Outstanding Students Recognized at Awards Convocation

May 5, 2010

Oklahoma Baptist University recognized its outstanding seniors during the Centennial Awards Convocation on Wednesday, May 5, in Raley Chapel. Stephanie Robbins, an English secondary education major from Farmington, Ark., received the University's highest award, the Rosalee Mills Appleby Award. Robbins will graduate with the scholastic designation summa cum laude with college honors. The award was presented by OBU President David Wesley Whitlock.

The Rosalee Mills Appleby Award is named for the donor, a member of the class of 1929 who served as a missionary, writer and teacher in Brazil for many years. The award was established in 1936 as OBU's first award and has been given annually since that time. The selection is made by a committee named by the University president. It recognizes the woman of the graduating class who most nearly exemplifies the qualities which characterize the ideal OBU woman, including personal character, scholarship, leadership, concern for others and Christian commitment.



OBU senior Stephanie Robbins (left) receives the University's highest award, the Rosalee Mills Appleby Award, presented by OBU President David Whitlock during the Centennial Awards Convocation Wednesday, May 5, in Raley Chapel.

Dr. Pam Robinson, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, recognized the outstanding seniors in arts and sciences studies. Anne Risch, an English/religion: Bible major from Topeka, Kan., received the award in the Division of Language and Literature. She will graduate with the designation summa cum laude with college honors. D.H. Dilbeck, a history/religion major from Edmond, Okla., received the award in the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences. He will graduate with the designation magna cum laude with college honors. Taylor Byrum, a physics/mathematics major from Bentonville, Ark., received the award in the Division of Science and Mathematics. He will graduate with the designation summa cum laude. Allen Burmeister, a leisure service management: camp administration major from Peoria, Ariz., received the award in the Division of Kinesiology and Leisure Studies. He will graduate with the designation magna cum laude. Carissa Burk, an elementary education major from Delano, Calif., received the award in the Division of Teacher Education. She will graduate with the designation magna cum laude.

Dr. Dan Reeder, interim dean of the Paul Dickinson School of Business, recognized Danielle Cummins as the Outstanding Senior in the School of Business. Cummins, a professional accountancy major from Rogers, Ark., will graduate with the scholastic designation magna cum laude.

Dr. Mark McClellan, dean of the School of Christian Service, recognized the outstanding seniors in Christian service studies. Joshua Mugler, a religion: Bible major from St. Peters, Mo., received the Outstanding Senior in Religion Award, presented to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the fields of theology, Christian history and biblical studies. Mugler will graduate with the designation summa cum laude with college honors. Emily Eaton, an applied ministry: education major from Siloam Springs, Ark., received the Outstanding Senior in Applied Ministry Award, given to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the field of applied ministry. Andrew Melton, a religion: biblical languages/philosophy major from Oklahoma City, received the Outstanding Senior in Philosophy Award, given to the student who has demonstrated exceptional ability in the field of philosophy. Melton will graduate with the designation summa cum laude with honors in biblical languages/philosophy.

Dr. Paul Hammond, dean of the College of Fine Arts, recognized the outstanding seniors in fine arts. Amanda Acock, an art major from Shawnee, Okla., received the art award. The honor recognizes a student who has exhibited not only a talent in art, but also an initiative in the development of that talent and has maintained a responsible awareness of his or her talent through overall good scholarship. Acock will graduate with the designation magna cum laude. Andrea Gates, an electronic media production/Spanish major from Plano, Texas, received the communication arts award. The honor recognizes the most exemplary graduating senior majoring in communication studies, telecommunication or theatre arts. The student exhibits scholastic excellence, leadership, moral ideals, breadth of involvement and promise of success in the field of communications. Gates will graduate with the designation summa cum laude. Spring Butler, a piano performance with pedagogy emphasis major from Grapevine, Texas, received the music award. The honor recognizes the student who has excelled as a performer, who has consistently exhibited the highest standards of scholarship and who best represents the ideals of the University. Butler will graduate with the designation summa cum laude.

Dr. Lana Bolhouse, dean of the School of Nursing, named Katie Dominguez as the Outstanding Senior in the School of Nursing. Dominguez, a nursing major from Junction City, Ark., will graduate with the designation magna cum laude. The award honors the student who demonstrates competence in the knowledge and skills required for beginning practice as a professional nurse. The student incorporates caring behaviors in interactions with clients and colleagues, affirms commitment to the ethical values of the Judeo-Christian beliefs, demonstrates a commitment to continuing personal and professional development grounded in liberal arts philosophy and assumes moral and legal responsibility for his or her own professional nursing practice.

Mugler received the Gaskin Baptist History Award, given annually to encourage research in the history of Baptist life and thought. The award is made possible through a fund established by Dr. J.M. Gaskin, pastor, educator, historian and friend of the University. The winning research papers submitted for the award are included in the Baptist Historical Collection housed in Oklahoma City.

Caitlin Dacus, a junior from Overland Park, Kan., received the Evans T. Moseley Leadership Award. The award was established by the senior class of OBU in 1966 to honor the man who served as interim president of the University during that year. It is given to a rising senior who demonstrates the greatest leadership potential.

James Gonzales, a junior from Katy, Texas, received the John Wesley Raley Scholarship. The John Wesley Raley Scholar receives a scholarship from funds provided by the Fay Taylor Pierson Trust, part of which was designated to establish a memorial to Dr. John Wesley Raley, who served as University president from 1934 to 1961 and as University chancellor from 1961 to 1965. The Scholarship is awarded annually to a rising senior with a grade point average of at least 3.00 who plans to continue at OBU. Additional criteria which guide the selection committee's nomination to the University president include leadership, moral courage, self-determination and communicative skills.

