Last Updated on May 7, 2019 by cassnetwork
KOKOMO, Ind. – Indiana University Kokomo celebrated the academic achievements of its students with its annual master’s hooding ceremony and honors convocation Monday, May 6.
Chancellor Susan Sciame-Giesecke commended students for their personal commitment to excellence, and challenged them to become leaders in their professions and communities.
“Hard work, dedication, and commitment have played a role in your success,” she said. “Now with that success comes responsibility. We will look to you for leadership. Society will look to you to make a difference in all the challenges we’re going to face in this country and in the world.”
Graduate students marked their success by receiving the hoods that recognize them as having earned advanced degrees. Each one chose a significant faculty or staff member who had impacted him or her, to drape the hood before exchanging a handshake or hug.
Stella Taber, Kokomo, was one of 13 members of the first class of the Master of Science in Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner track. She looks forward to beginning her career as a primary health care provider in the area.
“I’ve always wanted to be a family nurse practitioner, and when IU Kokomo started this program, it was a dream come true,” she said. “It’s been a long road, and I am thrilled to achieve this.”
Jerome Humphrey plans to move to Japan, where his wife, Priscilla, is on assignment with the U.S. Navy, now that he has completed his Master of Public Management. Priscilla Humphrey watched the ceremony from Tokyo via Facetime.
“She was excited for me, from 8,000 miles away,” Jerome Humphrey said. He hopes to set an example for his four children, by returning to school after his career in the U.S. Air Force.
“Education will get you anywhere,” he said. “No matter how old you are, you’re never too old for an education. If my kids see that I can do this later in life, they’ll know they can do it too.”
The honors convocation celebrates undergraduate achievement, highlighting those who have made the dean’s list during the year, and also those who won outstanding student awards in the academic majors. Awards also were given for student leadership, honors program completion, and outstanding faculty.
Noah Darr, Catlin, Illinois, received the outstanding student award in one of the campus’s newest majors, sport and recreation management. He was honored to receive the recognition.
“It’s a lot of hard work,” he said. “It felt good to have it pay off.”
A member of IU Kokomo’s baseball team, he graduates in December, and hopes to manage a sports complex and coach.
Mehreen Tahir, from Pakistan, was excited to be among the students recognized for achieving the dean’s list.
“It is a great academic achievement, and it was one of my goals,” she said. “I’m pleased to be recognized for reaching this goal.”
Outstanding undergraduate student award winners by program included:
Radiography: Samuel Rhymer, Rochester
Medical Imaging Technology: Chelsea Fields, Michigantown
Health Sciences: Allison Voils, Jamestown
Bachelor of Applied Science: Matt Nelson, Logansport
Sport and Recreation Management: Noah Darr, Catlin, Illinois
Business: Shelby Beltz, Alexandria
Hospitality and Tourism: Emily Harsh, Kokomo
Public Administration and Management: Carson Ray, Peru
Elementary Education: Hannah Moody, Eaton
Secondary Education: Kathryn Kaster, Kokomo
Communication Arts: Diana Deyoe, Greentown
English: Amanda Weida, Lafayette
Humanities: Elaina Hardebeck, Frankfort
New Media, Art, and Technology: Alyson Davis, Kokomo
Psychology: Andrew Fields, Kokomo
Criminal Justice: Dallas Snell, Frankfort
Sociology: Marisha Rigle, Logansport
History and Political Science: Douglas Carter, Kokomo
Bachelor of Science in Nursing: Alessandra Smith, Kokomo
R.N. to B.S.N. Tim Williams, Hartford City
Biochemistry and Chemistry: Monica Schultz, Kokomo
Biology: Michael Miiler, Marion
Biological and Physical Sciences: Esmerelda Santos Valdez, Frankfort
Informatics: Joshua Bertrand, Gas City
Mathematics: Joshua Jansen, Kokomo
General Studies: Joshua Welch, Noblesville
Outstanding graduate student award winners included:
Master of Arts in Mental Health Counseling: Flor Valdes, Kokomo
Master of Business Administration: Ashley Miller, Kokomo
Master of Public Management: Sanya Hatimi, Kokomo
Master of Science in Nursing: Emily Newlin, Lafayette
Students graduating in the honors program include:
Crawfordsville: Conner Norman
Delphi: Stefanie Fuller
Eaton: Hannah Moody
Kokomo: Ethan Dubbels, Andrew Fields, Brook Karle, Michaela Norwich, Tabitha Pelgen, Danielle Schultz
Tipton: Allison Hopkins
Westfield: Timothy Foster
Graduating veterans were:
Atlanta: Timothy Reed
Elwood: John Pine
Greenfield: Joseph Saxon
Kokomo: James Bauder, Kelaerin Bax, Anthony Fowler, Cameren Hinton, Joshua Lawson, Perry Michael
Lafayette: Chad Newsome
Logansport: Heather Bonzack
Marion: Jerome Humphrey
Peru: Andrew Amersbach, Kyle Chapman, Michelle Clegg, Jeffrey Grismore, Dale Truax
Russiaville: Jonathan Brittain
Sheridan: John Breen
Other award winners included
Outstanding Student Leader Award: Hannah Bourne, Bunker Hill
Student Community Service Award: Sydney Wick, Kokomo
Chancellor’s Student Diversity Award: Andrew Fields, Kokomo, and Danté Butler, Indianapolis
Resident Faculty Amicus Award: Ashley Duffitt
Adjunct Faculty Amicus Award: Timothy Fulk
SOURCE: News release from Indiana University Kokomo which serves north central Indiana.