MANCHESTER, N.H. – The University of New Hampshire at Manchester will recognize the academic achievements of more than 200 students at Honors Convocation on Tuesday, May 15, 2012. Honors Convocation, one of the university’s largest academic ceremonies, gathers administrators, faculty, staff and students to celebrate academic success. The proceedings begin at 6:00 PM at the Best Western Executive Court Inn & Conference Center at 1350 South Willow Street, Manchester, NH.

UNH Manchester Interim Dean Sally Ward will lead the proceedings that include remarks from University of New Hampshire Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, John Aber. History major and university honors student Lowell Mower of Merrimack will give the student address. Kelly Kilcrease, Associate Professor of Business and the 2012 Teaching Excellence Award Recipient, will give the faculty address. The program includes recognition of 29 Presidential Scholars and 112 students who earned University honors. The program recognizes invitees into the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Alpha Theta honors societies, Writing Across the Curriculum Award recipients, and recipients of the Academic Program Awards, Undergraduate Research Conference Awards, and the Lewis Knight Scholarship.

Lowell Mower, a resident of Merrimack, NH, is a University Scholar and will graduate on May 17. He will receive the program award in history at this year’s Honors Convocation and will be the Convocation speaker. Last year he was a recipient of one of the history program book awards. Lowell has been a student worker in the UNH Manchester Financial Aid office speaking with potential students at both on and off campus events, including acting as the UNH Manchester ambassador for the iamcollegebound.org website. He has participated in the Undergraduate Research Conference and was a 2011 recipient of a Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) researching his topic Seeds of Revolution: The French and Indian War, 1754-1763 under the supervision of Dr. John Resch. Lowell presented his research findings to the college community as part of the Brown Bag lunch series. He has supplemented his learning by volunteering at the NH Historical Association. He was nominated for the Hood Prize and the Jere Chase Service Award. His long-term goal is graduate school, but for now he is looking for a position in financial aid.

The faculty address will be given by 2012 Teaching Excellence Award recipient, Kelly Kilcrease. Dr. Kilcrease is an Assistant Professor of Business with seventeen years of teaching experience on the collegiate level. He earned his BA from the University of South Florida and an MBA from Tampa College. He earned his Ph.D. in Management with an emphasis in Productivity from The Union Institute and University. His published dissertation focused on the productive impact the microcomputer has on outside sales forces. Since then he has presented and published in a variety of business areas including business history, teaching effectiveness, tools for non-profit business, and the relationship between the liberal arts and management.

The following students will receive awards for academic achievement in their undergraduate degree program:

• Rebecca Mason of Litchfield will receive the Biology Program Award recognizing academic achievement and the potential for making significant contributions in Biology.
• Ryan Pitts of Manchester will receive the Michael S. Brennan Award for Character, Perseverance, and Academic Excellence granted to UNH Manchester Business students who achieve outstanding performance and demonstrate academic excellence while exhibiting the highest levels of character, perseverance, and dedication in striving toward their goals. This award is presented in the memory and honor of Michael S. Brennan, whose spirit, determination, and attitude serve to inspire us all.
• Kevin Mason of Salem will receive the Communication Arts Award presented to a senior Communication Arts major who has achieved a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.5 and who intends to pursue graduate study.
• Bethany Ross of Derry will receive the Karla Vogel Award for Excellence in Computer Information Systems presented to the student who has demonstrated consistent achievement within the CIS major and overall academic excellence.
• Karen Ibey of Grantham will receive the Engineering Technology Outstanding Achievement Award presented to the graduating senior with the highest cumulative grade point average in the Engineering Technology major.
• Rebecca Lavoie of Hopkinton will receive the English Program Award presented by the English faculty to the student who has demonstrated consistent excellence in his or her English course work at the college.
• Lowell Mower of Merrimack will receive the Excellence in History Award presented to the graduating senior with the highest record of academic achievement within the UNH Manchester History program.
• Zoe Willis of Hooksett will receive the humanities award presented to a senior humanities major who has demonstrated the highest level of overall academic excellence.
• Kevin Mason of Salem will receive the Politics and Society Award presented to a student who has demonstrated excellence in his/her work in the Politics and Society major.
• Kathryn Mullaney of Dunbarton will receive the Psychology Award given to a senior who exhibits active engagement in the classroom, exemplary performance in Psychology courses, as well as superior overall academic achievement. The recipient has demonstrated interest in the field of Psychology as shown through community service, research projects, and/or professional experience.
• Jodie Novak of Manchester will receive the Sign Language Interpretation Program Award presented to a Sign Language Interpretation student with at least junior standing and a cumulative GPA of at least 3.5 for outstanding achievement within the major and service to UNH Manchester, the Deaf community, and/or the interpreting profession.

The Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Awards will be presented to recognize excellence in undergraduate writing across all academic disciplines. The following students will receive the award: Jessica Bissett of Manchester, Paul Dube of Milford, Sarina Johnston of Manchester, Jonathan Lynch of Manchester, Rachel Meehan of Londonderry, Matthew Vartanian of Merrimack, and Kirsten Walker of Hopkinton.

Zoe Willis of Hooksett will receive the Lewis Knight Scholarship Award that is awarded to a student who expressed an interest in elementary or secondary mathematics education, and who has demonstrated academic achievement in mathematics.

Elizabeth Derederian of Merrimack and Ryan Haggerty of Merrimack will receive the History Program Book Award. Jessica Bissett of Manchester and Michael Leriche of Milford will receive the Humanities program Award.

Rachel Meehan of Londonderry will receive the Meritorious Writer Award recognizing excellence in writing across the curriculum by a first year student. The Dr. Margaret Pobywajlo Award for Diversity and Inclusive Excellence is awarded to Rosanyi Rivera of Goffstown who has demonstrated a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion and has contributed to creating a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive campus community advancing the principles of social justice.

Katherine Childs of Litchfield will receive the Emerging Student Leader Award in recognition of the efforts of a student leader who in her/her first year at the UNH Manchester has demonstrated leadership through his/her actions, character, and active participation in student organizations and activities.

Rebecca Mason of Litchfield, Brian Burke of Chester, Christopher Spencer of Durham, Karen Ibey of Grantham, and Ryan Haggerty of Merrimack will receive the Undergraduate Research Conference Scholarship Awards. They are recognized for their outstanding undergraduate research, scholarship, civic engagement, creative expression or applied projects presented at the 2012 Undergraduate Research Conference.

Felecia Fauvel of Dracut, Rudens Gega of Manchester, Rachael Stanley of New Ipswich, and Eric Velasquez of Salem have been invited to join the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. The following students have been invited to join the Phi Alpha Theta honors society: Merima Ahmetovic of Manchester, Elizabeth Derderian of Merrimack, Ryan Haggerty of Merrimack, Jonathon Mayland of Candia, Lowell Mower of Merrimack, and Justin ValKalken of Dunbarton.

Twenty-nine students have earned academic distinction as Presidential Scholars by earning more than 90 credits, at least 64 credits at UNH, and a cumulative UNH grade point average of 3.7 or higher. One hundred twelve University Honors students will also be recognized at convocation. Baccalaureate degree candidates recognized as University Honors students hold junior or senior status with 58 or more credits and a 3.2 cumulative UNH GPA or associate degree candidates having earned 32 or more credits and with a 3.2 cumulative UNH GPA.

The following students will be recognized as Presidential Scholars at the 2012 Convocation:

The following 112 students will be recognized as University Honors students: