West Virginia Wesleyan College recognized seniors Katherine Casey, Jordan Danko, Kortney Frame, Audrey Chefang Kemseu, Aaron Kessler, Bronnie Stroud, and Mason Winkie as its 2017 Outstanding Seniors during the Academic and Leadership Awards Assembly held on April 22. The seven were nominated by Wesleyan faculty and staff and chosen based upon scholastic performance and significant leadership in a variety of academic and co-curricular activities.

 

Mason Winkie of Bridgeport graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry and psychology. He was named Wesleyan’s 14^th Fulbright Scholar, traveling to the Czech Republic this summer. He was a semi-finalist for the Fulbright ETA Award, trained magistrate court mediator, LEAP Bronze and Silver level certificate holder, a member of Alpha Lambda Delta honorary, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Psi Chi Society, National Society of Leadership and Success, Hyma Scholar, and received the Wesleyan Spirit Award his freshman year. He was sophomore class president, a student leader for the Outdoor Recreation Freshmen Challenge Course, a member of the curriculum council, Student Success Subcommittee, and the WE LEAD Appalachian Experience Team. He served the West Virginia DeMolay as a state president/VP and Adult Youth Group Advisor. He traveled to Vietnam and Cambodia for Southeast Asia Social Work and Public Health and to Northern Ireland as an Irish American Scholar.Winkie was also recognized as an Outstanding Peer Leader by the CCE Office. 

 

Katherine Casey of North Canton, Ohio graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in psychology. She was a member of Leadership Exploration through Applied practice (LEAP) program, Alpha Delta Pi, women’s golf team as captain, Student Athletic Advisory Committee, Psi Chi, and Senior Council.  During her time at Wesleyan, she served as student ambassador and interned for both the WVWC Center for Community Engagement & Leadership Development (CCE) and the Student Success Center.  She also worked as an intern for the Alpha Delta Pi Executive Office. She was active in the Honors Program and presented at the Mid-Atlantic Undergraduate Research Conference multiple times, winning first place in the Humanities division this past semester. Casey also was named the Outstanding Peer Leader in the CCE Office and Greek Woman of the Year by Greek Life. 

 

Chefang Kemseu of Vaucresson, France graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in political science and history. She was a member of the International Student Organization, Wesleyan Concert Chorale, Black Student Union, Alpha Xi Delta sorority, Pi Sigma Alpha and Kappa Mu National Criminal Justice honorary. She served as president of the International Student Organization, awards and elections chair of Wesleyan Student Senate, and WVWC student ambassador for the Admissions Office. She participated in Habitat for Humanity in New Orleans, LA and Brunswick, GA. Chefang Kemseu was recognized as the International Student Ambassador from the Intercultural Relations Office and received the Vijaya Rao Global Awareness Award. 

 

Jordan Danko of Ravenswood is a senior elementary education major. She is pursuing her master’s in education and plans to graduate in 2018. She is a member of the Honors Program, Student Education Association, and the Religious Life Council. She serves as a Wesleyan Ambassador and is part of the leadership team of the United Intervarsity.Danko also received the Dr. Ruth Mansberger Shearer Education Award and the Sheridan Watson Bell in Religious Studies.  

 

Kortney Frame of Troy is a cum laude graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in chemistry, was a Wesleyan Service Scholar, WE LEAD coordinator for three peer-led social justice teams, and served as the WE LEAD poverty Reduction Team leader. In July 2015, she worked as a leader for Oxfam Change and served as intern in the summer of 2016. She is a member of Alpha Lambda Delta and  completed her bronze level in the Leadership Exploration through Applied practice (LEAP).  She has worked part-time since 2013 as a pharmacy technician at CVS and as a certified pharmacy technician since 2015.Frame also received Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award from the CCE.

 

Aaron Kessler of Cowen graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in biochemistry. He was vice president for Theta Chi fraternity and served as the president of his junior and senior class councils. He is a member of Phi Kappa Phi honor society and participated in the Benzene Ring and Love your Melon organizations. A member of the track and field and cross country teams in his freshman and sophomore years, he also worked as a chemistry lab teaching assistant all four years. In the fall, he was crowned Homecoming King. He also was named Greek Man of the Year by Greek Life.

 

Bonnie Stroud of Williamsburg graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts degree in music and computer science. He was a member the Honors Program, the Concert Chorale, Concentus Vocum, and the Jazz Septet. He served as a Wesleyan Service Scholar in the CEE Office, earned a bronze level LEAP certificate, and worked as a computing service technology assistant during his time at Wesleyan. He participated in a number of musical theatre productions.   

 

Editor's Note: Mason Winkie is pictured, second from left, when he was named WVWC's 14th Fullbright Scholar.