SMU’s annual Awards Extravaganza was held on Monday. Faculty, administrators and students took home some of SMU’s most prestigious academic awards.
The “M” Award, SMU’s most prestigious honor, was given to five faculty members and ten students.
Brad Cheves, vice president for development and external affairs, Renee Gibson, assistant director of new student orientation and student support in the Office of the Dean of Student Life, Randall Griffin, a professor of art history, Jeff Kennington, a professor of engineering management and Peter Moore, a professor of mathematics, all won the “M” award.
The “M” award is given out to individuals who go “above and beyond the call of duty” in their engagement with the university.
Jasmine Carr, Kevin Eaton, Alex Ehmke, Joseph Esau, Matt Gayer, Adriana Martinez, Yvonne Pitts, Austin Prentice and Kari Rood were the student recipients of the “M” award.
The “M” award was only one of many prestigious awards given out on Monday night.
Albert Neimi Jr., the dean of Cox, and Linda Custard, of the Custard/Pitts Land and Cattle Company, won Students’ Association Awards.
The Willis M. Tate Award was given to Elizabeth Wheaton, a lecturer in economics.
Outstanding Professor Awards, presented by the Rotunda yearbook, were given to Marilynn (Birdie) Barr, Hubert Crouch, Mark Fontenot and Xi Wang.
The Extra Mile Awards, given to teachers who show sensitivity and graciousness towards students with learning differences were given to Craig Flournoy, Judy Foxman and John Wise.
SMU also presented specific awards for leadership in volunteerism and sustainability.
Dianne Jopling, the president of the SMU Mothers’ Club won the Outstanding Faculty/Staff Volunteer Award while David Blackwell and Maria Richards won a Leadership in Sustainability Award.
Many other students were honored at the event.
Antonea Bastian, Amie Kromis, Elise McDonald, Genesis Reed, Zohra Samji and William Vonderfecht won John L. Freehafer Awards, based on recepients’ interest in student life, activities and government.
Presidential Awards of Excellence were given to Silje Fjortoft, Elisabeth Knutzen and Billy Dugal.
The Sheri Mooney Memorial Scholarship Award was presented to Alexandria Pegram, Dawson Williams and Adrienne Yim.
Outstanding Greek Leader Awards were given to Michael Alberts, Meredith Carlton, Caroline Farish, Fred Leach, Angela Martinez and Rachel Singer.
Students were excited to see who would win the Outstanding Senior Woman Award and the Outstanding Senior Man Award. Megan Clark Welch and Trigg Burrage won, respectively.
Organizations also won awards. Engineers Without Borders won an Excellence in Service Award.
Student winners were both surprised and excited about their awards.
“I was so sure I wouldn’t win that I didn’t even ask my parents or fiancé to attend. After you spend four years at this university, you know that there are so many truly incredible students who would be great candidates. My fellow M-Award winners are some of the most accomplished and admirable people I’ve met in my life, and I’m honored to be among them,” Alex Ehmke, the winner of an “M” award, said.
