2015 Provost's Student Academic Achievement Award recipients. Top Row (L to R):  Bill Lowe, Eli Thompson, Provost Callahan, Robert Doughty, Sarah Loomis Bottom Row (L to R): Monica Komer, Jessie Motts, Becca Jorgensen, Elizabeth Dimbath, Nora Husani, Madison Weber
2015 Provost's Student Academic Achievement Award recipients. Top Row (L to R): Bill Lowe, Eli Thompson, Provost Callahan, Robert Doughty, Sarah Loomis Bottom Row (L to R): Monica Komer, Jessie Motts, Becca Jorgensen, Elizabeth Dimbath, Nora Husani, Madison Weber

Ten students earn Provost's Student Academic Achievement Award

Ten students received the 2015 Provost's Student Academic Achievement Award for their outstanding contributions to Miami University's intellectual environment.

The recipients were selected based on nominations from Miami faculty. The award is given annually to students who have completed their third year at Miami (a minimum of 75 credit hours) and achieved academic excellence while making sustained and significant contributions to the intellectual climate of a department, an academic division or the campus. Students are awarded a $1,000 scholarship and certificate of recognition.
The 2015 recipients recognized are:
Elizabeth Dimbath, bioengineering and pre-medical studies double major from Bellbrook. She is co-authoring a journal manuscript with Jessica Sparks, associate professor in chemical, paper and biomedical engineering.  She is involved with the Wells Project, an organization to raise awareness for water conservation. She was nominated by Sparks.

Robert Doughty, mathematics and statistics and integrated mathematics education double major from Pleasant Plain. He is active in research and has won an Undergraduate Research Award. He was a presenter at the 2015 Joint Mathematics Meeting of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America. He was nominated by Dana Cox, assistant professor of mathematics education, and Anna Ghazaryan, assistant professor or mathematics.

Nora Husani, software engineering major from Solon. She is the founder of Kode2Learn, a nonprofit,  educational organization designed to provide service-learning opportunities to first-year computing students by teaching introductory programming to elementary school students. She was nominated by James Kiper, chair and professor of computer science; Louise Morman, executive director of the Lockheed Martin Leadership Institute; and Daniela Inclezan, assistant professor of computer science.

Rebecca Jorgensen, mathematics major and master’s of quantitative economics from Mequon, Wis. She is an undergraduate associate in the economics department. She is researching how spending in political campaigns affects election outcomes.  Her nominators, Deborah Fletcher, associate professor of economics, and Olga Brezhneva, associate professor of mathematics, believe this type of research could be published in a mainstream economics journal.  

Monica Komer, international studies and journalism double major from Canton. She studied abroad in Dubai, where she was a recipient of the William Jefferson Clinton Scholarship at the American University in Dubai. She has worked as a research assistant for Mark Peterson, chair and professor of anthropology. She was nominated by Peterson.

Sarah Loomis, anthropology and English literature double major from Fort Mitchell, Ky. She has worked to create 3-D replicas of ancient ceramic cylinders in the Miami anthropology collection, using techniques that she either taught herself or discovered. She showcased this 3-D technology to legislators in Washington, D.C. and Columbus. She was nominated by Mark Peterson, chair and professor of anthropology.

William Lowe, finance and accountancy double major from Maywood, N.J. He has earned membership in Beta Gamma Sigma and is a recipient of the Stamps Leadership Scholarship. He presented research at the undergraduate research forum. He was nominated by David Shrider, associate professor of finance, and Thomas Boulton, Lindmor Professor.

Jessie Motts, creative writing and media and culture double major and master’s of French from Canton. She had an internship with FilmEngine LA in Beverly Hills, California, and is one of Miami’s Altman Undergraduate Fellows. She was nominated by Joseph Bates, assistant professor of English; Eric Goodman, professor of English and director of creative writing; and Cathy Wagner, professor of English and director of creative writing.

Eli Thompson, mathematics and statistics double major from Elyria. He co-authored a research proposal that won a Miami Undergraduate Research Award. He participated in an undergraduate research program devoted to math and biology at the University of North Carolina. He was nominated by Anna Ghazaryan, assistant professor of mathematics, and Louis DeBiasio, assistant professor of mathematics.

Madison Weber, supply chain management and marketing double major from Navarre. She is the founder and owner of Cowboys and Casinos LLC, located in Wells, Nevada. She is working for the Center for Business Excellence as an Ernst & Young fellow. She was nominated by Janice Taylor, senior lecturer and honors advisor; Dan Heitger, Ernst & Young Professor; and Brian Ballou, Deloitte & Touche Professor.