Transylvania University’s annual Senior Awards recognized graduating Pioneers last week for a variety of achievements — from leadership to academics to campus engagement. Also, check out Saturday’s commencement along with spotlights of the Class of 2025 here, here and here.
2025 Winners
- Senior Class Awards: Sarah Ahmad, Meghan Denton, Emily Eppard, Trent Fry, Katherine Taylor, Riley Vinson, Jenna Welch, Erika Williams
- President’s Award for Outstanding Transylvanian: Charmi Rosenberg
- J. Richard Thompson Leadership Award: Abby Burczyk
- Monroe Moosnick Memorial Award: Nate Brother
- Transylvania Choir Outstanding Service Awards: Nate Brother and Caroline Damron
- Transylvania Bands Outstanding Service Award: Carson Calico
- Transylvania Bands Outstanding Newcomer: Jack Thomas
- Concerto-Aria Competition Winner: Carson Calico
- Transylvania Orchestra Outstanding Service Award: Zoe Miller
- Ruchman Music Award: Riley Ham
- The Lucille C. Little Award for Excellence, aka “The Lucy”: Mary Clark
- Ruchman Biology Awards: Erin Gray and Graham Thomason
- Dr. Loman Trover Health Sciences Award: Kinley Lewis and Caroline Damron
- Whitehouse Premedical Award: Ethan Tiller
- Health and Exercise Science Major of the Year: Caroline Damron
- Ruchman Physics Awards: Ezra Mulalic
- American Institute of Chemists Award: Meghan Denton
- Monroe Moosnick Chemistry Award: Meghan Denton and Trent Fry
- James E. Miller Computer Science Awards: Riley Ham and Sarah McLoney
- Ruchman Mathematics Award: Ezra Mulalic
- Ruchman History Award: Nate Brother
- Ruchman Political Science Award: Riley Vinson
- Ira Richard Harris ’53 Political Science Department Award: Carley Montgomery
- Accounting Award (Distinguished Student in Accounting): Katherine Foster
- Accounting Award (Excellence in Accounting): Prerna Maggan
- Outstanding Business Administration Award: Abby Dean
- Religion Program Award: Taylor McGarvey
- Ronald F. Whitson Award: Maddy Morgan
- Transylvania University Education Award: Sarah Ahmad
- Ruchman English Award: Erika Williams
- Helen Deiss Irvin Prize: Estella Davis
- Ruchman Foreign Language Award (French): Abby Burczyk
- Ruchman Foreign Language Award (German): Jackson Bogel
- Ruchman Foreign Language Award (Spanish): Shelby Hamm
- Joseph Buchanan Award: Alicyn Croley
- Omicron Delta Kappa Leader of the Year Award: Riley Vinson
- Dean’s Purchase Award: Caroline Cockrell
- Senior Commencement Speaker Recognition: Alicyn Croley
Holleian Society Recognition
Nate Brother
Kaelyn Chambers
Mary Clark
Peyton Dunaway
Emily Eppard
Shelby Hamm
Morgan Hardigree
Aaron Ingram
Savannah Kinster
Kennedy Kniffley
Kinley Lewis
Zoe Miller
Gabe Nelson
Lindsey Sargent
James Soderling
Megan Studer
Katherine Taylor
Graham Thomason
Riley Vinson
Amara Wagner
Jenna Welch
Award Descriptions
Accounting Award (Distinguished Student in Accounting)
The Distinguished Student in Accounting is presented to a student that has contributed the most, not only to the accounting program, but to the university.
Accounting Award (Excellence in Accounting)
The Excellence in Accounting Award is presented to an outstanding accounting major based on academic performance.
American Institute of Chemists Award
The American Institute of Chemists Student Research and Recognition Foundation Award is presented to an outstanding senior majoring in chemistry, chemical engineering or biochemistry. The recipient is selected for ability, character, scholastic achievement and potential advancement in one of the chemical professions.
Concerto-Aria Competition Winner
The Concerto-Aria Competition award is given to the winner of the Concerto-Aria Competition.
Dr. Loman Trover Health Sciences Award
Dr. Loman “Collin” Trover and the Trover family present this award to a pre-health major who plans to pursue a career in the medical field. Selection criteria are: maintain a 3.5 GPA, be conceptually grounded in humanism in health care, have shown resolve when faced with adversity, and have successfully completed the Pre-Health Committee interview. The award shall be disbursed in the academic year in which the interview takes place.
Health and Exercise Science Major of the Year Award
The Health and Exercise Science Major of the Year Award is given annually to the senior who demonstrates outstanding academic leadership in and out of the classroom.
