorse Award.
Faculty award winners included Assistant Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Tyler Schwaller who received the SGA Professor of the Year and also the Ann Munck Excellence in Teaching Award; Associate Professor of Nursing Dr. Deonna Tanner, the Quillian Distinguished Teaching Award; and Assistant Professor of Education Dr. Steven Haberlin, the Vulcan Materials Company Teaching Excellence Award.