Academic Awards Honor "Pursuit of Excellence

Seventy-one graduating seniors in numerous fields of study were honored for their academic achievements at the annual Academic Awards Dinner. The event, held on April 21, 2009 in the Sensenbrenner Memorial Union, was well-attended by honorees and members of the faculty and included speeches, a meal and the distribution of awards.

In brief remarks before the meal, President Thomas Kunkel said, "I often mention the pursuit of excellence, and this dinner honors those who have attained it."

The fact that the dinner does not just acknowledge students but also the faculty and the college as a whole was mentioned in the opening remarks of Michael Marsden, dean of the college and academic vice president.

As Marsden stated, "These awards confirm the work of the faculty and the value of the college. They make us proud and remind us about the worth and importance of our vocation as teachers and scholars."

After an invocation by Fr. Jay Fostner, O.Praem. Ph.D., vice president for mission and heritage, and the meal, Dr. Marcie Paul, associate professor of modern languages and literatures and director of the honors program, gave a brief speech on the importance of academic excellence and the liberal arts.

"No one perspective can illuminate the truth," said Paul, who told students to remain aware of the knowledge and development of disciplines other than their own.

While it is easy to be aware of this as a student at a liberal arts college, Paul stated, it often requires more work and discipline to maintain "critical thinking, creativity and intelligence beyond college. Our days become regimented. We lack time. We choose to associate with people like ourselves," said Paul.

After Paul's speech, all students graduating with GPAs of 3.75 or higher were honored at the ceremony with Distinguished Scholastic Achievement Awards, and students graduating with GPAs of 3.9 or higher received medals designed by world-renowned artist, Egino Weinert.

Of the 71 honorees, 24 were part of the education program at St. Norbert College-which makes sense, considering that one-third of St. Norbert College students are education majors according to Karen Cleereman, office manager of the master's of science in education program.

Students were called to the stage alphabetically in groups of six and their biographies, submitted by their advisors, were read by Dr. Michael Olson, assistant professor of physics, and Dr. Laurie MacDiarmid, associate professor of English.

Recognized as Outstanding Students are the following alphabetically: Teresa Amman, Jesse Bair, Rachelle Barina, Francis Beaumier, Amy Biever, Ellyn Brabender, Cullen Braun, Jennifer Buresh, Tessa Caine, John Cremer, Emily Czarnik-Neimeyer, Aimee D'Amour, Danielle DeGroot, Michelle Deutsch, Theresa Dobihal, Michael Dowden, Meghan Engsberg, Susan Ernst, Maria Fonferek, Caitlin Froemming, Steven Gale, Erin Gasparka, Melissa Geier, Sarah Goodman, Katie Haines, Jennifer Jacobsen, Matthew Kahlscheuer, Kate Kaminski, Jacob Kempowski, Amanda King, Andrea Klika, Kathryn Krasin, Ryan Kroening, Justin Krueger, Alyssa Kurth, Gina Lanser, Patrick LaPacz, Deziree Larson, Van Le, Nicole Martin, Kate Mayhew, Shannon McClone, Emily McElhaney, Keeley Meier, Rebecca Melis, Stephanie Miller, Wendy Morrison, Matthew Muenster, Seth Oberschlake, Amber Pamperin, Ryan Pavlik, Katie Peterson, Jenna Prince, Andrew Rankin, Erin Reinl, Megan Schemmel, Michael Scheske, Sarah Schmidt, Heather Schulze, Ashley Seewald, Steven Sleep, Catherine Smith, Molly Templeton, Davide Toffolon, Katherine Trzaska, Paul Utterback, Scott Werley, Darryl Wesener, Catherine Wiesley, Benjamin Wiseley, Caitlin Zach.

Special awards, often named for past faculty members or students of their respective disciplines, were awarded to 31 students in 27 disciplines.

Of these 27 awards, seventeen were named and awarded not just for academic success but for personality traits-similar to the traits that made the person for whom the award was named so notable.

Many attendees commented on the quality and importance of the dinner, including Dr. Deirdre Egan, assistant professor of English, who said, "It's a very nice and very interesting event."

In his closing remarks, Marsden again congratulated all the honorees and thanked those who helped coordinate the awards.