Biology Honors & Awards

Emmet Bodenberg Award for Outstanding Achievement in Environmental Biology

Named to honor the late professor of Biology Emmet Bodenberg (1931-1968), a dedicated conservationist, this award is given to junior or senior students who have excelled in and demonstrated commitment to environmental biology.

  • 2021: Caleb Austin
  • 2020: Madison Nadler, Ilse Hassler
  • 2018: Madelyn Fischer, Kethry Warren
  • 2017: Erin Hord, Sydney Richards
  • 2016: Devin Kinney
  • 2015: Jasmine Jones, Carrie Schmaus
  • 2014: Caitlin Gowins
  • 2013: Jonathan Clinger, Benjamin Rausch
  • 2012: Kristen Shearer, Katherine Touzinsky
  • 2011: Carol Coburn, Josh Courlas
  • 2010: Cory Shoemaker
  • 2009: Natalie Davidson 
  • 2008: Christopher Hewitt, Alexander Silvis 
  • 2007: Alison Maye 
  • 2006: Jennifer Blaine 
  • 2005: Elizabeth Claiborne 
  • 2004: Jennifer Biehl
  • 2003: Joseph Ullmer
  • 2002: Alyssa Darcy, Matthew Hazelton, Lucas Nave
  • 2001: Janeen Tackett
  • 2000: Elizabeth Hagen, Megan McKenna

Health Professions Award

This award is given to the student who has shown outstanding potential for success in a health professional school.

  • 2021: Kristin Stein
  • 2020: Casey Meyers
  • 2019: Madison Manger, Christian Randazzo, Savannah Sullivan
  • 2018: Elizabeth Burns, Abigale Cannon, Theodore Hesterman
  • 2017: Emily Carson, Alyssa Tomcho, Blake Nelson, Jon Osman
  • 2016: Kaitlin LaPlant, Mallory Dameron, Allie Dunn
  • 2015: Madeline Petee, Ya Haddy Sallah, Taylor Hurl
  • 2014: Samantha Eggers, Sarah Funderburg, Erin Lloyd
  • 2013: Rachel Ferguson, Kali Almdale, Hannah Popelka
  • 2012: Katherine Winters, Courtney Sumner, Elizabeth, Tackett
  • 2011: Jessica Hanover, Caitlin Kyle, Kirsten Midgley
  • 2010: Bethany Rohr, Emily Rudman, Alison Thompson
  • 2009: Emily Convery, Jaclyn Flickinger, Julie Ziegler
  • 2008: Jacob Ark, Rachel Suitor 
  • 2007: Emily Mattes, Eric Rellinger 
  • 2006: Heather Kelly, John Shields, Linda Young
  • 2005: C. Jordan Benavente, Stacey Josif
  • 2004: Jeff Domingus
  • 2003: Samuel Harris, Natasha Malakney
  • 2002: Melissa Stewart 
  • 2001: Lindsay Pabst, Shana Ryan
  • 2000: Scott Maurer

Waldo E. Nelson Award

This award is given to the biology student submitting the best proposal for summer research. Preference is given, though not restricted to, projects relating to biomedical studies. Dr. Nelson was a 1922 Wittenberg graduate and a renowned pediatrician, who was the leading author of the most widely used and translated pediatric text for years.

  • 2021: Meghan Nadzam
  • 2019: Cameron Dobrotka, Annalee Lynn
  • 2018: Shannon Brueck, Kelli Fisher
  • 2016: Andre Lorenz
  • 2013: Caroline Matchett
  • 2012: Gabrielle Hoffman
  • 2010: Kirsten Midgley
  • 2009: Marla Anzalone
  • 2008: Tracy Dohn
  • 2007: Jacob Ark
  • 2006: Jessica Schultz
  • 2005: Rachel Schwope
  • 2004: Justin Johnson
  • 2003: Jennifer Lykens
  • 2002: Christina Peters
  • 2001: Megan Hoffmann
  • 2000: Scott Maurer

Teaching Careers Award

This award is given to a senior student who has shown outstanding preparation and abilities in biological education.

  • 2021: Caleb Austin
  • 2019: Robert Wiedeke
  • 2015: Makenzie Daniels
  • 2014: Kim Lykens, Brian Ringholz, Katy Williams
  • 2010: Molly Shuman
  • 2008: Ellen Westerman
  • 2007: Adam Walton
  • 2006: Isaac Ligocki, Mark Yehl
  • 2004: Samuel Lloyd
  • 2003: Angela Shedlock
  • 2002: Ann Gentile, Kelly Reidinger
  • 2001: Greta Guhde

Marga Smith Award

Named for our long-time lab coordinator, this award is given to an upper class biology major in recognition of excellence in scholarship and developed service to the Biology Department.

