The Distinguished Student Award is one of the top student honors given at OSU-Cascades and recognizes one graduating student in each degree area for outstanding achievement in academics and contribution to their field.
Elizabeth McKnight
Bend, Oregon
American Studies
From the faculty:
Libby's writing is insightful and touching. She has a great understanding of craft, and offered kind and beneficial feedback to her peers. She took on a leadership role in the Cascades Writing Club, bringing a great sense of camaraderie and belonging to the group and to her classes. Her family has been in Bend for generations, and she has an intimate tie to this community and to this landscape. Her job should be to write this place. We look forward to reading that.
Marley Weedman
Bend, Oregon
Art
From the faculty:
Marley's execution and delivery were unrivaled among the art cohort. Her constant involvement in the community, arts organizations, and advocacy helped her fellow students excel. Based on her artist portfolio and standards in the classroom, Marley set herself apart time and time again. After graduating, she will continue working as a teaching artist for Arts for Learning Northwest and as the social media manager and special programming manager at Scalehouse Collaborative for the Arts.
Wyatt Hernandez
Sisters, Oregon
Arts, Media and Technology
From the faculty:
Wyatt’s professionalism, work ethic and attention to detail make him the Distinguished Student for AMT. The level of dedication to improvement and seeking to better his portfolio and individual works was constant. Matched with Wyatt’s drive for a career in the arts, we have no doubt that he will go on to have a successful trajectory of making.
MiCayla Johnson
Bend, Oregon
Biology
From the faculty:
MiCayla was an excellent student, an excellent peer leader and a genuinely extraordinary individual. She was a tireless worker, participating in undergraduate research and served as a peer teaching assistant in upper-division courses while continuing her progress toward her degree. We are all thrilled that MiCayla is this year’s recipient of our Distinguished Student award and know she will go on to accomplish great things.
Ruijing Chen
Redmond, Oregon
Business Administration
From the faculty:
Ruijing has a high GPA, is active in extracurricular activities on campus, is a peer advisor for TRIO students and an officer of the Business Club, and works with the Master’s in Counseling and Teaching programs as a student worker. She is one of a handful of our students who volunteered to paint tiny houses for the Veteran’s Village development. She is also a student representative on the OSU Strategic Planning Committee and has been actively involved in that important area of service to the university.
Orion Junkins
Bend, Oregon
Computer Science
From the faculty:
Orion's research focused on harnessing the power of machine learning and data science to predict river levels accurately. The potential implications of his work span diverse areas such as water resource management, drought mitigation, flood prediction and enhancing outdoor recreation safety. Orion's research garnered recognition through publication at the 2022 7th International Conference on Frontiers of Signal Processing. Upon completing his undergraduate studies, he plans to pursue a master's degree in machine intelligence at ETH in Zurich, Switzerland.
Casey Heiskell
Bend, Oregon
Energy Systems Engineering
From the faculty:
Casey Heiskell and Kaitlin Brunik share this year's ESE award. During their time here, this inseparable duo earned the highest marks in all our classes, performed research on wind turbine control through machine learning, and developed an energy-focused programming club. Their colleagues and the faculty describe them as hardworking, helpful and downright funny. Casey and Kaitlin have supported and pushed each other in such a way that they have grown and learned much more than they would have independently, so it was only fair that they share this honor.
Kaitlin Brunik
Redmond, Oregon
Energy Systems Engineering
From the faculty:
Casey Heiskell and Kaitlin Brunik share this year's ESE award. During their time here, this inseparable duo earned the highest marks in all our classes, performed research on wind turbine control through machine learning, and developed an energy-focused programming club. Their colleagues and the faculty describe them as hardworking, helpful and downright funny. Casey and Kaitlin have supported and pushed each other in such a way that they have grown and learned much more than they would have independently, so it was only fair that they share this honor.
Lauren Noyes
Central Point, Oregon
Environmental Sciences
From the faculty:
Lauren started at OSU-Cascades as an exploratory major, but quickly learned she wanted to focus on Environmental Sciences. After a classroom visit from the local nonprofit Discover Your Forest, she secured an internship leading elementary students on environmental education hikes around Mt. Bachelor. She has learned many valuable skills through hands-on courses. Lauren has also been active in the campus Natural Sciences Club. After graduating, Lauren will work for the Oregon Department of Forestry.
Samantha Nicholl
Redmond, Oregon
Hospitality Management
From the faculty:
Samantha is a three-time recipient of the Robin and Curt Baney Hospitality Management Student Scholarship. She also received the OSU Finely Academic Excellence Scholarship. During her time at OSU, she was a program coordinator for student events and helped plan Welcome Week, Fermentation Education, Diversity Week and OSU-Cascades grad night. Sam also engaged in an internship with Brasada Ranch and her faculty received great reviews of her performance there.
