On Sunday, April 26, Brescia University celebrated Honors Convocation. At this annual academic ceremony, students were recognized for their outstanding accomplishments in academics, athletics, and leadership. Alumna Alex Wink ’19 delivered the address. Students were also recognized for their honors from Founder’s Day, which is typically held in January but was postponed due to winter weather.
Spirit of Angela Award for the 2025-2026 Academic Year recipients: Diego Laguna and Kaitlyn Orange
Alpha Chi 2026 Teaching Excellence Award for Part-Time Instructor recipient: Carol Ripley
Alpha Chi 2026 Teaching Excellence Award for Full-time Undergraduate Faculty Member Award recipient: Vicki Will
Alpha Chi 2026 Teaching Excellence Award for Graduate Faculty Member Award recipient: Dr. Leann Howell
The August C. Muckler Memorial Scholarship recipient: Gracie Meserve
This scholarship supports students pursuing a degree in Special Education
The Charles E. Field Business Scholarship recipient: Daniel Aikas
This scholarship is funded by a gift from Mr. Charles E. Field of The Field Foundation, Inc.
The Doctor Suzanne and Joseph C. Hagan Scholarship recipients: Penelope Pavlas and Catorina Gray
This scholarship is awarded to female students who are studying in the Science, Technology, Engineering, or Mathematics areas.
The Florence Henderson Scholarship for music award recipients: Tuyet Hoang, Nam Nguyen, Logan Royalty, and Bryson Brown
This scholarship was created by the musician/ actor from the donated proceeds of a 1964 concert here at Brescia.
The Gary Karr Music Scholarship recipients: Huong Do and Trang Vo
The Geoffrey Ferry Scholarship recipient: Rylee Williams
The Greulich Scholarship recipients: Cendal Brown, Ellie Popham, and Josie Hawkins
This scholarship is awarded annually to a student in Business, Psychology, or Education; this academic year, it is awarded to three education majors
Suzeta Ebelhar Education Scholarship recipient: Josie Hawkins
The JB Hocker Good Government Scholarship recipients: Brian Crick and Elkana Mongare
Phillip Hayden Pre-Law Scholarship recipient: Elkana Mongare
The John D. and Anna Marie Byrne Family Education Scholarship recipients: Ashton Farris and Kellen Raymond
This scholarship is awarded to an education major in good standing from a rural area.
The Lincoln Service Business Scholarship recipient: Amber Hall
The Margarite Hawkett Art Scholarship recipient: Jennifer Lee
The Mary Karen Jones Special Education Scholarship recipients: Drew Lyday and Candace Robinson
This scholarship supports students pursuing a degree in Special Education
The Owensboro Civitan Jack Keeney Education Scholarship recipient: Kaitlyn Bradbury
This scholarship is awarded to a student pursuing a Special Education major who has a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
The Peggy Mangas/Melinda Padgett Education Scholarship recipient: Kaelani Jordan
This scholarship supports students pursuing a degree in Special Education.
The Robert McDowell Scholarship recipients: Dao Ho and Lana Drake-Stull
The Sister Sharon Sullivan Education Scholarship recipient: Mia Grosshans
The Jacinta Garinger Scholarship recipient: Mia Grosshans
The Sister Casimir Czurles Outstanding New Biology Major Scholarship recipient: Elly Goodall
The Sr. Irene Hayden Scholarship for music recipients: Jessica Fosset, Diep Nguyen, Thuong Nguyen, Vi Pham, and Stephen Schmidt
This scholarship is named for a Mt. St. Joseph Ursuline musician by that name
The Sr. Robert Irene Golden Art Scholarship recipient: Chelsey Tempel
The Theodore Swigert Carlisle Chemistry Scholarship recipients: Connor Lilly, Katy Fisher, and Tomas Olivera
The Thomas & Sharon Ruder Business Scholarship recipient: Marta Fernandez-Campoy
The Virginia Stout Fitzgerald Endowed Scholarship recipients: Caselynn Brown, Chandlyr Friend, and Kassady London
This scholarship is awarded to junior and senior students in the Communication Sciences and Disorders Program with a 3.0 or better GPA.
The William Elmer Business Scholarship recipient: Bryce Gross
The David and Suzi Bartholomy Scholarship recipient: Julia Mullen
Graduating seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.9 or above on a 4.0 scale through MOD 3 of the Spring 2026 semester, and a minimum of 64 earned hours at Brescia, are recognized for High Scholastic Achievement. This year’s honorees include Madelyn Bennett, Connor Calhoun, Amy Flowers, Piper Gainer, Daniel Steitler, Makenna Stone, Nichole Rhinerson, Hannah Flood, Haley Rigling, Abigail Russel, Gay Taw, Jenna Lucas, and Zoe Smithson.
