BCU Students, Employees Honored at Convocation

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University students, faculty, staff and administrators were recognized at the 2008 Honors Convocation in the Chapel of Our Lady of Grace on the Briar Cliff campus Thursday afternoon.

The three categories of recognition at the convocation were Student Honors, All-University Honors and Faculty Scholarship Honors. 

Student Honors awarded were the Student Heart of the University Award, presented to Brandon Harvey, Gretna, Neb.; Student Award for Service, presented to Megan McMillen, Orange City, Iowa; Distinguished Senior Continuing Education, presented to Michelle Hatfield, Sioux City; and the Distinguished Senior Alumni Award, presented to Neil Rohe, Le Mars, Iowa. The Distinguished Graduate Student Award was presented to Pam Banks, Westfield, Iowa.

All-University Honors included the awarding of the Paul and Francis Duff Pursuit of Excellence Award, which was established in 1984 by Katarina P. Flanagan of Peabody, Mass., to recognize outstanding service to Briar Cliff University by a member of the faculty, staff or administration.  This year’s recipient was Paul Ermak, assistant professor of philosophy.

The Spiritus Franciscanus Award also recognizes the contributions of a member of the Briar Cliff faculty, staff or administration who imitates and reflects the values of Saint Francis and Saint Clare. Kathy Myres, athletic department assistant for eligibility, compliance and business operations, is this year’s recipient of the award.

The Bonaventure Award honors an employee who works to advance and achieve the integration of student curricular and co-curricular experiences through the establishment of learning communities, collaborative ventures or other activities that promote the attainment of a holistic education.  This year’s recipient of the Bonaventure Award was Tom Boeke, Ph.D., vice president for institutional advancement.

Additional employees awarded at the BCU Honors Convocation were:  Richard Poole, speech and theatre department chairperson, professor of speech communications and theatre, who received the Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award; Robert Piechota, executive director of financial aid, who received the Distinguished Administrator Award; Sister Mary Jane Koenig, O.S.F., who received the Distinguished Staff Award; and Todd Knealing, Ph.D., assistant professor of psychology, who received the Emerging Faculty Scholar Award.

Academic departments of the university also honored students for academic achievement.  Awards and their recipients were:  Dorothy Collins Art Scholar, April Zingler, Des Moines, Iowa;  art – Jennifer Armstrong, Cresco, Iowa; biology – Emily Dvorak, Dakota City, Iowa; business administration – Kristina Ruhlman, North Platte, Neb.; human resource management – Matthew Gaul, Sheldon, Iowa; computer science – Nicholas Dietrich, Mount Vernon, Iowa; mathematics – Tracy Feldman, George, Iowa; criminal justice and social research, Trista Boyle, Sioux City; elementary education – Kristina Martin, Nebraska City, Neb.; secondary education – Ashley Ruehle, Sioux City; English – Laraine Getty, Omaha, Neb.; writing – Katie Helling, Mount Vernon, S.D.; environmental science – Laura Keane, Defiance, Iowa; graphic design, Marena Fritzler, Mesa, Colorado; mass communications, Brandon Osborn, Chatham, Ill.; health, physical education and recreation and sports science – Matthew Schultz, Fremont, Neb.; sports science –  Kelli Kersten, Logan, Iowa; history – Andrew Hermes, Gering, Neb.; political science – Leah Hildebrand, Sioux City; music – William Darwin, Sioux City; nursing – Anne Ryant, Cresco, Iowa; psychology – Kendall Junge, Bryn Athyn, Penn.; social work –  Michelle Hatfield, Sioux City; theatre – Stephen Crann, Ankeny, Iowa; and theology – Brandon Harvey, Gretna, Neb.

Students who qualified for the Dean’s List Term III 2006-07 and/or Term I and Term II 2007-08 also were recognized at the Honors Convocation.

Briar Cliff University is a Catholic institution with an enrollment of more than 1,100 students from 26 states and four countries.  Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care and compassion. For more information, please visit www.briarcliff.edu.