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SPRINGFIELD, OH. – Gathering together once again to recognize the many accomplishments of students and faculty members, the campus community witnessed the Â鶹´«Ã½ÍÅ¶Ó mission in action during its annual Honors Convocation on Friday, April 10, in historic Weaver Chapel.

•&²Ô²ú²õ±è;   View video and Honors Convocation 2026 program here.

During the ceremony, the 2026 Alumni Association Award for Distinguished Teaching was presented to Associate Professor of Biology Richard Phillips. Established in 1960, this award is the highest recognition Wittenberg bestows on its faculty. Candidates must have taught at Wittenberg for more than five years and are nominated by students, alumni, faculty, and staff.

Assistant Professor of Biology Kunal Chatterjee was recognized for his work during the Honors Convocation with the Omicron Delta Kappa Faculty Excellence in Teaching Award. Matt Collier, professor and chair of biology, received the Academic Advisor of the Year Award.

Additionally, two students were named Alma Lux, an honor bestowed upon a junior student who possesses qualities of leadership, scholarship, and service. Recipients include Rebekah Lebold, Mount Vernon, Ohio, and Hailey Mulvihill, Florence, Kentucky.

Claire Patton, Mason, Ohio, received the Heimtraut Dietrich Award, which was established in 1981 to recognize the student who best emulates the spirit of the late associate dean of students' devotion to Wittenberg through faith and service.

The M. Alice Geiger Award was presented to Abby Lanhart, Wellston, Ohio. The award, named for Wittenberg's first woman graduate, recognizes a senior woman for outstanding contributions to the campus in the areas of performing or literary arts, athletics, co-curricular leadership, new programming, special academic pursuit, or through special representation at any time during her college career.

The John F. Mitchell Award, honoring the senior man who best represents the liberal arts tradition at Wittenberg, was presented to Quentin Rudolph, Grand Rapids, Michigan. The award goes to a top student who is a positive force in academic, cultural, and social aspects of the campus.

The Alpha Delta Pi Scholarship Award, created in 1990 by the Springfield Alumnae Association and Chi Chapter of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, recognizes two junior women, one Greek and one non-Greek, who best exemplify the characteristics consistent with the ideals and goals of the sorority. This year's recipients are Alexandra Couch, Howard, Ohio, (non-Greek) and Sydney Werner, Granville, Ohio (Greek).

The E. Charles Chatfield Global Awareness Award, instituted in 1992, recognizes seniors who contribute to greater global awareness within the Â鶹´«Ã½ÍÅ¶Ó community. This year's recipients are Taylor Insyxiengmay, Loveland, Ohio, and Emmalee Do, Lancaster, Ohio.

Antwan Terrell, Springfield, Ohio, and Ty Harris, Cincinnati, Ohio, were the recipients of the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for positive examples to members of the African American community and to the University.

Five seniors were recognized for having a 4.0 grade point average: Andrew Inks, Norton, Ohio; Jackson Miller, Westerville, Ohio; Jessica Neuerer, Lorain, Ohio; Joshua Putka, Avon, Ohio; and Caitlyn Shelton, Powell, Ohio.

Presidential Scholars, named for former presidents of Wittenberg, are the junior students having the top 15 grade point averages of their class. Those students are Hailey Mulvihill, Florence, Kentucky; Jillian Paskvan, Galloway, Ohio; Dominick Keefe, Carroll, Ohio; Morgan A. Long, Englewood, Ohio; Peyton Williams, Louisville, Kentucky; Kailey Scharer, Beavercreek, Ohio; Daniel Patel, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Jenna van der Biezen, Broadlands, Virginia; Lilyan Winkle, Cynthiana, Kentucky; Ava Golem, Kirkland, Ohio; Alexandra Couch, Howard, Ohio; Kristen Sallee, Jackson, Michigan; Kyleigh Bartlett, Beavercreek, Ohio; Tyler Galluch, Springfield, Ohio; and Joslin Mefford, Springfield, Ohio;

Mefford was awarded her certificate by Michael L. Frandsen, Wittenberg’s 15th president, who presented the award personally. In honor of his eight years of service to the University, Frandsen was celebrated in an earlier reception before the Honors Convocation in Thomas Library, where his official presidential portrait was unveiled. The portrait was later installed in Recitation Hall’s presidential gallery alongside other past presidents.  

Introduced in 2009, the Lillian C. Franklin Diversity Award is presented each year to honor a student and a faculty/staff member who have made outstanding contributions in promoting and furthering the goal of diversity in the Wittenberg community. Candidates must uphold the tradition of diversity embodied by the award's namesake, demonstrate high standards of personal integrity, commitment to the education of the whole person, global vision, and leadership. The 2026 student recipient is Mary Osiwoga, Indianapolis, Indiana; and the faculty/staff recipient is Scott Rosenberg, professor of history.

The Champion Award for Community Impact recognizes an individual’s commitment to service, the quality of that service, and its positive impact on the City of Springfield and Clark County. It is not merely the hours of service, but the impact on the quality of life in the Springfield community that is most important. This year’s student recipient is Abby Lanhart, Wellston, Ohio, along with staff member, Joi Garrett-Scales, vice president and dean of student engagement.

The Rose Award for Excellence in Community Partnership recognizes a member of the Greater Springfield community who serves as an exceptional co-educator for students. Recipients help students bloom into well-informed, engaged, and productive citizens, and they make a significant difference in the community. The recipient is selected based on their level of investment in the development of students as well as their sustained commitment and innovative approach of connecting with the University. This year’s award goes to Lauren (Lo) Houser, Wittenberg class of 2013 and director of Project Jericho in Springfield.

As part of a long-standing tradition, the Honors Convocation begins with a processional with faculty in full academic regalia. The faculty are joined by campus leaders, student banner-carriers, and the Â鶹´«Ã½ÍÅ¶Ó president. Wittenberg continues to offer a hybrid format that combines a traditional in-person gathering and a live video stream accessible via YouTube.