COSAM News Articles 2022 May COSAM honors students and faculty at Honors Convocation Ceremony

COSAM honors students and faculty at Honors Convocation Ceremony

Published: 05/18/2022

The College of Sciences and Mathematics, or COSAM, celebrated students and faculty at the 2021-2022 Honors Convocation held on April 23 at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center.

“This is the first time in three years that we have been able to gather together and celebrate the outstanding students and faculty in our college,” said, Bob Boyd associate dean for academic affairs.

The ceremony was dedicated to Chuck Savrda who joined COSAM in 1986 and served as interim dean from 2010 through 2013.

Nine students were recognized as COSAM Dean’s Medalists:

Emma Peacock, Biological Sciences
Jake Tatum, Biological Sciences
Alex Baty, Biomedical Sciences
Madison Hogans, Biomedical Sciences
Christopher Purvis, Biomedical Sciences
Katharine Lightfoot, Chemistry and Biochemistry
Emma Henderson, Geosciences
Emma Snyder, Mathematics and Statistics
Brett Clark, Physics

Patrick and Melissa Baty were excited to see their son receive awards for both a Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence and a COSAM Dean’s Medalist for Biomedical Sciences.

“We are very proud of his work and all of the amazing people who supported him over the past four years in COSAM,” said Patrick Baty.

Beth Yarborough, director of Student Services, presented 25 students with the Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence.

“I am proud to recognize these graduating seniors with perfect records and devotion to scholarly merit,” Yarborough said.

Alex Baty
Jordan Beam
Austin Blanton
Madeleine Bruderer
Megan Brunsvold
Kelliann Donovan
Hannah Eubanks
William Franklin
Lee Givens
Lake Hidden
Jonathan Holladay
Alexandria Howard
Presley Johnson
Benjamin Loftis
Jaclyn Nix
Daniel Patton
Sara Beth Ramsey
Patrick Rice
Colby Rivers
Rebecca Self
Sarah Servine
Chase Smith
Harrison Spivey
Jake Tatum
Macy Wright

Boyd thanked Yarborough for all of her dedication since 2010 and presented her with a plaque for her retirement at the end of June.

Dan and Sherri Givens were happy to see their son’s hard work pay off.

“It takes so much joy and pleasure to see our son, Lee Givens, receiving a Dean’s Award for Academic Excellence today,” said Sherri Givens.

Boyd then presented the six Outstanding Juniors.

Chloe Moore
Stella Cox
Ryan Mumford
Evan Trueb
Davy Walker
Rachel Fulda

Mark Liles, the acting dean for research and graduate studies, presented the three Outstanding Graduate Teaching Assistants.

“These graduate students have demonstrated teaching excellence within COSAM based upon student evaluations and letters from both faculty and staff,” Liles said.

Andresa Bezerra
Amanda Clark
Sean Grate

“It is a great honor to be recognized for all of the work that you have put in,” said Sean Grate.

Min Zhong, lead coordinator of the COSAM Learning Assistant Program, announced the three Outstanding COSAM Learning Assistants.

“These students have an array of impressive accomplishments as learning assistants,” Zhong said. “I am proud to give them these awards for their contributions to the AU Learning Assistant Program.”

Ivan Glotov
Mary Beth McCullough
Dylan Warner

Boyd then announced Zhong as awardee for the COSAM 2022 Outstanding Undergraduate Teacher.

Liles announced the Outstanding Undergraduate Mentor award to Laurie Stevison from the Department of Biological Sciences.

“This award showcases the creative scholarly work and mentoring of students engaged in lab or field work,” said Liles.

Boyd thanked the COSAM Leaders, a group of students that provide assistance at events and much more.

Brooke Bengert is a junior majoring in microbiology and a COSAM Leader who helped at the ceremony.

“I love being part of the COSAM Leaders,” Bengert said. “In addition to conducting tours, being part of events like these is extremely important for us to develop organizational skills and refine our professional skills.”

Will Bonduris is a sophomore with a major in biomedical sciences and was welcoming guests as a COSAM Leader.

“It was a great opportunity to be able to interact greeting parents and helping them out at this special event,” Bonduris said.

At the end of the event, Boyd concluded by asking all of the family members or other awardee guests to stand and be applauded in appreciation for helping the awardees succeed on the Plains.