The assembly also recognized the Junior Class Marshals and Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Junior Class Marshals are the top-ranking junior men and women, based on overall grade point average, who serve as marshals for the senior class graduation. They include: Amanda Christine Abernathy from Oak Ridge, Tenn.; Stephanie Grace Baker, Salida, Colo.; Jenna Lee Butner, Wewoka, Okla.; Caitlin Rebekah Dacus, Overland Park, Kan.; Heather Mary Margaret Goddard, Bartlesville, Okla.; Donald Bruce Greenawalt Jr., Shawnee; Amanda Jane Layman, Florissant, Mo.; Anna Catharine Morgan, Eatonville, Wash.; Erica Lynn Rackley, Stillwater, Okla.; Kaitlyn D'Lee Rothaus, Bethany, Okla.; Derek James Royer, Bartlesville, Okla.; Jeanette Marie Walters, Copan, Okla.; Hannah Christine Wood, Allen, Texas; and Hannah D'Anne Wright, Wichita, Kan.

Who's Who Among Students in American Universities & Colleges is an annual honors program honoring our nation's leading college students. The program recognizes academic excellence, outstanding accomplishments and contributions to community and school. Students honored include: Carolyn Marie Barton from Flagstaff, Ariz.; Elizabeth Anne Bilbrey, Garland, Texas; Bethany Amber Bruce, Mendham, N.J.; Jamie Marie Burcham, Sand Springs, Okla.; Allen Thomas Burmeister, Peoria, Ariz.; Evan Taylor Burroughs, Jones, Okla.; Spring Brook Butler, Grapevine; Taylor Michael Byrum, Bentonville, Ark.; Jon Mark Hadden Callahan, Prague, Okla.; Kaleen Marie Connell, Mustang, Okla.; Mitchell David Cooper, Edmond; Danielle Marie Cummins, Rogers, Ark.; Jaclin Faith Dallas, Forestburg, Texas; Dale Hance Dilbeck III, Edmond; Katie Mae Dominguez, Junction City, Ark.; Craig Thomas Donnelly, Hillsborough, N.J.; Megan Danelle Dumas, Mesquite, Texas; Rachael Lynne Duncan, Kailua, Hawaii; Braden Scott Echard, McLoud, Okla.; Kaci Lynn Ford, Enid, Okla.; Andrea Leigh Gates, Plano, Texas; David Giaco, St. Charles, Mo.; Jayme Elizabeth Glover, Edmond; Morgan Annastasia Gordon, Purcell, Okla.; Laura Beth Griffin, Bartlesville; Hannah Elaine Hays, Monkey Island, Okla.; Kirt Neilson Henderson, Edmond; Suzanne Herber, Shattuck, Okla.; Ian Thomas Hockett, Dallas, Texas; Katelyn Elise Howell, Council Hill, Okla.; Sean Christner Iago, New Castle, Okla.; Molly Ruth Jeffers, Tulsa, Okla.; Lauren Katherine Kamp, Edmond; Laura Katherine King, Kingwood, Texas; and Melissa Joy Krauss, Wasilla, Alaska.

Who's Who also included Jenna Kay Lane, Amarillo, Texas; Cambria Jane Lauderdale, Shawnee; Abigail Renee Lewis, Electra, Texas; Jonathon Charles Lookadoo, Rogers, Ark.; Andrew O. Melton, Oklahoma City; Scott Andrew Meyers, Sherman, Texas; Amy Elizabeth Miller, Lucas, Texas; Thomas Edmond Mosley III, Moore, Okla.; Natalie Brooke Mowery, Owasso, Okla.; Malerie Michael Nelson, Sherman, Texas; Carissa Anne Nelson-Burk, Delano, Calif.; Stacie Elizabeth Newton, Cherokee, Okla.; Cody Lee Oldacre, Talala, Okla.; Brittany Marie Palmer, Colorado Springs, Colo.; Megan Suzanne Palmer, Wichita, Kan.; April Renee Peters, Oklahoma City; Ashley Dawn Reagan, Bixby, Okla.; Aubrey Marie Reynolds, Oklahoma City; Daniel Jacob Reynolds, Oklahoma City; Anne Marlene Risch, Topeka, Kan.; Stephanie Nette Robbins, Farmington, Ark.; Da-Nell Anne Rogers, Casa Grande, Ariz.; Brent Alan Schmidt, Bartlesville; Brianna Janelle Shippy, Odessa, Mo.; Valerie Nicole Siemens, Augusta, Kan.; Samuel Jerome Simmons, Blackwell, Okla.; John David Stephens, Tulsa; Justin Andrew Stroup, Mesquite, Texas; Natalie Mimi Syharath, Bedford, Texas; Kathryn LeAnn Vincent, Shawnee; Mirko Vojinovic, Niksic, Montenegro; Lydia Marie Wanger, Stillwater; Stephanie Johniece Wilburn, Fitzhugh, Okla.; Danielle Marie Wilhelm, Pasco, Wash.; Patrick Carl Womack, Oklahoma City; Ryan Lee Womack, Oklahoma City; Elizabeth Esther Wright, Wichita, Kan.; and Brianna Marie Yort, Norman, Okla.

The graduates will participate in Spring Commencement Saturday, May 15, at 10 a.m. in Raley Chapel's Potter Auditorium. Students graduate with the scholastic predicate summa cum laude for maintaining at least a 3.95 grade point average. Students who maintained at least at 3.70 GPA will be designated magna cum laude. Students who maintained at least a 3.40 GPA will be designated cum laude.