2009 ISU Outstanding Student Achievement Award recipients announced

Eleven Idaho State University students are recipients of the 2009 Outstanding Student Achievement Awards, which are presented by the ISU Alumni Association and ISU Ambassadors.

They will be honored at a banquet on April 24 at the L.E. and Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center’s Beverly B. Bistline Thrust Theatre and the Barbara J. Marshall Rotunda.

Criteria for selection include high academic achievement and above average dedication to educational goals. Where appropriate, work experience and community service are also considered in the selection.

The 2009 Outstanding Student Achievement Award winners follow.

• Graduate School (Doctorate) – Sheel Bansal, Ph.D. of Hartford, Conn., is the Outstanding Student Achievement award winner for the Graduate School’s doctoral candidates. Bansal graduated in December with his Doctorate degree in plant physiological ecology. Bansal has had multiple papers accepted for publication in peer-reviewed journals.

“For a student to have a single publication from their graduate work is an accomplishment. Garnering three or four publications from a dissertation is an outstanding achievement,” said Ken Aho, assistant lecturer, biological sciences, and one of Bansal’s nominators. Bansal also worked in conjunction with his wife to help in the founding of the Pocatello Coop.

• Graduate School (Masters) – Aynur Gojayeva of Baku, Azerbaijan, who will receive her Master of Science degree in biology in May, is the Outstanding Student Achievement Award winner for the School of Graduate Studies, master’s candidates.

Gojayeva received her baccalaureate degree in biology in 2006 from ISU, and has been accepted into the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. Gojayeva also is a member of a number of honor societies, and speaks Azeri, Russian and English fluently. Gojayeva has three publications in preparation.

• College of Pharmacy – Kimberly A. Van Wyk of Idaho Falls is the Outstanding Student Award winner for the College of Pharmacy for 2009. Van Wyk will be receiving her Doctorate of Pharmacy in May. Van Wyk received her Bachelor of Arts degree in chemistry from Carroll College in 2004.Van Wyk has fulfilled a number of pharmacy internships, and is a member of numerous Pharmaceutical honor societies and professional organizations. She finished the Patient Counseling Skills Competition in first place in 2009 and 2008, and second place in 2007 and 2006. Van Wyk was the Michael Murphy Outstanding Collegiate Citizenship award in 2004. She was the class president of the first professional year pharmacy class in 2005–2006, and has three pharmaceutical editorials published in the Idaho State Journal.

• College of Arts and Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics – Whitney Call Pollard of Pocatello is the Outstanding Student Award winner for the College of Arts and Sciences, Natural Sciences and Mathematics. Pollard will receive her Bachelor of Science degree in clinical labs science in May 2009. Pollard has been accepted into many top-rated osteopathic medical programs, said Becky Connell, pre-health professions advisor. In addition to maintaining a 3.99 GPA while at ISU, Pollard also has engaged in a multitude of extracurricular activities, including clubs, peer advising, ISU Ambassadors and as a member of the ISU Cheerleading Squad for the 2007-2008 academic year.

• College of Engineering – Daniel A. Jones of Blackfoot is the Outstanding Student Award winner for the College of Engineering. Jones will receive his Bachelor of Science degree in mechanical engineering in May. Jones has held numerous internships and has been involved in mechanical engineering for more than 11 years. He began as a part-time student, taking night classes while working full time. He then devoted himself to full-time studies to finish his degree while still working to support his wife and four children. Jones characterizes the hard-working non-traditional student that Idaho State University thrives on, and has maintained a 3.49 GPA.  

• College of Technology – Andrew B. Adcock of Pocatello is the Outstanding Student Award winner for the College of Technology for 2009. Adcock will receive his Associate of Science degree in nursing in August. Adcock has earned placement on the dean’s list every year, while also working as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Portneuf Medical Center to support his wife and four children. Adcock co-authored an article “Becoming a Dental Health Role Model” that was published in the Idaho State Journal. Adcock has worked with children who have cancer the past two summers, as both a nurse and counselor. Adcock is an Eagle Scout, and has volunteered his time to serve other scouts as a Boy Scout leader for the past five years.

• College of Business – Derek B. Moss of Declo is the Outstanding Student Award winner for the College of Business. Moss will be receiving his Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing, in May. Moss has been on the dean’s list for five consecutive semesters and is a member of numerous honor societies. Moss also studied abroad in Montevideo, Uruguay, and gave three presentations on the subject during International Week to encourage others to also study abroad. Moss is the president of Alpha Kappa Psi, the professional business fraternity on campus. He is currently fulfilling an internship in marketing with Bannock Development Corporation.

• College of Arts and Sciences, Social Sciences – Maureen Kelly McGuire of Pocatello is the Outstanding Student Award winner for the College of Arts and Sciences, Social Sciences. McGuire will receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in German in May. McGuire has held multiple internships, including an ISU presidential internship, as well as an internship in the Department of Women’s Studies. McGuire is the founder of Grower’s Circle, a group affiliated with the Pocatello Co-op Natural Foods Market, and has given numerous presentations on language and culture. McGuire has held the office of both president and vice-president of the German Club.

• College of Education – Kelsey A. Lester of Pocatello is the Outstanding Student Award winner for the College of Education. Lester will receive her Bachelor of Arts degree in physical education, sports management in May. Lester has made the dean’s list on four occasions, and was awarded the 2008 Idaho Student of the Year award by the Idaho Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. Lester also has been awarded the 2009 ISU Sport Science and Physical Education Major of the Year by the National Association for Sport and Physical Education, and will be recognized for this award at a convention in Tampa, Fla. later this year.

• Kasiska College of Health Professions – Heidi Hancock Tanner of Rigby is the Outstanding Student Award Winner for the Kasiska College of Health Professions. Tanner will receive her Bachelor of Science degree in dental hygiene in May. Tanner has been named to the dean’s list every semester she has been enrolled at ISU, and has a cumulative GPA of 3.97. Tanner received an Associate of General Science Studies degree at Brigham Young University-Idaho, graduating with a 4.0 GPA. Tanner is the vice president of the American Dental Hygiene Association, Student Chapter, and is historian of the Dental Hygiene Class of 2009.

• College of Arts and Sciences, Fine Arts and Humanities – Sterling C. Mennear of Pocatello is the Outstanding Student Award winner for the College of Arts and Sciences, Fine Arts and Humanities. Mennear will receive his Bachelor of Arts degree in art in May. Mennear has been on the dean’s list for seven consecutive semesters, as well as playing on the Idaho State University varsity football team in 2001, and 2005-2007. He received all-conference honors while playing as an outside linebacker. Mennear was inducted into the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame Hampshire Honor Society. He is a three-time Big Sky Conference Academic All-American and a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society.