On Sunday, April 13, the Academic Honors Convocation was held in the main hall of the Jack & Deb Miller Chapel on the Ashland campus.
“It reminds us that we’re a community and that we challenge each other to push ourselves to be the best we can, and then second, I think it’s great to recognize [the] individual, that time that someone spends developing their mind, and so it’s a rare chance to celebrate all of us, while celebrating those who represent all of us.” said Ashland University president Jon Parrish Peede.
There were three awards given to faculty members: the Edward and Louaine Taylor Excellence in Teaching Award, the Excellence in Scholarship Award and an induction into the Trustees’ Distinguished Professors.
The Excellence in Teaching Award was given to Professor Terri Jewett, an education professor at AU. To determine who should earn the award, a committee reviewed all nominees and selected Jewett. During her dedication speech prior to accepting the award, it was brought up that she embodies the Ashland mission of, “Accent on the individual” very well as a professor.
“What it means to me is that I’m impacting students in a positive way, and that’s just my goal as an instructor here, to build rapport with my students, care for my students and get them ready for their teaching professions,” said Terri Jewett on the significance of the award to her.
The Excellence in Scholarship Award, which recognizes a faculty member who has demonstrated amazing scholarship in their time at Ashland, was awarded to Dr. Sivakumar Venkataramany, a professor of International Business at Ashland who has helped pave the way for a focus on finance at Ashland in his long career here.
Being inducted into the Trustees’ Distinguished Professors is the most prestigious of the faculty awards, as it isn’t annually awarded and only nine professors have been inducted since the first one in 1986. Dr. Mitchell Metzger was inducted at the ceremony.
After the faculty were given their awards, Ashland students were honored. One Sophomore, Junior and Senior from each department at the University were awarded as outstanding students in their respective departments.
Additionally, members of academic honor societies and organizations were invited to stand for recognition of their achievements.
The ceremony was accompanied by song led by the Ashland University Choir at the beginning and end of the presentation, and an opening address by Ashland University President Peede.
For more information about other upcoming events on campus, visit Engage Ashland.
