Nearly 400 students were recognized at the 32nd Honors Convocation in mid-March in Baker Hall. The annual ceremony honors juniors and seniors who have achieved at least a 3.6 GPA or received academic prizes. 

After University Chaplain Lloyd Steffen gave the invocation, University President Alice Gast praised the students for their accomplishments.

“You have earned this…through many hours of hard work, and you can take pride in a job well done,” she said.

Gast said many students also distinguished themselves as campus leaders and contributed to the success of fellow students and the life of the university. She challenged them to use their influence to “make a difference in the culture of Lehigh.

“Make it a priority to see the world from all angles—not just your own familiar vantage points—and urge your fellow students to do the same. I know you are up to this challenge and I know Lehigh will be an even better place for it.”

Provost Patrick Farrell said the honorees shared several traits.

“They are passionate about their studies,” Farrell said. “They are highly motivated to learn, and to apply that knowledge. They care deeply about this university, they are engaged citizens of the world, and they are eager to stand for something bigger than themselves.”
From academic underperformer to invited speaker

Also addressing students and their families were Anne Meltzer, the Herbert J. and Ann L. Siegel Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences; Paul Brown, dean of the College of Business and Economics; and David Wu, dean of the P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science. Each introduced a student speaker.

Ankit Gupta ‘12, an international relations and economics major and Eckhardt Scholar, said he was stunned by the progress he had made at Lehigh.

“Three years ago, I was an academic underperformer who was told I shouldn’t apply to Lehigh because I couldn’t get in, and that I shouldn’t go to Lehigh because I wouldn’t be able to cope,” he said. “Today, I have the honor of speaking in front of you.”

Gupta said caring and committed professors, a depth of course options, and creative extracurricular programs encouraged him to transcend traditional boundaries.

Mark Degenhart ‘11, an economics and finance double major with a minor in international relations, cited “Incredible opportunities….some of which I never thought possible. Lehigh doesn’t simply prepare students to memorize all the pages of a textbook. Lehigh prepares students to write the pages of the next textbook.”

Aaron Taylor ‘12, a computer science and business major, gave ahumorous recounting of his time at Lehigh, surviving cramped quarters, failing heating systems, thousands of ice-encrusted campus steps, and countless hours of library isolation for midterms and finals.

“Lehigh prepared a smorgasbord of academic and professional opportunities for me,” he said. “From consulting in Prague to conducting research in Zambia, I’ve have more than had my fill.”

Prizes and Awards, 2010 - 2011

Alpha Pi Mu Prize*
(Industrial Engineering)
Michael L. Colucci

American Chemical Society Award*
(Chemistry and Chemical Engineering)
Andrew N. Bartinski
Brian E. Diskin

American Institute of Chemists Award*
(Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or Biochemistry)
Thanh G. Ta
Douglas A. Tremblay

American Society of Civil Engineers Prize*
(Civil Engineering)
Timothy D. Brauning

Robert W. Blake Memorial Award
Krittapas Chanchaiworawit

Bethlehem Fabricators Award
Andrew J. Stewart

Nelson Leighton Bond Memorial Prize
Dat T. Hoang
Zahra M. Soonasra

The William H. Chandler Chemistry Prize*
(Chemistry and Chemical Engineering)
Gregory V. Barnett
Nathan A. Bowser
Alicia E. Cutillo
Brian C. Czornyj
Michael J. DiRosato
Ryan A. Kaye

John B. Carson Prize*
(Civil Engineering)
Cassandra M. Schanck

Class of 1904 Scholarship Award*
Krista M. Belick
Meghan K. Bowen
Vaughan S. Brown
Awani Donthireddy
Claude A. Esposito
Elizabeth C. Guzzo
Beth A. Kertz
Evans K. Kosgei
Jennifer M. Lance
Joshua R. Leight
Hilary J. Lewis
Mario N. Paredes
Caroline E. Potock
Erica D. Prosser
Elizabeth M. Spengel
Alexis E. Weiner

Alpha A. Diefenderfer Award*
(Chemistry)
Lillian D. Kull

Aurie N. Dunlap Prize*
(International Relations)
Stephen A. Buryk

Eta Kappa Nu Prize
Geoffrey G. Groman

Joseph C. Gabuzda Jr., Memorial Award*
(Electrical or Computer Engineering)
Stephen R. Abate
Nicole E. King
Jonathan C. Stumpf
Paul L. Vegetabile

