News from The Mahurin Honors College

(Picture Note: Faculty Award Winners (top) from left to right: Dr. Dennis Wilson, Amanda Clark, & Dr. Trini Stickle; Student Award Winners (bottom) from left to right: Sydney Windhorst, Charlotte Bariteau, Kaitlyn E. Gray, Tiara C. Shellman, & Natalie Faith Spiva)

Bowling Green, KY — The Mahurin Honors College (MHC) at Western Kentucky University hosted its annual Awards Night on Thursday, April 3, honoring the academic excellence, leadership, creativity, and service of its faculty, scholars, and graduating seniors.

Held at the Honors College and International Center, the evening was a celebration of the MHC community’s achievements over the past year. The program featured dinner, reflections from Interim Director Dr. Rodney King, and the presentation of awards recognizing exceptional contributions from faculty and students alike.

“We gathered not just to celebrate accomplishments, but to recognize the individuals who embody the heart and mission of the Mahurin Honors College,” said Dr. King in his opening remarks. “This night reminds us of the power of mentorship, scholarship, and community.”

Faculty Awards

Three distinguished faculty members were recognized for their exceptional service to the Honors College:

• Service Award: Dr. Dennis Wilson, Professor of Economics in the Gordon Ford College of Business, was honored for over 12 years of service to the Honors Development Board and his ongoing commitment to shaping honors programming.

• Teaching Award: Professor Amanda Clark, Professor of Dance in the Potter College of Arts and Letters, was recognized for her dedication to honors education, having taught 37 embedded honors courses and mentored numerous creative projects.

• Research Award: Dr. Trini Stickle, Associate Professor of English, was celebrated for her mentorship of honors theses and her support of student-designed majors in Linguistics. 

In a special moment, Dr. Rodney King was recognized for his exceptional leadership during his tenure as Interim Director of the Mahurin Honors College. His dedication, humility, and steady guidance were applauded by students and colleagues alike.

Student Awards

Five graduating seniors were presented with the college’s highest honors:

• Global Citizen of the Year: Sydney Windhorst, recognized for her dedication to intercultural understanding and public diplomacy, including study abroad, refugee advocacy, and federal policy internships.

• Creative Experience of the Year: Charlotte Bariteau, honored for her original research and choreography in jazz dance, blending archival study with creative performance.

• Thesis of the Year: Kaitlyn E. Gray, awarded for her impactful research on healthy aging through physical activity and her leadership in health-related student organizations.

• Citizen of the Year: Tiara C. Shellman, recognized for fostering inclusivity through her leadership in Scholars of Color and her commitment to mentorship, advocacy, and study abroad.

• Scholar of the Year: Natalie Faith Spiva, celebrated for her interdisciplinary academic excellence, peer mentorship, and research in psychological science and second language learning.

In addition to individual honors, graduating seniors from peer leadership programs and scholar organizations were presented with commemorative stoles. These included Peer Mentors, HonorsToppers, the Honors Social Planning Board, Out in Honors, and Scholars of Color. Faculty and staff also recognized the contributions of the Honors Teaching Fellows, LLC community, and inaugural members of the Catalyst Cohort—a program supporting first-generation, Pell-eligible, and underrepresented honors students.

The evening concluded with a call to carry the values of scholarship, leadership, and community beyond WKU.