Catherine Edwards, Hays senior, was named today as the recipient of the Torch Award as the outstanding graduating senior from the Class of 2009 at Fort Hays State University.
Edwards, a double major, will receive a Bachelor of Arts in English and a B.A. in philosophy at Commencement, which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 16, in Gross Memorial Coliseum on the FHSU campus.
The announcement of the Torch Award came at the annual Graduate
and Faculty Brunch, sponsored by the FHSU Alumni Association. The Pilot Award for outstanding faculty member and the Navigator Award for outstanding faculty adviser were also announced at the brunch. The recipients will sit on the platform and be recognized at Commencement.
Dr. Mark Bannister, chair of the Department of Information Networking and Telecommunications and an associate professor of INT, was the Pilot Award recipient, and Dr. Mary Martin, associate professor of management and marketing, received the Navigator Award as outstanding faculty advisor.
The Alumni Association instituted the Torch and Pilot awards in 1974 to emphasize the importance of excellence in teaching and learning. They are presented every year at the Graduate and Faculty Brunch in advance of Commencement.
The Torch Award candidates are nominated by members of the faculty on the basis of classroom excellence, participation in professional organizations and involvement in student or civic activities. The Pilot Award is given on the basis of classroom excellence, ongoing research and service activities. Candidates are nominated by graduating seniors. Nominations for the Navigator Award are also made by graduating seniors in a process conducted by the Student Government Association. This year's recipient was Dr. Mary Martin, Associate Professor of Management and Marketing.
The Alumni Association, established in 1916, is dedicated to identifying and serving the needs of more than 44,000 graduates living throughout the United States and 62 foreign countries.