ECC honors 2014-15 student accomplishments
Monday / June 22, 2015
Ellsworth Community College celebrated student success in a big way at its annual Honors Reception held April 29. The College recognized many students for a variety of scholastic and athletic successes exhibited during the 2014-2015 academic year. The ceremony was emceed by students Olivia Ballhagen of Parkersburg and Joe Zimmerman of Traer.
Ervin & Donna Miller Social Science Awards – Andrew Olson of Ellsworth (presented by instructor Scott Kauzlarich), Morgan Harms of Ackley (presented by instructor Mac McDonald), and Bailie Schipper of Aplington (presented by instructor Joerg Rochlitzer).
Panther Service Project Awards – Amanda Yaw of Altoona and Jessica Schultz of Cedar Rapids each received a Panther Service Project Award presented by sponsor Maurie Tomke.
Equine Awards – Julia Cain of Steamboat Rock received one of two Most Improved Student Equine Awards presented by instructor Joe Humphrey. Isabelle Mixon of Bellevue, NE received the Hardest Working Equine Award presented by instructor Julie Burchett. Victoria Rohwer of Anchorage, AK received the Outstanding Leadership Equine Award presented by instructor Joe Humphrey. Kalyn Dixon of Omaha, NE received the Best All-Around Equine Award presented by instructor Megan Gogerty. Cristina Duran of Quito, Ecuador received one of two Most Improved Student Equine Awards presented by instructor Julie Burchett.
Outstanding Female Athlete – Keziah Lewis of Auckland, New Zealand received the Outstanding Female Athlete (Basketball) Award presented by coach Ed Geitz.
Excellence in Education Awards – Madison Grabau of Kasson, MN and Jessica Schultz of Cedar Rapids received Excellence in Education Awards presented by instructor Ed Geitz.
Outstanding Vocalist Awards – Dalton Miller received the Outstanding Male Vocalist Award and Kortney Crosser of Hubbard received the Outstanding Female Vocalist Award presented by instructor Anne Sherve-Ose.
Excellence in Human Biology Awards – Cheri Niccum of Greene, Kate Stensland of Iowa Falls and Pam Westendorf of Radcliffe received Excellence in Human Biology Awards presented by instructor Dr. Jim Cheaney.
Outstanding Conservation Technology Student Awards – Lee Tapper of Hawarden and Bailey Morton of Webster City received Outstanding Conservation Technology Student Awards presented by instructor Nancy Slife.
Accounting Student of the Year – Cynthia Burns of Iowa Falls received the Accounting Student of the Year Award presented by instructor Larry Janssen.
Jack Richardson Scholarship — Jacob Coulson of Iowa Falls received a Jack Richardson Scholarship presented by instructor Darrin Rasberry.
Excellence in Criminal Justice Award — LaTasha Rose received the Excellence in Criminal Justice Award presented by instructor Mike Emerson.
Outstanding Male Athlete – Matthew Hurford of Monterey, IN received the Outstanding Male Athlete (Wrestling) Award presented by coach Cole Spree.
Outstanding Athletic Training Award – Sam Miller of Story City received the Outstanding Athletic Training Award presented by instructor Shawna Forsyth.
Outstanding Biotechnology Award & Outstanding Biology Award – Jonathan Luiken of Webster City received the Outstanding Biotechnology Award presented by instructor Wijitha Nilaweera; he also received the Outstanding Biology Award presented by Dr. Jim Cheaney, Nancy Slife, and Nilaweera.
Not Pictured — Antony Fonseca of Iowa Falls received one of three Math Achievement Awards presented by instructor Melissa Payne. Connor McKibben of Iowa Falls received the Outstanding Instrumental Award presented by instructor Anne Sherve-Ose. Jared Richtsmeier of Iowa Falls received one of three Math Achievement Awards presented by instructor Melissa Payne. Adrienne Miller of Millersburg, IN received one of three Math Achievement Awards presented by instructor Melissa Payne.
