2015 End-of-Year Awards Given to Outstanding Meadows Students and Faculty

Every spring, individual divisions of the Meadows School of the Arts select outstanding students for special awards recognizing their scholarship, creative talent and community involvement. Students also may be honored by their divisions by being selected to serve as a Reader or Marshal for Commencement.

In addition, a number of Meadows students and faculty have been honored with special awards from the University for 2015.

Winners of the SMU and Meadows School of the Arts departmental awards for 2015 are as follows (all are graduating seniors unless otherwise noted):

UNIVERSITY HONORS

Michele Houston, senior lecturer in journalism and TV studio and newsroom manager, was one of three recipients of the Extra Mile Award, presented by Students for New Learning for graciousness and sensitivity to students with learning differences.

Seniors Katelyn Hall, journalism, and Geenah Krisht, film and media arts, were among the winners of this year’s “M” Award, SMU’s most prestigious honor, which recognizes contributions to the University “above and beyond the call of duty.”

Advertising senior Quang (Peter) Ngo was one of six recipients of the John L. Freehafer Memorial Award, given by the University to a select few students every year who have demonstrated an interest in student life, activities and government.

Journalism senior Alyssa Parrish was among the five winners of the Sheri Mooney Memorial Scholarship Award from the Office of the Chaplain. The award is presented to students whose Christian faith is evident as a recognizable priority in their day-to-day campus life.

Advertising senior Sydney Kamp was a winner of the A. Kenneth Pye Outstanding Greek Leader Award. The highest award for Greek life at SMU, it is presented each year to six graduating seniors across all four Greek councils (Inter-Fraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, National Pan-Hellenic Council and the Multicultural Greek Council).

MEADOWS SCHOOL HONORS

Temerlin Advertising Institute

Outstanding Academic Achievement in Advertising – Gina Haskins

Outstanding Academic Achievement in Creative – Mallory Ashcraft Kappa Tau Alpha Initiates – Undergraduate: Mallory Ashcraft, Gina Haskins (Top Scholar), Annabel Massey, Savannah Seifert; Graduate: Erin Hedrick (Top Scholar)

• Kappa Tau Alpha is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.

Marshal – Irisa Ona

Reader (graduate student) – Rachel Peng

Reader (undergraduate student) – Genevieve Edgell

Division of Art

Dan Wingren Award for Outstanding Senior – Katherine Habeck

Charley Aberg Travel Award – Nina Davis

Stephen D. Wilder Travel Award – Kaye Nickel

Frances B. Cowan Award in Printmaking – Olga Romanova

Standard Club Awards – Sally Kim (sophomore) and Ellen Smith (junior)

Marshal – Katherine Habeck

Reader (undergraduate student) – Caroline Wilcoxon

Department of Art History

Alessandra Comini Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Art History Major – Elisabeth Cremeens

Outstanding Senior Award – Christianne Teague

Marshal – Elisabeth Cremeens

Reader (undergraduate student) – Alexandra Damianos

Division of Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship

(Note: These students are receiving graduate degrees.)

Lanham Deal Internship Award – Anne-Marie Gan

This award recognizes and assists outstanding students in arts management. The award  was established in honor of Lanham Deal, a Meadows alumnus and prominent leader of  music organizations in Dallas in the decades after World War II.

Marshal – James Jillson

Reader – Gerard Atkinson

Division of Communication Studies 2015

Outstanding Academic Achievement – Haley Flander

Outstanding Student in Corporate Communication – Marc Bullard

Outstanding Student in Nonprofit Management – Taylor Logan

Outstanding Student in Public Affairs – Mary Anna Billingsley

Outstanding Student in Public Relations – Emily Walsh

Outstanding Senior in Debate and Speech – Rahfin Faruk

Outstanding Senior in Honors Program – Katherine Davis

Outstanding Senior in Mock Trial – Colton Donica

Outstanding Senior in mustangconsulting – Katherine Davis and Irisa Ona

Outstanding Senior in PRSSA – Emily Walsh

Advisory Board Scholar Awards – Gabrielle Bear, Alexandra Douglass, Arian Hudson, Briana Monsalve, Meredith Murphy, Lindsay Ricker and Monica Rodriguez

Stan Levenson Honorary Scholar Award – Alexandra Douglass, Ariana Hudson, Briana Monsalve, Meredith Murphy and Monica Rodriguez

Douglas Bauer Incentive Scholar Awards – Gabrielle Bear, Alexandra Douglass, Haley Levitt, Briana Monsalve, Meredith Murphy, Lindsay Ricker and Monica Rodriguez

Stephen and Dawn Farrell Study Abroad Awards – Gabrielle Bear, Ariana Hudson, Briana Monsalve, Meredith Murphy, Monica Rodriguez and Austin Whittle

Kappa Tau Alpha Initiates – Marc Bullard, Haley Flander, Chelsea Grogan, Devin Kerns, Kelsey Ray, Emily Walsh and Natalie Yezbick

• Kappa Tau Alpha is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.

