TENTH ANNUAL HONORS AWARD CEREMONY
UNIVERSITY HONORS PROGRAM, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
HONORS STUDENT NATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS AND FINALISTS
David L. Boren Undergraduate Scholarship
Puja Balachander, Alessia De Vitis, Samantha Juster, Isabel Shaw, Amber Waltz
Critical Language Scholarship
Alessia De Vitis, Rhys Leahy, Sagatom Saha
Greater Research Opportunities Fellowship for Undergraduate Environmental Study
Daniel Pasquale
Fulbright Grant-United Kingdom Summer Institutes Program
Ian Gansler, Matthew Waskiewicz
Benjamin A. Gilman Scholarship
Angelo Curto, Daniel Handy
Killam Fellowship
Anand Adhikari, Kathleen Calcerano, Benjamin Friedel
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Earnest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship
Jennifer Makanani Bell, Billie Case, Valerie Rennoll, Lindsay Wylie
Taiwan-United States Sister Relations Alliance: Ambassador Summer Scholarship Program
Samantha Juster
Thomas R. Pickering Foreign Affairs Fellowship
Osborn Chung
Public Policy and International Affairs Fellowship
Osborn Chung (alternate), Candace Evilsizor (alternate)
Morris K. Udall Scholarship
Daniel Pasquale (honorable mention)
STUDENT AWARDS
Outstanding Honors Sophomore
Lucas Chapman, Casey Chiappetta, Jessica Rothman
Outstanding Honors Junior
Grace Austin, Haley Hawkins, Joshua Kimball, Trey Yingst
Outstanding Honors Senior
Kathleen Calcerano, Quinn Hirsch, Cayla Jakubowski, Dhaneshvaran Krishnarao, Christine Kulak,
Rachel Ternes
Outstanding Leadership in Honors
Rain Freeman, Adam Schasel, Shyheim Snead
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Outstanding Leadership in the Community
William “Andy” Hatcher, Tatiana Laing, Brendan Principato, Deirdre Shelly
Honors Scholars and Artists Award
Madison Chapman, Katherine Hyde, Valerie Rennoll
RECOGNITION OF HONORS ADVISORY COMMITTEE, HONORS AWARD SELECTION
COMMITTEE, AND STUDENT HONORS BOARD
The Honors Advisory Committee is charged with developing guidelines and procedures for all honors programs at
AU as well as overseeing and monitoring all honors programs at the University. The committee evaluates student
applications to the AU Honors Program, conducts annual assessment, and provides advice as needed.
Juliet Bellow, Larry Engel (Chair), Sally Fowler, Maria Gomez, Douglas Klusmeyer, Sarah Knight,
Michael Manson, Mary Mintz, Arthur Shapiro, Virginia “Lyn” Stallings, Brett Williams
Student Representative:
Emma Zaballos, SPA/CAS ‘15
The following department Honors Coordinators volunteered to serve on this year’s Honors Award Selection
Committee. We thank them for their service.
Brenda Werth, Kimberly Cowell-Myers, Joseph Graf, Mirjana Morosini, Anastasia Snelling, and Kathryn
Walters-Conte
The Student Honors Board represents Honors students, serves as a liaison to the Director and staff of the Honors
Program, and plans events, service projects, and other activities for the Honors community.
2014-2015 Student Honors Board
Emily Dalgo, Alison Donovan, Rain Freeman, Benjamin Goldstein, Kyle Graczyk, Caroline Koch,
Carly LaRoche, Lorraine Magee (Secretary), Austin Morgan (Social Media Director), Cassidy Pont,
Bailey Roe, Jacob Stone, Adam Schasel (Treasurer), Matthew Waskiewicz (President),
Emma Zaballos (Vice President)
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CITATIONS
Outstanding Honors Sophomore
This selective award recognizes Honors sophomores who have a strong academic record and who demonstrate
exemplary leadership or service.
Lucas Chapman (History) demonstrates his passion for history both on and off-campus. He
currently works in the History Department’s General Education Faculty Assistant Program and in the
Office of Development and Alumni Relations at AU. He also works as a Ghost Tour Actor at the
National Building Museum, a program for which he created the script. Lucas previously worked in
the Visitor Services Office of the National Building Museum.
Casey Chiappetta (Sociology) works as a consulting editor for BleakHouse Publishing and as a web
editor and writer for American Way of Life (AWOL) Magazine. This past summer, Casey served as
Assistant Program Director of Hands of Peace, a nonprofit program that facilitates dialogue between
Palestinian, Israeli, and American teenagers. Her article on the American justice system will soon be
published in a refereed international journal, the Security and Social Sciences Journal (Sicurezza e
Scienze Sociali).
