Fay Jones School of Architecture Students Celebrated at Honors Recognition Event

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Emily Benton, Juan Martinez, Tiffany Henry and James Vo, all third-year architecture students in the Fay Jones School of Architecture, attend the reception prior to the Honors Recognition ceremony, held April 19 at the Arkansas Union. (Photo by Ironside Photography)

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. – The Fay Jones School of Architecture honored 89 students at the 2013 Honors Recognition Reception and Ceremony, held April 19 in the Verizon Ballroom at the Arkansas Union on the University of Arkansas campus. More than $116,000 was handed out through scholarships that recognized various aspects of achievement among architecture, landscape architecture and interior design students.

Several students were selected from the entire school for recognition, including: 

• Chloe Costello, an architecture student who was named the Senior Scholar. This designation is for the graduating senior from the school with the highest grade point average.
• Mary Nell Patterson, a landscape architecture student who received the University of Arkansas Presidential Scholarship. This is awarded to the student with a high academic record in the school.
• Jonathan Elmore, an architecture student who received the Alpha Rho Chi Medal. This is awarded to the final-year student who has shown leadership ability, performed willing service for the school and demonstrated promise of professional merit through attitude and personality.
• Nickolas Cerra, a landscape architecture student who received the Michael J. Buono Sustainability Medal. This is awarded to the fifth-year student who has demonstrated the greatest concern in design studios, cognate courses and the community for environmental, ecological and energy conservation issues.
• Brady Duncan, an architecture student who received the Pella Student Essay Award for “Creation of Self-Referential Simulacra via Reproductions and Simulation of Place.” This is awarded to the student who submits the best scholarly research essay.
• Julia Allen (interior design), Brandon Bibby (architecture) and Hannah Hefner (landscape architecture), who received Professional Advisory Board Fifth-Year Scholarships. These are awarded to fifth-year students who exhibit hard work, perseverance, dedication and potential for success in the profession.

Notable recognition for architecture students included:

• Laurence McMahon, who received the AIA Henry Adams Medal. This is awarded to the first-ranked, final-year architecture student in recognition of scholastic achievement, character, leadership and promise of high professional ability.
• Joseph Weishaar, who received the AIA Certificate of Achievement. This is awarded to the second-ranked, final-year architecture student in recognition of scholastic achievement, character, leadership and promise of high professional ability.
• Laurence McMahon, who received the Edward Durell Stone Medal. This is awarded to the final-year architecture student with the highest overall grade point average in design studio work.
• Calli Verkamp, who received the Barbara C. Crook Medal. This is awarded to the final-year student who has achieved the highest record in coursework in the architectural technology group.
• Chloe Costello, who received the C. Murray Smart Medal. This is awarded to the final-year architecture student with the highest scholastic record in the study of history and theory of architecture.
• Jonathan Elmore, who received the Ed and Darleen Wilson Travel Award, a new award this year. This was established in honor of Ernest E. Jacks to assist a student who wishes to travel in connection with employment opportunities.
• Abigail Charles, who received the Cyrus Sutherland Historic Preservation Alliance Scholarship. This is awarded to the student who has demonstrated interest in historic preservation.

Notable recognition for landscape architecture students included:

• Nickolas Cerra, who received the American Society of Landscape Architects Honor Award, and Brandon Doss and Robert Whittemore, who both received ASLA Merit Awards. These are awarded to landscape architecture students in their final two years of study with high academic performance, design ability, self-motivation and personal responsibility.
• Nickolas Cerra, who received the Verna C. Garvan Medal. This is awarded to the senior student of landscape architecture who, through performance in the studio sequence, has demonstrated outstanding design ability.
• Kelsey Johnston, who received the Judy Byrd Brittenum Cultural Landscape Award, a new award this year. This is awarded to the student who demonstrates interest in the study of cultural landscapes including cultural sustainability, historic preservation, history and/or cultural landscape documentation.

Notable recognition for interior design students included:

• Elizabeth Grimes, who received the Andrew A. Kinslow Interior Design Scholarship. This is awarded to a third- or fourth-year interior design student from Arkansas who is interested in commercial design and has a high grade point average.
• Jasmine Jetton, who received the Fairhead-Shipp Family Design Education and Experience Scholarship. This is awarded to a student whose passionate participation has contributed to both the University of Arkansas and the interior design program, and who has a high grade point average.
• Isaac Boroughs and Sierra Peterson, who both received the Interior Design Foundation Scholarship, a new award this year. This is awarded to students who demonstrate academic achievement and show promise in the discipline.

Also at the ceremony, Kim Sexton, associate professor of architecture and director of the school’s Honors Program, received the Tau Sigma Delta Silver Medal. Brandon Doss, a landscape architecture student, received the Tau Sigma Delta Bronze Medal. These are awarded to a professional and a student with records of distinction in design in one of the subject arts.