Marshal – Vashtai Kekich

Reader – Jonathan Jessen

Division of Dance

Outstanding Achievement in Dance – Kelsey Rohr, Abby Marchesseault and Katie Schaible

Marshal – Dexter Green

Reader – Shauna Davis

Division of Film and Media Arts

Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award – Kathryn Binder and Hal Hoeppner

Outstanding Creative Achievement in Film/Media Production – Daniel Pappas

Outstanding Creative Achievement in Screenwriting – Ryan Reed

Nash Parsley Memorial Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement – Parker Smitherman

Marshal – Hal Hoeppner

Reader – Kathryn Binder

Division of Journalism

Outstanding Achievement in Broadcast Journalism – Adriana Fernandez

Outstanding Achievement in Digital Journalism – Jehadu Abshiro

Outstanding Achievement in Print Journalism – Meredith Carey

Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Media Journalism – Ashley Wali

Kappa Tau Alpha Initiates – Addison Bolin, Adriana Fernandez, Katelyn Hall and Natalie Yezbick (journalism) and Caley Pavillard (fashion media)

• Kappa Tau Alpha is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.

Marshal – Katelyn Hall

Reader – Natalie Yezbick

Division of Music

Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Music – Sarah Welch and Saraj Sulhan

Undergraduate Concerto Competition Winners – Sydney Frodsham, mezzo-soprano (first year), and Luke Baker, horn (junior)

General Concerto Competition Winners – Daniel Hawkins, horn; Jeawook Lee, voice (graduate student); Sharon Lee, violin (graduate student); and Yumi Palleschi, piano (graduate student)

Pi Kappa Lambda Initiates – Suraj Sulhan, Sarah Welch, Hannah Threlkeld, Paul Torrisi, Sami Eudy and Christopher Tran (all seniors), Aveline Chan, Zachary Sherburn, Nishi Tara Stewart, Matthew Anderson and Nathan Childress (all juniors)

• Pi Kappa Lambda is a national honorary music society; membership is based on artisticachievement, scholarly excellence and exemplary character.

Thomas Hayward Memorial Award – Kelly Silverthorne

The Thomas Hayward Award was established in honor of his incredible teaching at Meadows from 1964 until his retirement in 1994. Tom’s career included 14 years as a leading tenor with the Metropolitan Opera. This award goes to an undergraduate voice major with a GPA above 3.0, chosen by the faculty.

Dr. Ben K. Howard Award for Excellence in Opera – Moretta Irchirl

• The Dr. Ben K. Howard Award for Excellence in Opera recognizes a young artist who as shown a dynamic commitment to excellence in the field of opera, in addition to making major contributions to the Meadows Opera Theatre program during a given year.

Norman L. Jacobs Memorial Award – Paul Torrisi

• The Norman L. Jacobs Memorial Award is given to a student or students selected by the brass faculty for outstanding contribution through performances, studio and master classes.

Roy and Sue Johnson Award – Dario Martin (performer’s diploma)

• The Roy and Sue Johnson Award is given to a graduating senior or graduate student in  any music field selected by a vote of the entire music faculty for a combination of high standards in scholarship and artistry.

Roy and Sue Johnson Opera Theatre Award – Jordan Hammons (master’s student) and Alissa Roca (master’s student)

• The Roy and Sue Johnson Award in Opera Theatre is given to outstanding graduate members of the opera theatre class - with the preference that they go to one man and one woman.

Roy and Sue Johnson Award in Organ or Sacred Music in Honor of Robert Anderson – Alissa Davis (master’s student)

• The Roy and Sue Johnson Award in Organ or Sacred Music was established to honor distinguished Professor Emeritus of Organ and Sacred Music Dr. Robert T. Anderson, and recognizes outstanding achievement in this area.

Roy and Sue Johnson Award in Memory of Maurice Acers – Shannon Conboy (junior)

• This award is in memory of the Johnsons’ good friend and fellow musician, Maurice Acers. Because of Mr. Acers’ keen interest in sharing his love of music, they wanted this award to recognize outstanding contributions of a student active in teaching in the general education curriculum or community outreach activities involving music.

