CHBS honors outstanding graduate students in inaugural ceremony

Outstanding graduate students from Radford University's College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences (CHBS) were honored on April 23 in a special ceremony.

The graduate students and their faculty mentors gathered for the inaugural CHBS Graduate Student Awards Ceremony and Appreciation Luncheon in the Muse Banquet Hall.

In short biographies of each winner offered by faculty members with whom they were close, it was revealed that these students shared a commitment to academic excellence, a drive to claim their place in the academic community and a dedication to the faculty and fellow students in their programs.

"We're very proud of our growing presence in graduate education at Radford University and especially the accomplishments of our graduate students, guided and supported by their faculty mentors," said CHBS Dean Kate Hawkins in her opening remarks.

This year's honorees and their awards were:

  • Dan Waidelich, Outstanding Student in Corporate and Professional Communication
     
  • W. Maxwell Esterhuizen, Outstanding Student in Corporate and Professional Communication
     
  • Cheryl Johnson, Dr. Paul Lang Outstanding Graduate Award in Criminal Justice
     
  • Leanna Rippey, Graduate Teaching Fellow Award in English
     
  • Jacob Saperstein, Graduate Student Award in English
     
  • Michael Feeney, Outstanding Student in Clinical-Counseling Psychology
     
  • Boglarka Kati Vizy, Outstanding Student in Experimental Psychology
     
  • Garrett Holloway, Outstanding Student in Industrial-Organizational Psychology
     
  • Courtney Powell, Outstanding Student in School Psychology
     
  • Jennifer Lee Ann Glass, Outstanding Student in Counseling Psychology

Also in attendance was Dennis Grady, dean of the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. Grady offered congratulations and impressed upon the group of students that their advanced degrees are the door to a wider world of achievement.

"You have gained a certain mastery over something for which you have a passion," Grady said. "You have demonstrated the capacity to learn at a high level. Now it is your responsibility to live each day at that level and to raise those around you to that level as well."

Earlier in April, CHBS also honored the most outstanding undergraduate senior student from each of its academic departments. These honorees – the Dean's Scholars - were selected based on their scholarly achievements as well as their contributions to the campus and local community.

Much of those criteria were applied to the new graduate award.

“It is an honor be one of the two Outstanding Students for the Corporate and Professional Communication Program,” said awardee W. Maxwell Esterhuizen. “The quality of the time you spend at a university is directly related to what you put into your own education. When I was presented with opportunities to enrich my learning and get out of my comfort zone, I took them. The quality of these experiences – made available to me by Radford – is second to none. “

The College of Humanities and Behavioral Sciences serves more than 2,000 students and has more than 125 faculty members. The mission of the college is to provide its students with the individualized attention of a liberal arts college coupled with the resources and opportunities of a comprehensive university.

To further that mission, RU has commenced upon construction of the 143,600 square-foot academic facility that will serve as the new home to the college. The building will provide state-of-the-art academic space consisting of classrooms, offices, laboratories and student/faculty collaborative space. Among the departments of the college that will be accommodated in the new building are: the Office of the Dean, the School of Communication, criminal justice, psychology, sociology, political science, English, foreign languages and literatures, history, and philosophy and religious studies.

Apr 29, 2015