Briar Cliff University Media Announcement

SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Briar Cliff University students, faculty, staff and administrators were recognized at the 2010 Honors Convocation on the Briar Cliff campus on Thursday. The categories of recognition were Student Honors, All-University Honors and Faculty Scholarship Honors.

Student Honors and their recipients included: Student Heart of the University Award, Jonathan Konz, Adrian, Minn.; Student Award for Service, Kayla Rempe, Superior, Neb.; Distinguished Senior Alumni Award, Kayla Groen, George, Iowa; and Distinguished Senior Continuing Education Award, Aime Tatou, Sioux City. Additional Student Honors and their recipients were Distinguished Master of Human Resource Management Graduate Student Award, Gary Foster, Knoxville, Tenn., and Distinguished Master of Science in Nursing Graduate Student Award, Sara Fleecs, Glidden, Iowa.

Salutatorian Tamara Landon, Missouri Valley, Iowa, and valedictorian Tara Brockman, Denison, Iowa, also were recognized at the ceremony.

Recipient of All-University Honors was Sister Michaela Galles, who was given the Paul and Francis Duff Pursuit of Excellence Award. This award 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.

In addition, the following employees were recognized with these awards: Spiritus Franciscanus Award, David Arens, director of Campus Life; Bonaventure Award, Heather Craig-Oldsen, associate professor of social work and department chairperson; Distinguished Staff Award, Beverly Ahrens, staff assistant to the registrar; Distinguished Administrator Award, Nancy McGuire, director of Career Development; Distinguished Faculty Scholar Award, Dr. Candice Coffin, professor of biology and department chairperson; and Emerging Faculty Scholar Award, Dr. Paul Olson, assistant professor of sociology.

Briar Cliff’s academic departments recognized the following students for their academic achievements: accounting, Kendra O’Dell, South Sioux City, Neb.; business administration, Brent Miller, Rockwell City, Iowa; human resource management, Charles Sellers, Sioux City; marketing, Tamara Landon; art, Shane Bengford, Kiron, Iowa; Dorothy Collins Art Scholar, Kayla Groen; biology, Tara Brockman; chemistry, Sonja Christensen, Sioux City; criminal justice, Jason Bring, Lyons, Neb.; elementary education, Jennifer Kruckenberg, Omaha, Neb.; secondary education Mollie O’Mara, Lyons, Neb.; English, Mollie O’Mara; writing, Rosemary Bernth, Omaha, Neb.; environmental science, Jennifer Vrbicky, Sioux City; graphic design, Emilee Straka, Battle Creek, Neb.; mass communications, Kyle Semprini, Carroll, Iowa; history, Kelli Langel, Arnold’s Park, Iowa; political science, Joanne Sweeney, Cheyenne, Wyo.; mathematics, Jan Lenz, Sioux City; music, Gabriel Alves, Sioux City; nursing, Amy Bruning, Mapleton, Iowa; psychology, Kayla Sorenson, Schleswig, Iowa; social work, Catherine Nelson, Sioux City; sports science, Samantha Bock, Allen, Neb.; theatre, Silvestre Hernandez, Jr., San Antonio, Texas; theology, Jonathan Konz.

The following students were recognized for graduating from the Honors Program: Tara Brockman; Jason Bring; Amy Bruning; Sonja Christensen; Brittany Gentzler, Pipestone, Minn.; and Samantha Pearson, Newcastle, Neb.

In addition, students who qualified for the Dean’s List Term III 2008-2009 and/or Term I and Term II 2009-2010 were recognized at the Honors Convocation.

Enrollment at Briar Cliff University is over 1,100 students from 28 states. Students are educated in the Franciscan tradition of excellence in the liberal arts and career preparation in an environment of care, compassion and openness to all. For more information, please visit www.briarcliff.edu.