Perhaps it’s a bit of hyperbole, but seldom has the Lee Chapel been filled with such brilliant student minds. That was the sentiment throughout the 2025 Academic Awards and Recognition ceremony, held Friday, May 9.

President Christopher F. Roellke, PhD, certainly agreed, as he stood at the podium to make his opening remarks just before the outstanding young scholars were honored, along with faculty members who aided students’ journeys.

Roellke commented about the young scholars: “From Analytics to Sales, Music Education, Elementary Education, Theatre Arts, Chemistry, Environmental Science, Economics and Russian, East European, and Eurasian Studies, we honor the students who have committed themselves to their studies, to their intellectual passions, and their community of classmates and colleagues.”

Also, he praised the “outstanding and distinguished faculty who make such a difference in the lives and learning of their students.”

Similarly, Provost Elizabeth Skomp, PhD, described the event as a “wonderful opportunity for us to celebrate the highest academic achievements of our students, as well as our distinguished teacher-scholar faculty.”

That was followed by Tim Peter, DMA, professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities, who spoke about personal perseverance and resilience, among other topics. As an academic leader at Stetson, he delivered the keynote Academic Address, a signature part of the awards and recognition ceremony.

“Each classified generation — the Greatest Generation, the Boomers, Gen X, Millenials, Gen Z and our newest category, Gen Alpha and Beta — has and will meet the future challenges facing our world,” Peter stated. “Although no school is perfect by any means, I firmly believe that Stetson graduates will continue to successfully navigate and work together in solving these challenges. What it will take, and this has been true with prior generations, is personal perseverance and resilience.”

Then it was time for the presentation of awards.

Faculty

Advisor of  the Year: Karen Merritt, PhD, Associate Professor of Music in Voice

Hand Award for Research, Creative, and Professional Activity is Professor of Psychology: Christopher Ferguson, PhD, Professor of Psychology

William Hugh McEniry Award for Excellence in Teaching: John Riggs, PhD, Professor of Practice in Marketing, Director of the Centurion Sales Excellence Program

School of Business Administration

Business School Foundation Paul E. Dascher Outstanding Scholar Award: Lea Alexander

Business School Foundation Theodore J. Surynt Merit Award for Business Systems and Analytics: Janelle Gilyard

Business School Foundation David M. Beights Merit Award for Accounting: Beatriz Vossen

Business School Foundation E.C. Furlong Merit Award for Management: Isabella Convery

Business School Foundation Merit Award for Professional Sales: Darby Nuxol

Business School Foundation Eugene M. Lynn Merit Award for Finance: Sugeeth Sathish

Business School Foundation Merit Award for Marketing: Georgia Place

School of Music

Presser Foundation Undergraduate Scholar: Elizabeth Langston

Outstanding Vocal Music Educator Award: Ashlyn Hull

Outstanding Instrumental Music Educator Award: Elizabeth Langston

College of Arts and Sciences

Ray V. Sowers Elementary Education Award: Roneshia Hayes

Ed Hamill Award for Outstanding Senior in Art: Danielle Hunt

Ethan F. Greene Award: Michelle Marshall

Michael McFarland Award for Outstanding Senior: Julia Hickey

Michael McFarland Award for Outstanding Senior: Isa Quinones

Byron H. Gibson Award: Nikki Membiela

Ronald L. and Margaret Smith Hall Philosophy Award: Ali Burgess

Ronald L. and Margaret Smith Hall Philosophy Award: Tristyn Rampersad

Dorothy L. Fuller Award: Kylie Overstreet

American Institute of Chemists Foundation Outstanding Senior Award: Tzodok Fogel

Jack Gibson Endowed Physics Research Award: Juan Burgos

The Rachel Carson Environmental Science Award: Avery Brooks

The Health Science Scholarship and Service Award: Jackie Maze

Health Science Scholarship and Service Award: Ben Peterson

Outstanding Student in Gender Studies: Julia Hickey

The Outstanding Student in Economics: Conrad Voigt

Gilbert L. Lycan History Award: Jason Andres Albea

William Amory Underhill Award: Bruno Soto

University Honors Program Award for Outstanding Senior: Victoria R. Ramón

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award: Erik Eisold

Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award: Vik Ramon

Etter McTeer Turner Award: Sugeeth Sathish