SRU kicks off “Celebration of Excellence”

Share

compass points toward the word excellence

March 11, 2016

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. - Slippery Rock University will kick off 50-days of celebrating excellence March 19 during which time it will highlight the accomplishments and contributions of more than 3,000 SRU students, faculty and staff to the University's mission of promoting excellence and engagement in teaching and learning, research and scholarship, creativity and artistry, leadership, diversity, outreach and service.

The initiative, which the University has coined as a "Celebration of Excellence," runs from March 19 through Commencement, May 7, and includes a variety of award programs that honor accomplishments and contributions that best exemplify the University's spirit of achievement and aspiration.

"These celebratory events reflect the strength and diversity of the talented and dedicated individuals who make our University strong," said Cheryl Norton, SRU president. "While this period of time is a whirlwind of activity, it's important for us to take the time to gather together to recognize and thank those who help to make Slippery Rock University a very special place at which to learn, live and work."

Celebration of Excellence activities include:

  • Academic Honors and Student Leadership Convocation. More than 2,900 students will be recognized during the honors convocation at 1:30 p.m., March 19, in Morrow Field House. The President's Awards for Excellence in Teaching and Excellence in Academic Advising will be presented.
  • Phi Kappa Phi Initiation. Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest honor society for all academic disciplines, will induct new members at 4 p.m., March 19, in the Smith Student Center Theater.
  • Employee Service Recognition. President Cheryl Norton will honor employees for their years of service to the University at 12:30 p.m., March 22, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom. Employees will receive a thank you pin or plaque for 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 and 45 years for employment. The President's Award for Outstanding Service and for Scholarly and Creative Activity will be presented.
  • Student Symposium for Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement. The symposium, which honors and showcases undergraduate and graduate student-faculty research, will be from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., March 24, in the Smith Student Center.
  • A Green Tie Affair Banquet. The Association of Residence Hall Students will honor students, staff and volunteers at 4 p.m., April 3, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom. It is a black tie, or "green tie," event. Awards will be given for Community Adviser of the Year, Graduate Residence Hall Director of the Year and Most Improved House Council Executive Board Member of the Year.
  • School of Business Awards Ceremony. The School of Business will honor outstanding seniors, new scholarship recipients and present appreciation awards to 30 students during its annual award ceremony at 5 p.m., April 10, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom.
  • 2016 Annual Juried Student Art Exhibition Awards. The art department will award first, second and third place honors to students who display their art from April 4-15 in the Martha Gault Art Gallery.
  • Alumni Association Annual Awards and Recognition Dinner. The Alumni Association will present its Outstanding Senior Man, Outstanding Senior Woman, Outstanding Young Alumni and Past President's Service Awards, at 5 p.m., April 16, at the Alumni House.
  • Rising Star Award Ceremony. AVI Foodsystems, Inc. sponsors 10 stars in the International Star Registry to honor and recognize students who have exemplified outstanding leadership. Seven of these stars will be awarded to "Rising Stars," one to the Student Leader of the Year, one to the Silent Inspiration Award Winner and one to the Student Community Service awardee at 5 p.m., April 27, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom.
  • Graduate Admissions Honors Reception. Outstanding graduate school students from each department will be honored during a reception from 1:30-4:30 p.m., May 1, in the Russell Wright Alumni and Conference Center.
  • Professor Protégé Program Presentations. The special education department will honor student protégés at 5:30 p.m., April 18, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom.
  • Sport Management Program Annual Banquet. The sport management program will recognized a Student of the Year and scholarships recipients at 6 p.m., April 16, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom.
  • Physical and Health Education Club scholarships. The Physical and Health Education Club at SRU will recognize scholarship recipients during its all-day mini-conference April 20 in Morrow Field House.
  • Safety Management Awards Ceremony. The department of safety management will present its Outstanding Safety Student Award and the Kyle McFeely Scholarship during a ceremony at 1 p.m., April 26, in 104 Weisenfluh Dining Hall.
  • Natural Science and Mathematics Banquet. More than 30 science and mathematics students will be honored with scholarships at 6 p.m., April 19, in the Smith Student Center Ballroom.

Students being honored at the Honors Convocation include:

  • Scholar Athletes: Scholar athletes, recognized by the Pennsylvania State Athletic conference, must achieve a 3.25 cumulative GPA or higher while competing in a varsity sport.
  • Community Service Learning Scholars: Community Service Learning Scholars, recognized by the Corporation for National Service, must earn a minimum overall GPA of 3.5 or higher and have volunteered a minimum of 100 hours of registered service through the Center for Student Involvement and Leadership.
  • Academic Scholarship Winners: Each academic scholarship is established with certain criteria. Students must meet these requirements to be eligible for a particular scholarship.
  • Norton Undergraduate Research Scholarship Winners: The Norton Undergraduate Research Scholarship is a scholarship program designed to assist undergraduate students in their pursuit of academic research or creative activity. The Scholarship program is open to sophomore or junior status undergraduate students who have demonstrated a 3.0 grade point average both cumulatively and in the major in which the research will be conducted.
  • Presidential Scholars: SRU Presidential Scholars represent the top 20 students in their class based on overall GPA and meeting minimum required credit hours earned at the University.
  • Honors Program Graduates: The University Honors Program offers students an opportunity to gain the most from their undergraduate careers. In order to earn recognition as program graduates, students must maintain a 3.25 GPA or higher and participate in various honors activities, including community service, leadership and extracurricular requirements.


MEDIA CONTACT: Gordon Ovenshine | 724.738.4854 | gordon.ovenshine@sru.edu

Search News