UVa-Wise honors students at Academic Awards Ceremony

The University of Virginia’s College at Wise recognized the scholastic achievements of non-graduating students during the Academic Awards Ceremony on April 27.

The only branch of the University of Virginia, UVa-Wise is ranked among the nation’s top public liberal arts colleges by U.S. News and World Report. UVa-Wise offers undergraduate and professional programs in the liberal arts tradition of Thomas Jefferson.

EDUCATION

Ginny A. Short of Pound received the Jack M. Holland Award, presented to a rising senior who shows remarkable potential as a future elementary teacher. The award is named in honor of the former chair of the Department of Education and Professor of Education at the College.

Veronica F. Rasnick of St. Paul received the Lois P. Lowry Award in Language Arts, presented to the student who has demonstrated outstanding academic performance, creative ability and great promise as a future teacher in the field of language arts.

HISTORY AND PHILOSOPHY

Wesley Asberry Hearp of Danville received the Clinch Valley College History Award recognizing history majors who have demonstrated outstanding academic achievement.

Morgan M. Cook of Lebanon, Debra D. Gibson of Castlewood, Jennifer D. Maggard of Pound and Justin C. Wilson of Appalachia each received a Edward L. “Buck” Henson, Jr. History Scholarship. Henson was a devoted and valued member of the history faculty at The University of Virginia’s College at Wise for 33 years. This scholarship in his memory is awarded to students recommended by the history faculty as outstanding junior history majors.

Sara A. Bailey of Haysi and Danielle C. Smith of Jonesville each received a Heather Markusich Scholarship. A 1989 graduate of the College, Markusich was an exemplary history major. The summer following her graduation, and just before her departure for graduate school, she was fatally injured in an automobile accident on her way to work at the Pentagon. A flood of memorial contributions came to the College from all over the country, sufficient to establish a permanently endowed scholarship in her memory. The scholarship is awarded to history majors of unusual talent and promise.

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE

Jarrod Alexander Boggs of Pound and Joel Charles Sprinkle of East Stone Gap received the Language and Literature Award for German, which recognizes outstanding work in German language.

Jade A. Bolling of Wise and Brenda S. Bush of Nickelsville each received a Frances Currie Peake Scholarship. Frances Currie Peake taught in the mountains of Tennessee and instilled in her students and her children a love of literature. The Frances Currie Peake Scholarship is awarded to rising junior or senior English majors who have demonstrated excellence in literary studies.

Virgil Lee Younce of Coeburn was the recipient of an Augusto Portuondo Award in Spanish, which recognizes a Spanish major whose demonstrated aptitude for Spanish and for teaching places him or her among those who will carry on the tradition of academic excellence and who will continue Professor Portuondo’s dedication to the promotion of Spanish language, literature and culture.

NATURAL SCIENCES

Rachel Belcher of Pound was the recipient of the CRC Freshman in Chemistry Award, awarded to the student judged by the chemistry faculty to be most outstanding in freshman chemistry.

NURSING

Leslie Brooke McNew of Clinchport and Melanie L. Wade of Jonesville each received a Velta Collins Holyfield Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship was established by family members and friends in 1991, shortly after Mrs. Holyfield’s death. Mrs. Holyfield graduated from the University of Virginia School of Nursing in 1957 and served the health care community in Wise for many years as a noted teacher and nurse. The Department of Nursing honors Mrs. Holyfield by awarding scholarships to nursing students who exhibit academic achievement, leadership potential, motivation and the talent to achieve excellence in nursing practice.

SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL SCIENCES

Dustin L. Osborne of Abingdon received the Achievement in Administration of Justice award, which honors the commitment and hard work of an administration of justice major in the field of law enforcement.

VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS

Irvine Mammah of Woodbridge received the Musicianship Award, which recognizes the music major who not only has excelled as a performer in the past academic year, but who also demonstrated the strongest work ethic and dedication to the study of their principal instrument.

Reagan Cecil of Grundy received the Music Leadership Award, which recognizes the music student who has best exemplified commitment, cordiality and competence in their leadership role in the Division of Music during the past academic year.

Posted May 30, 2008