Graduating graduate program students at Brescia University who have achieved a 4.0 cumulative GPA through MOD 3 of the Spring 2026 semester are recognized for High Scholastic Achievement. This year’s honorees include: Madison Carter, Chantelle Cassell, Braedon Christie, Jessica Doria, Heather Doss, Kelsey Dugger, Kaylee Fulkerson, Alyssa Gillim, Bethany Joannou, Ashley Kincaid-Smith, Natalie Knopp, Angela Kurz, Khai Lian, Morgan Lovins, Austin Matthew, Frances McKnight, Julie Miller, Esmeralda Munoz, Audrey Owens, Taylor Pedley, Leslie Reid, Renata Savage, Emily Sweet, Sophia Wedding, Elise Wimmer, Sheila Womble, Cynthia Zuniga, Megan Konz, Katelyn Heaton, Jamie Walsh, and Cheaney Archer.
Brescia University Honors College graduates include: Jordan Cameron, JoJo Gesser, and Gay Taw
Honor’s College Servant Leadership award recipient: Haley Alsman
The Biology Assistant Award for Excellence in Service recipient: Julia Mullen
Senior Psychology Award recipient: Zoe Smithson
The Sr. George Ann Cecil Leadership Award for Excellence in the Field of Education recipient: Mia Grosshans
The Sr. Michele Morek Award for Outstanding Senior in Biology recipient: Caroline Boarman
The Lucinda Clements Literature Honors Award recipient: Noah Thomas
Senior Tutor Excellence in Academics recipients: Geneva Hann, Jenna Lucas, Marie-Louise De Jong, and Zoe Smithson
The Maggie Clements Religious Studies Award recipient: Nichole Rhinerson
The Institute of Management Accountants Honors Award recipient: Jordan Cameron
Special Recognition in the Biology Area award recipient: JoJo Gesser
The Fred J. Clements Science Award recipient: Gay Taw
The Certificate for Child Public Welfare was earned by: Britney Burkhart, Sabina Smith, Cami Galloway, and Zoe Smithson
The LaVega History Award recipient: Madeleine Lasher
The Outstanding Accounting Student recipient: Joseph Lasher
The Outstanding Business Student recipient: Michael Ascencio
The Outstanding Excellence in Communication Sciences & Disorders recipient: Aly Bishop
The Outstanding Programming Award recipients: Hayden Decker and Shahram Karimi
The Outstanding Programming Award recipient: Mia Grosshans
The Outstanding Student in Computer Science recipients: Will Kessinger and Finn Berger
The Outstanding Student in Mathematics recipient: Finn Berger
The Outstanding First-Year Student in Mathematics Award recipient: Tomas Olivera
The Outstanding Clinical Practice Candidate in Elementary Education recipient: Hannah Flood
The Outstanding Clinical Practice Candidate in Special Education recipient: Haley Rigling
The Outstanding BSW Student recipient: Jenna Lucas
The Outstanding Academic Excellence in Graduate Speech-Language Pathology recipient: Megan Konz
The Outstanding Award for Clinical Excellence in the Graduate Speech-Language Pathology recipient: Katelyn Heaton
The Outstanding MSW Field Student recipient: Jamie Walsh
The Outstanding MSW Student recipient: Cheaney Archer
The Outstanding BSW Field Practicum Student recipient: Cami Galloway
Student Leadership Awards recipient: Keylee Newsome – Cheer, Linkin Lockhart- Men’s Basketball, Guillermo Basilis – Residence Life, Taylor Farrer- Softball, Natalee Oldham- Student Ambassadors, Ellie Popham – Art Club, Jennifer Lee – Women’s Volleyball, Candace Robinson – Kentucky Education Association Aspiring Educators, Kaelani Jordan – Orientation Leaders, Lana Drake-Stull – Student Activities Program Board, Stephen Schmidt – Men’s Volleyball, Katy Fisher – Peer Educators, Jenna Lucas – Delight Ministries, Zoe Smithson – Psi Chi and Psychology Club, Bryson Brown – Catholic Club, Julia Mullen – Pre-PA Club, Lance Dickens – Student Government Association, Sr. Huyen Nguyen – Tutoring Services, Cassidy Morris – Women’s Basketball, Anna Escobar – Women’s Soccer, Chase Christie – Baseball, and Brody Kurz – Men’s Track and Field and the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association
The St. Sebastian / St. Catherine Scholar Athlete Award recognizes Brescia University students who successfully balance academic achievement with athletic participation, making meaningful contributions to both their sport and the academic community at Brescia. This year’s honorees include: Bryce Gross – Baseball, Xavier Zapata – Men’s Basketball, Kassady London – Women’s Basketball, Landon Thompson – Men’s Bowling, Charlize Shelton – Women’s Bowling, Emilyann Petri – Cheer, Arthur Happel – Men’s Cross Country, Jamie Gawthrop – Women’s Cross Country, Kyler Kenney – Men’s Golf, Abigail Russel – Women’s Golf, Santy Valeth – Men’s Soccer, Mia Grosshans – Women’s Soccer, Stefanie Schmeisser – Women’s Soccer, Zoe Smithson – Softball, Diego Laguna – Men’s Tennis, Madeleine Lasher – Women’s Tennis, Angel Daniel Clavijo – Men’s Track and Field, Kaitlyn Orange – Women’s Track and Field, Finn Berger – Men’s Volleyball, and Chandlyr Friend – Women’s Volleyball
To view the livestream, click here.