Jessica Rothman (Public Health) is a Frederick Douglass Distinguished Scholar and a researcher at
the AU Center for Health, Risk, and Society. She serves as the Director of Operations for
Fotosynthesis, an organization aimed at fostering transnational communication and awareness with
middle-school students. This past semester Jessica worked as a research intern at the National Center
for Health Research. She previously participated in the highly selective FACETS Summer Program
at the Harvard School of Public Health.
Outstanding Honors Junior
This selective award recognizes Honors juniors who have a strong academic record and who demonstrate
exemplary leadership or service.
Grace Austin (Justice and Law) is a cadet in Army ROTC (Hoya Battalion). As a cadet she served
in several leadership roles and mentored younger cadets. During the summer, Grace attended
Airborne School and in September, started interning at the Office of the Chief Defense Council in the
Office of Military Commissions in the Department of Defense. On campus, Grace plays on the
American University Rugby Team and belongs to the Alpha Phi Omega Community Service
Fraternity. She received the “Superior Cadet Award” for 2013. Grace will be commissioned as
Second Lieutenant in the United States Army upon graduation.
Haley Hawkins (Justice and Law) has established herself as an advocate for women’s health and
safety. On campus, she serves as the Coordinator of Stopping Violence against Women in AU’s
Student Government Women’s Initiative as well as the Vice President of Engagement for She’s the
First {American}. Haley works as a Leadership Council Member and Health Educator in the Peer
Health Exchange, which educates local high school students. She previously interned in the office of
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and for the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network. She also
works as a staff writer and a web assistant for American Way of Life (AWOL) Magazine. Haley
volunteers her time to DC Safe and the Washington Area Clinic Defense Task Force.
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Joshua Kimball (Justice and Law) has distinguished himself in and outside of his major by his
research and service as a teaching assistant. His research has been described by one professor as the
best undergraduate essay he’s read and by another as equal to an advanced graduate student.
Pursuing his own research agenda on the covenant tradition, Joshua has accomplished the rare feat of
excelling in both qualitative and quantitative analysis. Through his work in the General Education
Faculty Assistant Program, Joshua participated in the Pearson Online Curriculum Development
Project. He currently works as a data processing intern at Polaris and is a member of the National
Society of Collegiate Scholars.
Trey Yingst (Broadcast Journalism) has gained extensive experience in international crisis reporting
and TV commentary. He is the co-founder and news director of the website News2Share.com, which
distributes footage to major media outlets and features reports by other SOC students. Trey was a
Dean’s Intern last semester at The Washington Post and worked previously as a Campus Dispatch
Reporter for MTVU.
Outstanding Honors Senior
This selective award recognizes Honors seniors who have a strong academic record and who demonstrate
exemplary leadership or service.
Kathleen Calcerano (Psychology) is a 2015 Killam Fellowship recipient studying psycholinguistics
and assisting with bilingualism research at McGill University. She has served as a research assistant
for numerous AU faculty members administering participant trials and completing IRB
documentation. Kathleen is a member of the symphony orchestra, university chorus, and is a
Psychology Program Peer Affiliate. She interned at the Educational Testing Service English
Language Learning Summer Institute, where she developed items and prompts for the Test of
English for International Communication, Speaking, and Writing.
Quinn Hirsch (Public Health) interned at the Georgetown University Cancer Center and served as a
medical intern for the WEMA Nursing Home and Maternity Hospital in Kenya, where she facilitated
and participated in patient care. At AU, she served as an Ambassador, as a supplemental instructor
for Organic Chemistry, and in a number of leadership positions for the service fraternity Alpha Phi
Omega. She has also volunteered in the Division of Intramural Research at the National Institutes of
Health Clinical Center, observing clinical research and attending IRB review meetings. Quinn will
begin a Master’s in Public Health program at Boston University next fall focusing on health law,
bioethics, and human rights.
Cayla Jakubowski (International Studies) participated in the 2013 Fulbright UK Summer Institute
at the University of Exeter, where she studied global security, peace, and conflict. She interned twice
at the National Defense University, assisting with research and writing technical briefs. Cayla was
also a Leadership Council Member for AU’s Peer Health Exchange, training other students how to
teach health workshops in DC high schools. She is a firefighter and EMT at Bethesda-Chevy Chase
Rescue Squad, managing a crew of 20 people and leading training, crew operations, and emergency
responses.