Helen Deiss Irvin Prize
This award is given to the student who best exemplifies “the spirit of Dr. Irvin as a woman who was passionate about her students continuing their education beyond the bachelor’s degree.” The student must be a graduating senior majoring in English who is going into a graduate program after commencement. She was very passionate about equal rights for women.
Holleian Honor Society Recognition
The Holleian Society was established in 1960 for the encouragement and recognition of superior achievement in liberal arts studies. The society is named for Horace Holley, president of Transylvania from 1818-27.
James E. Miller Computer Science Award
The James E. Miller Computer Science Award has been established to recognize the outstanding senior computer science student as nominated by the computer science faculty.
Joseph Buchanan Award
The Joseph Buchanan Philosophical Essay Award is given to a student who has produced one or more outstanding philosophical essays during their attendance at Transylvania.
Lucille C. Little Award for Excellence, aka “The Lucy”
The Lucille C. Little Award for Excellence is conferred upon the senior who embodies exemplary character within the theater program. This award is chosen based on dedication to the fine arts through their work ethic in the classroom, productions and everyday program life. This student is committed to creating a culture of kindness and collaboration, always going above and beyond to “make it happen.”
Monroe Moosnick Chemistry Award
The Monroe Moosnick Chemistry Award is named after the late Transylvania chemistry professor.
Monroe Moosnick Memorial Award
The Monroe Moosnick Memorial Award was created by the Student Government Association to honor a student and a faculty or staff member who has consistently made a contribution to the Transylvania community in the same spirit that professor Moosnick contributed for over 50 years.
Omicron Delta Kappa Leader of the Year Award
This prestigious award honors students who have demonstrated the greatest dedication to one of five phases of campus life celebrated by ODK: academics and research, athletics, campus and community service, communications and creative and performing arts.
Outstanding Business Administration Award
The Outstanding Business Administration Award is presented to an outstanding student majoring in business administration.
President’s Award for Outstanding Transylvanian
Annually, the Student Government Association recognizes an individual who has given time and energy to develop the organization and student life at Transylvania.
Religion Program Award
The Religion Program Award recognizes a senior who has demonstrated academic excellence in the study of religion and demonstrates promise to make an impact on social justice in their future.
Ronald F. Whitson Award
The Ronald F. Whitson Award for Commitment to Teaching and Service to the University is given in recognition of Ron Whitson’s steadfast commitment to teaching and to the Transylvania community. This award is given to the education student who possesses the qualities that mark Ron’s exemplary career: patience, perseverance, a strong commitment to teaching, service and loyalty to the university.
Ruchman Biology Award
The Ruchman Biology Award is given to an outstanding senior biology major.
Ruchman English Award
The Ruchman English Award is presented to an outstanding English major or majors.
Ruchman Foreign Language Award (French)
The Ruchman Foreign Language Award is presented annually to an outstanding senior.
Ruchman Foreign Language Award (German)
The Ruchman Foreign Language Award is presented annually to an outstanding senior.
Ruchman Foreign Language Award (Spanish)
The Ruchman Foreign Language Award is presented annually to an outstanding senior.
Ruchman History Award
The Ruchman History Award is presented annually to an outstanding senior
history major.
Ruchman Mathematics Award
The Ruchman Mathematics Award is bestowed upon an outstanding senior mathematics major.
Ruchman Music Award
The Ruchman Music Award is presented to an outstanding music major or majors.
Ruchman Physics Award
The Ruchman Physics Award is given to an outstanding senior physics major.
Ruchman Political Science Award
The Ruchman Political Science Award recognizes an outstanding senior political science major.
Senior Class Award
The Senior Class Award is presented each year to the graduate(s) with the highest grade point average.
Senior Commencement Speakers Recognition
Senior student representatives are selected to speak at commencement on behalf of their class.
Transylvania Bands Outstanding Newcomer Award
The Outstanding Newcomer to the Band is selected by their peers in the ensemble as having made a strong positive impact as a new member.
Transylvania Bands Outstanding Service Award
The Transylvania Bands Outstanding Service Award is presented to an upper-class student for long-time service to the Transylvania university bands.
Transylvania Choir Outstanding Service Award
The Transylvania Choir Outstanding Service Award is presented to an individual for long-time service and outstanding performance in the Transylvania Choir.
Transylvania Orchestra Outstanding Service Award
The Transylvania Orchestra Outstanding Service Award is presented to an individual for long-time service to the Transylvania Orchestra.
Transylvania University Education Award
The Transylvania University Education Award is given for outstanding scholarship, service and classroom teaching.
Whitehouse Premedical Award
The Whitehouse Premedical Award was established by Dr. A. J. Whitehouse to recognize outstanding premedical students.