Baylor Recognizes Nine Outstanding Students
The Baylor University Council for Institutional Development recently honored nine individuals as Outstanding Students during its fall meeting in the Hooper-Schaefer Fine Arts Center. The nine students represent Baylor's nine major academic areas.
Tashica Williams was named outstanding student from the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a graduate of Leilehua High School in Wahiawa, Hawaii. Williams' accomplishments include being named Outstanding Freshman Chemistry Major, member of the Gamma Beta Phi (honor society for students in the top 15 percent of their class) and the recipient of the national Iota Sigma Pi scholarship award for outstanding female chemistry majors. Williams, with a 3.985 grade-point average, retains an ongoing Dean's List membership. After graduation, Williams plans to attend graduate school at Cal Tech University.
Molly Melinda Tidwell was selected outstanding student of the Hankamer School of Business. Tidwell is from Buda, Texas. She is a member of Sigma Iota Epsilon, a management honor society, as well as the Golden Key National Honor Society and Sigma Delta Pi, a Spanish honor society. Tidwell has been involved with numerous extracurricular activities such as Order of Omega (top 3 percent of Greeks at Baylor academically), Welcome Week Min-con Leader (1995-96) and the Student-Alumni Alliance. Tidwell's long range plans are to pursue master's and doctorate degrees and teach at the university level.
Victoria Jane Wolfran was chosen outstanding student from the School of Education. Wolfran is a magna cum laude graduate of Springwoods High School in Houston. She has received a number of scholarships such as the Baylor Achievement Scholarship, the 1995 and the 1997 Knights Templar Educational Foundation Scholarship and the 1997 Corporate Hands Scholarship sponsored by Initiatives for Children, Inc. Wolfran maintains a 3.95 grade point
average and holds memberships in Golden Key National Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi international honor society for Education and Gamma Sigma Alpha Greek honor society. After graduation, Wolfrans plans include graduate study in education and teaching at the elementary level.
Christopher Ray Gammill was selected outstanding student from the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Gammill graduated as valedictorian of Caddo Parish Magnet High School in Shreveport, La., and came to Baylor as a national merit finalist. Gammill has maintained a 3.93 grade point average and will graduate in December 1997 with a bachelor of science degree in engineering. He has been active in the college ministry at Western Heights Baptist Church and has served as a summer missionary to the Philippines (summer 1996). Gammill is a member of Leadership Baylor and Golden Key National Honor Society. He plans to attend Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and ultimately serve as a missionary.
Cortan Howard Maddux was named outstanding student from the Baylor School of Law. Maddux received an undergraduate degree in history and political science at Baylor. He is originally from Enid, Okla., and also attended Oklahoma Bible Academy. Maddux has made the Dean's List numerous times and will graduate in the top 10 percent of his spring 1998 class. He has served as lead articles editor (fall 1997), assistant managing editor (spring 1997) and assistant lead articles editor (winter 1996-97) for the Baylor Law Review. The Baylor graduate has also participated in the Strasburger & Price Moot Court Competition as well as the Baylor in Guadalajara, Mexico, International Law Program (summer-fall 1996). After graduation, Maddux will clerk for the Honorable Harriet O'Neall and then hopes to serve as an associate for one of two law firms in Houston.
Susan Emily Stanton was chosen outstanding student for the School of Music. As a graduate of Brownwood High School in Brownwood, Texas, she currently maintains a 3.986 grade-point average. She has received several scholarships and honors including the Carr P. Collins Scholarship, the Baylor Presidential Scholarship and the Bennett Award for Outstanding Potential in Music Education (1997). Stanton is a member of Pi Kappa Lambda National Music Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, Golden Key National Honor Society and currently sings in the Baylor A Cappella Choir. Stanton plans to attend graduate school in the spring of 1998, receive certification in music therapy and continue work in practice with special needs children.
Lisa Marie Otto was named the outstanding student of the School of Nursing. Otto completed an undergraduate degree in nursing from Baylor and is currently a graduate student pursuing her master of science degree in patient care management from Baylor School of Nursing. She has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average while holding membership in numerous honorary nursing societies, including the American Nurses Association. Otto's experience ranges from work in the thoracic intensive care unit to administrative director for post acute services. After graduation, she plans to pursue a doctorate in nursing or an equivalent field.
Amy Pechacek Castello was selected outstanding student of the George W. Truett Seminary. She received her bachelor of arts degree in speech communications from Baylor in the spring of 1993. During her undergraduate study, Castello received the Valedictorian Scholarship. She was a member of the Honorary Society for Speech Communications Majors and The National Association for Training and Development. She has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average and is the recipient of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship Scholarship and the Truett Merit Scholarship.
Castello plans to enter a church-related ministry after graduation.
Steve Oldham was chosen as the outstanding student in the Graduate School. An Ennis, Montana native, he has maintained a 4.0 grade-point average and is a doctoral candidate in the area of Theological Studies. His accomplishments include summa cum laude honors at both the bachelor and master's level. Oldham received his bachelor of arts degree from Pillsbury College, a master of divinity degree from Central Baptist Seminary in Minneapolis and a master of theology degree from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, Minn. Oldham has served as 1996-97 vice president of the Baylor Graduate Theological fellowship. After completing his studies, he plans to teach theology and philosophy at a seminary or liberal arts university.