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Dhaneshvaran Krishnarao (Physics and Mathematics) works as a Space Weather Forecaster and
research assistant at NASA Goddard Space Center. Through his work, he has presented at multiple
national and international conferences, including at the 2014 European Space Weather Week in
Belgium. Dhaneshvaran is a 2014 recipient of the John Mather Nobel Scholar award from the
Goddard Space Center. He continues to serve as a teaching assistant in the Physics department and
was named Physics TA of the Year for the second time in 2014.
Christine Kulak (Accounting) interned for EJF Real Estate Services, Inc., where she worked in
accounting and customer service. She also volunteered as a tax preparer for Community TaxAid.
Christine is a leader in her school as student coordinator for the Kogod 1955 Club, through which she
has facilitated a number of professional events. She also worked as a Supplemental Instruction leader
for introductory managerial and financial accounting courses. She served as treasurer for the Gamma
Delta chapter of the Phi Mu fraternity. Christine will begin working at the prestigious international
accounting firm Ernst & Young, where she will be a Staff Auditor in the Financial Services Office.
Rachel Ternes (Psychology) is vice president of the AU United Methodist Association and secretary
for the AU Interfaith Council. She serves as Chief Creative Officer for BleakHouse Publishing. She
created paintings that were published in the September 2014 issue of BleakHouse Review as well as
illustrations for an article by Justice, Law, and Criminology Professor Robert Johnson that appeared
in the Seattle Journal for Social Justice. A number of Rachel’s paintings and photos have been
published in AU’s student literary magazine, AmLit.
Outstanding Leadership in Honors
This highly selective award recognizes Honors students who have served the Honors community with distinction
while maintaining a record of high academic achievement.
Rain Freeman (Justice and Law), a sophomore, has made invaluable contributions to the Honors
Office by serving in several capacities. As an Honors Student Staff Assistant, Rain distinguished
herself in her meetings with several newly admitted Honors students and their parents over the
summer. In addition, she has voluntarily worked to enhance the Honors Program’s social media
efforts. As an elected member of Student Honors Board, Rain coordinated charity efforts for the SHB
Thanksgiving Dinner, bringing awareness to mental health issues. Rain’s leadership roles extend
beyond the Honors community as Vice President of Communications and Marketing for AU’s Social
Media club and Vice President of Programming for She’s the First {American}. In April 2014, her
article “Addressing Suicide in Prison” was published in American Way of Life (AWOL) magazine.
She currently interns in the sexual assault unit within the Metropolitan Police Department.
Adam Schasel (CLEG), a sophomore, serves as treasurer of the Student Honors Board (SHB). As
treasurer he has exceptionally developed and managed the Board’s budget. He has coordinated major
components of SHB events such as the purchasing and preparation of materials for the SHB
Thanksgiving Dinner, which served more than 200 community members. Additionally, Adam is
among the first to volunteer for events and has taken an active role in both mentorship and
recruitment in the past year. Adam’s presence as a spokesperson and support at these events has
helped unify the Honors community.
Shyheim Snead (Political Science) is a freshman and Frederick Douglass Distinguished Scholar. He
has demonstrated exemplary leadership in the Honors community through his work on recruiting for
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admissions, enthusiastic participation on the community meeting planning committee, and in various
Honors, FDDS, and Residence Hall Association activities. Shyheim serves as a consistent and
articulate advocate for diversity and inclusion in the Honors community.
Outstanding Leadership in the Community
This highly selective award recognizes Honors students who have served the AU or other communities with
distinction while maintaining a record of high academic achievement.
William “Andy” Hatcher (International Studies), a senior, is a mentor and veteran advocate for the
Wounded Warrior Mentor Program. His work with the program has been crucial to its success. In
addition to mentoring veterans transitioning out of military service to civilian life, he has facilitated
networking opportunities and worked as part of a mentor training team that educates and orients
future volunteers. His nominators describe him as a role model and a strong leader for his peers. A
wounded veteran himself, Andy has received an Outstanding Achievement in Mathematics award
from the Mathematics and Statistics Department and served as the Student Panel Member for
American University’s Middle States Association re-accreditation committee.
Tatiana Laing (CLEG), a junior, was a key organizer of “The Darkening,” a student demonstration
held on campus to protest police violence. She was selected to co-lead an alternative spring break trip
to San Francisco to study prison reform. The focus will be on understanding and reducing the large
and growing penal system in America. Upon graduation, Tatiana aspires to go to law school to
promote social justice.
Brendan Principato (Communication Studies), a senior, serves as general manager for WVAU.
