2015-2016 Academic Catalog 
    
    Mar 28, 2024  
2015-2016 Academic Catalog [ARCHIVED CATALOG]

Medals and Awards



Richard W. Riley Award for Promise and Achievement

The Riley Award was created in 2012 in honor of Richard W. Riley, a 1954 Furman graduate and chair of the Board of Trustees. Awarded to a member of the community who has been a strong and ardent Furman supporter. Last awarded to Carl Kohrt in 2014.

Meritorious Teaching Award

The Alester G. Furman, Jr., and Janie Earle Furman Award for Meritorious Teaching. Through the benefaction of the late Mr. Alester G. Furman, Jr., and Mrs. Furman, an annual cash award for meritorious teaching is made to the member or members of the faculty judged to have been most effective in undergraduate teaching during the current academic session. Any member of the faculty who has taught one or more courses during the session is eligible.

Recipients are selected by an unannounced selection committee, composed of faculty and students, appointed annually by the president. The selection is announced at spring commencement.

In considering prospective recipients, the selection committee places primary emphasis upon the following aspects of teaching: the inspiration of students toward an enthusiastic interest in an academic discipline and in learning in general, evidence of professional competence in the teacher’s field, and interest in the academic and personal welfare of students, both within and outside the classroom. Nominations for the award with supporting information may be submitted in writing in sealed envelopes by faculty or students to the Vice President for Academic Affairs by April 15 each year.

The Meritorious Teaching Award was won in 2015 by Vince Hausmann and Cynthia King.

Meritorious Advising Award

The Alester G. Furman, Jr., and Janie Earle Furman Award for Meritorious Advising. This annual award, made possible by an additional gift from the Furman family, recognizes a member of the faculty who, in the opinion of students, other faculty, and alumni, is an exceptional academic advisor.

Recipients are selected by an unannounced selection committee on the basis of written nominations sent to the Vice President for Academic Affairs by April 15 of each year. The factors considered by the selection committee are each nominee’s long-term commitment to advising, rapport with students, concern for advisees’ career goals and future plans, willingness to seek answers to advisees’ questions, knowledge of university regulations and curriculum, and effectiveness in directing students toward productive college experiences.

The Meritorious Advising Award was won in 2015 by Wes Dripps and T.J. Banisaukas.

Chiles-Harrill Award

The Chiles-Harrill Award, provided through the benefaction of Mr. Frank Keener ‘64, is an annual cash award to a member of the faculty or administrative staff considered to have made substantial contributions to the lives of students. The award honors Marguerite Moore Chiles, former vice president for student services, and Ernest E. Harrill, professor emeritus of political science and former dean of students. Recipients are selected by an unannounced committee composed of faculty, staff and students.

The Chiles-Harrill Award was won in 2015 by Meghan Slining, Professor of Health Sciences.

Furman University Scholarship Cup

Donated by Hales Jewelers. Awarded to the senior with at least 64 semester hours at Furman who earns the highest grade point average. Won in 2015 by Hayley Elisabeth Cunningham.

Bradshaw-Feaster Medal for General Excellence. Endowed by the late Dr. S. E. Bradshaw in continuation of the medal provided by the late W. L. Feaster ‘13. Awarded by the faculty to a senior man on the bases of scholarship, general culture, participation in college activities, high moral character. Won in 2015 by Luke Darby Christie.

Donaldson-Watkins Medal for General Excellence. Given by the late Mrs. Elizabeth Wilson Donaldson and the late Mrs. Maude Wakefield Watkins, members of the class of 1889. Awarded by the faculty to a senior woman on the bases of scholarship, general culture, participation in college activities, high moral character. Won in 2015 by Hayley Elisabeth Cunningham.

President’s Award. Awarded by a committee of faculty, administrators and students to seniors for qualities of scholarship, leadership, service, and participation in college and community activities. Won in 2015 by Nicholas Lau Hao Keat.

American Legion Medal. Awarded by the American Legion, South Carolina, to a senior man and a senior woman for qualities of honor, courage, scholarship, leadership and character. Won in 2015 by Courtney Nicole Reimer.

