On April 19, Ashland University hosted its annual Academic and Leadership Award Ceremony in the upper John C. Myers Convocation Center. The event recognized student, faculty and student organizations for their contributions throughout the year.
The day started with academic awards in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel, honoring students and faculty members.
Each of AU’s academic departments recognized three outstanding students: one sophomore, one junior and one senior.
The criteria for these awards are a 3.2 GPA or higher and impressive involvement within the department. 81 students were selected across the university and recognized with either a personalized notebook, an eagle statue or a medallion.
A new achievement was awarded to faculty this year. The Excellence in Service Award was given to Dr. Gordon Swain, a professor in mathematics who has been at AU since 1997.
Later that evening, the ceremony moved to the upper Convocation Center for the Leadership Awards. This ceremony awarded students for their work, faculty for their leadership and other student organizations for their efforts.
The Student Organization of the Year Award was given to 88.9 WRDL, AU’s award-winning, student-run radio station.
“I regularly tell people WRDL is the biggest student organization on campus,” said the station’s General Manager, Derek Wood. “24/7, 365, and the fact that every day of the year it reaches 10 counties across the state.”
88.9 WRDL broadcasts football, basketball and other sports. It also provides live weather forecasts, student-run radio shifts and an early morning show called The Early Bird’s Word.
“The Early Bird’s Word has been named in the top five college radio shows in America multiple times,” said Wood. “That’s due in large part to it being hosted by students talking with other students and then being able to connect with community members.”
The early morning show is live on weekdays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m., in which the students hosts interview members of the AU community such as Ashland City Mayor, Matt Miller and Head Football Coach, Doug Geiser.
In the 60 years that WRDL has existed on AU’s campus, this is its first year winning the award. What made the most impact in this achievement was being student-based and student-run.
“I really do believe the students are personalities versus DJs,” said Wood. “That programming reflects that; this award reflects the commitment to having personality-driven content.”
Other highlights from the Leadership Awards include Maksym Polianskyi being honored in AU’s Volunteer Hall of Fame and Hannah Mantle, CAB’s co-president, being named Campus Leader of the Year.
Psychology professor Diane Bonfiglio, Ph.D., was named Faculty Member of the Year, and Tina Cunningham, an academic adviser, was named Staff Member of the Year.
Residence Life Coordinator Daniel Rolfe won Emerging Staff Member of the Year, and Journalism and Digital Media professor Kelly Meyer received the Emerging Faculty Member of the Year award.
