Student Awards

Service Awards

In 2013, the School collaborated with donors to recognize outstanding service of three graduating students to the School, to the University and to the community.

Jean H. Proffitt Student Service Award

Established in 1996 by the School of Continuing Studies and the SCS Student Government Association, this award is presented to a graduating student recognized by their peers for outstanding service to the School of Professional and Continuing Studies community. The award is given in honor of the service exemplified by long-time University College and SCS staff member Jean H. Proffitt, C’83, who died in 2020.

  • 2023: Ebony Alexander
  • 2022: Grant Golden
  • 2021: Matthew Ritchie
  • 2020: Sarah Petty
  • 2019: Tyler Plantier
  • 2018: Kimberley Payne
  • 2017: Mark Gan
  • 2016: Tracey Taylor
  • 2015: Chris S. Hall
  • 2014: George B. Seicko
  • 2013: John E. Butt
  • 2012: Martha Pittaway, James Nickerson
  • 2011: Trishawnna Murray
  • 2010: Christopher C. Riddick
  • 2009: Brenda Ann Neckvatal
  • 2008: Francine A. Reynolds
  • 2007: Dianne Foster St. John
  • 2006: Marla Horsley
  • 2005: Phil J. Edris
  • 2004: Susan M. Hopfensperger, Susan D. Murphy
  • 2003: Linda Greco Koch
  • 2002: Jarita Taylor Fife
  • 2001: Annette Lynn Ardler
  • 2000: Bonnie Jean Davies
  • 1999: Marcia Pitts Englert
  • 1998: Donna Lee Wallain
  • 1997: Vanessa Laverne Wilson
  • 1996: Gilbert Franklin Logan, III

In 2013, this award was revised to recognize service to SPCS. The award was originally established to recognize service to the University community and/or the community at large.

Colonel Porcher L. Taylor Jr., Ph.D. Book Award for Community Leadership

Beginning with the 2006 Commencement, Porcher Taylor endowed this book award in honor of his father. General Colin Powell cited Dr. Taylor as “an early role model.” The award is given to a student who best exemplifies the characteristics of a leader, both inside and outside of the classroom.

  • 2023: Cary Dickinson
  • 2022: Brooke Fazio
  • 2021: Mica Morgan
  • 2020: Gráinne Murray
  • 2019: Justin Bartlett
  • 2018: David Kern
  • 2017: Lisa Cheney
  • 2016: Teresa Cole
  • 2015: Lukas Toth
  • 2014: Eric S. Cash
  • 2013: Donald Knight
  • 2010: Rebecca L. Siceloff
  • 2009: Aleta Michelle Fonville
  • 2008: Joseph R. Hill, Courtney P. Kendrick
  • 2007: Clifford Middlebrook Jr.
  • 2006: Marla R. Horsley

In 2013, this award was revised to recognize service to the community, including leadership. The award was originally established to recognize leadership.

Taylor Kie Cousins Award in Recognition of Outstanding Service to the University Community

Established in 2010, this award is given to a graduating student who exemplifies outstanding service and leadership to the University community. This award is in memory of Adjunct Professor Emeritus Taylor Cousins’ service and commitment to the School of Professional and Continuing Studies as a teacher and in recognition of his involvement in service to the community.

  • 2023: Hiniye Madelaine
  • 2022: Marco Thomas
  • 2021: Ashley Snider
  • 2020: Sarah Petty
  • 2019: Sheri Blume
  • 2018: Christopher Dilworth
  • 2017: Jim Kochany
  • 2016: Ginger Clore
  • 2015: Elizabeth “Beth Ann” Howard
  • 2014: Russell O. Hunter
  • 2013: Michelle Ruth Edgell
  • 2012: James Nickerson
  • 2011: Ivy Bullock
  • 2010: Christopher C. Riddick
  • 2009: Carleen L. Harris
  • 2008: Francine A. Reynolds
  • 2007: Joy D. Edwards

In 2013, this award was revised to recognize service to the University community. The award was originally established to recognize service to the School’s student government association.

Additional Honors & Awards

The School recognizes excellence in additional areas, including research, scholarship and examination results.

Elizabeth Spindler Scott Book Scholarship Award

In recognition of Betty Scott, who died in 2024, and her years of dedication to the students in the SCS, friends and family members endowed this scholarship in 2006. The $200 check is awarded to an upcoming senior with the highest GPA in the BALA Program, and will be used to purchase books during the last year of study in the SPCS.

  • 2023: Sasha E. Zerkin-Trickett
  • 2022: Sharitka Giles
  • 2021: Dan Thigpen
  • 2020: Adrienne Stewart
  • 2019: Sarah Petty
  • 2018: Thomas Dever
  • 2017: Jen Ferlmann
  • 2016: Melissa Ann Hill
  • 2015: Matthew Hibbs
  • 2014: Kathrina M. Slavey
  • 2013: Ryan O’Rourke
  • 2012: Margaret Dalton
  • 2011: Jeanette Ruiz
  • 2010: Susan W. Anderson
  • 2009: Vincent C. West
  • 2008: Betty J. Ownsbey, Johanna C. Merritt
  • 2007: Margaret Hofheimer Lewis
  • 2006: Jennifer Brown

Stratton and Peggy Almond Memorial Book Scholarship Award

Established this year, this award is presented annually to recognize a rising senior who has demonstrated academic success in the Weekend College program. The award shall be used to purchase books during the student’s final year of study at the School of Professional & Continuing Studies.

