April 25, 2025 – Howard Payne University honored 50 students with Academic Awards during a special ceremony on April 23. Deans from the six schools and several department chairs presented the awards to students.
SCHOOL OF BUSINESS
Outstanding Student in the School of Business: Jack Shackelford
Outstanding Student in Finance: Jaxon Hermesmeyer
SCHOOL OF CHRISTIAN STUDIES
Bible: Vitória Biazi and Seth Bowman
Christian Education: Julie Ivy
Cross-Cultural Ministry: Hannah Hinshaw and Alexis Ewen
Children’s Ministry: Lindsey (Fields) Van Hoose
Practical Theology: Cate Gramling
Youth Ministry: Diondray Parker and Seth Flowers
Outstanding Christian Studies Students: Julie Ivy and Diondray Parker
SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND FINE ARTS
Outstanding New Elementary Teacher: Riley Brittain
Outstanding New Middle School Teacher: Zoe Sprayberry
Outstanding New Secondary Teacher: Dalton Loter
Outstanding New All-level Teacher: Brylee Awbrey
HPU Education Deans of Independent Colleges and
Universities of Texas Preservice Educator of the Year: Connor Benoist
Kinesiology
Kinesiology Outstanding Student: Brylee Awbrey
Allied Health Sciences Outstanding Student: Elaina Buchanan
Communication
Outstanding Upper Division Student: Madison King
Outstanding Lower Division Student: Katherine Nordhaus
Outstanding Student Media Production Students: Emily Hughitt – “The Yellow Jacket” and Ryleigh Watson – “The Sting Podcast”
Music
Outstanding Music Major: Victoriano Cooper
Outstanding Music Minor: Ana Birch
Theatre
Outstanding Freshman Theatre Major: Lauren Phelps
The Servant Artist Award: Rachel Baergen
SCHOOL OF HUMANITIES
English
Mattie Anderson Hale Scholarship: Kaitlyn Fought
Glenn Hopp Outstanding Writing Award: Kourtney Melton
Academic Excellence Award: Luke Moss
Spanish and Hispanic Studies
Honor Awards in Spanish: Kaitlyn Fought and Ana Faulk
Outstanding Spanish Minor: Allison Harvey
History and Government
Outstanding Student in Government: Sadie Willie
Outstanding Student in History: Matthew Wells
Outstanding Student in Mock Trial: Charis Mayton
Outstanding Student in Model United Nations: Sadie Willie
Outstanding Student in Moot Court: Amber Williams
Psychology
Outstanding Student in Psychology: Seth Bowman
Criminal Justice
Honor Award in Criminal Justice: Craig Ivy
Social Work
Outstanding BSW Student of the Year: Alexis Ewen
Spirit of Social Work Award: Stephanie Russell
SCHOOL OF NURSING
Daisy Award, Senior: Ashlynn (Patteson) Anderson
Daisy Award, Junior: Sophia Roman
Academic Excellence, Senior: Angela (Romero) Puente
Academic Excellence, Junior: Sophia Roman
DIVISION OF ENGINEERING
Outstanding Student in Engineering Science: Layton Pratt
SCHOOL OF SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
Biological Sciences
Outstanding Students in General Biology: Abigail Henderson and Gerson Mendoza
Outstanding Lower Division Student in Biology: Magaly Cervantes
Outstanding Upper Division Students in Biology: Kellen McKee and Victoria Ramos
Outstanding Graduate in Biomedical Science: Nolan Godfrey
Computer Information Systems
Outstanding Graduate in Computer Information Systems: Blaze Cardner
Mathematics
Outstanding Student in Mathematics: Deaven Connelly
Physical Sciences
Outstanding General Chemistry Student: Gerson Mendoza
Outstanding Organic Chemistry Student: Ian Cortez
ATHLETICS
Paul J. Cunningham Memorial Award: Jack Shackelford
Tami Pattillo Memorial Award: Rylee Spencer
Outstanding Scholar-Athlete: Brenna Douthit and Jaxon Hermesmeyer
ASC Medal Of Honor: Brylee Awbrey and Seth Bowman
Outstanding Nontraditional Student: Chancey Thurmon
The Guy D. Newman Honors Academy’s Senior Awards will be presented at a reception on Friday, May 9. For more information about HPU, visit www.hputx.edu.