Students of the year honored
May 10, 2006
KOKOMO, Ind.—The academic units of Indiana University Kokomo and the Purdue University College of Technology Kokomo honored their top students for 2005–2006, during the schools’ joint Honors Day program on May 8.
Winners of the IU Kokomo Outstanding Student Awards, listed by academic focus, included
Allied Health Sciences: Nicolas Herchenroeder of Greentown
Biological and Physical Sciences: Laura Fincher of Converse (She also won this award in 2004–2005.)
Business: Robert Jones of Elwood (bachelor’s degree) and Bill Colwell of Greentown (Master of Business Administration)
Communication Arts: Jennifer Riggs of Tipton and Navi Van Wormer of Peru
Computer Information Systems: Jennifer Boes of Tipton
Continuing Studies: Joel Harsh of Kokomo
Criminal Justice: David Royer of Swayzee (associate degree) and Julie Autry of Marion (bachelor’s degree)
Education: Kimberly Maynard of Kokomo
English: Amanda Spencer of Gas City
History/Political Science: Ryan Carmichael of Bunker Hill
Humanities: Carri Luster of Kokomo
Nursing: Sherri Kasten of Rochester (associate degree), Jennifer Mauman of Marion (bachelor’s degree), and Wonda Elmore of Peru (Registered Nurse-to-Bachelor of Science in Nursing program)
Psychology: Rebecca Paul of Swayzee
Public Affairs: Shannon Shepherd of Rochester
The CRC Chemistry Award was presented to Holly Stein, a biology major from Wabash.
Purdue academic divisions presented Outstanding Students Awards in
Computer and Information Technology: Lisa Hurley of Cicero
Electrical Engineering Technology: Brandon Yard of Kokomo
Mechanical Engineering Technology: Anthony Bourff of Kokomo
Organizational Leadership and Supervision: Sabrina Wilds of Marion
Two IU Kokomo students were recognized for their commitment to the campus and the community. Radiography major Elise Smith of Tipton received the 2006 Outstanding Student Leader Award. Smith was honored for her work in establishing and serving as first president of a new student group, the Medical Imaging Club. Feature editor for the student newspaper, The Correspondent, Smith was also active in the History/Political Science Club and the Gay/Straight Alliance. She participated in community projects such as the Kokomo Parks and Recreation Department’s Gingerbread Program and Angel Walk/Take Back the Night.
Penny Hodgen, a communication arts major from Frankfort, accepted the 2005 Student Community Service Award, which recognizes dedication and exceptional time spent in volunteer service to others. A member of the national service program Americorps, Hodgen was named a Student Leader for Service in fall 2005. Student Leaders pledge to complete a minimum 300 hours of community service during an academic year. Hodgen volunteers with Bridges Outreach, an after-school program offering tutoring and mentoring to underprivileged middle school students.
Hodgen is active with youth and mission projects of her church, and has participated regularly in the Clinton County Relay for Life.
Both Elise Smith and Penny Hodgen have earned Dean’s List honors while keeping up their busy schedules of extracurricular activities.
Decided by student vote, the Amicus Awards for favorite teachers on the Kokomo campus were presented during the Honors Day program. Alice T. “Toni” Kolanko and Jeff Griffin both won their second consecutive Amicus Awards. Kolanko is a part-time lecturer in mathematics for IU Kokomo. Griffin is an associate professor of computer and information technology for Purdue University College of Technology Kokomo.
The 2006 Amicus for an IU Kokomo full-time faculty member went to Lecturer in Psychology Robert Wildblood, Ph.D.
