2018 End-of-Year Awards Honor Faculty and Students

Every spring, individual divisions of the Meadows School of the Arts select outstanding students for special awards recognizing their scholarship, creative talent and community involvement. Students also may be honored by their divisions by being selected to serve as a Reader or Marshal for Commencement.

In addition, 11 Meadows students, faculty and staff have been honored with special awards from the University for 2018, and the Meadows School announced the winner of its prestigious annual Meadows Distinguished Teaching Professorship, or "Golden Apple" award.

Winners of the SMU and Meadows School of the Arts departmental awards for 2018 are as follows (all are graduating seniors unless otherwise noted):

University Honors

Owen Lynch, associate professor of corporate communication and public affairs, received The Altshuler Distinguished Teaching Award, which annually recognizes four SMU faculty members for their notable commitment to and achievements in fostering student learning. Honorees represent “the highest achievement in reaching the goals of higher education.” The honor includes a $10,000 award and membership in SMU’s Academy of Distinguished Teachers.

Jack Delaney, director of bands and professor of music, and Lee Gleiser, director of audience development in Meadows’ Marketing department who teaches a class on Legal and Ethical Aspects of Applied Physiology and Sports Management at the Simmons School, received the Outstanding Professor Award presented by the Rotunda yearbook.

Ben Voth, director of debate and speech and associate professor of corporate communication and public affairs, received the Willis M. Tate Award. The award, presented by the Students’ Association, honors an outstanding faculty member who has been involved in student life.

Chuck Donaldson and Janet Stephens, undergraduate degree counselors in Meadows’ Academic Services department, were two of the five University staff members honored with Faculty Senate Outstanding Staff Awards. The recognition is “a measure not just of jobs well done, but also of the personal contributions the individuals have made to the web of interconnections that make up SMU.”

DeAngelo Garner, a corporate communication and public affairs major, received the “M” Award, SMU’s most prestigious honor. It is presented each year to up to five faculty members and 10 students whose contributions to the University are “above and beyond the call of duty.”

Art major Nivethitha Manohar received the Outstanding Senior Woman Award from the SMU Mothers’ Club.

Jacquelyn Elias, a triple major in journalism, creative computation and computer science, received the James E. Caswell Award, based on contributions to resident student life.

Blair Betik, an art history major, and Samantha Klaassen, a double major in journalism and fashion media, were among the five campus recipients of the A. Kenneth Pye Outstanding Greek Leader Award. The highest award for Greek life at SMU, the Pye Award recognizes students based on scholarship, community involvement, campus involvement and personal commitment to the ideals of their fraternity or sorority.

Meadows School Faculty Honor

Carrie La Ferle, professor of advertising, was named the 2018-19 Meadows Distinguished Teaching Professor. The annual award in the Meadows School recognizes sustained and outstanding teaching. In addition to a cash award, the honoree receives a sculpture by Deborah Ballard, a bronze apple that has given the award its nickname, the “Golden Apple” award.

Meadows School Student Honors

Temerlin Advertising Institute

Outstanding Academic Achievement in Digital Media Strategy – Rachel Kainer
Outstanding Academic Achievement in Creative – Tiffany Giraudon

Outstanding Academic Achievement in Strategic Brand Management – Cheyenne Tilford
Outstanding Graduate Student – Coral Pisek

Donald John Carty Leadership Award – Cheyenne Tilford
The award and stipend are presented to a graduating student in recognition of leadership in the classroom, the Temerlin Advertising Institute, or service to the campus or the greater community.

TAI Anchor Award – Matthieu Smyth
Given to a student(s) who consistently “pulls more than his/her weight” in bringing projects to fruition.

TAI Optimizer Award – Alissa Llort and Eric Sedeno
Given to a student(s) who demonstrates a desire and aptitude to make work better through superior work strategies and iteration.

TAI Social Impact Award – Anna Proctor
Given to a student(s) who exemplifies aspects of social responsibility in their advertising work and beyond.

TAI Resilience Award – Kirsty McLauchlan
Given to a student(s) who deals effectively with project setbacks while maintaining a positive attitude and demonstrating a resolve to produce outstanding work.

