Sioux City, IA (Morningside College) – The annual Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) Honors Convocation was held at Morningside College on April 7, 2021, during which a number of undergraduate students and employees were recognized for their academic, co-curricular, athletic, and professional achievements.

The Tommeraasen Award of Excellence for an outstanding campus organization went to the Morningside chapter of the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA). The Student Government Event of the Year was awarded to Morningside Civic Union’s Satellite Voting Election Express, which provided on-campus voter education and services during the election.

The ODK Sophomore Cup that annually recognizes a sophomore for outstanding leadership and campus participation was awarded Garrett Arbuckle of Littleton, Colo. Allison Franks of Lincoln, Neb., was the recipient of the ODK Freshman Cup, which recognizes excellence in leadership and participation in a student’s first year on campus.

The winner of the Dr. Bruce Forbes Faculty Person of the Year Award was Dr. Anni Moore, assistant professor of biology. Moore has been a member of the faculty since 2014. Cindy Houlsworth, campus visit coordinator, was honored at the Staff Member of the Year. She has worked at Morningside since 2015.

Students also honored the memory of long-time Morningside faculty member John Kolbo who passed away after an extended battle with cancer late last year.

ODK Students of the Month honored were Skyler Briggs of Akron, Iowa; Garrett Arbuckle of Littleton, Colo.; Kassidy Hart of Omaha, Neb.; and Hannah Capps of Placerville, Calif.

The Alpha Lambda Delta freshman women’s honor society presented the Maria Leonard Senior Book Award for the graduating member with the highest grade point average to Caitlin Makovicka of Ceresco, Neb.; Macie Moore of Elkhorn, Neb.; and Alexandra Nelson of Sioux Falls, S.D.

The Phi Eta Sigma Senior Book Award honors the graduating members of the national freshman honor society who have the highest grade point average. The 2021 winners were Kenny Osten of Columbus, Neb., and Bryan Manzer of Osmond, Neb.

The Robert “Bob” Miller Academic Student-Athlete of the Year Award is presented by the Miller family in his memory and is awarded to a senior female and male student athlete who has achieved outstanding academic and athletic performances while at Morningside. Caitlin Makovicka of Ceresco, Neb., and Zach Imig of Sioux City, Iowa, were this year’s recipients. Makovicka is a member of the women’s volleyball team. Imig is a men’s basketball player.

The Col. Bud Day Center for Civic Engagement’s Campus Engagement and Leadership Award was presented to Garrett Arbuckle of Littleton, Colo.

Volunteer awards for participation in AmeriCorps were presented to Garrett Anderson of Dunlap, Iowa, Tayte Hansen of York, Neb., and Macie Moore of Elkhorn, Neb.

The following departmental awards were presented for outstanding achievement by the students in the corresponding program or department:

ACCOUNTING & BUSINESS

  • Outstanding Accounting Senior: Pascal Kutschera of Landsberg, Germany
  • Outstanding Business Seniors: Samantha Knight of Onawa, Iowa; Faith Meyer of Fonda, Iowa
  • Outstanding Advertising Senior: Grace Russmann of Avoca, Iowa
  • Iowa CPA Education Foundation, CPA Scholarship: Madilyn Brown of Le Mars, Iowa
  • Institute of Management Accountants, CMA Program Scholarship: Mark Roy of Omaha, Neb.; Ashley Wilcox of Council Bluffs, Iowa

APPLIED AG & FOOD STUDIES

  • Outstanding Senior in Agricultural Teacher Education: Krista Zavadil of Fordyce, Neb.
  • Outstanding Senior in Agribusiness: Colin Schroeder of Le Mars, Iowa
  • Outstanding Senior in Agronomy: Coltin Schachterner-Kramer of Fonda, Iowa

