2018-19 Outstanding First-Year Student Awards

Eastern Kentucky University seeks to provide "students those intellectual and cultural pursuits which will develop in them habits of scholarship and intellectual curiosity." Each year, students enrolled in GSD 101 "Foundations of Learning" and College-Specific Student Success Seminars are nominated for Outstanding First-Year Student Awards.
Award recipients demonstrate exceptional classroom performance, leadership among their peers, and a willingness to challenge themselves intellectually. Winners of this award are honored at a ceremony in front of families, instructors, and college leaders.
The 2018-19 Outstanding First-Year Student Awards were held on March 26, 2019 in the Perkins Conference Center at Eastern Kentucky University.
EKU President, Dr. Michael T. Benson, spoke about each student's potential to change the world and how recipients of the Outstanding First-Year Student Award enrich classrooms and the entire campus environment.
Jazlyn Bagen, Bethany Banks, Kassidy Stivers, and Morgan Jenkins, who work as First-Year Leaders in the Office of First-Year Courses, were on hand to help with the festivities.
First-Year Courses & Learning Communities Director Starr Wentzel (right) reveals the 2018-19 recipient of the Outstanding First-Year Leader Award, Ashley Turner!
Ashely hard at work recruiting the next batch of First-Year Leaders before learning about her award.
(Left to Right) First-Year Courses Administrator, Dr. Travis Martin; Director of First-Year Courses & Learning Communities, Starr Wentzel; EKU President, Dr. Michael T. Benson.
First-Year Leader Lauren Stahl, "Reporting for Duty!"
Have some cake, Outstanding Students! You earned it.
Here's what instructors had to say about each recipient of the 2018-19 Outstanding First-Year Student Award.