Shenandoah University

Shenandoah student Sean Kelly has been recognized for his involvement and excellence in esports by the gaming products supplier Respawn. Respawn has announced it will recognize outstanding students each semester with the Respawn Products Student of Excellence award. This award will be handed out each semester to students in the esports program at Shenandoah, along with other partner universities that have Respawn products. Kelly '22, is a double major in esports management and business administration and is the inaugural recipient of the award. He is the student lead in broadcast production for the Shenandoah esports program, and he works on the content creation and live event production as well.

Damaris-Lydia Odebode '21 is one of two Shenandoah University students to earn the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. Each year, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards are presented at 70 colleges and universities across the American South. First awarded in 1890, the award goes to individuals who are committed to creating positive change. Odebode was nominated by two faculty members and two staff members, which demonstrates her engagement inside and outside of the classroom during her time at Shenandoah. One nominator said she is "guided by the courage of her convictions, speaks with a wisdom beyond her years, and has a keen sense of integrity that guides her day-to-day actions."

Kaitlyn Shand '21 is one of two Shenandoah University students to earn the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award. Each year, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards are presented at 70 colleges and universities across the American South. First awarded in 1890, the award goes to individuals who are committed to creating positive change. Shand has been active across campus with leadership roles in Spiritual Life, the Winchester Area Temporary Thermal Shelter, as a First-Year Seminar mentor, a tutor, an SU ambassador, and more. Additionally, she helped build a partnership between Sodexo and local charities to pack unused food to provide for those in need as a part of the Campus Food Network. As a result of her work at Shenandoah, Shand completed a 2019 summer internship in Washington, D.C., with the Campus Food Network.

Physician Assistant Studies student Dzevida Pandzic '21 is the recipient of the 2021 Dr. Thomas Marfing Educational Trust Scholarship. Funded by the trust, the scholarship has been awarded annually since 2019 to a Physician Assistant Studies student at Shenandoah University. The late Dr. Marfing was a beloved and respected general surgeon in Winchester for 23 years and a great proponent of training the next generation of health care providers. Pandzic will receive a $4,300 scholarship.

Nineteen Shenandoah University were declared winners at the Shenandoah University Research Expo (SURE), which ran virtually from Monday, April 26, through Friday, May 7. SURE is the premier event showcasing student creativity and scholarship and is open to all students under the mentorship of an SU faculty member. Projects ranged from supporting nutrition for food insecure families in Winchester, to an analysis of the effects of a strength training program on anaerobic power in dancers. Non-empirical project winners in the individual category were Caleb Allen (undergrad) and James Hardwick (graduate). In the group category, the winners were Maryann Hollen, Trisha Connelly and Tara Gallant (undergrad) and Karla Salnoris and Katie Schaub (graduate). Empirical project winners in the individual category were Victoria Krist (undergrad) and Morgan Mays (graduate). In the group category, winners were Katherine Underwood, Monica Werner and Isabella Fegley (undergrad) and Gracyn Hill, Gaelyn Everhart, Nate Ranck, Megan Bryan, Hailey Turner, Rachael Laughlin and Jenna Rockwell (graduate).

Shenandoah Conservatory announced the winners of the 2020-21 Student Soloists Competition. The final round of the competition was held Sunday, Feb. 21, in Armstrong Concert Hall. Winners each received a $500 cash award and a plaque. Undergraduate winners were: Instrumental Division Winner Sean McGinley, saxophone; Vocal/Choral Division Winner Elena Fierer, soprano; and Honorable Mention Scout Kirkham, horn. Graduate winners were: Instrumental Division Winner Erin Eady, clarinet; Vocal/Choral Division Winner Anthony J. Massetto, baritone; Honorable Mention Chen Liang, piano.

Amanda David has earned SuperMoney's Winter 2021 Financial Literacy Scholarship. The scholarship program awards $1,000 twice a year to a student who wants to help Americans improve their financial wellness through continued education. David wrote an essay about how she motivated and educated her high school peers to improve their financial knowledge and how she plans to use her college education to help Americans improve their financial well-being. Over winter break, she also took a class on personal finances. SuperMoney helps Americans compare and shop for financial services and products.

The American Pharmacists Association Foundation has awarded its 2021 APhA Foundation Student Scholarships to 19 student pharmacists enrolled in schools across the country. The recipients were selected based on their academic accomplishments and for their leadership skills as demonstrated by their active involvement in the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists. Mohammed Kaker, of Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, received the George F. Archambault Scholarship.

