News and Information
Record Breaking Winter 2024 Graduate School Citation Awards
April 24, 2024
On April 19th, The Graduate School honored individuals who have distinguished themselves in graduate education at Grand Valley State University. This year was a record-breaking ceremony with 81 student awardees! The Graduate School Citation Awards for Academic Excellence are given to recognize the accomplishments of our students and faculty.
The Graduate School Citation Awards recognize excellence in academic performance in several categories. Graduate students are nominated for these awards by staff or faculty members, advisors, graduate program directors, and departmental chairs or school directors. Faculty members are nominated by the students. The Associate Vice-Provost for the Graduate School reviews the nominees and approves the final selection.
Grand Valley State University is extremely proud of the accomplishments of these graduate students and graduate faculty members. Congratulations to all!
ACADEMIC EXCELLENCE IN A DEGREE PROGRAM
Seidman College of Business
Jason Los, Master of Business Administration
College of Education & Community Innovation
Kassidi Adams, Literacy Studies
Emily Davis, Educational Specialist in Leadership
Danielle DeJonge, Literacy Studies
Hailey Felten, Social Work
Narelle Hickmon, Criminal Justice
Jered Holland, Health Administration
Colton Hyble, Public Administration
Sophie Kurima, School Counseling
Padnos College of Engineering & Computing
Nathaniel Holmes, Engineering
Nicholas Reitz, Applied Computer Science
Gautam Subedi, Health Informatics and Bioinformatics
College of Health Professions
Sam Corbin, Athletic Training
Olivia Martin, Public Health
Stephen McGraw, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Hannah Robinson, Doctor of Audiology
Melissa Wilkinson, Medical Dosimetry
Ellie Willemin, Clinical Dietetics
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Jeannie Kane, Cell and Molecular Biology
Madison Kryska, School Psychology and Psychological Specialist
Hunter Mylek, Communications
Carly Rinas, Biostatistics
Brooke Schmidt, Applied Statistics
Kirkhof College of Nursing
Mary Claire Meimers, Doctor of Nursing Practice
OUTSTANDING MASTER’S THESIS
College of Health Professions
Tabor Gleason, Clinical Dietetics
Padnos College of Engineering & Computing
Genevieve Wisby, Engineering
OUTSTANDING FINAL PROJECT
College of Education & Community Innovation
Devan Bridget, Literacy Studies
Danielle DeJonge, Literacy Studies
Nicole Sutton, Social Work
Cion Swoope, Higher Education
Padnos College of Engineering & Computing
Kaitlyn Sallans Haack, Engineering
Marwah Talbeh, Health Informatics and Bioinformatics
College of Health Professions
Katie Black, Clinical Dietetics
Julia Clover, Clinical Dietetics
Erin Colling, Clinical Dietetics
Hannah Doerr, Clinical Dietetics
Ashley Flores, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Shae Hand, Clinical Dietetics
Levi Harmon, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Teneisha McDonald, Public Health
Kyra Shaw, Clinical Dietetics
Ashley Teltow, Clinical Dietetics
Alec Walstra, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Ellie Willemin, Public Health
Kirkhof College of Nursing
Mary Kooyer, Doctor of Nursing Practice
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Esi Aniwa, Communications
Zane Walters, Cell and Molecular Biology
OUTSTANDING PUBLICATION
Padnos College of Engineering & Computing
Anton Petrenko, Engineering
Astha Thapa, Applied Computer Science
Kirkhof College of Nursing
Julia Treme, Nursing
EXCELLENCE IN SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY OR PROFESSION
College of Education & Community Innovation
Kendra Avila, Social Work
Angelina Bauer, Literacy Studies
Sri Rakumari Mendu, Health Administration
Marc VanderStelt, Public Administration
Padnos College of Engineering & Computing
Samuel Menzie, Engineering
College of Health Professions
Raegan Holek, Public Health
Alyssa Misiak, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Robert Page, Doctor of Audiology
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Skye Johnson, School Psychology and Psychological Specialist
Kate Lucas, Biology – Annis Water Resources Institute
EXCELLENCE IN LEADERSHIP AND SERVICE TO GVSU
College of Education & Community Innovation
Evan Potter, Health Administration
Grace Roedel, Social Work
College of Health Professions
Jessica Doty, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Allison Dunn, Clinical Dietetics
Anna Dupke, Clinical Dietetics
Tabor Gleason, Clinical Dietetics
Tess Scheidel, Public Health
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Aleksandra Makrievski, Cell and Molecular Biology
Jazmin Wilson, Communications
Kirkhof College of Nursing
Henry Peña, Doctor of Nursing Practice
EXCELLENCE IN PROMOTING DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION AT GVSU
College of Education & Community Innovation
El Beringer, Social Work
Padnos College of Engineering & Computing
Selena Cade, Applied Computer Science
College of Health Professions
Erick Hernandez-Morales, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Amelia Horn, Public Health
Kierra Washington, Doctor of Physical Therapy
Kirkhof College of Nursing
Monase Chibambo, Doctor of Nursing Practice
EXCELLENCE IN SUSTAINABILITY
College of Education & Community Innovation
Angie Leedy, Social Work
Catherine Zietse, Public Administration
College of Health Professions
Marialuisa Ochoa, Public Health
Kirkhof College of Nursing
Mary Kooyer, Doctor of Nursing Practice
3-MINUTE THESIS COMPETITION
Seidman College of Business and College of Education & Community Innovation
Jowei Yek, Business Administration and Social Innovation
GRADUATE STUDENT ASSOCIATION FACULTY AWARDS
KIMBOKO INCLUSION AWARD
Kirkhof College of Nursing
Elizabeth Davis, Nursing
Donna Rinker, Nursing
OUTSTANDING MENTORSHIP AWARD
College of Education & Community Innovation
Carrie Buist, School of Criminology, Criminal Justice, and Legal Studies
Padnos College of Engineering & Computing
Yunju Lee, School of Engineering
Wendy Reffeor, School of Engineering
Suhila Sawesi, School of Computing
College of Health Professions
Sarah Nechuta, School of Interdisciplinary Health
College of Liberal Arts & Sciences
Charlyn Partridge, Biology and Annis Water Resources Institute
Carl Ruetz III, Biology and Annis Water Resources Institute
OUTSTANDING TEACHING AWARD
College of Education & Community Innovation
Paul Bylsma, Department of Educational Leadership and Counseling
Laila McCloud, Department Educational Leadership and Counseling
Padnos College of Engineering & Computing
Zachary DeBruine, School of Computing
College of Health Professions
Jonathan Rose, Department of Physical Therapy and Athletic Training
Kirkhof College of Nursing
Nicole Harpold, Nursing