  • 2021: Morrighan Storey
  • 2017: Katelyn Shanor
  • 2015: Logan Griffith
  • 2014: Margaux Empey
  • 2012: Stephanie Zmina
  • 2011: Cecilia Willie
  • 2010: Amanda Hedrick, Molly Shuman
  • 2009: Jessica Mobley
  • 2008: Rachel Ianni
  • 2007: Courtney Dancer, Sara Ellenberger
  • 2006: Amy Suntum
  • 2005: Jenna Amatulli
  • 2004: Jessica Ebie, Andrew Pretorius
  • 2003: Kara Bixler, Rebecca Lawyer
  • 2002: Elizabeth Miller
  • 2001: Emiley Claytor, Denice Limbert
  • 2000: Tiffany Andrews

Tri Beta Award

This award is given annually to one or two students voted the outstanding Biology majors in the senior class by students in this honor society

  • 2016: Anna Moore, Ryan Mumma, Zach Horning
  • 2014: Andrew Jajack, Caroline Matchett, Andrew Rosselot, Kathryn Williams
  • 2013: Brenna Burkhart, Jonathan Clinger, Benjamin Rausch
  • 2010: Jason Bosley, Kimberly Scheib
  • 2009: Dan Buchan, Justin Tank
  • 2008: Jacob Ark
  • 2007: Alison Maye
  • 2006: Erin Mills
  • 2005: Carrie Happ
  • 2004: Jennifer Biehl
  • 2003: Joseph Ullmer
  • 2002: Samantha Smith
  • 2001: Elizabeth Hagen
  • 2000: Scott Maurer

Rachel Ianni Award for Distinguished Peer Mentoring

  • 2021: Alexandra Gibson, Destiny Paulen
  • 2020: Casey Meyers, Thomas Scholl
  • 2019: Lily Amurgis, Charles Samuel
  • 2018: Brigid Morgan
  • 2017: Jamison Pence, Rhyanna Hallauer
  • 2016: Waverly Hebert
  • 2015: Megan Hawbaker, Brittany Goehmann
  • 2014: Madeline Petee
  • 2013: Alaina Engdahl

Biology Department Outstanding Achievement

  • 2021: Elaina Adams, Emma Amurgis, Ashley Cave, Paxton Kreger, Darby Szmania, Abigail Yunker, Elizabeth Canright, Kiersten Heverly, Annalee Lynn, Mikayla Thompson, Nicholas Bowman, Julianna Fisher, Lilia Moorman, Claire Muia, Evan Sugrue
  • 2020: Elaina Adams, Emma Amurgis, Caleb Austin, Verne Kreger, Destiny Paulen, Genevieve Spiridigliozzi, Abigail Yunker
  • 2019: Shannon Brueck, Kelly Heitkemper, Charles Samuel, Karen Wildemann, Cameron Dobrotka, Payton Hurl, Cassidy Rowe, Allison Peebles, Taylor Barnhisel, Destiny Paulen, Katrina Rosing, Darby Szmania
  • 2018: Carly Bockhold, Chris Sloneker, Christian Randazzo, Charles Samuel, Savannah Sullivan, Karen Wildemann, Cameron Dobrotka, Payton Hurl
  • 2017: Alexandria Barlow, William Kyle Logan, Alyssa Lane, Abigail Cannon, Chris Sloneker, Karen Wildemann, Christian Randazzo
  • 2016: Corey Stump, Bryanna Jay, Anna Moore, Heather Freese, Alyssa Tomcho, Mandy Morrell, Blake Nelson, Megan Rude, Abby Cannon
  • 2015: Melissa Hermerding, Alison Bewley, Allie Dunn, Carly Gundlach, Bryanna Jay, Mallory Dameron, Lexi Barlow, Blake Nelson, Sydney Richards, Leighanne Main
  • 2014: Andrew Jajack, Beatrice Nichols, Andrew Rosselot, Michelle Brumm, Melissa Hermerding, Ya Haddy Sallah, Mallory Dameron, Allie Dunn, Bryanna Jay, Corey Stump
  • 2013: Zach Daniels, Aimee Carpenter, Gabrielle Hoffman, Andrew Jajack, Beatrice Nichols, Nicole Perry, Caroline Matchett, Madeline Petee, Alison Bewley, Ya Haddy Sallah, Sarvani Ramcharran
  • 2012: Anna Henry, Nicole Andre, Brian Hedges, Jane Neyer, Amy Elliott, Hillary Hassink, Ben Rausch, Caroline Matchett, Kimberly Lykens, Kathryn Williams
  • 2011: Michael Giavasis, Katherine Venable, Heidi Wollaeger, Megan Heffelfinger, Anna Henry, Georgia Hester, Courtney Sumner, Katherine Winters, Hillary Hassink, Benjamin Rausch
  • 2010: Marie Dantio, Laura Schumaker, Kaitlyn Sherrock, Samantha Imfeld, Heidi Wollaeger, Chloe Hart, Brian (Zach) Hedges, Derrick Heydinger, Anna Henry
  • 2009: Tracy Dohn, Justin Tank, Amanda Hedrick, Bethany Rohr, Emily Rudman, Kaitlyn Sherrock, Molly Shuman, Alison Thompson, Travis Croxall, Samantha Imfeld, Caitlyn Kyle
  • 2008: Brittney Dye, Lara Rath, Tracy Dohn, Jaclyn Flickinger, Justin Tank, Lara Schumaker, Alison Thompson

Biochemistry/Molecular Biology Outstanding Achievement

  • Amor Niksic, Jillian Poska
  • 2020: Lindsey King
  • 2019: Katherine Winner
  • 2018: Sabrina Davis
  • 2017: Anna Gutridge
  • 2016: Emily Duderstadt
  • 2014: Jessica Coggins
  • 2013: Heepke Wendroth
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