Class of 2024 seniors honored with academic, activity, and leadership awards

On the eve of their graduation, McDaniel College seniors in the Class of 2024 were honored with academic, activity, and leadership awards. Prior to the event, the graduating seniors took part in the Arch Processional led by McDaniel College leadership, including President Julia Jasken, Provost Flavius Lilly, and Dean of Student Liz Towle.

Students in regalia walk through the historical arch, led by the provost in regalia — Members of McDaniel’s graduating Class of 2024 participated in the Arch Processional prior to Senior Investiture and Honors Convocation on May 17.

Members of McDaniel’s graduating Class of 2024 were honored on May 17 on the eve of their graduation from the college with academic, activity, and leadership awards at the Senior Investiture and Honors Convocation.

The evening’s celebration began with President Julia Jasken, Provost Flavius Lilly, and Dean of Students Liz Towle leading the students through Ward Memorial Arch during the traditional Arch Processional.

During the event, Provost Flavius Lilly presented the academic awards and Dean of Students Liz Towle presented the activity and leadership awards. See the full list of award recipients below.

Tyra N. Pritchett — a Psychology major from Hanover, Maryland — received The Mary Ward Lewis Prize, while Kramoh T. Mansalay — an Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and Biomedical Science major from Darby, Pennsylvania — was awarded The Bates Prize. Both awards are presented to the graduating class members who have made the best records during their undergraduate course.

Read more about The Bates Prize and The Mary Ward Lewis Prize winners.

Students involved in academic and leadership organizations were also recognized. These groups included Phi Beta Kappa, Dorsey Scholars, College Scholars, Global Fellows, National Security Fellows, Omicron Delta Kappa, Trumpeters, and The EDGE Experience Program.

Chemistry Professor Dana Ferraris was announced as the surprise faculty speaker, who infused the traditional words of wisdom to the soon-to-be graduates with his trademark sense of humor and a little advice from Jedi Master Yoda.

With reflections on the challenges the Class of 2024 faced, including the loss of high school graduation ceremonies, shortened semesters as they entered college, social distancing, limited face-to-face interaction, and suspended athletics seasons, Ferraris encouraged the graduating seniors to have as much fun as they can moving forward. “You have a liberal arts education, which means you know how to be creative,” he said. “Because of your pandemic experiences, you were forced to redefine fun and find it wherever you can. You got this!”

The second piece of advice Ferraris offered was to set your priorities in life and stick to them: “There are three priorities in life: One, your health, and this includes mental health. Two, your family and loved ones. Three, everything else.” His last piece of advice was to make connections, which he says the Class of 2024 may need to work harder at after losing more than a year to authentic in-person connections.

“You can think of each connection as a thread or, let's use a chemical term, a bond,” he said. “Each bond can be stronger or weaker, but the end result is that you can make some wonderfully creative molecules with these bonds and those creative molecules can do some miraculous things … in the same way that your connections can lead to some remarkably diverse networks that can be used to do some amazing things.”

Student Academic Awards

Group of students in graduation regalia pose — Class of 2024 members of Phi Beta Kappa.

Student in graduation regalia poses with award — The Makosky Award for Excellence in English was presented to Sydney Audra Lewis, an English and History major from Poquoson, Virginia.

students in graduation regalia pose with awards — The Frank and Margaret Malone Award for Excellence in a Foreign Language was presented to Signé T. Kula, an Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and Psychology major from Barrington, New Hampshire, and Kramoh T. Mansalay, an Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and Biomedical Science major from Darby, Pennsylvania.

Student in graduation regalia poses while faculty member in regalia speaks at podium — The Dr. Reuben Holthaus Award in Philosophy was presented to Max L. Sweeney, a Philosophy and Political Science major from Delmar, Maryland.

students in regalia pose — Class of 2024 Global Fellows.

two students wearing regalia pose with awards — The Class of 1938 Award for Excellence in Music was presented to Zachary E. Brown, a Biology and History major from Taneytown Maryland, and Jordan A. Greene, a Cinema major from Baltimore.

Student in graduation regalia holds up award — The Robert Joseph Weber Award for Excellence in Political Science and International Studies was presented to Caleb J. Bowden, a Political Science and Economics major from Norman, Oklahoma.