TAI Service Award – Rita de Obarrio
Given to a student(s) who renders substantial service to the campus at large as well as in the greater community.

TAI Team Player Award – Jolie Guz and Sara Jane Stephens
Given to a student(s) in recognition of contributions to team projects and activities.

Face of TAI Award – Joanna Fennessy
Given to a student(s) who represents the best of what Institute is meant to be within Meadows, SMU and/or the advertising industry.

Kappa Tau Alpha Initiates – Undergraduate: Tiffany Giraudon, Rachel Kainer, Caroline

Moss and Cheyenne Tilford; Graduate: Arin Forstenzer
Kappa Tau Alpha is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.

Marshal – Caroline Moss

Reader (graduate student) – Deja Sanders

Reader (undergraduate student) – Alexandra Mackillop

Division of Art

Dan Wingren Award for Outstanding Senior – Angelica Reisch

Stephen D. Wilder Travel Award – Stejara Dinulescu

Frances B. Cowan Award in Printmaking – Desiree Aisha-Dawn Baker-Fletcher

Mary Vernon Painting Prize – Julie England
The Mary Vernon Painting Prize was established by donors in 2016 in honor of Vernon’s long, successful career as both an artist and professor at SMU. The award is presented annually to an art major with outstanding dedication to the craft of painting, as judged by faculty, and provides funds toward establishment of an art career.

Standard Club Awards – Chloe Nix and Elizabeth Han

Marshal – Angelica Reisch

Reader – Julia Jalowiec

Department of Art History

Alessandra Comini Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Art History Major – Blair Betik

Outstanding Senior Award – Lauren Amalia King

Marshal – Lauren Amalia King

Reader – Blair Betik

Division of Arts Management and Arts Entrepreneurship
(Note: These students are receiving graduate degrees.)

Lanham Deal Internship Award – Kristin Kent
This award recognizes and assists outstanding students in arts management. The award was established in honor of Lanham Deal, a Meadows alumnus and prominent leader of music organizations in Dallas in the decades after World War II.

Marshal – Kristin Kent

Reader – Mariama Holman

Division of Corporate Communication and Public Affairs

Outstanding Academic Achievement – Courtney McKinney

Outstanding Student in Organizational Communication – Caroline Davis

Outstanding Student in Political Communication – Spencer Gutierrez

Outstanding Student in Public Relations and Strategic Communication – Alex Twiss

Outstanding Student in Social Innovation and Nonprofit Engagement – Emily Gullo

Outstanding Senior in Debate and Speech – Matthew Lucci (engineering major)

Outstanding Seniors in mustangconsulting – Caroline Davis and Emily Gullo

Outstanding Senior in PRSSA – Hailee Elledge

CCPA Fellow – Brittney Effner

Advisory Board Scholar Awards – Fer Reyna and Julia Tognotti (juniors)

Stan Levenson Honorary Scholar Award – Julia Tognotti (junior)

Kappa Tau Alpha Initiates – CCPA: Emily Gullo, Caroline Jones and Courtney McKinney;

Public Relations and Strategic Communication: Caroline Davis, Emily Gullo, Mary Rowland Lewis and Jacqueline Putegnat
Kappa Tau Alpha is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.

Marshal – DeAngelo Garner

Reader – Shara Helland

Center of Creative Computation

Marshal – Matthew Shaw

Reader – Jacquelyn Elias

Division of Dance

Outstanding Achievement in Dance – Allison Machabee, Victoria Walker and Eric Emerson

Marshal – Kenna McCoy

Reader – Molly Dalton

Division of Film and Media Arts

Outstanding Scholarly Achievement Award – Elizabeth Cathcart

Outstanding Creative Achievement in Film/Media Production – Hamad N M M R Almutairi and Rachel Cocke

Outstanding Creative Achievement in Screenwriting – Nicholas Wells

Nash Parsley Memorial Award for Outstanding Creative Achievement – Jacob Estrada

Kappa Tau Alpha Initiates – Alec Petsche (graduate student) and Jacqueline Putegnat
Kappa Tau Alpha is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.

