Una Honors Students, Faculty, Staff At Annual Awards Gala

Apr. 27, 2010

Michelle Eubanks, UNA, at media@zo23.com, 256.765.4392 or 256.606.2033

FLORENCE, Ala. - The University of North Alabama honored members of its student body, faculty and staff at its third annual Awards Gala the evening of April 26. Awards were presented to recognize members of the campus community for academic, leadership and service achievements in the 2009-10 academic year. Student award recipients included: The Lion's Cup - Alpha Tau Omega Outstanding Civic Leader of the Year - Scotty Rainwater, of Guntersville Contribution to Campus Life - Rainwater Greek Man of the Year - Trip Bower, of Florence Greek Woman of the Year - Lerrin Sutton, of Athens Daniel R. Leasure Award - Alpha Tau Omega Dean's Award for the College of Arts and Sciences - Maria M. Carter, of Lewisburg, Tenn. Dean's Award for the College of Business - Matthew P. Vandenheuvel, of Chandler, Ariz. Dean's Award for the College of Education - Emily H. Cox, of Tishomingo, Miss. Dean's Award for the College of Nursing and Allied Health - Hilary Puckett, of Iuka, Miss. Distinguished Academic Achievement Award - Kathryn Ann Austin, of Tupelo, Miss. Distinguished Academic Achievement Award - Candace Kathleen Barnett, of Loretto, Tenn. Distinguished Academic Achievement Award - Jessica Lauren Clem, of Athens Distinguished Academic Achievement Award - Catherine Elizabeth James, of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. Distinguished Academic Achievement Award - Amber Clark Janzen, of Booneville, Miss. Distinguished Academic Achievement Award - Jo Anna Larson, of Florence Distinguished Academic Achievement Award - Monica Gail McCarley, of Tupelo, Miss. Distinguished Academic Achievement Award - Angela C. Pickett, of Arlington, Tenn. Distinguished Academic Achievement Award - Matthew Paul Vandenheuvel, of Chandler, Ariz. Distinguished Academic Achievement Award - Jennifer Lynn Ward, of Southaven, Miss. Hall of Fame Award - Meredith Carr, of Madison Hall of Fame Award - Leah Beth Downs, of Athens Hall of Fame Award - Kyle Lewter, of Elkmont Hall of Fame Award - Rusty Sherrill, of Muscle Shoals Undergraduate Service Award - Breann Boughton, of Killen Undergraduate Service Award - Cory Hamilton, of Warrior Undergraduate Service Award - Hitomi Nishino, of Florence Undergraduate Service Award - Samuel Thigpen, of Red Bay LaGrange Society Hostess of the Year - Bethany Oliver, of Muscle Shoals LaGrange Society Host of the Year - Justin "Bishop" Alexander, of Florence Resident Assistant of the Year, 2009-10 - Yoshi Nakaya, of Florence Resident Assistant of the Year, 2009-10 - Abby Tennant, of Decatur University Woman 2010 - Grace Anne Coburn, of Florence University Man 2010 - Will Hodges, of Trinity Faculty and staff award recipients included: W.T. McElheny Award - Jim Eubanks, director of the Student Recreation Center Outstanding Service Award - Alice Gross, auditorium technical director Eleanor Gaunder Phi Kappa Phi Excellence in Teaching Award - Dr. Keith Lindley, assistant professor of foreign languages Academic Affairs Award for Outstanding Scholarship/Research - Dr. Christopher A. Maynard, chair of the Department of History and Political Science Academic Affairs Award for Outstanding Service - Dr. William R. Strong, chair of the Department of Geography Academic Affairs Award for Outstanding Teaching - Dr. Lawrence J. Nelson, professor of history

About The University of North Alabama

The University of North Alabama is an accredited, comprehensive regional state university offering undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degree programs through the colleges of Arts, Sciences, and Engineering; the Sanders College of Business and Technology; Education and Human Sciences; and the Anderson College of Nursing and Health Professions. Occupying a 130-acre campus in a residential section of Florence, Alabama, UNA is located within a four-city area that also includes Muscle Shoals, Sheffield, and Tuscumbia. UNA Athletics, a renowned collegiate athletics program with seven (7) Division II National Championships, is now a proud member of NCAA Division I as part of the Atlantic Sun and United Athletic conferences. The University of North Alabama is an equal opportunity institution and does not discriminate in the admission policy on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, disability, age, or national origin. For more: zo23.com and zo23.com/unaworks/.