The Department of Natural Sciences at Concordia held its annual awards banquet on Friday, April 24. Students were recognized for exceptional work and contribution to the science department this year. Graduating seniors were also honored at the banquet.

Science career support scholarships were awarded to junior Joshua Allwardt of Frederick, Md., and sophomore Katelyn Peterson of Ord, Neb. These scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated great potential in the sciences early in their college education. The award is typically given to outstanding returning sophomores or juniors.

The Natural Sciences Scholarship, funded by current and emeriti faculty, is considered the department’s highest honor and is awarded to outstanding returning seniors. This year’s recipients were Jordan Donohoue of Manhattan, Kan., and Sarah Kortze of Rockford, Ill.

Evan Kucera, a senior from Waverly, Neb., received the Golden Scalpel award as the top student in Gross Anatomy, Concordia’s human cadaver dissection course.

Justin Lawrie of Headingly, Manitoba, and Katelyn Peterson of Ord, Neb., were recognized as outstanding freshmen in chemistry for their superior first-year performances in chemistry courses.

The department also recognized five outstanding lab assistants for the year. These included Samantha Lafontaine, senior, Hermantown, Minn., Matthew Mueller, senior, Elkhorn, Neb., Derek Neihardt, senior, Seward, Neb., Erienne TeSelle, senior, York, Neb., and Michael Tewes, senior, Lincoln, Neb.

Graduating seniors recognized at the banquet include:

Biology:

Jordan Ahl, B.S., Seward, Neb.

Wendy Boller, B.A., Dorchester, Neb.

Ashlee Brown, B.S., North Platte, Neb.

John Chatwell, B.S., Seward, Neb.

Kelsie Elder, B.S., Denver, Colo.

Nicolas Esser, B.S., Lincoln, Neb.

Mallory Hicks, B.A., Aurora, Colo.

Ethan Hutton, B.S., Norton Shores, Mich.

Alyssa Koch, B.A., Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Kimberly Miller, B.S., Mason City, Iowa

Sharie Moen, B.A., Florissant, Mo.

Ryan Sanft, B.S., Saint Louis, Mo.

Krista Schafer, B.S., Yuma, Colo.

Alicia Smith, B.S., Pleasant Dale, Neb.

Adam Strohschein, B.S., Annandale, Minn.

Mason Van Nostrand, B.S., Lincoln, Neb.

Joseph Weilnau, B.S., Monroe, Mich.

Ashley Willoughby, B.S. Ed., Fairfield, Iowa

Biology and chemistry:

Benjamin Fisher, B.S. Ed., Overton, Neb.

Evan Kucera, B.S., Waverly, Neb.

Samantha Lafontaine, B.S., Hermantown, Minn.

Derek Neihardt, B.S., Seward, Neb.

Erienne TeSelle, B.S., York, Neb.

Michael Tewes, B.S., Lincoln, Neb.

Chemistry:

Andrew Hatesohl, B.A., Clay Center, Kan.

Physical science:

Eric Fox, B.S., Smithville, Mo.

Daniel Klinge, B.S., Dubuque, Iowa

Physics:

Dawn Martin, B.S. Ed., Rockford, Ill.

Matthew Mueller, B.S. Ed., Elkhorn, Neb.

Nolan Schaefer, B.S., Lincoln, Neb.

Nick Thill, B.S., Littleton, Colo.

Heidi Wilkinson, B.S., Bloomington, Ind.