Sam Dunaway | News Editor
Leadership Recognition Night is an annual event that celebrates leadership and service at Western. The Delmer Dewey Outstanding Graduating Student award and the Julia McCulloch Smith Outstanding Graduating Student award are prized to two graduating individuals that show excellence in leadership, academics and contributions to Western.
Delmer Dewey Outstanding Graduating Student
The Delmer Dewey Outstanding Graduating Student award was presented to Carter Craig. Craig is a senior history major and member of the honors program. During his four years at Western, Craig was a Resident Assistant for one year, president of the Residence Hall Association for two years, a three-time member of the Incidental Fee Committee and chair of the committee in 2017 and a recent Alternative Break team member for the Costa Rica team. Craig notes that one of his favorite involvements on campus was with the Residence Hall Association.
“I have really enjoyed intentionally programming for my fellow students and the comradery among the other RHA Exec members,” commented Craig. “I think that same sense of community is also one of Western’s huge strengths.”
In his honors thesis, ‘‘To the Dishonor of God’: Religious Roots for Puritan Morality Laws During the Interregnum,’ Craig investigates the influence of religion on laws during the English Interregnum between 1653 and 1659.
“I am grateful to everyone who has supported me,” said Craig.
Julia McCulloch Smith Outstanding Graduating Student
The Julia McCulloch Smith Outstanding Graduating Student award was presented to Sara Madden. Madden is a senior social science major and member of the honors program. She is a student athlete who has competed in indoor and outdoor track and cross country for four years while sitting on the Student Athletic Advisory Committee. Madden is the president of Western’s chapter of the Phi Alpha Theta National History Honor Society and a member of the Phi Kappa Phi and Chi Alpha Sigma honor societies. Over all else, Madden has enjoyed being a student athlete at Western.
“It has such a family feel to it and has been very rewarding from the time and effort I have put in,” she explained.
Madden’s honors thesis, “The Secret War of WWII: Emmanuel Ringelblum and Jewish Resistance to Nazism in Warsaw 1943,” examines Jewish resistance during the Holocaust.
“I feel incredibly honored to receive this award,” Madden expressed. “Never in my wild dreams did I imagine receiving such an honor at this level; it’s truly remarkable.”
Contact the author at journalnews@wou.edu
Photo by: Paul F. Davis
