Coastal Carolina University presented awards for student academic achievement at the annual Honors Convocation on Tuesday, April 27 in Wheelwright Auditorium. Faculty recognition awards were also presented.

Keith Garramone, a senior finance major of Nolensville, Tenn., received the 2003-2004 Faculty’s Distinguished Excellence Award. Candidates for this award must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of at least 3.75, the endorsement of a faculty adviser and a record of academic honors. Garramone has maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average and was named Big South Conference Men’s Outdoor Track and Field Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2003. He won the National Collegiate Business Award last fall and the Financial Executives International Academic Award in spring 2003. A member of Coastal’s Wall Fellows Program, Garramone interned as a financial analyst associate for Rolls-Royce Corp. where he has already been offered a job after graduation.

Amanda J. Silva, a senior early childhood education major of Naugatuck, Conn., received the 2003-2004 Ronald D. Lackey Service Award. Named in honor of the late Coastal faculty member and university chaplain, the award is given annually to a senior on the basis of conspicuous service to the university through involvement and leadership in campus organizations. Silva has been a peer mentor, organized a fundraising event for Coastal Productions and was involved in numerous campus activities. She was cited for her organization skills, her volunteer work and her dependability.

Sharon Thompson received the Distinguished Teacher-Scholar Lecturer Award. Sponsored by HTC, Inc., this award was initiated in 1996 to recognize faculty members who distinguish themselves as teachers, scholars and communicators. During the fall, the recipient delivers a public lecture drawn from his or her area of expertise. Thompson, a professor of health promotion, was the recipient of the Excellence in Community Nutrition Award from the Dannon Institute in 2003 and The Sun News Volunteer of the Year Award for 2003-2004. She has presented scholarly papers in local, state and national venues. Her research on nutrition and body image has been widely praised in scholarly circles. She is chairperson of the Waccamaw Youth Center and of the Horry County School District Comprehensive Health Education Advisory Committee.

James D. Henderson was presented the Student Affairs Division Award, which honors faculty who make significant contributions to the quality of student life through participation and leadership in the co-curricular activities of the university. A professor of international studies, he serves as president of the South Carolina Conference of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and he also heads Coastal’s AAUP chapter. He is a veteran of the Peace Corps, and the author of numerous books and articles on Latin American history. Paul C. Peterson was named the Distinguished Teacher of the Year, an annual honor presented by Coastal’s Student Government Association to faculty who demonstrate excellence in teaching. Peterson is a politics professor, a member of the Horry County Board of Education and a former president of the South Carolina Political Science Association. He earned a Ph.D. from Claremont Graduate School in political science and a master’s degree from the University of California. He joined the Coastal faculty in 1980.

Department awards were presented to 37 students in recognition of outstanding academic accomplishments and contributions to the academic quality of their respective departments.

The following awards were presented:

E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration:

• Accounting – Frances C. Sloan of Murrells Inlet

• Finance – Keith P. Garramone of Nolensville, Tenn.

• Management – James S. Chatfield of Goose Creek

• Marketing – Jennifer L. Barnhill of Aynor

Spadoni College of Education:

• Early Childhood Education – Joy K. Strickland of Nichols

• Elementary Education – Chena M. Smith of North Myrtle Beach

• Health Promotion – Beth E. Graham of Murrells Inlet

• Master of Art in Teaching – Martha H. Anderson of Conway

• Physical Education – Tyler M. Murtha of Lyon Mountain, N.Y.

• Recreation and Sports Management – Jonathan A. Suter of Murrells Inlet

Thomas W. and Robin W. Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts:

• Art Studio – Brandi M. Green of Huntingtown, Md.

• English – Thomas A. Moore of Surfside Beach

• Foreign Languages – Nicole L. Silimperi of Suwanee, Ga.

• History – Katie A. Knieriemen of Warwick, N.Y.

• Music – Aarian H. Land of Conway

• Musical Theater – Patricia S. Verzella of West Colllingswood, N.J.

• Philosophy and Religion – Jess M. Hart of Myrtle Beach

• Politics and Geography – Colleen S. Archer of Myrtle Beach

• Dramatic Arts – Tiffany M. Scribner of Rootstown, Ohio

College of Natural and Applied Sciences:

• Biology – Amanda M. Windsor of Sidney, Ohio

• Computer Science – Abhishek Agrawal of Haryana, India

• Marine Science – Tyler Hesser of Alpharetta, Ga.

• Mathematics – Maria C. Butler of Myrtle Beach

• Psychology – Stephanie E. Kirbach of Pawleys

Island

• Sociology – Kathleen T. Gale of Laurel, Md.

Vicki E. Williams of Conway received the Interdisciplinary Studies Award from Coastal’s School of Continuing Studies.

Medallions were presented to the following students who have successfully completed the requirements of Coastal’s Honors Program:

• Ashley M. Bailey of Cottageville – English

• Jennifer L. Barnhill of Aynor – English/Marketing

• Neil A. Capper of Proctorville, Ohio – Marine Science

• Everett G. Flowers of Harper’s Ferry, W.Va. – English

• Brandi M. Green of Huntingtown, Md. – Art Studio

• Katherine E. Koontz of Pittsburgh, Pa.– Marine Science/Biology

• Meredith R. Putnam of Doylestown, Pa.– Psychology

• Sarah P. Rider of Overland Park, Kan. – Marine Science

• Tiffany R. Snyder of Follansbee, W.Va. – Biology

• Marilyn R. Testa of McDonald, Ohio – Biology

• Clare N. Thomasy of Maumee, Ohio – Biology

• Matthew T. Vaughn of Solon, Ohio – Psychology

• Patricia S. Verzella of West Collingswood, N.J. – Musical Theater

• Annya M. Walker of Delhi, N.Y. – Marine Science/Biology

The 481 members of Coastal’s 15 honor societies and the 33 students listed in “Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities” were also acknowledged, as well as 93 students who made presentations of papers at various academic conferences.