{"id":15477,"date":"2025-04-04T16:06:50","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T20:06:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/?p=15477"},"modified":"2025-04-04T16:06:51","modified_gmt":"2025-04-04T20:06:51","slug":"honoring-academic-excellence","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/honoring-academic-excellence\/","title":{"rendered":"Honoring academic excellence\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/Z72_2117-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15489\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/Z72_2117-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/Z72_2117-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/Z72_2117-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/Z72_2117-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/Z72_2117-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">From left: Melanie Elder, David Martin and Tracy Ewli-Kwaktuse pose with their Awards of Excellence following the 72nd Honors Convocation. (Joey Gardner Photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More than 900 University of Maryland Eastern Shore students were recognized for their academic accomplishments during the University\u2019s 72<sup>nd<\/sup> Honors Convocation at the Ella Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The April 3 event celebrated the achievements of students who received dean\u2019s list (3.5 GPA or higher), departmental distinction (3.7 GPA or higher), departmental honors, and \u201cAwards of Excellence\u201d from their respective schools during the spring and fall of 2024.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOur honorees have demonstrated that they set the mark for others to follow,\u201d said Dr. <strong>Rondall Allen<\/strong>, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at UMES. \u201cThey are a testament to UMES\u2019 commitment to high-quality education and student achievement. They are beacons of hope and role models to those who desire to achieve the same kind of academic success.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Todd Nock<\/strong>, a 2020 graduate and the mayor of Pocomoke City, Maryland, was the event\u2019s keynote speaker. During his address to the audience, he focused on the power and positivity of rain and the growth it provides.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe are living in a time when our communities, our democracy, and our shared values are weathering some serious storms,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat we need now more than ever are people who don\u2019t wait for sunshine. We need people who are unafraid to stand in the rain with purpose, courage, and compassion.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The deans of the four undergraduate schools were also on hand to present the Awards of Excellence, which highlight exemplary qualities including:&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignright size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/FJ8_2300-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-15480\" width=\"415\" height=\"277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/FJ8_2300-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/FJ8_2300-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/FJ8_2300-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/FJ8_2300-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2025\/04\/FJ8_2300-2048x1365.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 415px) 100vw, 415px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Danny Pham receives the departmental honors during the 72nd Honors Convocation at the Ella Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center on April 2. (Joey Gardner photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Demonstrated leadership abilities;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Outstanding academic performance;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Effective communications skills with fellow students and faculty;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A high degree of integrity and the ability to work with fellow classmates;&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The potential for continued scholarly work; and&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Evidence of overcoming physical or personal obstacles to earn a degree.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among the Awards of Excellence winners were <strong>Tracy Ewli-Kwakutse<\/strong> (School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences), <strong>Melanie Elder<\/strong> (School of Education, Social Sciences, and the Arts), <strong>David Martin<\/strong> (School of Pharmacy &amp; Health Professions), and <strong>Danny Pham<\/strong> (School of Business and Technology).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ewli-Kwakutse, a senior human ecology major, was unaware that she was chosen as the top student in her school.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;I feel so grateful and blessed for this honor and thankful for all my teachers who helped me throughout this journey,\u201d she said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Martin, a junior exercise science major on a clinical track from Jamaica, said a quick glance in the event program was how he discovered the selection. He attributed the recognition from his school to his work ethic.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m dedicated to what I do, and I\u2019ve been supported strongly by the staff of my department,\u201d Martin said. \u201cIt\u2019s about balancing time and being on top of everything.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elder, a graduating senior and special education major, said she was the \u201cgo-to girl\u201d assisting others in need in her major.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI\u2019m the one bringing dinners to class so we can all study,\u201d she said. \u201cI love doing things like that, and I hope I can influence the classes following behind me.\u201d&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>More than 900 University of Maryland Eastern Shore students were recognized for their academic accomplishments during the University\u2019s 72nd Honors Convocation at the Ella Fitzgerald Performing Arts Center.\u00a0 The April 3 event celebrated the achievements of students who received dean\u2019s list (3.5 GPA or higher), departmental distinction (3.7 GPA or higher), departmental honors, and \u201cAwards&#8230;<span class=\"cpschool-read-more-link-holder\"><a class=\"btn btn-basic cpschool-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/honoring-academic-excellence\/\">Read more <span class=\"sr-only\">Honoring academic excellence\u00a0<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1559,"featured_media":15489,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","wds_primary_category":1,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"post_folder":[],"class_list":["post-15477","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15477","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1559"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15477"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15477\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15489"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15477"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15477"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15477"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=15477"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}