  • 2019: Christine McCoy, Kelly Davis
  • 2018: Kelly Davis, Joann Clack
  • 2017: Shayla Herbert, Debbie Everhart
  • 2016: James Kochany, Tammy Gressly
  • 2015: Gloria Sadowski, Matthew Hibbs, Jeremy DaCosta
  • 2014: Lynn Gaither, Jaclyn McConnell, Nina Wise
  • 2013: Sarita D. Baker
  • 2012: Christine Charley, Karen Hardy
  • 2011: Martha Pittaway, Amanda McKenzie
  • 2010: Kathryn DiPasqua, Heather M. Cassady, Jerry A. Stire
  • 2009: Thomas G. Barth, Alaké D. Hinton, Crystal H. Jones
  • 2008: Gregory C. Pulver, Larry V. Dumlao, Patricia D. White

Joanita Senoga Bbaale Book Award

In 2006, Dr. Richard Leatherman endowed this book award. It was created to acknowledge the challenges faced by graduating students whose native language is not English. The first recipient of the award was Joanita Bbaale, who was an employee of Dr. Leatherman.

  • 2023: Chiyo Tokizawa, Rosio Esparza-Hoppe
  • 2022: Hani Assadi
  • 2021: Véronique Zara, Sharif Delsouze, Ani Gyurijyan
  • 2020: Albana Bourke, Gabriella Kaszala
  • 2019: Nadia Fedoruk
  • 2018: Maria Diaz
  • 2017: Jordanka Kida
  • 2016: Anamaria Scozzaro
  • 2014: Maria B. Mokrzycka
  • 2013: Delila Fazlic
  • 2010: Gladys S. Shanklin
  • 2009: Veronica Franco-Aguilar
  • 2008: Tatsiana S. Sauneva
  • 2007: Roberto Ricardo Marinho Riitano
  • 2006: Joanita Senoga Bbaale

Education Department Distinction Awards

These awards are given to Master of Education and Graduate Certificate candidates who pass with distinction their comprehensive examinations. These are awarded, as applicable, in the Curriculum & Instruction program and the Educational Leadership & Policy Studies program.

  • 2023: Gina Davis, Patricia Jessee, Daniel Payne, Lyons Sanchezconcha
  • 2022: Eric Byers, Victoria Case, Alana Hayes, Charlotte Martin, Daniel McKinney, Matthew Murray
  • 2021: Danielle Brown, Jason Collins, Allyson Goyette, Tracy Graves, Madeline Hargis, Destiny Reaves, Melissa Thurston
  • 2020: Peyton Anderson, Beverly Cocke, Brian Conlon, Diane Flemming, Bobby Herting, Amanda Holt, Cameron Jessee, Jeanine Mowbray, Gráinne Murray, Lyndsey Noel, Lindsey Smith, Philip Tickle
  • 2019: Jean Baker, Catherine Dillingham, Gregory Goujon, Valerie Mooney, Ashley Pride, Beverley Steele
  • 2018: Maria Bartz, Sara Blackburn, Shelley Burns, Colleen Connolly, Ben Court, George Fohl, Tracey Horvath, Toni Kilpatrick, Kadie Parsley, Rebecca Rose, Sonya Smith, Elisa Tedona
  • 2017: Jenny Andrews, Mary Beth Johnson, Lizzy Marchant, Sharon Middleton, Anna Hawkins, Cynthia Patey, Tatiana Sumrell, Courtney Swink
  • 2016: Teresa Cole, Sarah Barber-Patel, Mindy Guyer, Missy Hill, Nicole Hood, Sara Luckert, Lisa Micou, Andrew Perego, Ashley Reyher, Paige Smith
  • 2015: Ashley Wilson, Grace Creasey, Jennifer Rhoden, Angela Stewart, Brooke Thompson
  • 2014: Alison Ballard, Sarah Bottorff, Meghan Burgwyn, Michael Jarvis, Christina Neiswander, Brandon Poburka, Scott Rowe, Brittany Throckmorton
  • 2013: Thomas Bishop, Sarah Hyslop, Jillian Mortimer, Melanie Phipps, Tracy Smith, Lauren Taylor, Caroline LaGow Walker, Collin Wilson
  • 2012: Ashley Austin, Stephanie Norris, Katherine Peehler, Nora O. Wheeler
  • 2011: Catherine Jackson, Brian Keiper, Elisha Magorian, Anne Starling, Christina D’Angelo, Emily Turner, Auburn N. Nabors

Nonprofit Studies Graduates with Distinction

Inaugurated in 2023, this award is given to students from the Nonprofit Studies program who are graduating with distinction.

  • 2023: Bradley Kaplan, Rebecca Byrd Musser

Published Student Research

Recognizes SPCS students whose peer-reviewed research was published in the previous academic year. Inaugural recognition given in 2021.

  • 2021: Rachel Bringewatt, Meredith Pram, Ebonee Henry: Article published with Dr. Erik Laursen in the Journal of Education and Social Policy