Bluffton University recognized many of its top students for their academic achievements at the annual Academic Awards and Honors Forum on April 24.
 
Thirty-five seniors were honored as distinguished scholars in their respective academic areas.
 
Seven seniors were recognized for completion of the Honors Program. They are: Ashley Backs, of Coldwater, Ohio; Emma Eickholt, of Ottoville, Ohio; Laura Galley, of Indianapolis, Ind.; Taylor Lewis, of Defiance, Ohio; Makenzie Schmidt, of Marion, Ohio; Rebecca Starn, of Findlay, Ohio; and Chelsea Zoltowski, of Toledo, Ohio.
 
Receiving departmental honors for their independent-study projects were four seniors. Kenneth Beeker, of McComb, Ohio, for his communication and history project; Laura Galley for her food and nutrition project; Ruthann Stuckey, of Archbold, Ohio, for her English and writing project; and Dean Walters, of Avon, Ohio, for his biology and pre-medicine project.
 
Other awards went to:
·   Kera Engle, Wapakoneta, Ohio, the Naomi Brenneman Prize for an outstanding research and/or interpretive essay on a literary topic. Her essay was titled “How Does That Make You Feel?”
·   Amber Edwards, Covington, Ohio, the John D. Unruh Award for exceptional research paper written for humanities. Her essay was titled “The Mother Within: An Analysis of the Mother in ‘Frankenstein.’”
·   Anna Cammarn, Akron, Ohio, the John D. Unruh Award for exceptional research paper written for social sciences. Her essay was titled “Mindful Music Listening at The Episcopal Center for Children, Washington D.C.”
·   Ryan Golden, Findlay, Ohio, the Beaver-Falcon Master of Accountancy Scholarship
·   Sydney Cobb, Archbold, Ohio, the CRC Press Chemistry Achievement Award
·   Chelsea Zoltowski, Toledo, Ohio, the Esta Lugibill Dye Award for Excellence in Chemical Science by a Woman
·   Kasandera Knief, Lewistown, Ohio, the Russell A. Lantz Choral Award
·   Edwin Martin, Goshen, Ind., the Instrumental Music Award
·   Rebecca Baden, Bowling Green, Ohio; Brista Drake, Richwood, Ohio; Katey Ebaugh, Lancaster, Pa.; and Elizabeth Luersman, Fort Jennings, Ohio; the Art Show Juror’s Awards of Distinction
·   Cara Echols, New Bremen, Ohio, The Gregg Luginbuhl Award for Best of Show
·   Mary Bias, Lima, Ohio, The Gregg Luginbuhl Award for ceramics
·   Elizabeth Luersman, Fort Jennings, Ohio, the Lion and Lamb Art Award
·   Carrie Blust, Sydney, Ohio, the Dr. Elizabeth Hostetler Outstanding Educator Award
·   Blake Hershberger, Canton, Ohio, the Jim Satterwhite Award in Peace Scholarship and Activism
·   Irena Xhari, Lezha, Albania; Joel Jacobson, Franklin, Ohio; and Katey Ebaugh, Lancaster, Pa., for first, second and third places respectively in the 2018 C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Competition
·   Makenzie Schmidt, Marion, Ohio, Athlete with the Highest Scholastic Record
·   Irena Xhari, Lezha, Albania, International Student with Highest Scholastic Record

Concluding the program was the recognition of three graduating members of Pi Lambda Theta National Education Honor Society; five graduating members of Psi Chi National Psychology Honor Society; 38 new members of Bluffton’s Pi Delta Society, an honor for seniors with a grade point average of at least 3.75 during their college careers; and 42 C. Henry Smith Scholars—17 graduating, 10 continuing and 15 newly elected scholars.