BRISTOL, Tenn., April 19, 2022 — King University recently applauded a number of students for their academic, athletic, and community service accomplishments during the 2021-2022 academic year.
“We are very proud to honor these students for their impressive accomplishments,” said Matthew Roberts, Ed.D., provost of King. “They have excelled in rigorous academic programs and we are particularly proud of how they have persevered during challenging years.”
During the annual Honors Convocation, held at King’s Memorial Chapel in Bristol on Monday, April 18, students received the following awards, fellowships, scholarships, and recognitions (listed among the varying colleges of study):
Jack E. Snider Honors Fellows
These students have completed an additional 17 hours of honors credit through participation in independent research; a publicly presented and defended senior honors thesis; overseas and domestic travel, study, and service; and campus and community service.
- Brooke Hatcher – Kingsport, Tennessee
- Caroline Hawkins – Abingdon, Virginia
- Josie Gunn – Gainesboro, Tennessee
- Claire Guittard – Connelly Springs, North Carolina
- Kiki Samsel – Louisville, Kentucky
- Rebekah Thomas – Glade Spring, Virginia
King Institute for Faith & Culture Award
Given to a student who demonstrates the mission of the King Institute for Faith and Culture (IFC). The IFC brings some of the contemporary faith landscape’s most influential thinkers, writers, and artists to campus to cultivate conversation on issues of Christian faith and popular culture.
- Presley Overbey – Gate City, Virginia
COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES
Religious Studies Award
Given to a graduating Religious Studies major who has demonstrated the finest overall performance in Bible & Religion.
- Sydney Bailey – Mendota, Virginia
Foundations of Christian Thought and Practice Award
Given to the students who exhibit exemplary work, professional demeanor, and excellent writing in this core class. This award also recognizes students’ enthusiasm to learn new material and a passion to honestly explore the Christian worldview.
- Fall 2021: Piper Banks – Kingsport, Tennessee
- Spring 2022: Brooklyn Arant – Winchester, Tennessee
Philosophy Award
Given to a philosophy student who has excelled academically, and has exhibited the scholarly qualities of creative questioning, analytical reasoning, and critical thinking.
- Abigail Williams – Bean Station, Tennessee
Evelyn W. Snider English Award
Given to a student who has made outstanding contributions to the English Department through service.
- Courtney Reese – Abingdon, Virginia
Geneva King Award
Given to a student who has performed well academically and helped foster a love for the English language at King.
- Phoenix Dubose – Yelm, Washington
Spanish Language Award
Given to the student who demonstrates the best performance in Beginning Spanish.
- Brianna Dunbar – Oak Ridge, Tennessee
Advanced Studies in Spanish Award
Given to the student who demonstrates the best performance in upper level Spanish courses.
- Noah Melendez – Bristol, Tennessee
Allen Trousdale Guild Players Awards
Given to senior students recognized by their peers for outstanding achievement and contributions to the King Theatre Program.
- Austin Bailey – Abingdon, Virginia
Digital Media Art & Design Award of Excellence
Recognizes a student who has demonstrated a commitment to academic achievement, leadership, and service. The recipient is a student who is self-motivated, proactive, and has shown skill in critical thinking while taking on leadership roles within the program.
- Sasha Gardiner – West Sussex, United Kingdom
History Award
Given to a graduating senior who exhibits a strong performance in the field of history.
- Kelsey Corley – Kingsport, Tennessee
Women’s History Club Award
Given to outstanding rising seniors in the field of History and supported by a special endowment from the Women’s History Club.
- Hannah Rogers – Soddy Daisy, Tennessee
John W. Burgess Award in Political Science
This award is named for Tennessee native John W. Burgess, the first president of the American Political Science Association, and is sponsored by the Tennessee Political Science Association.
- Presley Overbey – Gate City, Virginia
Security and Intelligence Scholar Award
Given to the student with the highest cumulative grade point average across all courses taken for the SIS major.
- Kendall Morrison – Culpeper, Virginia
Eula Cosby Coffey Awards in the Basic Sciences
Given to the female students with the highest overall grade point averages for the two semesters of each basic science course.
- Biology: Brooklyn Quark – Winnipeg, Canada
- Chemistry: Kenley Karlon – Wesley Chapel, Florida
- Physics: Elizabeth Spetrini – Maryville, Tennessee
- Physics: Katy Neubert – Johnson City, Tennessee
Natural Science and Mathematics Award
Given to the most outstanding graduate in the basic sciences and mathematics.
- Trinity Lee – Knoxville, Tennessee
Interdepartmental Sciences & Mathematics Seminar Award
Presented to the student who achieves the top scoring presentation in seminar.
- Alexis McDowell – Gray, Tennessee
Arthur W. King Memorial Scholarship in Physics
Made possible through the generosity of the Louis King family, this scholarship is awarded annually to a physics major who, in addition to maintaining an outstanding academic record, exhibits an enthusiasm for experimental and theoretical physics.
