PC Professor of the Year Dr. Ben Bailey (left) with PC president Dr. Matthew vandenBerg.

Presbyterian College’s annual Honors Day celebration put the spotlight on the college’s brightest academicians Thursday.

In addition to the Honors Day Symposium featuring student research, PC also announced award winners during its annual Honors Day convocation.

2023 Outstanding Senior Kennedy Wright with president Dr. Matthew vandenBerg.

Assistant professor of political science Dr. Ben Bailey was formally named PC Professor of the Year, while Kennedy Bailey Wright was named the 2023 Outstanding Senior. Both will address the Class of ’23 at PC’s commencement ceremony on May 13.

Assistant professor of biology Dr. Margo Petukh was this year’s convocation keynote speaker. In her address, “Unleashing the Power of Ideas: Embracing Authenticity for Personal and Professional Growth,” Petukh said ideas have the ability to shape the world and influence beliefs and values.

“Many of the significant changes in human history have been the result of a single idea – democracy, human rights, and scientific breakthroughs,” she said.

Hard work, dedication, and the pursuit of new knowledge and experiences give fruit to ideas that challenge presumptions and the status quo.

“While experience can be challenging, it’s through these experiences that we gain wisdom and knowledge and deeper understanding of ourselves and the world around us,” Petrukh said. “The more you know, the more questions you have. The more you know, the more you realize how much we actually don’t know.”

Petrukh encouraged everyone to embrace their own unique qualities and individual talents in the pursuit of new ideas.

“You can change the world by being creative, bold, and being yourself,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to take risks, try new things, and challenge the status quo. And, most of all, know that you are not alone. There are others who share your passion, who share your dreams, and who are willing to stand by your side as you pursue your goals.”

In addition to Bailey, several other PC faculty members were recognized for their academic work this year.

Assistant professor of psychology Dr. Stephanie Freis was named this year’s Dr. Kenneth B. Orr Faculty Research Fellow. The Orr Fellowship was created in memory of Orr, the college’s president emeritus, who passed away in 2016.

This year’s Dr. Robert H. Freymeyer Award for Meritorious Scholarship was presented to professor of biology Dr. Mike Rischbieter. The Freymeyer Award was created in honor of professor emeritus of sociology Dr. Bob Freymeyer, who spearheaded PC’s creation of the Honors Day Symposium and was a champion for student research.

PC students, particularly members of the Class of ’23, were honored, including the following:

Departmental Awards

Outstanding Senior in Accounting – Colleen Alyce Hirt

Outstanding Senior in Analytics – Owen Cooper McCormack

Outstanding Senior in Art – Taylor Nicole Cunningham

Outstanding Senior in Biochemistry – Liliana Irene Jaraczewski

Outstanding Senior in Biology – Itzel Martinez-Garcia Coria

Outstanding Senior in Chemistry – S’Agee Lamont Eason

Outstanding Senior in Communications Studies – Mitchell Jackson Mercer

Outstanding Senior in Computer Science – Abigail Ann Sparkman

Outstanding Senior in Creative Writing – Hayley Alice Steves

Outstanding Senior in Economics – Ndrin Maloku

Outstanding Senior in Education – Dessa Elizabeth Jones

Outstanding Senior in English – Sophia Catherine Sullinger

Outstanding Senior in French – Emma Kate Bradley

Outstanding Senior in History – Ciera Marie Carter

Outstanding Senior in Management – Kennedy Bailey Wright

Outstanding Senior in Mathematics – Hayley Alice Steves

Outstanding Senior in Physics – Dylan Joseph Harrell

Outstanding Senior in Political Science – Sarah Faith Loftis

Outstanding Senior in Psychology – Elaine Isabella Powers

Outstanding Senior in Religion – Ava Louise Ward

Outstanding Senior in Spanish – Jessica Elizabeth Ferqueron

Outstanding Senior in Sociology – Bryanna Marie Brady

College Service and Community Awards

Jack and Jane Presseau Community Service Award – Dessa Elizabeth Jones

Fraternity Scholastic Award – Theta Chi

Sorority Scholastic Award – Alpha Delta Pi

American Legion Awards – Sarah Faith Lollis and George Creighton Coleman Taylor

Creative Writing Award – Ariane Malfait

Joseph O. Nixon Leadership Award – Ashlyn Caroline Getway

Billy Tiller Award – Keegan Douglas Halloran

Frank Dudley and Catherine Wyman Jones Award – James Wilson Armstrong

Harry S. Dent Christian Lay Leadership Award – Kennedy Elise Perry

Fraser Bible Award – Patrick Alexander Buchanan

Hay Bible Award – Morgan Rene’ Berry

Joseph Graham Miller Award – Owen Cooper McCormack

Jane Hammet Award – Liliana Irene Jaraczewski

Wall Street Journal Award – Caroline Tate Morgan

Jean Kirkley Award – Kathryn Elizabeth Dover

Dr. Eric A. Johnson Fellows – Elaine Isabella Powers, Sarah Elizabeth Smathers, Brandon John Stiff, and Sophia Catherine Sullinger

Senior Achievement Awards

James Wilson Armstrong

Annie Griffin Blakely

Paige Cecilia Cairns

Marie Ciera Carter

Itzel Martinez-Garcia Coria

Grace Danielle Durham

Mary-Charlotte Dusa

Gabriella Morgan Evans

Ashlyn Caroline Getway

Liliana Irene Jaraczewski

Dessa Elizabeth Jones

Ainslie Claire Lane

Sarah Faith Loftis

Cassandra R. Lopez

Elaine Isabella Powers

Gracen Irene Price

Sarah Elizabeth Smathers

Hayley Alice Steves

Brandon John Stiff

Sophie Catherine Sullinger

George Creighton Coleman Taylor

Hannah Christine Watts

Megan Danielle Whisonant

Anna Marie Wicker

Megan Alexander Wilson

Jackson Andrew Wright

Kennedy Bailey Wright

Academic Excellence Awards

Alexandria Nicole Addy

Lauren Elisabeth Andrews

James Wilson Armstrong

Benjamin Blanton Bayles

Katherine Ruth Bazemore

Anne Griffin Blakely

Amirah Kai Boyd

Emma Katherine Bradley

Jacob Levi Brasseur

Paige Cecilia Cairns

Ciera Marie Carter

Kenedie Taylor Conaway

Angel Malenga Pearl Cooke

Taylor Nicole Cunningham

Kyle Wayne Decker

Grace Danielle Durham

Marcus Reagan Fowler

Anna Catherine Fuller

Ashlyn Caroline Getway

Colleen Alyce Hirt

Tayler Patricia Hofmeister

Chase Lee Hughes

Riley Jaymes Hulett

Mallorie Aspen Jaeger

Liliana Irene Jaraczewski

Dessa Elizabeth Jones

Mayah Codyn Lee

Patrick Ronald Leonard

James Crawford McCollum

Owen Cooper McCormack

John Allen McMahon

Mitchell Jackson Mercer

Caroline Tate Morgan

Elaine Isabella Powers

Kiersten Alyssa Price

Taryn Mikaela Rolnik-Tomaszewski

Hannah Michael Ryder

Olivia Marie Sadorf

Sarah Elizabeth Smathers

Victoria Marie Snyder

Hayley Alice Steves

Isabelle Raye Stichnoth

Brandon John Stiff

Benjamin Loftis Stone

Sophia Catherine Sullinger

Margaret Stewart Wannamaker

Madison Ann Watkins

Hannah Christine Watts

Anna Claire West

Emmalyn Caroline Williams

Megan Alexandra Wilson

Megan Danielle Whisonant

Kennedy Bailey Wright