UC's CECH recognizes students, faculty and staff for outstanding service in 2023-24 academic year

As the 2023-24 academic year winds to a close, the University of Cincinnati's College of Education, Criminal Justice, Human Services, and Information Technology took the early weeks of April to celebrate the outstanding services and accomplishments of its students, faculty and staff members.

Outstanding Student Awards

two students stand with faculty presenter under an arch made of balloons

Student award winners Lauren May and Paige Lafever stand alongside professor emerita and director of Undergraduate Studies, Sue Bourke. Photo/CECH Marketing

Student awards were presented at the annual Outstanding Student Awards event on April 4 in the Annie Laws room of the Teachers-Dyer Complex. The event recognized a number of students whose academic performance during the 2023-24 academic year warranted special celebration. These awards are generally given to outstanding seniors or graduate students based on high achievement. Each program decides how students are selected.


  • Meagan Toothman Memorial Outstanding Student Award
    Presented to Kandace Mossing (School Psychology)
  • Outstanding Graduate Student Award – Instructional Design and Technology
    Presented to Emily Lopez (Instructional Design and Technology)
  • Gene Carte Memorial Award for Outstanding Scholarship in Criminal Justice
    Presented to Jordan Crawley (Criminal Justice)
  • Robert B. Mills Memorial Award for Outstanding Scholarship in the Criminal Justice Master's Program 
    Presented to Matt McGrath (Criminal Justice)
  • Criminal Justice Outstanding Student Award
    Presented to Paige LaFever (Criminal Justice)
  • Outstanding Student Award 
    Presented to Elizabeth Otto (Special Education Master's Degree)
  • Outstanding Student Award
    Presented to Marciana Auxier (Law and Paralegal Studies)
  • Criminal Justice Outstanding Student Award
    Presented to Lauren May (Criminal Justice)
  • Outstanding Student Award
    Presented to Maddy McKinney (Master of Education in School Counseling)
  • Outstanding Doctoral Student
    Presented to Heather Gerker (Educational Studies, PhD)
  • Outstanding Student Award
    Presented to Anna Rexford (Exercise Science)
  • Outstanding Student Award
    Presented to Ellie Montenegro (Mental Health Counseling)
  • Morry Rosenthal Award for Caring, Love of Learning, & Excellence in Counseling
    Presented to Marielle Newton (Mental Health Counseling)
  • Anne G. Dorsey Outstanding Senior Award
    Presented to Megan Yates (Elementary Education)
  • Melanie A. Schute Memorial Award
    Presented to Sarah Bockrath (Elementary Education) 
  • Melanie A. Schute Memorial Award
    Presented to Anna Renner (Elementary Education)
  • Student of the Year
    Presented to Amelia Williams (Foundations in Behavior Analysis)
  • Outstanding Student
    Presented to Will Bieber (Middle Childhood)
  • Outstanding Student Award
    Presented to Kristin Compson (Literacy & Second Language Studies)
  • Outstanding Doctoral Student
    Presented to Jackie Dell (Counselor Education)
  • Erin Rachel Goosman Award for Outstanding Achievement
    Presented to Anna Furderer (Substance Abuse Counseling)
  • Bob Brinkmeyer Founders Award
    Presented to Emily Bowes (Sport Administration)
  • Outstanding Student – Master's Level 
    Presented to Jennifer Trannguyen (Health Promotion & Education) 
  • Outstanding Student – Doctoral Level 
    Presented to Brandon Workman (Health Promotion & Education)
  • Outstanding Student Award – MS
    Presented to Dom Laberge (Sport Administration)
  • Outstanding Student Award – BS
    Presented to Eric Miller (Sport Administration)
  • 2024 Outstanding BSIT Student
    Presented to Corin Manning (School of Information Technology)
  • 2024 Outstanding PhD Student
    Presented to Sylvia Azumah (School of Information Technology)
  • 2024 Outstanding MSIT Student
    Presented to Mahathi Reddy Vakeel (School of Information Technology)
  • 2024 Outstanding BS-Cyber Student
    Presented to Christine Bourgholtzer (School of Information Technology)
  • Outstanding Student Award
    Presented to Macie Mehlman (Special Education)
  • Undergraduate Student Leadership Award
    Presented to Keyona Schill (Criminal Justice)

