More than 130 students, faculty, staff and an alumnus were honored recently during Daytona State College's annual awards convocation. The convocation is the prelude to the college's commencement exercises, which will take place on Monday, May 14, at 2 and 6:30 p.m. at the Ocean Center.
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John M. Kunzer poses with his award's namesake Mrs. Margaret Crumley. |
The Margaret Crumley Award for Distinguished Achievement in Science was presented to John M. Kunzer. The annual award, first presented in 2001, honors an outstanding alumnus who achieved an associate degree from the College of Science at Daytona State. Mrs. Crumley established this award to honor her son, John, and husband, Thomas. Kunzer came through Daytona State College in the 1990s, earning an associate of arts degree with honors in the spring of 2000, and an Associate of Science in Photographic Technology degree with honors in 2001. He transferred to the University of South Florida, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology/Botany degree, and is employed as a park ranger at Tomoka State Park, where he directs interpretive programs and has recently launched an ambitious initiative to rid the park of invasive plant species. As a student and a work-study employee for the college’s Science Department, he was vital to the development of its Marine Institute. He curated all of the college’s marine mammal specimens and assembled the only herbarium collection in existence of the maritime plants of Volusia County. Kunzer is the only person ever to be nominated for the Margaret Crumley Award who has contributed materially to the development of new teaching resources for the Science Department and the college. Award recipients are nominated and selected by faculty of the Science Department and must be working in (or retired from) a science-related field, have used scientific knowledge to improve their community, and have distinguished themselves in their chosen field of science.
Students were recognized for their academic, community service and athletic achievements. Among the award winners, 14 were named to the Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges and 14 were inducted into the college’s Hall of Fame – the highest honor the faculty can bestow upon a student for excellence in scholarship, leadership and citizenship. The 2012 Hall of Fame inductees are: Cheryl Anne, Joan Burnette, Chloe D. Finocchio, Dantrell Johnson, Ingrid Laas, Kimble Medley, Toni Palumbo, Zena Remal Jennifer Sciarrino, Evan Shows, Elizabeth Strople, Lisa Swearingen, Peyton Walsh and Lindsay Workman
Selection to the Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges program is based upon academic excellence as well as contributions to the college and to the community. Students selected for 2012 are: Margaret Brescia, Kimberly J. Burgin, Erika Carlson, Lindsay Eatman, Maika Fernandez, Margaret Haller, Denise Hayes, John Hilton, Kimble Medley, Sharon E. Merwin, Toni Palumbo, Zena Remal, Lisa Swearingen and Michael Taylor.
View a complete listing of award winners on the Daytona State College website.
