College of Liberal Arts Honors Students for Academic Achievement

The Fairmont State University College of Liberal Arts honored its high achieving students during the seventh annual Academic Awards Ceremony at the end of the spring 2017 semester.

Dr. Deanna Shields, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts; Dr. Maria Rose, FSU President; and RJ Gimbl, President of the Fairmont State Foundation, presented greetings and congratulations to the students for their academic achievements.

Department of Behavioral Sciences—Dr. Christopher Kast, Incoming Chair

• Caitlyn Tobin of Barrackville received the Outstanding Senior Psychology Student Award. A 2013 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, she is a senior Psychology major and has been a member of the executive committee of the Student Psych Association and a member of Psi Chi and Pi Gamma Mu honor societies.
• Kennidy Rae Souza Outstanding received the Senior Psychology Student Award.
• Marquez Gibson received the Outstanding Sociology Student Award.
• Vanessa Short received the Psychology Student Volunteer Recognition Award.

Department of Language and Literature—Dr. Angela Schwer, Chair

• Lily Peterson of Beckley received the Carolyn Coakley-Hickerson Memorial Scholarship. A 2016 graduate of Woodrow Wilson High School, she is the daughter of Glen and Rebecca Peterson. A Freshman English major, she is a member of the women’s tennis team and the Honors Program.

• Veronica Rine of Sistersville received the Mary Esther and Dr. Byron Jackson Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of Tyler Consolidated High School, she is the daughter of Roger and Kathy Rine. A junior English major, she is a Student Ambassador and a member of the Pi Gamma Mu honor society.

• Chelsi Latocha of Mannington received the Mildred Mason Newcome Endowed Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of North Marion High School, she is the daughter of John and Joni Latocha. An English Education major, she is the editor of the Whetstone literary journal, a tour guide for the Office of Admissions and Recruitment and an Orientation leader.

• Charlotte Riestenberg of Stonewood received the Salvatore, Anne, Thomas, James and Giovanni Peluso Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of Robert C. Byrd High School, she is the daughter of Robert and Dawn Riestenberg. A sophomore, she is a History major with minors in Folklore Studies and Outdoor Recreation. She has been in the Marching Band and participated in the Appalachian Teaching Project.

• Janay Beamer of Painesville, Ohio, received the Christiane Buck Sweeney Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of Harvey High School, she is the daughter of Rick and Alisa Beamer. A senior Political Science major, she is a member of the Phi Gamma Mu honor society and the women’s tennis team.

• Heather Green received the John Teahan Memorial Endowed Scholarship.

• Thomas White of Wana received the Will Bridges Memorial Endowed Scholarship. He was homeschooled and earned his high school degree in 2013. He is a junior English major.

• Daisy Rivera-Torres of Clarksburg received the Helmut Plant Scholarship. A 2013 graduate of Liberty High School, she is the daughter of Felix Rivera Valentin and Elena Hernandez. She is a senior Spanish major.

• Rachel Bugaj of Wheeling received the Helmut Plant Scholarship. A 2016 graduate of Wheeling Park High School, she is the daughter of Walt and Stephanie Bugaj. A freshman Spanish and Social Studies Education major, she is a Spanish Student Ambassador and president of the International Student Organization.

• Kaitlyn Morrison received the Outstanding Student in English Award.

• Ivy Shaver of Lumberport received the Outstanding Student in Journalism Award. A 2011 graduate of Lincoln High School, she is a senior English major and has served as editor-in-chief of The Columns student newspaper.

• Maddie Mullenax received the Outstanding English Education Major and Outstanding Writing Center Tutor award.

• Sarah Sakaguchi of Gibbon Glade, Pa., was named Outstanding Spanish Student. A 2015 graduate of Uniontown Area Senior High School, she is the daughter of Alison Sakaguchi and the late Jeffrey Sakaguchi. A junior, she is a National Security and Intelligence, Political Science and Spanish major. She is a member of the Model United Nations team, a COLA Student Ambassador, an OSIX analyst, a Resident Assistant and a member of the debate team.

• Tina Nichols received the Outstanding French Student award.

Frank and Jane Gabor West Virginia Folklife Center—Patricia Musick, Interim Director

• Susan Cook of Fairmont received the Outstanding Student Service Award: Folklore Studies. She attended Cape May High School. Her children are Leonard Stahl and Lisa Connors. Cook is a sophomore pursuing a Regents Bachelor of Arts degree. She is assistant editor of the Traditions journal and a student assistant at the Folklife Center.

• Sarah Blosser of Clarksburg received the Outstanding Student Service Award: Museum Studies. A 2013 graduate of Robert C. Byrd High School, she is the daughter of Jake and Marilyn Blosser. A senior History major, she has been a History Student Ambassador.

