Assistant Professor Sal Mercogliano receives the Professor of the Year Award from Cole Harris, chair of SGA’s academic committee. (Photo by Bennett Scarborough)
BUIES CREEK — Campbell University recognized 17 faculty members for excellence in teaching, research and service and honored more than three-dozen seniors for excellence in academic achievement, leadership and service during the annual Senior & Faculty Awards Banquet held Wednesday, April 22, in Gore Arena.
Among those faculty members recognized was Assistant Professor of History Sal Mercogliano, who was named Campbell’s Professor of the Year. Also the recipient of the College of Arts & Sciences’ Excellence in Teaching Award Wednesday, Mercogliano teaches courses in U.S. history and western civilization, and is the author of “Sealift: The Evolution of American Military Sea Transportation.”
“This Professor of the Year Award [given to Mercogliano] is a result of the passion . . . he has exemplified [time and again],” said Cole Harris, chair of Student Government Association’s academic committee.
University-wide awards for teaching excellence were also presented to Dr. Jennifer Dixon Smith, associate professor of pharmacy practice, and Dr. Gary Taylor, chair of the pscyhology department.
In addition, each academic division presented awards of excellence for teaching or research to faculty members in their respective units and saluted seven professors who are retiring this year:
Dr. William Stagner, of the College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences;
Dr. Bruce P. Powers, of the Divinity School;
Mr. Robie Butler and Dr. Carl Broadhurst, of the School of Business;
Dr. Stanley McQuade and Mr. Patrick Hetrick, of the School of Law; and
Dr. Janet Powell, of the School of Education.
Before faculty were honored, 12 academic departments and/or schools presented 48 awards to seniors who are graduating this May. A list of all seniors and faculty members honored during the banquet is below.
After the ceremony, graduating students and their family members headed to Butler Chapel to attend the university’s 128th Baccalaureate Service — Campbell’s oldest tradition that students have been participating in since the university’s founding.
The Rev. Faithe Beam ’03 MDIV, Campbell’s campus minister, delivered the commencement sermon, titled “Room for Failure.” She challenged the graduating students to set their own expectations and to seek to make a difference in the world, but to not be afraid to make “a little room for failure” along the way. In fact, Beam told the students, expect failure. After all, the Bible is full of examples of failure, from Adam and Eve to even Jesus.
“Jesus teaches us that failure is an inevitable reality, and one that we must recognize,” Beam said. “Regardless of how it comes to us . . . if we allow it, failure can be a remarkable teacher. This unlikely teacher can help us discover so much about ourselves and help us embrace some of the greatest truths that are important to shaping our identity, things like humility, grace and forgiveness.”
Campbell honored nearly 70 faculty and students during the annual Seniors & Faculty Awards Banquet April 22. (Photo by Bennett Scarborough)
Senior & Faculty Award Recipients
Senior Awards
Biology & Chemistry
Jung Award (Chemistry): Amanda D. Wind & Morgan L. Barnes
Proffit Award (Chemistry Research): Nicholas A. Lentini & Mark E. Healey
Faculty Award (Biochemistry): Laura A. Scott
Faculty Award (Biology): Ashley Wilkins
Clinical Research
Award of Excellence: Chelsea B. Sumner
Outstanding Christian Leadership Award: Sara L. Boltinhouse
Communication Studies
Communication Studies Senior of the Year: Jordyn Gum
Health Communications: Kelsey McGaha
Public Relations: Jessica Carter
Journalism: Sean Neal
Broadcasting & Electronic Media: Emily McIntosh
English
Doris Mary Christian Prize: Caitlin Brown
Mabel Powell Award of Excellence: Ashleigh Bilodeau
Exercise Science
Outstanding Exercise & Sport Science Major: Cora E. Scruggs
Outstanding Kinesiology Major: Brooke Catanzarito
Outstanding Sport Management Major: Morgan R. Massengill
Outstanding Athletic Training Major: Kelly Barnes
Foreign Language
Faculty Award for Excellence in Spanish: Joel Grobbelaar
History, Criminal Justice and Political Science
Hackney Award of Excellence in Political Science & History: Joseph M. Wobbleton
Dr. Elmer L. Puryear Political Science: Janice H. Blevins
J.P. Gardner Social Science: Michael D. Edwards
Senator Morgan Excellence in Pre-Law: Timothy L. Doersam
W. Conard Gass History: Jonathan D. Bushhouse
Walter S. Barge History Book: Emerson F. Voss
Criminal Justice: Jacob M. Abraham
Homeland Security: Lauren N. Parker
Mathematics/ITS
Outstanding Senior in ITS: Charity Quinn
Outstanding Senior in Math: Laura Scott
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Academic Excellence: Kendra Bell
Student Leadership Award: Grace Han
Mennear Award for Pharmaceutical Research: Wendy Luong
Religion
Academic Achievement Award: Hannah Grantham
Biblical Studies Award: Hannah Grantham
B. Donald Keyser Church History Award: Mitch Farrell
Outstanding Religion Major: Trae Bremer
Zondervan Theology Award: Austin Holland
School of Business
Excellence in Accounting: Matthew “Scooter” Oliver
Excellence in Business Administration: McKenzie W. Hubers
Excellence in Healthcare Management: Tiffany Seawell
Excellence in International Business: Joel Grobbelaar
Excellence in Economics: Carson Futch
Excellence in Marketing: Rebekah Felts
Excellence in PGA Golf Management: Cody J. Nussbaum
Norman A. Wiggins Award for Excellence in Trust and Wealth Management: Emily Bratton
School of Education
Professional Educators Award: Elizabeth Phillips
Psychology Award: Rebecca Hughes
Social Work Outstanding Senior Award: Nicole Fitzgerald
Faculty Awards
Adult & Online Education
Excellence in Teaching: Mr. Herman Martin
College of Arts & Sciences
Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Sal Mercogliano
College of Pharmacy & Health Sciences
Excellence in Teaching: Dr. James A. Boyd
Retiree Recognition: Dr. William Stagner
Divinity School
Excellence in Teaching: Dr. Bruce P. Powers
Retiree Recognition: Dr. Bruce P. Powers
Lundy-Fetterman School of Business
Dean’s Excellence in Research: Dr. James Harriss
Retiree Recognition: Mr. Robie Butler
Retiree Recognition: Dr. Carl Broadhurst
Norman A. Wiggins School of Law
Excellence in Research: Ms. Sarah H. Lundington
Retiree Recognition: Dr. Stanley McQuade
Retiree Recognition: Mr. Patrick Hetrick
School of Education
Excellence in Teaching: Dr. David Dennis
Retiree Recognition: Dr. Janet Powell
Jerry M. Wallace School of Osteopathic Medicine
Excellence in Research: Dr. Yunbo Li
Wiggins Memorial Library
Excellence in Teaching: Ms. LaKeshia Darden
D.P. Russ Jr. & Walter S. Jones Sr. Alumni Awards
Teaching Excellence: Dr. Jennifer Dixon Smith, Pharmacy Practice
Teaching Excellence: Dr. Gary Taylor, Psychology
Campbell University
Professor of the Year: Dr. Sal Mercogliano