BW's 2023 awards season spotlights student success

The Baldwin Wallace Ovation Festival, Honors Day Awards and other recognition events give standout students their day in the sun.

Along with the daffodils and tulips, Baldwin Wallace University's Berea campus is blooming with student awards and recognition this spring.

Awards season at BW celebrates stellar student achievements in academics, athletics, leadership, innovation, creativity, research, community service, campus life, diversity and inclusion, and more.

Ovation Festival 2023

Throughout the month of April, the Ovation Festival celebrates student achievement, showcasing student success in research, scholarship, experiential learning, the arts and more. Highlighted events included a student art exhibition, music, dance, theatre and opera.

The Festival culminated on Thursday, April 27, with the annual Ovation Day of Excellence, showcasing more than 100 student projects through posters, videos, live presentations and performances.

Honors, Scholars and Outstanding Seniors

The Honors Award Ceremony, held on Friday, April 21, recognized the highest student achievements with scholarships and awards for academics, athletics, service and leadership.

The 2023 Outstanding Seniors and Summer Scholars were also announced at the ceremony. The select group of graduating seniors is chosen for all-around excellence in academics, leadership, service and involvement on campus and in their communities. Summer Scholars design and create their own research or creative projects under the supervision of a faculty mentor through a 10-week living-learning experience.

Congratulations to the recipients:

Kent and Shirley R. Williams Engineering and Pre-Engineering Scholarship

Grace Bowman
Dina Dakdouk
Joey Marousek

Dr. S. Lee Whiteman III Award in Psychology

Ti Hernandez
Colby Pratt

Carmel Family Business Scholarship

Margaret Houska

The Dr. Sardari L. and Sunita Arora Scholarship

Morgan Sposit

Dr. Lee Tressel Award

Connor Miller

Laura Anders Canis Philosophy Scholarship

Simon Skoutas
Justin Verhosek

The Lauria Concerto Competition Award

Renee Long

Mel & Jenna Hakola Prize for Academic and Vocal Excellence

Richard Morgan

Lillian and Larry D. Bibbee Scholarship

Jonathan Horowitz
Madelyn Pyles (renewal)

John F. and Ida E. Gibler Scholarship

Cynthia James
Simon Skoutas

Will Richmond Scholarship in Photography

Anna Haberstro

Ryan R. Cross '97 Scholarship

Matthew Perry

Susan Zanetti Family Scholarship

Brenna Holliday

Melissa Trifiletti Award in Women's Leadership

Claire Fischer

A. Fred Crossman Leadership Prize

Desmond Manley

The Professor David Prok Humanitarian Award for Social Justice in Sex and Gender Diversity

Solé Hall-Hamilton

2023 Outstanding Seniors

Isabel Andrews
Elizabeth Cole
Grant Cordle
Cory Dulemba
Jacob Dunstan
Mateo Gonzalez
Nayab Khan
Regan Olak
Madison Robinson
Cole Thompson

2023 Summer Scholars

Ashley Blum
Emily Dyko
Hannah Fuller
Julia Grady
Jacob Lisiewski
Sophia Morabito
Erin Perry
Katie Ritzema
Nicole Schwartz
Michael Shoultz
Emma Stamper
Julia Stein
Eli Washburn

Beyond the classroom

The BW community also applauds the many ways students excel by contributing to the thriving campus community and promoting change off campus.

The Obie Bender Awards are presented annually to honor and affirm the contributions of multicultural members of the BW community as well as those who contribute to the overall spirit of inclusion.

Student Life and Leadership Awards annually recognize the accomplishments of student leaders, faculty and staff advisers, organizations and programs that have made an impact on the BW community and beyond.

BW Athletics awards include the Most Outstanding Senior Athlete Award and the Clyde A. Lamb Award winners.

The Mill showcases the creative achievements of student artists and writers in a student-directed, annual literary and art journal.

The Dayton C. Miller Honor Society represents the pinnacle of BW academic honor society achievement, with less than 4% of the undergraduate student body achieving membership. In addition, numerous honor societies represent achievement within various academic disciplines.