Students recognized for academic and leadership achievements at LarkFest

Lark of the Year winner Alisha Dorsing and Vice President of Academics Dr. Carren Moham
Posted on by Larry Bartel

Hesston College students and faculty were recognized for their achievements in academics and leadership during LarkFest Awards ceremony, held in the Hesston Mennonite Church sanctuary on April 29.

The top student award—Lark of the Year—went to sophomore Alisha Dorsing, Othello, Wash., for excellence in leadership, academics and service. Students are nominated for Lark of the Year by the Hesston Experience team and the recipient is chosen by a faculty vote.

Other student award winners include:

  • Admissions Outstanding Ambassador Award: Paton Buller (Mountain Lake, Minn.), Alisha Dorsing, and Phoebe Kolb (Milford, Neb.).
  • Bill Mason Business Scholarship (Receive a $2,500 scholarship for their sophomore year of business study at Hesston): David Duncan (Wichita, Kan.), Derick Fonseca (San Pedro Sula, Honduras), Jovan Suarez (Salina, Kan.) and Fikir Yemane (Addis Ababa, Ethiopia).
  • Student Development Officer Awards (For students who call alumni during Phonathon): Rrok Topalli (Lezhe, Albania) and Rozario Zogu (Lezhe, Albania) for the most money brought in.
  • Clayton V. Beyler Award for Bible and Ministry students: Bethany Masters (Dundee, Ohio).
  • Daniel Gerber Peace and Service Award: Sara Bianchi (Trento, Italy) and Rrok Topalli.
  • Art Department Ceramics Excellence Award: Lys Nolt (Dalton, Ohio).
  • Art Department Ceramics Heart & Soul Award: Mari Gerber (Dallas, Texas).
  • Art Department Drawing Excellence Award: AnDena Collins (Hutchinson, Kan).
  • Art Department Overall Excellence Award: Kezia Angeline (Semarang, Indonesia).
  • Honors Program Graduates: Alisha Dorsing and Lys Nolt.
  • Musician of the Year Award: Kelly Miller (Archbold, Ohio).
  • Peer Educator Award: Dara Ness (Goddard, Kan.).
  • Physical Education Award: Ethan Hildebrand (Stafford, Kan.).
  • Nursing Resilience Award: The Graduating Class of 2022.
  • Yoder/Zaid Scholarship (Awarded to a chemistry student who shows promise): Sadie Oesch (Caldwell, Idaho).
  • Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (Given to graduating international students with a 4.0 GPA): Jessica Raharjo (Semarang, Indonesia).
  • Resident Assistants of the Year: Fortesa Hysenaj (Istog, Kosovo) and Camden Knight (Garden City, Kan.).

Hesston College also gave awards to faculty during LarkFest.

  • Teaching Rookie of the Year: Johann Reimer, professor of engineering.
  • Award for Teaching Excellence: Marelby Mosquera Jensen, professor of biology and chemistry.

Hesston College will celebrate an in-person commencement weekend on May 13 to 15. Visit hesston.edu/commencement for details.