Roy and Sue Johnson Award in Honor of Dr. Herbert Turrentine – Benjamin Roberts (master’s student)

• This award is given to the student for excellence in the area of Music History, particularly in the area of thesis.

Lloyd Pfautsch Award – Chris Thrailkill (junior)

• Established by an endowment created by the friends and former students of Lloyd Pfautsch, former choral director of the Division of Music, the Lloyd Pfautsch Award is selected by all choir members for someone who demonstrates leadership, musicianship and scholarship.

Theodore Presser Scholarship – Eleanor Dunbar (junior)

• Being selected as a Presser Scholar is one of the most prestigious achievements in any undergraduate music school. The Presser Scholar receives a financial award at the beginning of the fall semester and their name is engraved on a plaque that hangs permanently in the Meadows Music Division office.

Sigma Alpha Iota Award – Sami Eudy

• This award is designated for the person chosen by the ensemble directors for scholarship and outstanding contribution to a performing ensemble. Sigma Alpha Iota is a national, professional music fraternity and the Division of Music is grateful for this award, which they present each year.

Paul Van Katwijk Award – Hannah Abercrombie (junior)

The Van Katwijk Award is given in honor of Paul van Katwijk, dean of the School of Music at SMU from 1919-1949. This award goes to an outstanding undergraduate piano major selected by the piano faculty.

Paul Velucci Piano Award – Alessandro Mazzamuto (performer’s diploma)

This award is given in honor of Paul Velucci, a former SMU piano faculty member, conductor and one of the great vocal coaches in the U.S. The award recognizes an outstanding piano student and is selected by the piano faculty.

Harold Von Mickwitz Prize in Piano – Yumi Palleschi (master’s student)

The prize, named after the first dean of the Meadows School of Music (1916-1918), is presented to the pianist who performs with the Meadows Symphony Orchestra as the winner of the annual Concerto Competition.

Marshal – Saraj Sulhan

Reader (graduate student) – Kristen Meyers

Reader (undergraduate student) – Hannah Threlkeld

Division of Theatre

Undergraduate Award for Academic Excellence in the Division of Theatre – Andrea Flowers, Jenna Hannum, Ariana Howell, Kaysy Ostrom, Mei Mei Pollitt, Ian Stack and Ally Van Deuren.

The Golden Hammer Award – Katie Tye

• This award is given for extraordinary volunteer service to the scene shop.

Edyth Renshaw Award – Jenna Hannum and Ryan-Patrick McLaughlin

 

• This award is given to an outstanding senior student for contribution to the division, academic achievement, and outstanding promise as an actor, director or designer.

Lu Gene Singleton Award – Mei Mei Pollitt

• This award is given to a student for exceptional acts of service, either to individuals or to the department, and for a prevailing generosity of spirit, which marks this individual’s distinction.

Garland Wright Award for Directing – Jenna Hannum, Jacob Nice and Mei Mei Pollitt

• This award is given to an outstanding student in the field of directing.

Taubman Scholarship for Excellence in Graduate Stage Design – Mari Taylor

• This award is given to a first- or second-year graduate design student.

Bob Hope Award for Design – Amanda MacArthur

• This award is given to an outstanding second- or third-year design graduate student for scholarship, classroom leadership, academic achievement, self-development, progress as a designer in major studio and classroom performances, and production contribution.

Bill and Jean Eckart Award in Design – Janet Berka

Bob Hope Scholarship for Excellence in Graduate Acting – Tim Brown

• This award is given to a first- or second-year graduate acting student.

Bob Hope Scholarship for Excellence in Undergraduate Acting – Kolby Tuck

Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Graduate Acting – Sarah Rutan

• This award is given to an outstanding graduate acting student for scholarship, classroom  leadership, academic achievement, self-development, progress as a performer in major studio and classroom performances, and production contribution.

Greer Garson Awards – Andrea Flowers, Jon Garrard, Jenna Hannum and Stephanie Machado

• These awards are given to junior or senior undergraduates who, in the opinion of the designated members of the Meadows faculty, have demonstrated excellence, aptitude and dedication in the art of acting. The awards are determined by vote of the dean of the Meadows School of the Arts, the chairman of the Theatre Division and the head of the professional acting curriculum.

Katie Featherston Awards for Acting – Dylan Bare, Caitlin Galloway and Kristen Lee

Rosenfield Playwriting Awards – Ariana Howell, Kristen Lee and Kaysy Ostrom

Marshal – Jenna Hannum

Reader (graduate student) – Luther Frank

Reader (undergraduate student) – Ryan-Patrick McLaughlin