Student Academic Award Recipients Included:

The Alton Dennis Law Award for Excellence in Economics  

Jason A. Bruder, Economics-Math major from York, Pennsylvania

The Dr. Mary Ellen Elwell ’50 Distinguished Social Work Award  

Sarah Elizabeth Leizear, Social Work and Psychology major from Crofton, Maryland

The Vox Magna Clara (A Strong Clear Voice) Award  

Kayla A. Gauger, Criminal Justice and Sociology major from Baltimore

The Maria Leonard Senior Book Award given by Alpha Lambda Delta to the graduating senior(s) with the highest GPA 

Natalie Marie Badillo, Biology major from Germantown, Maryland
Signé T. Kula, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and Psychology major from Barrington, New Hampshire
Brandy L. Murphy, Psychology major from Taneytown, Maryland
Ariana Kaylin Stormont, Economics, Accounting, and Business Administration major from Baltimore
Chloe A. Timmons, English major from Westminster, Maryland

The Joan Develin Coley Award for Excellence in Education

Carsyn A. Meckley, Elementary Education major from Hanover, Pennsylvania

The McLuhan Award for Excellence in Communication 

Spencer C. Goodson, Communication major from Westminster, Maryland

The Richard A. Clower Award for Excellence in Kinesiology  

Amanda Butz, Kinesiology major from Perry Hall, Maryland
Taylor Victoria Mazan, Kinesiology major from Baltimore

The Richard H. Smith, Jr. Award for Excellence in Chemistry or Biochemistry  

Makela J. Brown, Biochemistry major from Norfolk, Virginia

The Robert Joseph Weber Award for Excellence in Political Science and International Studies  

Caleb J. Bowden, Political Science and Economics major from Norman, Oklahoma

The Class of 1938 Award for Excellence in Music  

Zachary E. Brown, Biology and History major from Taneytown, Maryland
Jordan A. Greene, Cinema major from Baltimore

The Dr. Reuben Holthaus Award in Philosophy   

Max L. Sweeney, Philosophy and Political Science major from Delmar, Maryland

The Frank and Margaret Malone Award for Excellence in a Foreign Language  

Signé T. Kula, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and Psychology major from Barrington, New Hampshire
Kramoh T. Mansalay, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and Biomedical Science major from Darby, Pennsylvania

The Malcolm L. Meltzer Psychology Award 

Signé T. Kula, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and Psychology major from Barrington, New Hampshire

The Michael and Polly Beaver Award for Excellence in Education 

Brooke Marie Windsor, English major from Woolford, Maryland

The Makosky Award for Excellence in English  

Sydney Audra Lewis, English and History major from Poquoson, Virginia
Chloe A. Timmons, English major from Westminster, Maryland

The Philip and Azalea Myers Award for Creativity in English 

Isabelle Penn Sweet, English major from Brooklyn, New York

The Eloise B. and Lowell S. Ensor Award for Graduate or Professional Study  

Lauren G. Logue, Health Sciences major from New Windsor, Maryland

The Phi Delta Gamma Award 

Lauren Elizabeth Guyer, Biology major from York, Pennsylvania

The M. Louise Shipley Art Award of Excellence  

Sarah E. Mendez, Art major from Damascus, Maryland

The H.P. Sturdivant Biology Award 

Haley Ann Livingston, Biology major from Frederick, Maryland
Emma Morgaine Ryan, Biology major from Newark, Delaware

The Esther Smith Award (creativity in the arts – drama, music or art) 

Bella Lucia Myers, Theatre Arts major from Mt. Airy, Maryland

The Dr. Clyde A. Spicer Award (outstanding graduating senior in mathematics) 

Reagan C. Knowles, Mathematics major from Boonsboro, Maryland

The Hugh Barnette Speir, Jr. Prize (student showing the greatest excellence in European history) 

Zachary E. Brown, Biology and History major from Taneytown, Maryland

The H. Peyton Gorsuch History Award 

Sydney Audra Lewis, English and History major from Poquoson, Virginia

Student Activity and Leadership Awards

Student in graduation regalia poses — Destiny Alysia Edwards is a graduating member of The EDGE Experience Program.

student in graduation regalia holds up award and poses with adult female — Tyler A. Yohn, one of the recipients of The Dr. H. Samuel Case ’63 Senior Scholar Athlete Award, with Susan Snodgrass Case ’65, M.Ed. ’84, the wife of the late Dr. H. Samuel Case ’63, M.Ed. ’66.

