Seniors’ academic achievements honored

Continuing a half century of tradition, the academic achievements of Furman’s Class of 2023 were recognized and celebrated on April 2. More than 140 awards and scholarships were presented to graduating seniors during the Spring 2023 Academic Awards Ceremony at the Melvin and Dollie Younts Conference Center.

“You will be walking in the footsteps of Furman’s highest achieving students who have helped to lay the foundation for academic excellence at Furman, and who have often made invaluable contributions in their communities and professions in the years and decades following graduation,” Beth Pontari, interim vice president for academic affairs and provost, said in her opening remarks. “We hope you stay connected with Furman after you cross that stage in just a few short weeks.”

In four sessions throughout the afternoon, awards were presented in the categories of social sciences and arts, humanities, mathematics and natural sciences, and interdisciplinary majors and minors.

In her closing remarks, Furman University President Elizabeth Davis reflected on the difficulties the seniors have faced, including beginning their first years in college during a global pandemic.

“You faced these challenges head-on. You persevered, and you excelled,” Davis said in a prerecorded video. “We couldn’t be prouder of you.”

Students and their guests enjoyed a reception in DeSantis Pavilion after the awards.

Spring 2023 Academic Awards

Africana Studies

Award for Excellence in Africana Studies
Marra Edwards

Anthropology

Award for Excellence in Anthropology
Nath Kapoor
Mallory Tutterrow

Art

Art Faculty Award for Excellence in Art History
Laina Grace Wilson

Glen Howerton Award in Art
Hope Kvamme

Thomas E. Flowers Award in Art
Noah Scott Henderson
Margaret Spodnik

Asian Studies

Faculty Award in Chinese
Lane Segura

Faculty Award in Japanese
Mayra Gissel Lozano Roman

James B. Leavell Outstanding Work in Asian Studies
Lauren Alexander
Eva Kiser

Outstanding Work in Chinese Studies
Ella Mackenzie Goodman

Outstanding Work in Japanese Studies
Daniel Mateo Cubides Sanchez

Biology

Beta Beta Beta General Excellence Award
Safia Bouderka

Leland Rodgers Biology Award
Shane Alden Embury
Calla Pederson
Dhriti Shah

Distinguished Research in Biology Award
Bryce DelaCourt
Michael Ryan McLeod

Elizabeth Thackston Taylor Botany Medal
Lauren Eberth

Business and Accounting

Fred and June Current Accounting Award
Andrea Aceveda

General Excellence in Business Award
Marc D’Avanzo
Kimberly Kiepek
John Reynolds Lambert

Sandy Roberson Outstanding Senior in Accounting Award
Anna Frances Weeks

Chemistry

American Chemical Society Outstanding Senior Chemistry Major Award
Thomas J. Whittemore

American Institute of Chemists Award in Biochemistry
Colin Spencer Burdette

American Institute of Chemists Award in Chemistry
Anna Chadwick

John Albert Southern Chemistry Award
Brooke Diederich
Andrew McHorse

John Sampey Award in Chemistry
Elizabeth Ann Harris
Grant Richter

Classics

John Scott Murray Greek Prize
Anna Muh

John Scott Murray Latin Prize
Josh L. Kemp

Communication Studies

Charles A. Batson Award
Kayla Patterson

Communication Studies Award for Excellence in Public Speaking & Debate
Charles R. Miles II

Endel Award for Excellence in Communication Studies
Lucy Faith Hall

Endel Medal for Excellence in Mass Communication
Caroline Jane Singleton

Endel Medal for Excellence in Rhetoric and Oratory
Rebecca Cowles

Computer Science

Computing in Community Award
Marc D’Avanzo
Abigail Grant

Kenneth C. Abernethy Award for Excellence in Computer Science
Will Harris
Tate Rosen

Earth, Environmental and Sustainability Sciences

Earth and Environmental Sciences Research Award
Emily M. Gardella

Earth and Environmental Sciences Scholar Award
Kylie Gambrill

Sustainability Science Research Award
Maggie Atchley

Wallace C. Fallaw Outstanding Senior Award
Thomas McCoy-Bruce

Economics

Carlyle Ellett Economics Prize
Danielle Drury
Lauren M. Garrison

Mathematics Economics Award for Excellence
Julia Porth Rayfield

Education

Outstanding Scholar and Leader in Education Award
Ali Collins
Benjamin King
Clarissa Steigerwalt

English

Decherd Guess Scholarship
Z. Bekemeyer
Anna Blackman
Ann Hodge
Macy Petty
Jacklen “Shi” Pope

