McMurran Scholars
Thirty-seven students were inducted as Joseph McMurran Scholars at the 57th McMurran Convocation April 20. The McMurran Scholar Award is the highest academic honor granted by Shepherd University. Pictured (front row, l. to r.) are Levi T. Parrett, Abigail Emily Lockhart, Sierra Bess Badley, Jada Shandel Brown, Madelynne Jane King, Tania Thanh Nguyen, Jacob Tyler Lowe, Kyle A. Anderegg, Miranda E. Shipley, Victoria Marie Manuel, Russell Patrick Goodacre, Brianna L. Maguire, Helen Zumbach, (second row) Parker Anthony, Laurie Megan Hercules, Jasmin Carissa Earl, Keerthana Mesineni, Amanda LeAnn Hutchison, Benjamin Thomas Lanham, Madison Mae Isenberg, Carol E. Niedringhaus, Jennifer L. Forbes, Priscilla Nicole Behm, David Daniel Murdock, Austin Lee Thomas, and (third row) Yitian Yao, Cristyn Nicole Bauer, Dustyn Lee Icard, Kristen Elizabeth Rehak, Ryan E. Quigley, Logan Harrison Robertson, Nathan Andrew Strite, Nemo Alexander Hirschberg, Claire Decker Affinito, Sebastian Robert Ohde, Taylor Alisse Bird, and Taylor M. Harwood.
Outstanding Faculty Award Winners
Members of Shepherd University’s faculty were recognized during the first annual Faculty Awards and Recognition Ceremony on April 30. Pictured (l. to r.) are Dr. Scott Beard, acting provost; Dr. Heidi Hanrahan, associate professor of English, Outstanding Service Award; Dr. Jonathan Gilkerson, assistant professor of biology, Outstanding Teacher Award; Dr. Laura Robertson, assistant professor of biology, Outstanding Advisor Award; Dr. Michael Groves, associate professor of nursing education, Douglas C. Smith Distinguished Graduate Faculty Award; and Christian Benefiel, associate professor of art, Outstanding Scholar Award.
Ikenberry Award Winners
Taylor Bird (r.), a social work major from Charleston, and Da’Shawn Long (l.), an R.B.A. student from Winchester, Virginia, received the Dr. Oliver S. Ikenberry Award for Human Service during Student Recognition Day April 18. The $250 cash award goes to one female and one male graduating student for exemplary human service to Shepherd as evidenced by campus leadership, community service, and overall achievement. Ikenberry served as Shepherd’s president for 21 years, from 1947-1968 and the administration building, Ikenberry Hall, is named in his honor. His daughter, Dr. Jane Ikenberry-Dorrier ’65, presented the award to Bird and Long.
Mentzer Award for Inspirational Teaching
Dr. Stephanie Slocum-Schaffer, associate professor of political science, received the Mentzer Award for Inspirational Teaching April 18. Retired teacher and Shepherd alumna Susan Mentzer-Blair ’72 and her husband, Bill, created the award in honor of her brother, Dr. John Thomas Mentzer, a former college professor. The $1,000 award goes to a full-time professor recognized for being particularly inspiring and having a profound effect on his or her students. Spencer VanHoose, a political science major from Martinsburg, nominated Slocum-Schaffer. Pictured (l. to r.) are Susan Mentzer-Blair, Spencer VanHoose, Dr. Stephanie Slocum-Schaffer, and Bill Blair.
Lowe Family Award
Morgan Breeden, Summit Point, received the Lowe Family Award for outstanding service to the university and high academic achievement during Student Recognition Day. Funded by the Lowe family of Shepherdstown, the award honors a student based on outstanding service to the university as well as high academic achievement. A tree is planted on campus in honor of the recipient.
Congressional Term Limits Foundation Essay Winners
Four Shepherd University students won prizes from the Congressional Term Limits Foundation for research papers on congressional term limits. Pictured (l. to r.) are second place winner Spencer VanHoose, Martinsburg, $1,000 prize, and first place winner Jordan Jalil, Kabletown, $2,500 prize. Not pictured are honorable mention winners Tessa Chafin, Morgantown, and Mitchell Haines, Slanesville. The competition is open to all Shepherd students and is sponsored by the Glen Burnie, Maryland-based Congressional Term Limits Foundation. The students had to research some aspect of congressional term limits and write a five- to 20-page research paper on their findings.