Class of 2023 seniors honored with academic, activity, and leadership awards
On the eve of their graduation, McDaniel College seniors in the Class of 2023 were honored with academic, activity, and leadership awards. Prior to the event, the graduating seniors took part in the Arch Processional led by McDaniel President Julia Jasken.
Members of McDaniel’s graduating Class of 2023 were honored May 19 on the eve of their graduation from the college with academic, activity, and leadership awards at the Senior Investiture and Honors Convocation.
The evening’s celebration began with McDaniel President Julia Jasken leading the students through Ward Memorial Arch during the Arch Processional.
President Jasken leads seniors through Ward Memorial Arch, which they walked through as incoming first-year students.
During the event, Acting Provost & Dean of the Faculty Wendy Morris presented the academic awards and Dean of Students Liz Towle presented the activity and leadership awards. See full list below.
Stephani Xiomara Portillo Ordoñez, a Political Science and Student-Designed French Studies major, received The Mary Ward Lewis Prize, while Dylan Elroy Hughes, a Psychology major, was awarded The Bates Prize. Both awards are presented to the graduating class members who have made the best records during their undergraduate course.
Read more about The Bates Prize and The Mary Ward Lewis Prize winners.
English Professor Robert Kachur speaks at the Honors Convocation.
Students involved in academic and leadership organizations were also recognized. These groups included Phi Beta Kappa, Dorsey Scholars, College Scholars, Global Fellows, National Security Fellows, Omicron Delta Kappa, Trumpeters, and The Edge Experience Program.
English Professor Robert Kachur was announced as the surprise faculty speaker, a tradition that dates back to the Senior Investiture ceremony in 1895.
Kachur, who joined the faculty in 1998, is known "not just as a teacher of the subject, but a teacher of life." With his patented dark humor and as a self-proclaimed "nostalgic fool," he had one more life lesson to impart on the Class of 2023.
"You will leave McDaniel tomorrow with good memories, for sure, but you will no doubt leave with some hard memories, too," Kachur said. "I encourage you to pay attention to all the memories that come visit you, because you alone can decide the role they will play in the story of your life that you are about to write."
"You will leave McDaniel tomorrow with good memories, for sure, but you will no doubt leave with some hard memories, too," Kachur said. "I encourage you to pay attention to all the memories that come visit you, because you alone can decide the role they will play in the story of your life that you are about to write."
