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 May 1.

The top student award—Lark of the Year—went to sophomore Jesse Kanagy, Lancaster, Pa., 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:

• Nursing Academic Achievement Award: Jennifer Komarek (Sedgwick, Kan.), Samantha Moss (Hillsboro, Kan.), Jara Strickland (El Dorado, Kan.), Isabelle Wortz (Hutchinson, Kan.).
• Admissions Outstanding Ambassador Award: Joy Jones (Lockhart, Texas), Phoebe Kolb (Milford, Neb.).
• Resident Assistants of the Year: Hayden Mead (Eureka, Kan.), Sadie Oesch (Caldwell, Idaho).
• Peer Educator Award: Trenton Canaan (Cheney, Kan.).
• Physical Education Award: Suzy Karako (Galena, Mo.).
• Clayton V. Beyler Award for Bible and Ministry students: Jesse Kanagy (Lancaster, Pa.).
• Daniel Gerber Peace and Service Award: Jessica Raharjo (Semarang, Indonesia), Ginny Miller (Harrisonburg, Va.), Jesse Kanagy (Lancaster, Pa.).
• Art Department Best in Show Award: Kezia Angeline (Semarang, Indonesia).
• Musician of the Year Award: Luke Huyard (Harrisonburg, Va.).
• Mariann Martin Award: Alexis Driscoll (Moundridge, Kan.).
• Yoder/Zaid Chemistry Scholarship: Kylee Ohman (Claremore, Okla.).
• Outstanding Natural Sciences Department Sophomore: Sadie Oesch (Caldwell, Idaho).
• International Student Outstanding Academic Achievement: Tobie Plett (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada), Smilla Burklin (Karlsruhe, German).
• Honors Scholar: Jesse Kanagy (Lancaster, Pa.).

Hesston College also gave awards to faculty during LarkFest.

• Teaching Rookie of the Year: Josh Cross, professor of art.
• Award for Teaching Excellence: Chandra Johnson, English as a second language program director, Joel Krehbiel, professor of physics and engineering.