HSU Insider

Academic Elite Hailed at December Commencement

• By Dave Coffield
• Posted January 17, 2008 9:13 AM
• 0 Comments

We'll start off the new year with the Commencement award winners from the recent December graduation exercises. These students are remarkable.

Three degree candidates were singled out for singular accomplishment at Hardin-Simmons University commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec 15.

Savannah Minnick, of Abilene, Texas, a summa cum laude graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in Spanish, was awarded the Academic Foundation Medal for outstanding scholarship and service to the University and community.

Savannah Minnick

The Academic Foundation Medal was established in 1999 by the Academic Foundation of Hardin-Simmons University. This medal is awarded annually at Winter Commencement to the graduate who achieves the highest grade point average, exemplifies the highest scholarly achievement, and completes at least 90 semester hours of residence credit at HSU.

Our 2007 honoree distinguished herself academically as well as in service to the community and the University. She has held jobs on campus as a tutor in both English and Spanish, as a student working in the department of literature and languages and as an employee in the HSU Bookstore. She has consistently been on the President’s List and her high grades have earned her the Ruth Ann Burton Endowed memorial Scholarship, the Reiff Presidential Scholarship, and the Virginia Oldham Endowed Scholarship. During the Fall of 2004, she worked in HSU’s Character Education Program and has also been an International Rescue Committee Volunteer. She excelled in the Department of Literature and Languages by earning membership in the 4.0 Club and by traveling to Spain where she studied with her peers at the University of Salamanca. She is also a member of Alpha Mu Gamma Foreign Language Honor Society.

Sarah Speegle, of Snyder, Texas, a summa cum laude graduate with a Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education, received the Winnie & D.M. Wiggins Award for outstanding scholarship and service to the University.

Sarah Speegle

The Winnie and D. M. Wiggins Medal is awarded to the senior student graduating at winter commencement for academic excellence throughout his or her entire college career. The student must have spent three or more years in residence and excelled in character, personal development, and academic achievement.

Our 2007 honoree has distinguished herself academically, musically, and in service to the University. She has been named repeatedly to the President’s List and is a member of the Texas Music Educators Association, Sigma Alpha Iota National Music Fraternity for Women, the Hardin-Simmons Concert Band, Cowboy Band, Collegiate Orchestra and the HSU Chorale. She was named the “Presser Scholar� which is the most prestigious award given by the School of Music. The Presser Scholar award is given for academic excellence and merit. She has been very active in the College Ministry in her church and as a volunteer in the Children’s Music Ministry.

Jennifer Carter, of Houston, Texas, graduating with a master of arts degree in Family Psychology, and an accumulated grade point average of 4.0, received the 2007 Graduate Dean’s Award of Excellence. The recipient is selected from nominations from all graduate programs and is the individual who excelled as a graduate student, typifies the character and Behavior consistent with HSU’s mission and purpose, and showed potential to excel in their field of study.

Jennifer Carter

While pursuing her degree she found time to serve the Abilene community by interning at three sites; The Regional Crime Victims Crisis Center, Just People, and the Christian Women’s Job Corps. On campus; she has worked in the HSU Family Psychology Center, represented Family Psychology students on the Graduate Student Council, and served as student liaison to the Abilene Marriage and Family Therapy Association.

Eryn completed her undergraduate work at Oklahoma Baptist University, and is the daughter of Donnie and Brenda Carter.