Department of Social Sciences—Dr. Diana Noone, Chair

• Jamie Riddell of Fairmont received the Criminal Justice Achievement Award. A 2013 graduate of Greenbrier East High School, she is the daughter of Virgil Riddell and Angela Bowyer. A senior Criminal Justice and Political Science major, she is president of Pi Gamma Mu, president and former treasurer of Alpha Phi Sigma and a Criminal Justice Student Ambassador.

• Shammgod Wells of Youngstown, Ohio, received the Criminal Justice Achievement Award. A 2012 graduate of LaSalle Academy, he is the son of Shammgod Wells Sr. and Lanaya Bellamy. A senior Criminal Justice major, he is a member of the Men’s Basketball Team.

• Justin Richter of Bridgeport received the National Security and Intelligence Achievement Award. A 2014 graduate of Bridgeport High School, he is the son of Jim and Toni Richter. A senior NSI and Political Science major, he is an OSIX analyst and a member of Pi Gamma Mu honor society.

• Julian Pecora of Clarksburg received the Political Science Achievement Award. A 2013 graduate of Notre Dame High School, he is the son of William Pecora and Andrea Pecora. A senior Political Science major, he is president of the Model United Nations team, captain of the Debate and Speech Team and has been Forensic Student of the Year, a Frasure-Singleton Intern and a Student Ambassador.

• Leslea Blackshire of Rivesville was awarded the William and Doretha Clayton Barnes Prize in History. A 2008 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, she is the daughter of Scott and Penny Blackshire. The senior History major has been on the President’s List.

• Ben Ahmed was named Outstanding Criminal Justice Graduate Student. A 2006 graduate of Western Reserve Academy, he is the husband of Taylor Raikes-Ahmed.

• Skyler Johnson of Morgantown received the Vince Palmer Endowed Scholarship. A 2011 graduate of Morgantown High School, she is the daughter of Sheila A. Clovis. She is a senior Criminal Justice major.

• Haley Bock received the Sgt. Todd May Memorial Scholarship. A 2014 graduate of Lincoln High School, she is the daughter of Timothy Knight and Cassandra Jaggie. She and her husband Ryan and their son Colton reside in Mannington. The junior Criminal Justice major is a member of Alpha Phi Sigma honorary society.

• Faithlynn Walker of Fairview received the Sgt. Todd May Memorial Scholarship. A 2015 graduate of Clay-Battelle High School, she is a junior Criminal Justice major and a member of Alpha Phi Sigma.

Open Source Intelligence Exchange (OSIX) – Dr. Greg Noone, NSI Program Director

• Zachary Bodkin, Sean Harris, Natascha Harrison, Brian Miller, Rachel Morris, Justin Richter and Anthony Trupo received an OSIX Certificate of Service.

Academic Advising and Student Success Center–Dedra Cobb, Director

• Emily Markham of Clarksburg was honored as a Peer Advisor. A 2015 graduate of Robert C. Byrd High School, she is the daughter of Melissa Markham. A sophomore, she is majoring in National Security and Intelligence, Political Science, History and Criminal Justice. She is a member of Pi Gamma Mu, Phi Alpha Theta, Pi Sigma Alpha; is president of the Society of College Democrats; is vice president of the Model United Nations team; and is historian of Alpha Phi Sigma.

• William Seigler received the Student Success Advisor award.

College of Liberal Arts Student Ambassadors –Dr. Deanna Shields, Dean

The following students were recognized for serving as Student Ambassadors:

• Thairon Holler and Jamie Riddell, Criminal Justice

• Jordan Gray and Veronica Rine, English

• Sarah Blosser and Juliana Spradling, History

• MacKenzie Baskerville and Sean Chasteen, National Security and Intelligence

• Kelsey Eaton and Julian Pecora, Political Science

Kelsey Eaton of Vienna, a 2015 graduate of Parkersburg High School, is the daughter of Richard and Julie Eaton of Vienna. A junior Political Science major, she is secretary of the Honors Program.

• Tessa Krantz and Jena Michael, Psychology

Tess Krantz of Fairmont, a 2015 graduate of Elkins High School, is the daughter of Keith and Sherry Krantz. A sophomore Psychology major, she is a member of the Student Psychology Association and Psi Chi.

Jena Michael of Fairmont, a 2015 graduate of North Marion High School, is the daughter of Jeff and Natalie Michael. A sophomore Psychology major, she is a member of the Student Psychology Association and Psi Chi.

• Patty Kovach and Marquez Gibson, Sociology

Patty Kovach of Fairmont, a 1986 graduate of Fairmont Senior High School, has three children, Allyson Bunce, Sydney Kovach and Colten Kovach. A junior Sociology major, she is a member of Pi Gamma Mu.

• Rachel Bugaj and Sarah Sakaguchi, Spanish

 

For more information about programs in the College of Liberal Arts, visit http://www.fairmontstate.edu/collegeofliberalarts/.

College of Liberal ArtsAcademic AwardsDr. Deanna Shields