All College Meeting & Award Celebration

two academic professionals stand beneath an arc of red and black balloons

Jess Kropczynski of the School of Information Technology accepts her Outstanding Service Award. Photo/CECH Marketing

On April 8, 2024, faculty and staff members from across CECH gathered in the Annie Laws room in the Teachers-Dyer Complex to celebrate college faculty and staff members for outstanding service in the 2023-24 academic year.

The celebration served as an opportunity to recognize members of the college community in different ways, most notably across two categories.

The Faculty and Staff Awards were an opportunity for the college to recognize faculty and staff members whose contributions in the 2023-24 academic year helped CECH educate and uplift students as they prepare to change their communities and the world.

  • Outstanding Service Award for the School of Information Technology    Presented to Jess Kropczynski, Associate Professor 
  • Outstanding Service Award for the ​School of Education
    Presented to ​Kristi Williams​, Financial Administrator 2 
  • Outstanding Service Award for the School of Criminal Justice​
    Presented to Sarah Manchak, Associate Professor
  • Outstanding Service Award for the School of Human Services​
    Presented to Amanda La Guardia, Associate Professor
  • Sylvia Boltz Tucker Award for Excellent Service and Leadership
    Presented to Jon Breiner, Associate Professor
  • Outstanding Service Award for the CECH Office of the Dean
    Presented to Kaitlyn Johnson​, Sr. Business Administrator
  • Outstanding Service Award for the CECH Office of the Dean
    Presented to​ Pam Chin, HR Director
  • CECH Inclusive Excellence Award​
    Presented to Elizabeth Jean-Baptiste, Associate Professor​
  • CECH Staff Excellence Award​
    Presented to Darryl Evans, Instructional Designer​
  • Exemplary Student Service Award for the Student Services Center​
    Presented to Halee Edwards​, Program Coordinator​

Academic professionals hold apple shaped awards

Golden Apple Award winners hold their awards at the celebration event. Photo/CECH Marketing

The Golden Apple Awards give students a chance to directly recognize educators for their educational impact. Students selected one Golden Apple awardee for each undergraduate and graduate program, providing recognition to faculty. At this year's celebration, these awards were handed out to recipients by a student attendee. Recipients highly value this award because students select awardees who have had the most significant positive impact on their learning experience. 

School of Criminal Justice

  • Joshua Cochran
  • Stephanie Wyler​

School of Education

  • Kathleen Bryan
  • Emilie Camp
  • Adam Cooper
  • Brandi Elliott
  • Amy Farley
  • Kathryn Hicks
  • Kelli Jette
  • Song Ju
  • Todd Logan
  • Christopher Mullin
  • Adi Nulsen
  • Stephanie Reid
  • Karley Riffe
  • Kristina Slusser-Hornback
  • Mark Sulzer
  • Janet Zydney

School of Human Services

  • Julia Buchanan
  • Julie Morrison
  • Laura Nabors
  • George Richardson
  • Jason Simmons
  • Mary Wynn

School of Information Technology

  • Nikki Holden
  • James Scott

Feature photo at top of Faculty and Staff Awards, Golden Apple Awards. Photo/CECH Marketing

About CECH

The College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services is committed to the pursuit of discovery and excellence in research, teaching and service that addresses real world challenges and opportunities to create positive social change. The nationally renowned college includes four academic schools: School of Education, School of Criminal Justice, School of Human Services and School of Information Technology. CECH serves nearly 5,000 students and 151 full-time faculty and offers 35-degree programs and 39 certificates.

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