- Frankie Medina – Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Max Weaver Award in Organic Chemistry
The Howard and Pearl Weaver Award in Organic Chemistry was established in 1993 by Max Weaver, an alumnus of King University, in honor of his father and mother.
- Charles Swiggett – Greensboro, North Carolina
Sarah Katherine Stamper Award in Biology
This award honors the memory of the daughter of a 1950s assistant to the President of King University.
- Anya Gross – Whangarei, New Zealand
William E. Torbert Memorial Scholarship
Given to a returning outstanding mathematics major.
- Gideon Bezuidenhout – Wake Forest, North Carolina
American Choral Directors Association National Student Award
Given annually to a graduating senior who has contributed to the efforts of the choral program over a four-year period.
- Grayson Howe – Abingdon, Virginia
SCHOOL OF HEALTH & PROFESSIONAL SERVICES
Mary Richmond Social Work Student of the Year Award
Bestowed upon students who are active members of both Chi Omega and the Social Work Action Group, and best exemplify the Social Work Code of Ethics. The award is named for Marcy Richmond, who brought professional standards of practice to the profession of social work in the late 19thcentury.
- Jordan Smith – Oliver Springs, Tennessee
- Jennifer Zurmuehlen – Fallbrook, California
- Alexys Palmer – Lititz, Pennsylvania
Jane Addams Social Work Student of the Year Award
Given to the students who strongly uphold the Social Work Code of Ethics and are nonjudgmental innovators who exemplify outspoken advocacy, while being fully dedicated to the enhancement of communities and to the service to and empowerment of vulnerable populations. The award is named for Jane Addams, who introduced the social work profession to community well-being through the provision of services to vulnerable populations and excellence in scholarship.
- Jennifer Starr Jones – Elizabethton, Tennessee
- Daniel Robertson – Lenoir City, Tennessee
- Emily Eversole – Marion, Virginia
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, ECONOMICS, & TECHNOLOGY
The School of Business and Economics presents awards to graduating students in each of its degree programs. The recipients are selected based on their grade point averages and on their services to the University and to the School of Business, Economics, and Technology.
Outstanding Business Administration Graduate Award
- Claire Guittard – Connelly Springs, North Carolina
Outstanding Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration Graduate Award
- Laurel Henning – Catawba, South Carolina
Outstanding Master of Business Administration Graduate Award
- Jamie Edwards – Sandton, South Africa
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION
John S. Gaines Excellence in Student Teaching Awards
Named in honor of Professor Emeritus John S. Gaines, who came to King in the fall of 1969 and began the process of establishing what is now the School of Education.
- Megan Alyssa Davis – Bristol, Tennessee
Outstanding M.Ed. Graduate
Presented to an outstanding graduate education student whom the faculty believe will be a standard-bearer of King’s mission and be a teacher who will make a difference in the lives of their students and the community in which they serve.
- Leidzina Leana Leitao-Duff – Knoxville, Tennessee
Teachers of Promise Award
The Teachers of Promise Institute, which celebrates the decision to be a teacher, invited King’s School of Education to identify its best and brightest future educators.
- Megan Alyssa Davis – Bristol, Tennessee
- Rebecca Grace Gillen – Bristol, Virginia
- Abbey Robinette – Kingsport, Tennessee
- Kaitlyn Overstreet – Bristol, Virginia
- Fred Daniel Day – Bluff City, Tennessee
SCHOOL OF NURSING
Nursing Pillar Awards
The Nursing Pillar Awards are based on the School of Nursing professional pillars of Integrity, Commitment, Service, Accountability, Civility, and Compassion.
- BSN: Abigail Hefely – Blountville, Tennessee (Integrity)
- MSN: Virginia “Ginny” Dionne – Knoxville, Tennessee (Service)
STUDENT AFFAIRS
Faculty Appreciation Award
Selected by the SGA Senate, this award recognizes a faculty member who has excelled in service to students and provided new and exciting opportunities both inside and outside the classroom.
- Martin Dotterweich, Ph.D.
Staff Appreciation Award
Selected by the SGA Senate, this award recognizes a staff member who has gone above and beyond in service to students, exhibited a genuine care for student needs and concerns, and worked fervently to assist students in achieving their goals.
- Finley Green
Faculty/Student Lecture Series for 2022-2023
The Faculty/Student Lecture Series dates back to 1959, when the faculty and senior students voted for the first faculty and student lecturers. Since then, the faculty nominate and select two students and the students select two faculty members to deliver lectures during the upcoming academic year.
- Faculty: Kevin DeFord and Gail Helt
- Student: Gracie Delaney – Lyles, Tennessee, and Amanda Meadows – Bristol, Tennessee