The American Pharmacists Association Foundation has awarded its 2021 APhA Foundation Student Scholarships to 19 student pharmacists enrolled in schools across the country. The recipients were selected based on their academic accomplishments and for their leadership skills as demonstrated by their active involvement in the APhA Academy of Student Pharmacists. Sidrah Alam, of the Shenandoah University Bernard J. Dunn School of Pharmacy, earned the Pharmacists Mutual Community Pharmacy Scholarship. According to the Foundation, student scholarship recipients help shape the future of the pharmacy profession while managing the demands of a full-time curriculum.

More than 1,000 Shenandoah University students earned Dean's List honors for the Fall 2020 semester. The Dean's List is one of the oldest and most widely recognized academic honors for students. At Shenandoah University, undergraduate students pursuing baccalaureate degree programs in any school or division are eligible to be named to the Dean's List. To be considered, students must, for that semester, complete at least 12 semester hours and earn a semester GPA of 3.5 or higher.

Approximately 470 students made the President's List at Shenandoah University for the Fall 2020 semester. Students who achieved this prestigious academic recognition attained a grade point average of at least 3.90.

Ten Shenandoah University sport management students are participating in a nationwide research study that seeks information on diversity, inclusion, and equity at 130 universities across the country. The students are conducting the study on behalf of a working group of LEAD1, an organization that represents the athletics directors and programs of the 130 member universities of the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). LEAD1 influences how the rules of college sports are enacted and implemented, advocates for the future of college athletics, and provides various services to its member schools. The LEAD1 working group examines issues related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in college sports, with the results of the research study conducted by Shenandoah aiding in this process.

Twenty-two Shenandoah students were recently selected for the Shenandoah University chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society. The society recognizes juniors, seniors and graduate students who excel in both academics and leadership.

Maiya Pencile is one of four Shenandoah University student-athletes who have been recognized as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars in selections announced recently by "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education." Jocelyn Granados, Traevia Morris, and Maiya Pencile from the women's soccer team, along with Ragan Johnson from women's basketball, were all recognized for their academic and athletic achievement along with their leadership in the community.

Traevia Morris is one of four Shenandoah University student-athletes who have been recognized as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars in selections announced recently by "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education." Jocelyn Granados, Traevia Morris, and Maiya Pencile from the women's soccer team, along with Ragan Johnson from women's basketball, were all recognized for their academic and athletic achievement along with their leadership in the community.

Ragan Johnson is one of four Shenandoah University student-athletes who have been recognized as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars in selections announced recently by "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education." Jocelyn Granados, Traevia Morris, and Maiya Pencile from the women's soccer team, along with Ragan Johnson from women's basketball, were all recognized for their academic and athletic achievement along with their leadership in the community.

Four Shenandoah University student-athletes have been recognized as Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholars in selections announced recently by "Diverse: Issues in Higher Education." Jocelyn Granados, Traevia Morris, and Maiya Pencile from the women's soccer team, along with Ragan Johnson from women's basketball, were all recognized for their academic and athletic achievement along with their leadership in the community.

Shenandoah University senior Chris Kumke has earned recognition as the Male Student Leader of the Year for the inaugural National Association of Collegiate Esports (NACE) National Awards. The NACE awards honor and celebrate individuals and their contributions in advancing collegiate esports. Kumke, an esports management major, was one of three finalists for the award.

Shenandoah University is recognizing the 738 students who made the Dean's List for the 2020 spring semester. Students must attain a grade point average of at least 3.50 to be recognized for the honor.

Shenandoah welcomes more than 700 new undergraduate students, including first-year and transfer students.

Shenandoah University is recognizing the 223 students who made the President's List for the spring 2020 semester. Students who have achieved this academic recognition attained a grade point average of at least 3.90.

This year, Shenandoah celebrated 1,088 graduates: 216 August 2019 graduates, 320 December 2019 graduates, and 552 May candidates for graduation. Among these were 80 international students from 38 countries.

Olivia "Livy" Gouldin and Kyle Hooven, both '20 graduates of Shenandoah, recently received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards. Each year, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards are presented at 70 colleges and universities across the American south. First awarded in 1890, the award goes to individuals who are committed to creating positive change.

Through a virtual reality project, Shenandoah students and professors, along with the Shenandoah Center for immersive Learning (SCiL), are recreating the 1787 Constitutional Convention and developing avatars of the various Founding Fathers involved. The students and SCiL are currently constructing Independence Hall, where the convention took place, through virtual reality design. Virtual avatars they create will represent the appearance, dress, body language, and speech of individual delegates of the time. To achieve this feat, students are using data via site visits, physical measurements, photography, 3D scanning technology, and 3D modeling techniques and simulation platforms. The project will roll out over the course of the next year.

Olivia "Livy" Gouldin and Kyle Hooven, both class of '20 graduates, were recently honored with the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards. Each year, the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Awards are presented at 70 colleges and universities across the American south. First awarded in 1890, the award goes to individuals who are committed to creating positive change.