Group of students in graduation regalia pose with awards — The Steve Robert Wilson Memorial Award was presented to Kathleen A. Morgan, a Business Administration and Psychology major from Warwick, Maryland; Chett Thomas Brunner, Kinesiology major from Sykesville, Maryland; and Tyren Proctor, a Business Administration major from Westminster, Maryland.

The Michael J. Marks ’13 Memorial Award (two graduating seniors who have been members of the women’s and men’s lacrosse teams for at least two years and have exhibited academic excellence, leadership, competitive spirit, volunteerism, and a strong work ethic) 

Gabrielle R. Kohr, Elementary Education major from Bel Air, Maryland
Eric W. Manfredonia, Kinesiology major from Ramsey, New Jersey

The Elizabeth Lintz Burkhardt Memorial Service Award (senior who has demonstrated exceptional and persistent giving of time and service to others within the college and the  community at large) 

Luci Lillian Vallor, Political Science and Psychology major from Woodbine, Maryland

The Steve Robert Wilson Memorial Award (two senior members of the men’s and women’s track and field program with the most outstanding records) 

Kathleen A. Morgan, Business Administration and Psychology major from Warwick, Maryland
Chett Thomas Brunner, Kinesiology major from Sykesville, Maryland
Tyren Proctor, Business Administration major from Brandywine, Maryland

The Western Maryland Norman E. Sartorius Gift and Citation (student who has contributed the most toward the moral and spiritual uplift of the student body)

Jordan A. Greene, Cinema major from Baltimore

The Charles W. Havens Award (graduating senior who has participated in intercollegiate athletics and has shown the attributes of charity, altruism, benevolence, and a humane and compassionate concern for others)  

Nicholas P. Raumann, Communication major from New Market, Maryland

The John D. Nawrocki Memorial Award (senior who has participated in men’s soccer and men’s lacrosse and emulates leadership through example, concern for teammates and friends, and gives fully to benefit others) 

Tyler J. Reid, Biology major from West Chester, Pennsylvania

The Michael L. Waghelstein Memorial Award (student who has demonstrated military proficiency and leadership potential, athletic ability, sincerity, zest for living, and loyalty to country, college and friends) 

Kori I. Bryant, Business Administration major from Grovetown, Georgia

The Alumni Citizenship Award (two seniors who have displayed a steadying loyalty to classmates and the college through active participation in campus life and contributions to the betterment of the college) 

Destiny Alysia Edwards, Biology major from Gwynn Oak, Maryland
Sebastian Barbaran Whipple, Biology and Kinesiology major from Washington, D.C.

The Lynn F. Gruber Medal (proficiency in extracurricular activities) 

Kim Marie Parson, Theatre Arts major from Westminster, Maryland

The Dr. H. Samuel Case ’63 Senior Scholar Athlete Award (two seniors with the most outstanding academic records and who have been significant members of the Green Terror athletics program) 

Allison Elizabeth Storm, Accounting and Business Administration major from Abingdon, Maryland
Tyler A. Yohn, Marketing major from Dillsburg, Pennsylvania

The Faith Millard/Dr. Carol Fritz Medal (senior member of a women’s sports team with the best record in athletics) 

Kathleen A. Morgan, Business Administration and Psychology major from Warwick, Maryland

The John A. Alexander Medal (senior member of a men’s sports team with the best record in athletics) 

Jaedyn Trevor Scott Harris, Criminal Justice major from Gaithersburg, Maryland

The Mary Ward Lewis Prize (graduating class member who has made the best record during their undergraduate course) 

Tyra N. Pritchett, Psychology major from Hanover, Maryland

The Bates Prize (graduating class member who has made the best record during their undergraduate course) 

Kramoh T. Mansalay, Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies and Biomedical Science major from Darby, Pennsylvania