Home » Midway College recognizes outstanding students, faculty

Midway College recognizes outstanding students, faculty

Joy Edwards Hembree Honors Program winners announced

MIDWAY, Ky. (April 30, 2015) — In its annual Joy Edwards Hembree Honors Program on April 23, Midway College recognized 16 students, faculty members and campus organizations for their outstanding achievements in the classroom and extra-curricular activities.

midwayThe event is named for the late Joy Edwards Hembree, a long-time Trustee at Midway College and a passionate advocate for women and children.

Award recipients were:

  • Dr. Philip Short, Associate Professor of Environmental Science and Education, Great Teacher Award. Dr. Short was nominated and selected for the award by students from a variety of academic majors. One nomination described him as “the definition of what a great teacher should be – always willing to take the time to work with a student. (He) truly cares about students, even outside of the classroom, and always wants to help in whatever way possible, even if all that can be done to help is just listening.”
  • Alex Atkins (Versailles, Ky.), Outstanding Equine Student Award. Atkins was selected to receive the award based on character, work ethic, academic excellence and a clear passion for horses. She maintains a 3.8 GPA while staying involved with Midway’s Hunt Seat Team and serving as the college’s senior Ruth Slack Roach Scholar.
  • McKinzie Laswell (Paoli, Ind.), Outstanding Sport Management Student Award. Laswell is a senior who has proved to be an exceptional leader in the classroom and on Midway’s basketball team. She has maintained a high GPA and has been a consistent presence on the school’s Dean’s List while pursuing a double major in Sport Management and Accounting.
  • Brittany Gross (Deane, Ky.), Outstanding Business and Health Care Administration Award. Gross has been described by faculty members as compassionate, dedicated and devoted to providing health care to underserved communities. She has managed to maintain a 4.0 GPA while working full time.
  • Emily Hill (Versailles, Ky.), ADN Award for Professional Excellence. Hill has proven to be a dedicated, personable leader in clinical settings with an engaging personality that puts her patients at ease. She works as a Nursing Care Technician at the University of Kentucky Good Samaritan Hospital while she completes nursing school. Out of the classroom, Hill served as a delegate at the Kentucky Association of Nursing Students Convention in 2014.
  • Amy Owens (Versailles, Ky.), BSN Award for Professional Excellence. Owens has demonstrated dependability and motivation while striving for, and achieving, excellence in her coursework and clinical settings. She is a volunteer at the Kentucky Blood Center and is an active member of the Midway Association of Nursing Students.
  • Brooke Hollenbeck (Mayking, Ky.), Outstanding Teacher Education Student Award. Hollenbeck was selected for the award because of her demonstrated excellence in the field. As a student teacher, she showed that she clearly understood purposes, objectives, practices and procedures of teaching. In addition, she planned and executed lessons aligned with State Standards, worked collaboratively with teachers in the school, and formed a strong connection with her students.
  • Kayla Palmer (Georgetown, Ky.), Outstanding Psychology Student Award. Palmer has demonstrated her tenacity and determination to succeed by excelling in the classroom while holding two jobs and pursuing her degree full time. In addition, she volunteers her time at Simon’s House, a nonprofit shelter for homeless women and children.
  • Alma Diaz (Lexington, Ky.), Outstanding English Student Award. On her way to being recognized with this award, Diaz demonstrated dedication, integrity, and depth of thought and feeling. She has shown a consistent application of study in broad examination of the discipline and competency in literary critical analysis.
  • Lauren Southerland (Danville, Ky.), Outstanding Biology and Environmental Science Student Award. An outdoor enthusiast, Southerland is pursuing a double major in biology and environmental science. In addition to serving as president of the Beta Beta Beta Biology Honors Society, she is conducting an extensive capstone senior biology research project.
  • Sarah Hoke (Louisville, Ky.), Outstanding Resident Assistant Award. During the 2014-15 academic year, Hoke has shown a dedication not only to her classwork, but to the needs of residents and fellow staff members. She has demonstrated excellence by engaging her residents in fun and informative programs, hanging creative bulletin boards, and making door decorations.
  • Eden Wimpsett (Bardstown, Ky.), Student Government Association (SGA) Service Award. Wimpsett received the SGA Service Award for her outstanding contributions to Midway’s students as a leader in the Student Government Association. While leading by example, she focused on how the SGA could address the needs of the student body and provide programming that enhances the campus community.
  • Casey Meiners (Jeffersonville, Ind.), Ruth Slack Roach 2015-16 Junior Scholar. The Ruth Slack Roach Leadership program was created in honor of community servant-leader Ruth Slack Roach. The program aims to continue her legacy by providing women with leadership opportunities and financial assistance while they become actively involved in the community. Scholars are selected on the basis of their commitment to service, involvement on campus, demonstrated leadership, and ability to inspire and mentor other students.
  • Irene Alcaraz-Perez (Versailles, Ky.), Outstanding Student Community Service Award. Alcaraz-Perez was chosen as the recipient of this award because of her active participation in service that leads to positive outcomes for the local or broader communities. She has been actively involved with Midway’s PATH Mentoring Program since its inception three years ago. In her role as a mentor, she encourages young ladies at local middle and high schools to dream big and pursue higher education.
  • Kim Valdez (Georgetown, Ky.), Midway College Alumni Award. This award is presented to a student completing his or her junior year who clearly exemplifies the highest academic and personal standards. After discovering Moveable Feast Lexington during one of her courses, Valdez has continued to volunteer with the organization, which delivers meals to Lexington-area residents who have HIV/AIDS. In addition to her classes and volunteer work, Valdez is a full-time Labor and Delivery Nurse at a Scott County hospital.
  • Kentucky Education Association-Student Program (KEA-SP), Student Organization Impact Award. Midway’s KEA-SP chapter received the award for its outstanding community service activities which touched many lives, on and off campus. During a very cold and snowy winter, the group developed Project Fox in Sox to collect coats, hats, mittens and other warm items for families in need. KEA-SP also sponsored a Read Across America event at Cane Ridge Elementary in Paris, Ky.