Marshal – Elizabeth Cathcart

Reader – Lisa Scott

Division of Journalism

Outstanding Achievement in Broadcast Journalism – Keagan Snively

Outstanding Achievement in Digital Journalism – Jacquelyn Elias

Outstanding Achievement in Print Journalism – Kylie Madry

Outstanding Achievement in Fashion Media – Samantha Klaassen

Kappa Tau Alpha Initiates – Journalism: Jacquelyn Elias and Harriette Hauske; Fashion Media: Harriette Hauske and Kathryn Williams
Kappa Tau Alpha is a college honor society that recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in journalism and mass communication.

Marshal – Harriette Hauske

Reader – Morgan Smith

Division of Music

Undergraduate Award for Excellence in Music – Kevin Bock

Concerto Competition Winners – Yinuo Wang, piano (Performer’s Diploma); Angelica Mata Esparza, voice-mezzo soprano (junior); Evan Brown, voice-tenor (graduate student) and Jiah Kyun, viola (Performer’s Diploma)

Pi Kappa Lambda Initiates – Ryan Anthony Delagarza, Courtney Leigh Melton and Alexander Barrington Stepans (graduate students); Abigail Hawthorne and Isaiah Pennington (seniors); Julia Durbin (junior)
Pi Kappa Lambda is a national honorary music society; membership is based on artistic achievement, scholarly excellence and exemplary character.

Thomas Hayward Memorial Award – Sydney Frodsham (senior)
The Thomas Hayward Award was established in honor of his incredible teaching at Meadows from 1964 until his retirement in 1994. Tom’s career included 14 years as a leading tenor with the Metropolitan Opera. This award goes to an undergraduate voice major with a GPA above 3.0, chosen by the faculty.

Norman L. Jacobs Memorial Award – Alexander Blume (senior)
The Norman L. Jacobs Memorial Award is given to a student or students selected by the brass faculty for outstanding contribution through performances, studio and master classes.

Roy and Sue Johnson Award – Abigail Hawthorne (senior)
The Roy and Sue Johnson Award is given to a graduating senior or graduate student in any music field selected by a vote of the entire music faculty for a combination of high standards in scholarship and artistry.

Roy and Sue Johnson Opera Theatre Award – Jennifer Magill (graduate student) and Thomas Drew (Performer’s Diploma)
The Roy and Sue Johnson Award in Opera Theatre is given to outstanding graduate members of the opera theatre class - with the preference that they go to one man and one woman.

Roy and Sue Johnson Award in Organ or Sacred Music in Honor of Robert Anderson – Ivan Tatarinov (Artist Diploma)
The Roy and Sue Johnson Award in Organ or Sacred Music was established to honor distinguished Professor Emeritus of Organ and Sacred Music Dr. Robert T. Anderson, and recognizes outstanding achievement in this area.

Roy and Sue Johnson Award in Memory of Maurice Acers – Joseph Whitenton (senior)
This award is in memory of the Johnsons’ good friend and fellow musician, Maurice Acers. Because of Mr. Acers’ keen interest in sharing his love of music, they wanted this award to recognize outstanding contributions of a student active in teaching in the general education curriculum or community outreach activities involving music.

Roy and Sue Johnson Award in Honor of Dr. Herbert Turrentine – Rebeca Ramos (graduate student)
This award is given to the student for excellence in the area of Music History, particularly in the area of thesis.

Lloyd Pfautsch Award – Abigail Poe and Simon Hill (graduate students)
Established by an endowment created by the friends and former students of Lloyd Pfautsch, former choral director of the Division of Music, the Lloyd Pfautsch Award is selected by all choir members for someone who demonstrates leadership, musicianship and scholarship.

Theodore Presser Scholarship – Julia Durbin (junior)
Being selected as a Presser Scholar is one of the most prestigious achievements in any undergraduate music school. The Presser Scholar receives a financial award at the beginning of the fall semester and their name is engraved on a plaque that hangs permanently in the Meadows Music Division office.

