Joseph J. Foy, Ph.D. President | Benedictine University

On January 24, 2024, 19 Benedictine University students were honored with the prestigious Writing Excellence Award. The ceremony took place on the university's Lisle campus and recognized the remarkable achievements of undergraduate and graduate student writers, as well as their dedicated faculty sponsors who supported their writing projects during the Fall 2023 semester.

The range of award-winning writing projects showcased the diverse interests and talents of the student writers at Benedictine University. From cultural analysis to lab reports, argumentative papers to narrative essays, the recipients demonstrated their exceptional skills and dedication to their craft.

One of the recipients, Amina Ahmad, was awarded for her outstanding cultural analysis titled "Predator vs. Prey." Prof. Gregory Ott, her faculty sponsor, expressed his pride in Amina's work, stating, "Amina's analysis provides a unique perspective on cultural dynamics and sheds light on important societal issues."

Fatima Akhoon was another deserving recipient of the Writing Excellence Award. She was recognized for two exceptional pieces of writing. Her research paper titled "Jewish Views on Abortion" and lab report titled "Characterization of Phage Plattie: A lytic phage adopted from an apple tree soil sample" caught the attention of the committee. Prof. Bernarr Newman and Dr. Tiara Perez Morales served as her faculty sponsors respectively.

The Writing Excellence Award also recognized the achievements of Victoria Alvarado for her lab report on "Vibrio cholerae and biofilm formation by BipA regulation at different temperatures." Dr. Tiara Perez Morales, Victoria's faculty sponsor, commended her for her meticulous research and dedication to scientific inquiry.

The Writing Excellence Award was not limited to scientific and analytical writing. It also acknowledged the outstanding work of writers in the humanities. Katie Brill received recognition for her argument proposal titled "Life and Worth." Prof. Beth Sitter, Katie's faculty sponsor, praised her for her thought-provoking ideas and eloquent presentation.

The Writing Excellence Award also celebrated the talent of Kristen Cerney in her argumentative paper titled "Healthy or Harmful? Romantic Relationships with Artificial Intelligence." Dr. Jean-Marie Kauth, Kristen's faculty sponsor, described her work as insightful and engaging, highlighting her ability to critically analyze complex topics.

Huda Fatima's argument of existence titled "Anselm and Descartes on the Ontological Argument for the Existence of God" also earned her the Writing Excellence Award. Dr. Steven Burgess, Huda's faculty sponsor, commended her for her deep understanding of philosophical concepts and her ability to articulate complex ideas.

The Writing Excellence Award highlighted the exceptional analytical skills of Li Holley for her essay titled "Sensory Machines." Prof. Gregory Ott, Li's faculty sponsor, praised her for her keen observations and ability to delve into intricate details.

Danielle Holtz was recognized for her argument paper titled "I Resent My K-12 Education, But Future Students Do Not Have To." Dr. Jean-Marie Kauth, Danielle's faculty sponsor, applauded her for her compelling arguments and her commitment to improving the education system.

The Writing Excellence Award also acknowledged the research prowess of Sandra Labib for her research paper titled "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall." Dr. David Beran, Sandra's faculty sponsor, commended her for her thorough research and insightful analysis.

Anna Lakomiak received recognition for her cultural analysis titled "Double-Meaning and Dehumanization." Prof. Gregory Ott, Anna's faculty sponsor, praised her for her thought-provoking analysis and her ability to shed light on the complexities of cultural dynamics.

Hannah Loftus' narrative essay titled "Stuck in the Dark" was also honored with the Writing Excellence Award. Dr. Wendy Ward, Hannah's faculty sponsor, described her work as emotionally powerful and captivating.

The Writing Excellence Award also acknowledged the talent of Anthony Pena for his Advertising Analysis Essay. Prof. Beth Sitter, Anthony's faculty sponsor, commended him for his insightful analysis and his ability to critically evaluate advertising techniques.

Vanessa Raketic's close reading and commentary titled "Therese Lisieux on the Concept of Littleness" also earned her the Writing Excellence Award. Dr. Rita George-Tvrtkovic, Vanessa's faculty sponsor, praised her for her deep understanding of the literary text and her ability to provide nuanced insights.

The Writing Excellence Award recognized Isabel Rossi for her lab report titled "Investigating the ecological microclimates of Benedictine University Campus." Dr. Leigh Anne Harden, Isabel's faculty sponsor, commended her for her meticulous research and her contribution to the field of environmental science.

Madeline Russelburg's lab report on the "Host Infection Cycle of Canine Parvovirus" was also honored. Dr. Tiara Perez Morales, Madeline's faculty sponsor, applauded her for her scientific rigor and dedication to understanding the complex mechanisms of viral infections.

Delaney Schretter's philosophy reflection titled "Descartes: Doubt, Deception, and Dualism" also earned her the Writing Excellence Award. Dr. Steven Burgess, Delaney's faculty sponsor, commended her for her thought-provoking exploration of philosophical concepts.

Karlee Stuiber received recognition for her autoethnographic essay titled "The Crew." Prof. Gregory Ott, Karlee's faculty sponsor, praised her for her introspective writing and her ability to connect personal experiences with broader societal themes.

Hajira Syeda was honored for her literature review titled "Analysis of the Circulating Frequency of CD8+ Memory Stem Cells in Acquired Aplastic Anemia." Dr. Tiara Perez Morales, Hajira's faculty sponsor, commended her for her comprehensive analysis of the available literature and her contribution to the field of medical research.

Langston Walton's argument proposal titled "Gun Violence" also earned him the Writing Excellence Award. Prof. Beth Sitter, Langston's faculty sponsor, praised him for his compelling arguments and his ability to shed light on the urgent issue of gun violence.

The Writing Excellence Award recipients were congratulated for their remarkable achievements. Their dedication, research, and exceptional writing skills have not only made them stand out among their peers but also contributed to the academic and intellectual environment at Benedictine University.

To learn more about the Writing Program at Benedictine University and the outstanding work of its students, visit the university's website.

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