Alfred S. Reid Award. Certificate awarded by the Furman chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa to the man in each class who has made the best allaround contribution to the improvement of the university and student life during the year. Won in 2015 by Jackson Pearce, Jonathan Vandenberg, Sven Lissek, and James Warren Hurt, III.

Winston Babb Memorial Award. Plaque awarded by the Furman chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa to the woman in each class who has demonstrated the most outstanding qualities of leadership, scholarship and service to the university. Won in 2015 by Christina Marielle Sturgeon, Ansley Speaks, Maggie Grisell, and Haley Elisabeth Cunningham.

SCICU Excellence in Teaching Award. Won in 2015 by Les Hicken.

South Carolina Governors Award in Science. Won in 2015 by John Wheeler.

Alumni Award for Academic Excellence. Won in 2015 by John Austin Charles and Johnathan Samuel Glaze.

Ancient Greek and Roman Studies

Award for Excellence in Ancient Greek and Roman Studies. Won in 2015 by Mary Logan Lundberg.

Art

Faculty Award for Excellence in Art History. Won in 2015 by Jordan Alexis Dopp and Mary Elizabeth Morse.

Flowers Award. Won in 2015 by Victoria Elizabeth Calkins

Asian Studies

James B. Leavell Outstanding Work in Asian Studies (2005). Won in 2015 by Alice Laidlaw Williams.

Faculty Award in Chinese. Won in 2015 by Michael Blake Baldwin.

Faculty Award in Japanese. Won in 2015 by Michael Jonathan Mireb.

Outstanding Work in Asian Studies on South Asia. Won in 2015 by Jaclyn Faith Olson.

Outstanding Work in Chinese Studies. Won in 2015 by James Xiaohu Gao.

Outstanding Work in Japanese Studies. Won in 2015 by Allison Taylor Shoemaker.

Biology

Distinguished Research Award in Biology (1991). Won in 2015 by Megan Danielle Lee.

Elizabeth Thackston Taylor Botany Medal (1942). Established by the late R. K. Taylor, Jr., ‘31 in memory of his mother. Awarded by the biology faculty to the student with the greatest interest and aptitude in field study of plants of the Piedmont. No student is eligible a second time. Won in 2015 by Katherine Bernice Murray.

Beta Beta Beta General Excellence Award (1974). Annual monetary award to a junior or senior biology major for outstanding academic achievement and unselfish service. Won in 2015 by Audrey Claire Heldreth.

C. Leland Rodgers Biology Award (2000). Won in 2015 by Megan Danielle Lee.

Business and Accounting

Fred and June Current Accounting Award (2003). Award presented each year to an outstanding graduating senior majoring in accounting who has shown high academic achievement, has demonstrated leadership in the Furman Accounting Society, and who has actively participated in other campus organizations that have a primary goal of serving others. Won in 2015 by Alexandra Lee Brink.

General Excellence in Business Award (2003). Award presented each year to a graduating senior business major who has exceptionally strong academic achievement, a proven work ethic, leadership ability and well diversified extracurricular activities. Won in 2015 by Andrea Elizabeth Fisher and Michelle Christine Raymond.

Chemistry

John Sampey Award in Chemistry (1968). Cash award to an exceptional graduating chemistry major, based on meritorious scholarship, strength of character and promise of a productive scientific career. Won in 2015 by Yasmin Rosaura Alvarez-Garcia, Danielle Elizabeth Ebzery, Johnson-Webb Sociology Award, and Shelby Hart Price.

John Albert Southern Chemistry Award (1973). Won in 2015 by Julia Ruth Nelson, Emily Suzanne Nyers, and Katherine Wang Sun.

American Chemical Society Outstanding Chemistry Major Award (1954). A year’s membership in the American Chemical Society (ACS) by the Western Carolinas Section of ACS, awarded to the senior member of the student chapter with the best record in chemistry. Won in 2015 by Orlin Orlinov Sergev.

