The University Honors Program (UHP) at Kansas State University is pleased to announce student and faculty award winners for 2024. Honors works with many excellent students and is supported by wonderful faculty and staff each year. These awards reflect our desire to recognize some portion of those many outstanding efforts.
Based on demonstrated academic excellence and involvement in the Honors community, the Honors Program selects four students annually to receive UHP Outstanding Student Awards.
First-year recipients are Mallory Applegate, Secondary Education, Mathematics and Thaddaeus Blakley, Wildlife, Fisheries, Conservation and Environmental Biology with a minor in Chinese. Both recipients were chosen because of their drive to make the most of Honors in their first year.
Two longer-term Honors participants are also selected. Michael Bartkoski, graduating senior in Biochemistry and Microbiology, and Helen Winters, sophomore in Fisheries, Wildlife, Conservation and Environmental Biology. These recipients were selected for the positive impact their work in has had at K-State and beyond.
UHP Teaching and Mentoring awards are presented to two faculty or staff members who demonstrate outstanding support for UHP students. This year’s winners were nominated by students and selected both for their work in Honors classes and their strong commitment to Honors over many years.
Dr. Christer Aakeröy, University Distinguished Professor, Department of Chemistry, has taught Honors Chemistry 1 since the course was created in 2008, offering many STEM honors students a path to complete their Honors coursework while building knowledge at an accelerated pace. The nominating student attributed their success in the course to his humor, effective teaching techniques, and his dedication to students.
Dr. Gregory Eiselein, professor and University Distinguished Teaching Scholar, Department of English, is recognized for his years of advocacy and support for Honors, which includes leading K-State First to partner with Honors in the creation of the first Honors Cat Communities and multiple Honors sections of First-Year Seminars. Eiselein was nominated by a student in Honors Intro to Humanities, who praised his compassion, ability to build community, and the way in which he challenged students to think creatively and critically.
The University Honors Program is grateful for the involvement and contributions of all six recipients. Each awardee was also recognized at the annual UHP year-end reception April 19, at the Leadership Studies Building.