Sigma Alpha Iota Award – Abigail Poe (graduate student)
This award is designated for the person chosen by the ensemble directors for scholarship and outstanding contribution to a performing ensemble. Sigma Alpha Iota is a national, professional music fraternity and the Division of Music is grateful for this award, which they present each year.

Paul Van Katwijk Award – Cynthia Gu (senior)
The Van Katwijk Award is given in honor of Paul van Katwijk, dean of the School of Music at SMU from 1919-1949. This award goes to an outstanding undergraduate piano major selected by the piano faculty.

The Paul Velucci Piano Award – Yinuo Wang (Performer’s Diploma)
This award is given in honor of Paul Velucci, a former SMU piano faculty member, conductor and one of the great vocal coaches in the U.S. The award recognizes an outstanding piano student and is selected by the piano faculty.

Harold Von Mickwitz Prize in Piano – Yinuo Wang (Performer’s Diploma)
The prize, named after the first dean of the Meadows School of Music (1916-1918), is presented to the pianist who performs with the Meadows Symphony Orchestra as the winner of the annual Concerto Competition.

Dora Poteet Barclay Award – Yunjung Lee (Performer’s Diploma)
This award is given to a graduate organ major as well as junior/senior level majors with a 3.0 average or higher, as selected by the organ music faculty.

Marshal – Matthew Moron

Reader (graduate student) – Abigail Poe

Reader (undergraduate student) – Marissa Pyron

Division of Theatre

Undergraduate Award for Academic Excellence in the Division of Theatre – Eric Berg, Caroline Hamilton, Meghan Harris, Kristen Lazarchick, Jessica Ma and Bella O’Brien

Edyth Renshaw Award – Kyle Fox Douglas
This award is given to an outstanding senior student for contribution to the division, academic achievement, and outstanding promise as an actor, director or designer.

Lu Gene Singleton Award – Katie Ibrahim
This award is given to a student for exceptional acts of service, either to individuals or to the department, and for a prevailing generosity of spirit, which marks this individual’s distinction.

Garland Wright Award for Directing – Eric Berg, Caroline Hamilton and Katie Ibrahim
This award is given to an outstanding student or students in the field of directing.

Taubman Scholarship for Excellence in Graduate Stage Design – Briana Tobin
This award is given to a first- or second-year graduate design student.

Bob Hope Award for Design – Sarah Harris
This award is given to an outstanding second- or third-year design graduate student for scholarship, classroom leadership, academic achievement, self-development, progress as a designer in major studio and classroom performances, and production contribution.

Bill and Jean Eckart Award in Design – Amelia Bransky and Jocelyn Girigorie

Bob Hope Scholarship for Excellence in Graduate Acting – Galen Sato
This award is given to a first- or second-year graduate acting student.

Bob Hope Scholarship for Excellence in Undergraduate Acting – Diego Martinez

Bob Hope Award for Excellence in Graduate Acting – Molly Searcy
This award is given to an outstanding graduate acting student for scholarship, classroom leadership, academic achievement, self-development, progress as a performer in major studio and classroom performances, and production contribution.

Greer Garson Awards – Kyle Fox Douglas, Kristen Lazarchick, Jessica Ma and Catherine McCue
These awards are given to junior or senior undergraduates who, in the opinion of the designated members of the Meadows faculty, have demonstrated excellence, aptitude and dedication in the art of acting. The awards are determined by vote of the dean of the Meadows School of the Arts, the chair of the Theatre Division and the head of the professional acting curriculum.

Dallas Foundation Margo Jones Award – Deanna Ott
This award is given to a graduate acting student for work at SMU and in the local theatre community. It is made possible by The Dallas Foundation, which serves as a leader, catalyst and resource for philanthropy by providing donors with flexible means of making gifts and bequests, primarily supporting causes of the city and county of Dallas.

Rosenfield Playwriting Awards – Eric Berg, Caroline Hamilton, Blaze Hubbell, Katie Ibrahim and Bella O’Brien.

Marshal – Kyle Fox Douglas

Reader (graduate student) – Yusef Seevers

Reader (undergraduate student) – Katie Ibrahim