American Institute of Chemists Award in Biochemistry (1984). Won in 2015 by Levan Khulordava.

American Institute of Chemists Award in Chemistry (1984). Won in 2015 by Wesley Matthew Gillette.

Classics

J.S. Murray Greek Prize. Won in 2015 by Pengqing Samuel Mao.

Communication Studies

Communication Studies Award for Excellence in Public Speaking and Debate. Won in 2015 by Yuqi Wei.

Endel Medal for Excellence in Communication Studies (1926). The department’s highest award honors the outstanding student or students in Communication Studies. Won in 2015 by Jenna Lee Meredith.

Endel Medal for Excellence in Rhetoric and Oratory (1926). The award honors a Communication Studies student or students whose work in rhetoric exemplifies the highest standards. In granting the award, the department’s committee considers excellence in scholarship but may also consider a student’s efforts to improve the quality of public discourse in, and service to, the department, the university, and the community. Won in 2015 by Allison Leigh Butler and Luke Darby Christie.

Endel Medal for Excellence in Mass Communication (1937). This award recognizes a Communication Studies student or students whose work in mass communication exemplifies the highest standards. In granting the award, the department’s committee considers excellence in scholarship, but may also consider a student’s service to the department, university, and community. Won in 2015 by Sarah Anne Lamb.

Computer Science

Computer Science-Mathematics Award for Excellence (1996). Won in 2015 by Rahul Nathan Isaac.

Kenneth C. Abernethy Award for Excellence in Computer Science. Won in 2015 by Jeffrey Blake Dye and Richard Sumner Hatch.

Earth and Environmental Science

Earth and Environmental Sciences Scholar Award (2007). Won in 2015 by Amira Jay El-Hamaki.

Earth and Environmental Sciences Research Award (2007). Won in 2015 by Charlotte Coleman Leadem.

Sustainability Science Research Award. Won in 2015 by Michaela Jo Barnett.

Economics

J. Carlyle Ellett Economics Prize (1990). Won in 2015 by Kelly Marie Dickson, Andrew Wade Smith, and Emily Reid Vonsolos.

Education

Outstanding Scholar and Leader in Education Award (2005). Won in 2015 by McKinsey Maria Payne, Carolyn Julia Smith, and Emily Kathleen Zizzi.

Environmental Studies

Award for Excellence in Environmental Studies (2001). Won in 2015 by Katherine Bernice Murray.

Film Studies

Award for Excellence in Film Studies. Won in 2015 by Amanda Scott Cordisco.

Health Sciences

Jerry R. Thomas Award in Health Sciences (1996). Awarded to the most outstanding senior major as selected by the Health Sciences faculty. Won in 2015 by Kelsey Leigh Kinderknecht.

Ruth Reid Award (2005). Award presented to a senior Health Sciences major who has demonstrated academic excellence, a commitment to service and a dedication to physical activity. Won in 2015 by Madison Elizabeth Smith.

History

Endel Memorial History Medal (1937). Founded by the late Mrs. H. Endel as a memorial to her husband and awarded to the man doing the best work in history. No student is eligible a second time. Won in 2015 by Donald Clifford Santacaterina.

Gilpatrick History Prize (1937). A cash prize, given by Choice McCoin ‘57 as a memorial to Delbert H. Gilpatrick, professor of history emeritus, and Meta E. Gilpatrick, professor of English emeritus, and awarded to a woman for outstanding work in history. No student is eligible a second time. Won in 2015 by Grace Elizabeth Tuttle.

Daughter of the American Revolution Prize in American History. Won in 2015 by Mary Elizabeth Morse.

Latin American Studies

Award for Excellence in Latin American Studies. Won in 2015 by Cassandra Hua Chee.

Mathematics

DeLany Medal in Mathematics (1945). A gold medal given by William J. DeLany ‘42 to the graduating senior mathematics major earning the highest grade point average in upper-level mathematics courses. Won in 2015 by Xing Wei.