EDUCATION

  • Maxine Nelson Scholarship for Elementary Education: Catelyn Hoppe of Pierson, Iowa; Ashley Koopman of Le Mars, Iowa; Lindi Pojar of Windsor, Colo.; Laura Rix of Sioux Rapids, Iowa; and Kelsey Toomey of Lincoln, Neb.
  • Sharon Ocker Endowed Scholarship for Secondary Education: Kassidy Hart of Omaha, Neb.
  • Marcia McNee Scholarship in Elementary Education: Chrissa Deeds of Correctionville, Iowa; Haley Jungers of Le Mars, Iowa; Sierra Mitchell of Altoona, Iowa; Hannah Sibbel of Manning, Iowa; and Anne Weber of Mapleton, Iowa

HUMANITIES DEPARTMENT

English

  • Bill & Lorraine Knepper Award for an Outstanding Junior English Student: Ethan Sorenson of Sioux City, Iowa
  • Margaret Coleman Crary Scholarship in Literary Arts: Kassidy Hart of Omaha, Neb.

 Religious Studies

  • Robert Jewett Senior Book Award: Evelyn Williams of Danville, Iowa
  • Theta Alpha Kappa Undergraduate Achievement Award: Evelyn Williams of Danville, Iowa

Spanish

  • The Modern Languages Book Award: Mackenzie Bennett of Ankeny, Iowa; Elizabeth Kruchten of Minneapolis, Minn.; Summer Struve of Des Moines, Iowa
  • The Dr. John P. Doohan Award: Ines Rodriguez of Sioux City, Iowa; Faustino Barroso of Santa Ana, Calif.
  • The Gahlon Family Study Abroad Award: Kathryn Anderson of Prior Lake, Minn.

MASS COMMUNICATION

  • Outstanding Mass Communication Senior: Abby Koch of Sioux City, Iowa

NATURAL & MATHEMATICAL SCIENCES

  • Faculty Award in Biology: McKenna Deaton of Sioux City, Iowa; Reece Blay of Council Bluffs, Iowa
  • Faculty Award in Chemistry: Alexandra Nelson of Sioux Falls, S.D.; Skyler Briggs of Akron, Iowa
  • Stephen Jay Gould Award: Macie Moore of Elkhorn, Neb.; Taylor Strawn of Sioux City, Iowa; Summer Struve of Des Moines, Iowa
  • Outstanding Service Award: Andi Hays of Elkhorn, Neb.; Kendra Kozisek of O’Neill, Neb.
  • Elsie Muller Math Scholarship: Kelly Nguyen of Sioux City, Iowa
  • Terra International Scholarship of Computer Science: James Spicer of Rock Springs, Wyo.

NURSING

  • Nursing Professional Development and Achievement Award: Ryley Salzman of Sioux Falls, S.D., Drew Binning of Storm Lake, Iowa; Bryce Winters of Sioux City, Iowa

SOCIAL SCIENCES

  • Ethical Leadership Award: Adam Carlson of Baldwin City, Kan.; Macie Moore of Elkhorn, Neb.
  • The James Miller Award in Political Science: Sam Peterson of Sioux Falls, S.D.

VISUAL & PERFORMING ARTS

Performing Arts

  • Dorothy Paulson McLarnon Scholarship for Voice: Emilee Ketoff of Sioux City, Iowa; Taysia Aasen of Sioux Falls, S.D.
  • Mildred Harrington Piano Scholarship: Nathan Kitrell of Sioux City, Iowa
  • Berdina Hospers Woodwind Award: Daisy Ortiz of Denison, Iowa
  • Marvin and Merry Klass Endowed Scholarship: Lincoln Larsen of Hinton, Iowa; Rhett Lyon of Omaha, Neb.

Visual Arts

  • Outstanding Freshman: Caleb Roggenbuck of Sioux Falls, S.D.
  • Outstanding Sophomore: Devyn Reilly of Fountain, Colo.
  • Outstanding Junior: Madeline Keating of Overland Park, Kan.
  • Marion Shapiro Award: Lex (Alexandra) Wurth of Sioux City, Iowa