Under Brendan's leadership, WVAU was voted the best student-run, internet-only radio station by
the College and Music Journal (CMJ). His leadership duties extend to overseeing shows and content
generated by over 100 staff members. He was previously the Events Director for WVAU and
oversaw planning for large concerts, in-studio sessions, panels, and speakers.
Deirdre Shelly (International Studies), a senior, was the lead organizer for Fossil Free AU and the
regional and campus lead for the People’s Climate March. Her efforts on the People’s Climate March
required her to coordinate student recruitment at American University and surrounding areas. She
brought to the March 500 students from the Mid-Atlantic, including 200 from American University.
While juggling efforts on climate-related issues, she served as a teaching assistant to the first course
in the new AU Honors Program on climate change, politics, and policy.
Honors Scholars and Artists Award
This highly selective award recognizes the Honors students who have distinguished themselves through a record of
high academic achievement and outstanding scholarship or creative work.
Madison Chapman (Literature) received an American University Summer Scholars Fellowship in
2014 and worked with Literature Professor Richard Sha on a project related to victimhood, the
Gothic, and Horace Walpole’s Castle of Otranto. One of her papers, “‘Elegant Negligence:’ Surfaces
and Landscape Aesthetics in Ann Radcliffe’s The Italian,” was accepted to the Gothic Association of
New Zealand and Australia Biennial Conference in 2015. Madison also presented on a panel at AU’s
most recent Ann Ferren Conference on Teaching, Research & Learning. She served on both the
Undergraduate Studies Committee and the Literature Department’s Honors in the Major Committee
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in the last year. Madison is also a peer mentor and teaching assistant for the AU Scholars LivingLearning Program and a consultant at the Literature Department Writing Center.
Katherine Hyde (International Studies and Language & Area Studies: Spanish/Latin America)
completed research in El Salvador through an American University Summer Scholars and Artists
Grant where she interviewed individuals about the Roman Catholic Church’s response to gang
violence. She received multiple awards from the Catholic Press Association for two articles
published in 2013. Katherine is a member of Phi Beta Kappa and served as a coordinator at El Buen
Pastor Medical Clinic in El Salvador. She also worked as a research assistant at the Center of
Concern, a small non-profit think tank focused on global social justice issues. She is a staff writer for
The Leaven Newspaper, which is based in Kansas City and has a circulation of 53,000 readers.
Valerie Rennoll (Audio Technology and Physics) received the National Oceanic Atmospheric
Administration Hollings Award in 2014 and is the current president of AU’s Women in Science club.
She previously interned at Applied Research in Acoustics in Culpeper, Virginia, where she assisted
in designing WaveQuest, an educational underwater acoustics video game. Valerie is currently a
research assistant and Physics teaching assistant, and she has completed a number of other
professional internships. She was published in Tacenda literary magazine in 2014 and also received
awards from both the Physics Department and the Audio Technology Department.
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The University Honors Program
at American University
Over a half-century old, the Honors Program has consistently aspired to provide an unsurpassed
educational community for some of the university’s most talented and motivated students. Most of
the students honored today for their accomplishments will graduate from the University Honors
Program. This third version of the Honors Program was inaugurated in 1989. Rooted in the
assumption that high-achieving students desire autonomy in choosing their own educational paths,
this program offered three innovative features. It offered special Honors sections of the university’s
then new and award-winning General Education program, it created Honors colloquia in which
faculty could explore new ideas and topics with some of the university’s most engaging students, and
it required a capstone that would develop student scholarship to a very high level.
In the fall of 2014, American University debuted a new vision of Honors education. Focused on
training interdisciplinary problem solvers and offering them advanced skills in research,
communication, and innovation, this new program is anchored in four core courses. Taught by threeperson faculty teams, the Honors core reimagines liberal arts education by placing problem-based
inquiry at the foundation of a college education. Honors students then go on to complete an Honors
challenge course in which they put their interdisciplinary problem-solving skills into practice by
pursuing a group project of their own devising and then complete a capstone in their major.
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A Note on the
Annual Honors Awards
The Honors Program welcomes and invites nominations for Honors Awards from all members of the
American University community, including students, faculty, and staff. In addition, the Honors
Program distributes lists of Honors students and invites departments, schools, and university offices
to decide—as a group—which students to nominate.
A faculty selection committee recommends the finalists for Outstanding Sophomore, Junior, and
Senior as well as the awards for Outstanding Leadership and for Scholars and Artists. The Honors
Staff recommends the finalists for the other awards.
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