Mathematics Faculty Award for Excellence (2005). Presented to the graduating senior mathematics majors whose grade point average in upper-level mathematics is 3.80 or higher. Won in 2015 by Rahul Nathan Isaac, Laura Claire Peckham, and Xing Wei.

Modern Languages and Literatures

Goethe Award in German (1969). Won in 2015 by Alexander David Pumphrey.

Cervantes Award in Spanish (1969). Won in 2015 by Michaela Jo Barnett.

Daivd Wells Morgan Award in French. Won in 2015 by Lee Carter Bolton.

Philosophy

Philosophy Medal (1998). Won in 2015 by Caley Campbell Howland.

Physics

Senior Physics Award (2005). Based upon academic achievement, enthusiasm for learning physics and positive contributions to the physics program by their scholarly example and service, the Senior Physics Award is given annually to the best all around senior physics major. The recipient is selected by the Physics faculty, in conjunction with the donor, Dr. Paige Ouzts. Won in 2015 by Lillian Marie McKinney Flewellen.

Political Science

S. Sidney Ulmer Political Science Medal (1955). Founded by S. S. Ulmer and awarded to an outstanding student in political science. No student is eligible a second time. Won in 2015 by Kaitlyn Marie Donaldson.

Political Science Faculty Award (1997). Won in 2015 by Lee Carter Bolton, Joseph Michael Kennedy, and Courtney Mia Thomas.

Political Science Chair’s Award (2003). Award given to a senior major in recognition of superb academic achievement and distinguished service to the department. Won in 2015 by Andrew Wade Smith.

Poverty Studies

Award for Excellence in Poverty Studies (2011). Won in 2015 by JJayde Allon Baron, Leigh Anne Buckley, Cassandra Hua Chee, Morgan Rose Hobbs, and Emily Reid Vonsolos.

Pre-Medical

Robert Emmett Allen Premedical Prize (1927). Established by Kat Macy Ladd. Awarded to a senior judged outstanding in character and accomplishment in premedical education. Won in 2015 by Hayley Elisabeth Cunningham.

Alpha Epsilon Delta Scholarship Award (1982). Presented annually to a premedical student on the bases of scholarship, financial need and contribution to Alpha Epsilon Delta, the honorary pre-medical fraternity. Won in 2015 by Orlin Orlinov Sergev.

Psychology

Allport Scholar in Psychology (1968). Given by Robert J. Maxwell, Jr., to the senior psychology major best representing the integration of psychology and other disciplines. Won in 2015 by Hayley Elisabeth Cunningham and Yayi Wang.

Brewer Scholar in Psychology. Won in 2015 by Francis Truitt Anderson.

Burts Scholar in Psychology (1973). Established by Charles W. Burts. Awarded to the outstanding psychology major. Won in 2015 by Emily Caroline Bowers and Caroline Michelle Mitchell.

Marshall Prevost Psychology Medal (1961). Awarded to an outstanding student in psychology. Endowed by Dr. Gerda P. McCahan, class of 1941, in memory of her father, Marshall Prevost. Won in 2015 by Heather Lynn Erdmann.

Religion

Baggott Excellence Award (1978). Endowed by the Rev. and Mrs. James L. Baggott. Annual awards of a medallion and cash to a senior man and woman on the basis of academic achievement and Christian character and for being an outstanding volunteer in church-related vocations. Won in 2015 by Sarah Anne Lamb and Carolyn Julia Smith.

Scholarly Achievement Award in Religion (1970). Won in 2015 by Laura Margaret Krueger and Alexander David Pumphrey.

David Anthony Smith Award in Religion (2001). Won in 2015 by Nirav Mathur and Caitlin Connelly Russell.

John C. Shelley Award for Excellence in the Fields of Theology and Ethics. Won in 2015 by Addison Rae Rothrock.

Undergraduate Evening Studies

Frances Selby “Gig” Meredith Award (1999). Won in 2015 by James Donald Rich.

Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies

Award for Excellence in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (2001). Won in 2015 by Rebecca Calhoun Robertson.