Pate American Literature Scholarship
Scott M. Bryan

Pipkin English Award
Laura Dame

Roger Peace / L.D. Johnson Award
Macy Petty

Health Sciences

Jerry R. Thomas Award in Health Sciences
Callum McCann Allison

Public Health Senior Award
Rachel Riley

Ruth Reid Award
Eve Noreen Loftus

History

Alumni Award for Academic Excellence in History
Luke Anderson

Daughters of the American Revolution Prize in American History
James Burdon Lucky

Endel Memorial History Prize
Frances Dornin North

Gilpatrick History Prize
Wyatt Tristan Ware

Mathematics

Applied Mathematics Award for Excellence
Salem Elizabeth Wear

Mathematics Award for Excellence (Delany Medal)
Elizabeth Ann Harris

Military Science

Distinguished Military Graduate Award
Keaton Anderson
Ethan Devanie Johnson
Christian H. King
Mary Spangler
Sebastian Stubblefield

Modern Languages and Literatures

Cervantes Award in Spanish
Katherine Jane McCann

David Wells Morgan Award in French
Lauren Michelle Pollino

Goethe Award in German
Caitlin Roberson

Music

Mattie Hipp Cunningham Scholarship
Abigail Wilemon

Presser Undergraduate Scholar Award
Will Harris

Neuroscience

William Blaker Award for Excellence in Neuroscience
Paige Novota

Office of Pre-Professional Advising – Health Careers

Alpha Epsilon Delta Scholarship Award
Nora Tillmanns

Robert Emmett Allen Pre-Medical Prize
Adam Beucler
Eve Noreen Loftus

Philosophy

Excellence in Applied Philosophy Award
Caroline So-Yeong Camitta
Lindsey Price
Virginia Wayt

James C. Edwards Excellence in Philosophy Award
John Bayne
Paige Lau

Physics

Award for Excellence in Physics
Shelby Maier

Mary Paige Ouzts Senior Physics Award
Garhett William Sessions

Physics Research Award
Jalen Clark

Politics and International Affairs

Henry P. Jones Political Science Medal
Noah Chmil
Rachel Erin Riley

Paula Harper Bethea Civic Engagement Award
Mary Spangler
Courtney Waters

Political Science Chair’s Award
Mark Edward Calvin Jr.
Mary Devall Koenigs
Taryn Marshall

Political Science Faculty Award
Ethan Devanie Johnson
Grace Ryan
Elizabeth Yeager

Sidney Ulmer Political Science Medal
Jack Malo

Psychology

Allport Scholar in Psychology
Alana Epstein

Brewer Scholar in Psychology
Bridget Scalia

Burts Scholar in Psychology
Abigail McCready
Anna Kathleen Spitler

Lib Nanney Award
Mary Morrison

Marshall Prevost Medal in Psychology
Landon Minor
Allison Smith

Religion

Baggott Excellence Award
Noah Chmil

Baggott Ministerial Award
Scott Eric Johnson

David Anthony Smith Award in Religion
Liza DeVine

John C. Shelley Award for Excellence in Fields of Theology and Ethics
Frances North

Scholarly Achievement Award in Religion
Shane Alden Embury

Sociology

David Redburn Award
Angel Sarmiento

Johnson-Webb Sociology Award
Virginia Wayt

Paul Kooistra Fellowship for Engaged Sociology
Emma Johnston
Talia Samard

Theatre Arts

Furman Theatre Guild Award
Jason Roberts

Furman Theatre Most Valuable Player
Nath Kapoor
Anna Muh

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Award for Excellence in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
Mary Devall Koenigs

Interdisciplinary Minors

Ancient Greek and Roman Studies

Award for Excellence in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies
Callie Oliveira

Data Analytics

The Data Analytics Award for Excellence
Andrea Aceveda
Marc D’Avanzo
Justin Hager

Environmental Studies

Award for Excellence in Environmental Studies
Ian McPherson

Film Studies

Award for Excellence in Film Studies
Safia Bouderka

Humanities

Award for Excellence in Interdisciplinary Humanities Studies
Allison Smith
Becky Trader

Latin American and Latinx Studies

Award for Excellence in Latin American and Latinx Studies
Katherine Jane McCann

Linguistics and Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages

Award for Excellence in Linguistics
Thomas McCoy-Bruce

Medicine, Health, and Culture

Award for Excellence in Medicine, Health, and Culture Studies
Andrew Cockrell
April White

Middle East & Islamic Studies

Award for Excellence in Middle East & Islamic Studies
Grace Ryan
Jordan Zahora

Poverty Studies

Award for Excellence in Poverty Studies
Brooke Diederich
Taryn Marshall
Abigail Christy McCready
Lindsey Price
Caroline Jane Singleton
Elizabeth Yeager