Gonzaga Honors Students, Faculty at Awards Event

May 16, 2018
SPOKANE, Wash. - Gonzaga University honored 21 outstanding students and  a dozen exemplary faculty members at the annual Academic Honors Convocation. Gonzaga also recognized 11 longtime faculty members who have served with distinction as faculty emeriti. Bonni Dichone, assistant professor of mathematics, delivered the keynote address at the April 24 event at the Hemmingson Center Ballroom. Dichone spoke of living lives of leadership, lifelong learning and qualification through preparation.

Student Award Recipients 

Scholar Athlete of the Year: Jordan R. Thurston 
Scholar Athlete of the Year: Nicholas M. Ulowetz 
School of Business Administration Excellence Award: Valerie M. Wirfel 
School of Business Administration Excellence Award: Emmy K. Billmaier 
Eva Lassman Memorial Student Research Award: Taylor Carnevale
School of Education Excellence Award for Elementary Education: Mary E. Armstrong
School of Education Excellence Award for Secondary Education: Elana M. Zykan
First Year Class Award: Rachel Kathryn DeSimone
Human Physiology Major of the Year (Outstanding Graduate): Nathaniel P. Disser
Third Year Class Award: Peter Christian Gray
Jerry Kohls Excellence in Philosophy: Jessica K. Herron
Jerome Nadal, S.J. Returning Adult Award: Marvin Curtis Cunningham
Patricia Ruzyla Nursing Award: Diane D. Hurd
Patricia Ruzyla Nursing Award: Paul D. Fickes
School of Engineering & Applied Science Outstanding Senior Award: Kyle McCrohan 
Community Engaged Learning Student of the Year: Austin M. Johnson
Second Year Class Award: Anthony William Kaskurs
Anthony T. Wadden and Michael B. Herzog Award: Hailey Maher
Anthony T. Wadden and Michael B. Herzog Scholarship: Madison Schreiter
Jefferson Scholarship, Political Science: Connor Ffrench
Jefferson Scholarship, Political Science: Weston B. Hart

 

Faculty honored (from left, front row) include: Rob Donnelly, Gail Nord, Monica Bartlett, Rose Mary Volbrecht, Sr. Joy Milos, CSJ, Kathy Nitta, Melody Alsaker, Tim McLaughlin. Back row (from left): Chuck Salina, Dan Stewart, Tim Olsen, Danielle Xu, Brian Cooney, Katey Roden, Matt Rindge, Sara Díaz, Ted Nitz, Dan Bradley, Eddy Birrer, Steve Balzarini. Not pictured: Kent Hickman, Scott Burnham, and Mary McFarland.

 

Faculty Award Recipients

Academic Citizenship: Rob Donnelly, history
Collaborative Work: Danielle Xu, finance, and Tim Olsen, business
Diversity Leadership: Dan Stewart, entrepreneurship
Open (Tenured): Brian Cooney, English, public humanities
Open (Non-Tenure-Track): Katey Roden, English, digital humanities
Professional Contribution (Tenured): Matt Rindge, religious studies
Professional Contribution (Tenure-Track): Melody Alsaker, mathematics
Teaching Excellence (Tenured): Dan Bradley, philosophy
Teaching Excellence (Tenure-Track): Sara Diaz, women's and gender studies
Teaching Excellence (Non-Tenure-Track): Kathy Nitta, teacher education
Community Engaged Learning Faculty of Year: Monica Bartlett, psychology

Faculty Emeritus

Stephen Balzarini, history
George Eddy Birrer, accounting
Scott Burnham, law
Sister Joy Milos, CSJ, religious studies
Theodore Nitz, history
Kent Hickman, finance
Mary McFarland, nursing 
Thomas "Tim" McLaughlin, special education
Gail Nord, mathematics
Charles Salina, educational leadership and administration
Rose Mary Volbrecht, philosophy