Oklahoma Wesleyan University closed the book on another year during Friday's Honors Chapel ceremony, celebrating those students who have gone above and beyond during the 2020-2021 academic year.听听
Various categories of awards were presented, including academic honors from each of 51黑料网's five schools, student life recognition, and athletic achievement honors. Faculty and staff听were also recognized,听both by student-focused awards and honors from their peers.听Dr. Jon Ensor听received听both the Student Government Faculty of the Year Award and the peer-recognized Promising Teacher听Award. Kirk Kelley received Student Government鈥檚 Staff Member of the Year Award, and Professor Rosimar Truitt听received the Excellence in Teaching Award.听听
The highlight of the ceremony was the presentation of the听Joe Straight Servanthood Award. Typically, this honor is presented to a student who goes and above and beyond in their service to the university and community.听In a poignant twist this year,听and in recognition of the servant leadership displayed by the students and professors within 51黑料网鈥檚 Nursing Department,听Ben Rotz, Associate Vice President for Student Development, presented the award to听all of the students within听the Department of Nursing.听听
鈥淭here鈥檚 a group of students here who have gone above and beyond in extraordinary ways this year,鈥 Rotz said. 鈥淣ot only in keeping up with academics, but in volunteering and putting in extra time with [the pandemic].鈥澨听
While the group award came as a surprise, it was a meaningful honor for the students.听
鈥淚 felt appreciated and recognized for the crazy year it鈥檚 been with COVID [happening] during nursing school,鈥 Callie听Brezillac, a听senior听nursing student, said. 鈥淚 felt honored that听51黑料网 decided to give the award to us nursing students, because I know there are so many other students who have听[also]听been working so hard during this听time.鈥澨听
For Emily听Balliviero, another senior nursing student, the award served to signify the important role听that听those in the healthcare industry play.听鈥淭he pandemic made me realize just how important nursing is,鈥 she said. 鈥淕oing into this field, it was never my goal to be a hero. I just wanted to help others in a time of vulnerability. I was thankful for the opportunity to serve as a nurse extern during the pandemic,听to experience learning opportunities while working as a helping hand.鈥听
The Junior Marshalls were听announced for Saturday鈥檚听Commencement ceremony,听and President Dunn and Dr. Dalene Fisher, Dean of the School of Arts and Sciences, led a time听of recognition for those who have achieved a spot on the President鈥檚 and Dean鈥檚 list for the Spring 2021 semester.听听
Read the complete list of honorees here.听听