Dr. Barb Klein, ECC Dean of Enrollment Services & Registrar, recognized the ECC Honors Graduates, who will be recognized at the upcoming commencement ceremony on May 9. The only graduate with “highest honors” (4.0 GPA) is Noah Ronnfeldt. Graduates with “high honors” (3.75-3.99 GPA) are Leslie Birkenholz, Henry Broer, Allison Burris, Danielle Buseman, Taylor Clinton, Becca Dunahoo, Ashley Gates, Jakub Hladik, Colin Johnson, Samantha Kluesner, Jordyn Lehman, Brandon Qualley, Bailie Schipper, April Skartvedt, Sarah Smith, Alyx Staples, Kyle Strong, Tyrian Taylor, Justice Thigpen, Laura Toben, and Halle Wild. Graduates with “honors” (3.50-3.74 GPA) are Vashon Alexander, Wynde Allen, Olivia Ballhagen, Kaitlyn Balvanz, Abagail Brophy, Kalehl Brown, Julia Cain, Brooklynn Calef, Tyler Comisky, Megan Denny, Kalyn Dixon, Austin Douglas, Cristina Duran, Elizabeth Glade, Molly Greenfield, Jonna Gutknecht, Mary Jane Halder, Meghan Heinz, Cory Hess, Gerardo Ibarra, Jacob Johnson, Andrea Kerkhoff, Kayla Kinney, Joshua Kirk, Lynn Knutson, Keziah Lewis, Taylor May, James Mazoway, De’Quan McDowell, Colton Mentzer, Alex Meyer, Hayley Montes, Nathaniel Morgan, Jennifer Mull, Andrew Olson, Kendra Pintar, Tyler Prunty, Kevin Rubin, Alex Umbaugh, Tijuana Weatherspoon, Murphy Wiese, Melissa Winter, Amanda Yaw, Laura Ziesman, and Alivia Zubrod.
Dr. Lisa Stock, Dean of Students & Academic Affairs, recognized the Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) honors inductees: Vashon Alexander, Wynde Allen, Holly Ausborn, Paul Bainbridge, Olivia Ballhagen, Kaitlyn Balvanz, Tally Bell, Leslie Birkenholz, Samantha Bonin, Henry Broer, Abagail Brophy, Andrea Bunt, Allison Burris, Danielle Buseman, Julia Cain, Brooklynn Calef, Tyler Comisky, Kalyn Dixon, Lilianna Dohlman, Becca Dunahoo, Cristina Duran, Jessica Eberl, Mackenzie Fitch, Ronnie Frazier, Ashley Gates, Jennifer Gehrls, Elizabeth Glade, Froylan Gomez, Madison Grabau, Molly Greenfield, Jonna Gutknecht, Rachel Hadwiger, Mary Jane Halder, Meghan Heinz, Cory Hess, Jakub Hladik, Jacob Johnson, Samantha Kluesner, Brooke Kriener, Jessye Kriewald, Jordyn Lehman, Chelsey Lewer, Keisha Machado, Nicholas Masyga, James Mazoway, Colton Mentzer, Alex Meyer, Hayley Montes, Maria Negron, Dionna Petry, Kendra Pintar, Brandon Qualley, Jeremiah Robertson, Noah Ronnfeldt, Darayliz Santiago, Bailie Schipper, Adam Schirmer, Alexis Showalter, Alyx Staples, Crystal Swartzlander, Lee Tapper, Alex Umbaugh, Tijuana Weatherspoon, Elizabeth Welke, Halle Wild, Melissa Winter, Cassie Woodbury, Amanda Yaw, and Alivia Zubrod.
Amanda Yaw, president of Phi Theta Kappa, presented the ECC Student Choice Award for Outstanding Faculty Service to Wijitha Nilaweera, biotechnology instructor, for his efforts on behalf of the College and its students.