88th-annual Honors Convocation

The academic, creative and community achievements of Hanover College’s students and faculty were acknowledged during the 88th-annual Honors Convocation. The traditional event, which features the senior class and faculty in full academic regalia, was held April 10 in Fitzgibbon Recital Hall, Lynn Center for Fine Arts.

Nearly 50 students were recognized during the program, highlighted by seniors Raj Sharma ’25, Lexi Traylor ’25, Annalise Bassett ’25 and Ethan Geraci ’25. Top faculty honors were presented to Steven Newman and Beatrice Marovich.

PHOTO GALLERY

Sharma, a psychology major, received the Henry C. Long Citation for Scholarship and General Excellence. A well-known member of the campus community, has served as a member of Student Senate, Archery Club, Art Club, Engineering Club, International Club, Looking Back Moving Forward, Psychology Club, Rhythm and Poetry, Sci-Fi and Fantasy Club, Tabletop Club and Ultimate Frisbee.

Traylor, a double major in English and communication, earned the John Finley Crowe Citation for Scholarship and General Excellence and the Alpha Lambda Delta Award. She was also presented with the Distinguished Award in Communication, Dorothy S. Bucks Award in English and Aubra Jade Hiland Award for Creative Writing during the hour-long program. A member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority, she also serves as a Gladish Learning Center tutor and member of Student Senate, Mortar Board, Hanover Historical Review and Kennings Literary Journal.

Bassett and Geraci each received the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Award, which is presented annually to recognize outstanding service to the campus community and the community at large.

Bassett, a political science major, is a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and Panhellenic Council. She has also held campus leadership positions with Love Out Loud and Hanover Kings and Queens, and been a member of the Feminist Club, PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) and Yarn Crafting Club.

Geraci, a double major in environmental geology and English, has served as a Peer Advisor and Peer Mentor and held memberships in Student Senate, Beta Beta Beta, Environmental Stewardship Committee, Gardening Club, Geology Club, Green Panthers and Ultimate Frisbee. He also received the Dorothy S. Bucks Award in English and Distinguished Award in Geology during the convocation.

Newman and Marovich were honored for their efforts in the classroom with Hanover’s top awards for teaching and scholarly activities.

Newman, assistant professor of kinesiology and integrative physiology, was presented with the Arthur and Ilene Baynham Outstanding Teaching Award. Established by the College in 1969, the honoree is selected by a ballot of currently enrolled students and alumni from the past two graduating classes. To be eligible, a faculty member must be in at least the fourth year of teaching at the College.

Newman, who became a member of Hanover’s faculty in 2021, teaches courses in physiology, human anatomy and medical imaging. He also serves as director of both Hanover’s health and movement studies program and the human anatomy laboratory.

He earned a doctoral degree in science education at Indiana University. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Cincinnati.

Marovich, assistant professor of theological studies and department chair, received the Daryl R. Karns Award for Scholarly and Creative Activity. The award, named for the biology professor who died in 2011, recognizes sustained scholarly or creative achievement. Faculty members nominate colleagues for the award, which are sent to three judges at liberal arts colleges similar to Hanover.

Marovich, who joined the College’s faculty in 2016, focuses her research and writing on living, dying and dreaming in an animal body. She has taught such courses as “Religion and Science,” “Religion, Ethics and the Earth,” “God, Death and the Afterlife” and “Theology and the Human Condition.” Her 2023 book, “Sister Death: Political Theologies for Living and Dying,” earned Drew University’s 2024 Bela Kornitzer Alumni Award.

She earned a doctorate at Drew University and a master’s degree at the Vancouver School of Theology. She received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan.

88th-annual Honors Convocation award recipients: