Friday, May 1, the School of Human Environmental Sciences recognized twelve outstanding students through the presentation of the 2015 Student of Excellence and Student of Distinction Awards. The awards program was established in 2006, and honors both outstanding undergraduate and graduate students. Undergraduates are nominated based on academic excellence, leadership, and service in the School of Human Environmental Sciences. Graduate students are nominated based on their research or creative works, leadership and service in the School. Undergraduate Student of Excellence honorees are selected for each degree program. Graduate Student of Excellence honorees are selected at each degree level within each department. Overall Student of Distinction honors are presented at the undergraduate and graduate levels. (Photo Album available on Flickr)
The 2015 Student of Excellence recipients were:
- Lindsey Humbert, Undergraduate Student of Excellence in Dietetics
- Jessica Sauer, Undergraduate Students of Excellence in Human Nutrition
- Kenya Frazier, Undergraduate Student of Excellence in Family Sciences
- Laura Moffett, Undergraduate Student of Excellence in Family Sciences Education
- Rachel Ditto, Undergraduate Student of Excellence in Hospitality Management and Tourism
- Katie Hahnel, Undergraduate Student of Excellence in Merchandising, Apparel and Textiles
- Matt Saulnier, Master’s Student of Excellence for the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition
- Laura Kusisto, Master’s Student of Excellence for the Department of Family Sciences
- Wade Chen, Graduate Student of Excellence for the Department of Retailing and Tourism Management
- Gabriela Jiskrova, Doctoral Student of Excellence for the Department of Family Sciences
Mary Boulanger was named the Undergraduate Student of Distinction in the School of Human Environmental Sciences. Mary has maintained an excellent academic standing and has been accepted to the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Class of 2019. Mary was active in the UK Honors Program and received the program’s 2015 Diachun Award and 2013 Raymond Betts Crystal Award. She was very active in student organizations and volunteer service, including Alpha Phi Omega, Phi Delta Epsilon and UK Student Government. She worked as an undergraduate researcher with Dr. John D’Orazio studying the molecular mechanisms of melanoma. Mary volunteered with a medical campaign in Cusco, Peru and completed an independent project compiling case studies from this experience. Her list of honors includes the 2014 Lily S. Chow Award in Dietetics and Human Nutrition and the 2015 Maurice A. Clay Award for the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
Albert Ksinan was recognized as the 2015 Graduate Student of Distinction in the School of Human Environmental Sciences. He came to the University of Kentucky after earning a B.A. in English Language, a B.S. in Psychology and a M.S. in Psychology in his native Czech Republic. Albert has worked in the Department of Family Sciences as both a teaching assistant and a research assistant, as well as serving as the primary instructor for FAM 357: Adolescent Development. He has been very successful with his research endeavors, serving as a co-presenter for nine conference presentations. Albert has served as a representative in the UK Graduate Student Congress and is a big brother through Big Brothers, Big Sisters of the Bluegrass.
This year’s student awards ceremony also recognized the 2014-2015 recipients of the Alice P. Killpatrick Fellowship. The fellowship is awarded to full-time graduate students who excel academically, display strong potential for professional excellence, possess leadership and citizenship qualities, and participate in community activities. Two recipients were recognized – Luisyana Gamboa, a master’s student in Dietetics and Human Nutrition, and Laura Frey, a doctoral student in Family Sciences.
Twenty additional students were also recognized for their honors and accomplishments.
- James Frye and Abbey Moellering received the Lily S. Chow Award of Excellence. The award recognizes outstanding juniors in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition and is based upon academic achievement, campus involvement and professional potential. James is a junior in human nutrition, and is active in Phi Sigma Kappa fraternity. His volunteer roles include as a basketball coach with Special Olympics of Kentucky and as a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity. Abbey is a junior in dietetics. She is an active leader in the UK Student Dietetics and Nutrition Association and Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. Her volunteer activities include Hospice of the Bluegrass and the Lexington Hearing and Learning Center.
- Six students from the School were honored for being named as outstanding students by the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Student Council.
- Jada Linton, human nutrition, named outstanding freshman
- Mary Lauren Shelton, dietetics, named outstanding sophomore
- Kendall Voorhies, merchandising, apparel and textiles, named outstanding sophomore
- Hannah Fielding Maddox, human nutrition, named outstanding junior
- Emily Rogers, dietetics, named outstanding senior
- Katie Hahnel, merchandising, apparel and textiles, named outstanding senior
- Kathryn Byers, a dietetics major, was recognized as the Outstanding Dietetics Student by the Bluegrass Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Baylee Johnson Walker, received the Excellence in a Dietetics Internship Award from the Bluegrass Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Ashley Vazquez, a senior in the Coordinated Program in Dietetics, was recognized for being named the Outstanding Dietetics Student by the Kentucky Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
- Laura Frey, doctoral student, family sciences, received the National Council on Family Relations Student Award, National Council on Family Relations Outstanding Graduate Paper Award and the Silverman Student Award from the American Association of Suicidology
- Charlene Harris, doctoral student, family sciences, 2015 Society for Research on Adolescence Summer School
- Albert Ksinan, doctoral student, family sciences, Civil Rights Data Center Emerging Scholar, Society for Research on Adolescence
Eight students from the School of Human Environmental Sciences will serve as College of Agriculture, Food and Environment Ambassadors for 2015-2016.
- ReDell Atkinson, junior majoring in merchandising, apparel and textiles
- Allison Burke, sophomore majoring in merchandising, apparel and textiles
- Madison Copher, sophomore majoring in dietetics
- Kierra Crawford, junior majoring in human nutrition
- Rachel Ditto, junior majoring in hospitality management and tourism
- Laura Kissane, freshman majoring in hospitality management and tourism
- Michaela Mineer, freshman majoring in family sciences
- Denise Schaeffer, a sophomore majoring in dietetics
Two students were recognized for completing their service as ambassadors. Kayla Brackman is a junior in human nutrition that will be entering UK’s College of Pharmacy in the fall. Christa Childers graduated in December 2014 with a B.S. in Dietetics and is currently completing her dietetics internship. Kenya Frazier graduated in May 2015 with B.S. in Family Sciences and will enter graduate school at the University of Louisville in the fall.
Congratulations to all our outstanding students!