Outstanding Student Awards

Megan Barrett was born and raised in Dayton and graduated from Chaminade Julienne High School in 2014. In high school she was a member of the National Honor Society and took multiple AP classes, most of which were in History or Government.

Kelly Bledsoe has always loved making art, but his career interest turned to music as a junior high student when his school offered band but not art classes.

Joshua Chenault is a graduating Mass Communication major. He chose to enter the Mass Com degree program because working in the media industry has always been his main goal.

Anna M. Helmig has distinguished herself as an exemplary student during her undergraduate studies, both inside and outside the classroom. She chose an ambitious course of study by double majoring in Religion and History.

Jordan Kingsley has been recognized by the faculty for her dynamism and professionalism, her respect for others, and her openness.

From an early age, this year’s outstanding Political Science graduate, Stephanie Patino-Garfias, knew what she wanted to do with her life: to bridge cultural gaps and improve the lives of others.

Alyssa Stark will be graduating magna cum laude with a B.A. in Anthropology. During her time at Wright State, she has focused on archaeology and museum studies.

Vicky Hei Man Tong is a senior, majoring in Piano Performance and studying under Dr. Jackson Leung. At Wright State, she serves as pianist for the Symphonic Band and has represented Wright State in numerous recitals within Ohio and in Asia.

Samantha Wood is a rare student who exemplifies the model of effective service learning. Not only is she an outspoken and hard-working student in the classroom, she also improves the lives of her fellow students with her work on campus.

Kathryn “Katie” Chaney is a graduate of both Wright State (International Studies) and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. Her M.A.

Katherine Margaret Peden was born and raised in Huber Heights, and graduated from Wayne High School, after which she attended Sinclair, completing prerequisites that would enable her to enroll at Wright State.

Dan Schack is graduating with a Master of Arts in English Literature and a certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies.

Devonn Wood received her Bachelors degree in Organizational Leadership from Wright State in 2015, graduating Cum Laude, and entered the Master of Public Administration Program (MPA) in Fall 2016.

Sarah Bostic will be graduating summa cum laude with a double major in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Sociology. Last year, she was the recipient of the award for Outstanding Senior in Sociology.

Emily Hayslett received her associate’s degree in Communication from Sinclair in 2015, graduates with a Communication Studies major.

Renee Jutte is completing her Bachelor’s degree in Urban Affairs with a concentration in nonprofit management.

Kara Lynch is from Dearborn, Michigan. In 9th grade, she filled a hole in her class schedule with an intro to movie making class, marking the beginning of her journey in filmmaking.

Stephen Monath is an active performer and educator. On campus, he has served as principal percussion of the Wind Symphony, performed with the Chamber Orchestra, worked as a member of the pep band, and won the WSU Young Artist Competition.

Olivia Stidham was selected by the history department as their outstanding student for her enthusiasm and strong record in her history courses. Her professors have noted in particular her original thinking and incisive writing.

Aurylia D. Tracy, whose chosen name means “golden,” has in the classroom distinguished herself not only as a meticulous, elegant, and imaginative thinker, but also as a talented writer.

Lukas Wenrick has been an Honors student since he arrived on campus. By the following year, he was the Head Resident Assistant, showing his outreach to help other students. He worked as a tutor and a peer mentor.

Carole Ahossin is an international student from Benin, West Africa. She is a conscious, hard-working young lady, who strives to do her very best academically.

Hadley Drodge is an outstanding scholar in the classroom and an excellent teaching assistant; even more impressive is her service engagement with the broader community.

Brittany Jackson is an all-round student in the Master of Social Work program. She is reliable, punctual, and insightful in her contribution to course work as well as the larger field of social work.

Isaac Knapp began the M.A. program with a strong interest in Victorian literature, and while that interest still holds, he has also developed an affinity for postcolonial literature and modernist novels.