ISSUED: 24 April 2019
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — A number of Shepherd University students and a faculty member were among those honored during the 71st Annual Student Recognition Day April 23.
Alyssa Roush, a biology major from Parkersburg, and Madi Welder, a Regents Bachelor of Arts student from Augusta, Georgia, each received the Dr. Oliver S. Ikenberry Award for Human Service. 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. The administration building, Ikenberry Hall, is named in his honor. Shepherd alumna Dr. Jane Ikenberry-Dorrier, Ikenberry’s daughter, presented the award to Roush, and Ikenberry’s grandson, Lindsay Dorrier, presented the award to Welder.
Dr. Geri Crawley-Woods, professor of social work, received the Mentzer Award for Inspirational Teaching. Retired teacher and Shepherd alumna Susan Mentzer-Blair 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. Osmund Anderson, a social work major from Charles Town, nominated Crawley-Woods.
Three international students were given a new award this year from the Martinsburg Sunrise Rotary and Smoketown Rotary of Brunswick, Maryland. Henry Navarrete Mendez, a computer information sciences student from Chantilly, Virginia, was given the Outstanding International Student in Leadership award; Valentina Preciado-Bello, a business major from Columbia, received the Outstanding International Student in Community Service award; and Ja Seng Nsang, a business administration major from Myanmar, was awarded the Outstanding International Student in Academics. Each student received $100.
Devin Spinks, a global studies major from Summersville, received the Lowe Family Award for outstanding service to the university and high academic achievement. 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.
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