Three degree candidates were singled out for singular accomplishment during Hardin-Simmons University commencement exercises on Saturday, Dec 13.

Lysinger

Jenae Pharr Lysinger of Midland, Texas, a summa cum laude graduate with a bachelor of behavioral science degree in speech-language pathology, and a double minor in psychology and Honors, was awarded the Academic Foundation Medal for outstanding scholarship and service to the University and community.

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 2008 honoree has distinguished herself academically as a member of the Honors program. She has been named to the President's List each semester she has attended HSU. She has been honored with several academic scholarships including the Dean's Scholarship, the Honors Scholarship, and the Christy Rogers Scholarship in Speech Language Pathology. In addition, she has been honored with memberships in Gamma Beta Phi and Alpha Chi. She is a member of the HSU Chorale and the Abilene Collegiate Orchestra. She has volunteered her time at West Texas Rehabilitation Center and the Abilene Girl's and Boy's Club. She attends Beltway Park Baptist Church.

Jenae is the daughter of Richard and Diane Pharr from Midland, Texas. She married Bryan Lysinger in October of this year and he is currently serving in Iraq. After graduation, Jenae will begin acquiring experience in a rehabilitation facility to help her decide how best to use her talents in service to others as either a speech language pathologist or a physical therapist. She will then attend graduate school in one of those allied health fields.

Mason

April M. Mason of Midland, Texas, a summa cum laude Honors Program graduate with a bachelor of business administration degree in accounting, received the Winnie & D.M. Wiggins Award for outstanding scholarship and service to the University.

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 2008 honoree has distinguished herself academically, in service to the University, and through current employment in her chosen field of study. This year's recipient has been repeatedly named to the President's List and is a Kelley-Tucker Endowed Business Scholar, an award presented to those business students who have demonstrated a high desire and ability to succeed in business. In addition, she is a member of Gamma Beta Phi National Honor and Service Society and Delta Mu Delta, a national business honors fraternity. Furthermore, in her field of study, she has received the Texas Society of CPA's Outstanding Junior Scholarship in Accounting Award and the Outstanding Accounting Student Award.

While attending Hardin-Simmons, she has been actively involved with the BSM (Baptist Student Ministries), SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise), and the HSU Chorale. She has managed to achieve academic excellence and provide outstanding service to the University while maintaining part-time employment off campus as an Accounting Intern. She is the daughter of Donna and Jerry Mason.

Casselberry

Sarah Crump Casselberry of Brownwood, Texas, graduating with a master of arts degree in English, and an accumulated grade point average of 4.0, received the 2008 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.

A member of Alpha Chi National Honor Society and Sigma Tau Delta National Honor Society for English, this year's winner was Editor-in-Chief and Literary Editor of the 2006 Corral, was named a Campbell-Lacy Creative Writer in 2006 and 2007, worked as a student assistant in the Smith Music Library and the university Spanish program, was (over the course of her career at HSU) Entertainment Writer, Copy Editor, and Managing Editor of the HSU Brand, taught multiple sections of Basic Writing to incoming students needing composition help, and was a volunteer instructor in English As A Second Language for Abilene's International Rescue Committee. Her paper "A New Woman, A New South: An Examination of Flannery O'Connor's A Late Encounter with the Enemy," was accepted and read at the "Southern Writers, Southern Writing" Conference at the University of Mississippi Graduate Conference held in conjunction with the Annual Faulkner and Yoknapatawpha Conference in Oxford, Mississippi, the foremost conference in U.S. Southern Literature. Her creative thesis, "To Have And To Hold," orchestrates an inspiring poetry sequence celebrating her mother's courage, faith, and determination to protect and provide for her children and details her own pilgrimage of faith and love.

Sarah completed her undergraduate work at Hardin-Simmons University, is married to Jason Casselberry, a 2003 HSU graduate, and is the daughter of Ms. Carol Bryson.