Malcolm J. Gordon Jr., Physics Prize
(Physics)
Christopher Devulder

Bill Hardy Memorial Prize
Alan E. Freeman

George D. Harmon Memorial Award*
(History)
Allison L. Prosswimmer
Susan R. Wigodner

David Hellekjaer Memorial Award*
John W. Powell
Steven L. Brown
Timothy R. Buirkle

Joseph C. Hendrzak Memorial Award*
(Military Science)
Erik D. Twombly

Donnel Foster Hewitt Award*
(Earth and Enrivonmental Sciences)
Deanna G. Giustino
Stephanie J. Hunt

Robert C. Hicks Prize*
(Chemical Engineering)
Allison M. Graf

Harold J. Horn Prize
(Electrical Engineering and Computer Science)
Enkhbayasgalan Gantsog
Jonathan C. Stumpf

Institute of Internal Auditors Senior Award*
(Accounting)
Richard S. Motschwiller

Institute of Management Accountants Senior Award*
(Accounting)
Megan V. Cody

Richard H. Johnson Economics Prize*
(Economics)
Jennifer L. Nagel

Kahn Memorial Award*
(Materials Science and Engineering)
Daniel H. Bechetti, Jr.

Mathematics Faculty Award
(Mathematics or Statistics)
Joseph Z. Eggert
Lindsey M. Smith

Joseph A. Maurer Classics Prize*
Nickolas T. Agathis

Merck Index Award*
(Biochemistry and Chemistry)
Steven R. Ackerman

J. Robert Munford Award*
(Earth and Environmental Sciences)
David E. Seduski

Elizabeth Major Nevius Award
Zahir N. Carrington
Nicole M. Chin
Kristen A. Dalton
Michael T. Doherty
Sarah V. Gerhart
Natalie F. Hojnacki
Adam I. Kirell
Angela C. Marcucci
Justin P. Mendelson
Binay S. Patel
Allison L. Prosswimmer
Inthira Saengprachathanarak
Christopher J. Schoell
Erin M. Tormey
Carolyn L. Von Heill

John Cyril Osborn Award*
(Materials Science and Engineering)
Thomas J. Nizolek

Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants Prize*
(Accounting)
Lindsay S. Dolan

Phi Sigma Kappa Scholarship Cup
Alpha Gamma Delta

Pi Tau Sigma Prize
(Mechanical Engineering)
Kyle M. Hart

Leonard P. Pool Memorial Prize*
Richard J. Bradley
Andrew G. DiPietro
Benjamin M. Harmer
David E. Gritz

Allen S. Quier Prize*
(Materials Science and Engineering)
George J. Ferko V

John S. Steckbeck Memorial Award*
(Military Science)
Erik D. Twombly

Bradley Stoughton Student Award*
(Materials Science and Engineering)
Michael S. Grimes
Douglas G. Ridyard

Tau Beta Pi Prize
Geoffrey G. Groman

Thornburg Mathematics Prize*
(Mathematics)
Maxwell B. Anselm
Lisa E. Vasko

Trustees Scholarship Cup
Warren Square D

Harry M. Ullmann Chemistry Prize*
(Chemistry and Chemical Engineering)
Alyssa C. Fritz
Alison M. Jaworski

John R. Wagner Award
(Mechanical Engineering)
Kyle M. Hart

Wall Street Journal Award*
Maxwell A. Copelan

H.R. & Y.B. Wei Prize
(Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics)
Harry S. Paul

William Whigham Jr., Memorial Prize
(Engineering)
Geoffrey G. Groman

Elisha P. Wilbur Mathematics Prize
(Mathematics)
Evan E. Aamodt
Maria C. Ballesteros Gonzales
Geoffrey G. Groman
Ke Xue
Xiaoxi Zhang

Elisha P. Wilbur Scholarship Prize
(Mathematics)
Stephanie P. Albano
Alexis J. Alu
Annamaria Anselmo
Alexander J. Bourque
Joseph Z. Eggert
Meghan R. Eichner
Holly M. Fuhrman
Jon M. Harrison
Kyle M. Hart
Gina E. Mason
Andrew P. McGlincy
Eric T. Nalisnick
Tyler D. Piede
Lindsey M. Smith
Matthew B. Sumner
Jordan A. Thimot
Aaron M. Wilensky

Theodore B. Wood Prize
(Mechanical Engineering)
Matthew S. Peterson

*recognized in 2010

By: Linda Harbrecht

Posted on: Monday, March 21, 2011

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