Marlene Peraza Murguia
Redmond, Oregon
Human Development and Family Sciences
From the faculty:
Marlene excelled in all of her classes. She completed her internship at the Latino Community Association and was hired as an employee. After completing a project in her Research Methods class, Marlene decided to take it to the next level. She is conducting research dedicated to understanding the maternal mental health experiences of Latina mothers here in Central Oregon. Marlene was awarded a Layman Fellowship and LCA also supported her project. She is also the president of the OSU-Cascades Society for the Advancement of Chicanos/Hispanics and Native Americans in Science (SACNAS) chapter.
Lauren Vennes
Portland, Oregon
Kinesiology
From the faculty:
Lauren has an exceptional work ethic and enthusiasm for learning. She demonstrates quality work in every aspect of her academic efforts. Lauren’s positive attitude is an inspiration for other students and facilitates an enjoyable working and learning environment.
Tanner Cherry
Redmond, Oregon
Liberal Studies
From the faculty:
Tanner impressed faculty with his insightful contributions and his ability to connect his studies with personal and professional interests. In our Cultural Codes in Communication course, he studied the Vietnam War and identified what he termed the "code of silence" that kept and keeps some veterans from telling their military stories with anyone who is not a veteran. Tanner also delivered an excellent research project presentation that examined the rhetoric leading up to the war in Ukraine. In another class, he gave a striking presentation on the role of Ukrainian musicians in raising awareness and protesting Ukraine war. This work is all tied to his goal of becoming a counselor working with veterans.
Arrielle Kealoha Kidd
Bend, Oregon
Natural Resources
From the faculty:
Arrielle was selected for this award based on her GPA, classroom interaction, professional development and service. She brought a unique natural resources perspective from her worldview as a descendant of Native Hawaiian ancestors. Arrielle has a particular interest in incorporating traditional knowledge into natural resources management. She completed a restoration project on Kalapuya Tribal lands with the Corvallis Sustainability Coalition and worked with the Klamath Tribes as a ranger with the National Park Service. Arrielle’s hard work has landed her a permanent position with the U.S. Forest Service.
Brendan Lewis
Sisters, Oregon
Outdoor Products
From the faculty:
Brendan epitomizes the spirit of the Outdoor Products program. He is curious about the interconnectedness between innovation, design, operations and business. He won a nationally competitive search for the Hydroflask internship as part of his experiential learning requirements. Brendan is now continuing his journey as a full-time employee with Algofy where he manages outdoor accounts ranging from local (Puffin, BlackStrap, CVT, Earthcruiser) to global brands.
Myra Flores
Redmond, Oregon
Social Science
From the faculty:
Myra earned the Distinguished Student Award because of her superior academic performance, her work as a campus leader, and her well-defined research agenda that has helped prepare her for graduate school. She served as the ASCC Director of Legislative Affairs, and her research is highlighted by a Layman Fellowship where she investigated perceptions of inclusivity and diversity among people of color in Bend. Myra is applying to law schools and her future will be centered around advocating for underserved communities.
Ashley Davidson
Bend, Oregon
Teaching (Elementary Education)
From the faculty:
Ashley is a thoughtful and reflective educator who always goes above and beyond expectations. Not only are her academics exemplary, Ashley exudes enthusiasm for her students and for teaching. In short, Ashley is thoughtful, open-minded and models the notion of continuous improvement — a highly desirable trait for all teachers.
Elizabeth Crandall
Bend, Oregon
Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership
From the faculty:
Liz holds one of the highest GPAs of graduating seniors and most importantly has been one of the most engaged students throughout her time at OSU-Cascades. She has pushed the program to grow and develop by providing a fresh and diverse perspective on what it means to be a leader and outdoor educator. Liz has not only excelled in school, she has also sought out opportunities within her field, including with the U.S. Forest Service and Think Wild.
Jason Batacan-Wilson
Redmond, Oregon
Master of Counseling: Clinical Mental Health
From the faculty:
Jason is engaged, curious and prepared. His care and respect for his clients is apparent. Jason's genuineness in counseling sessions truly reflects what it means to be an authentic counselor. His greatest contributions can be summed up in one word: advocacy. Jason amplifies the importance of inclusive practices and spaces. Jason is also an active member of the Central Oregon Behavioral Health Consortium and serves as the student representative.
Caroline Hager
Sisters, Oregon
Master of Counseling, School Counseling
From the faculty:
Within the classroom environment, Caroline is an engaged and active contributor. She possesses strong interpersonal skills that contribute to cohesion and community among her cohort and a strong grasp of the school counseling curriculum. Caroline embodies the four pillars of OSU-Cascades: delivering innovative school counseling interventions, promoting health and wellness for students, embracing a commitment to sustainability, and engaging in social justice on behalf of students.
Imke Wernicke Berger
Las Vegas, Nevada
Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing
From the faculty:
Imke’s stellar work during her thesis term was generative, sophisticated and engaged. As she explored the difficult terrain of history, identity and family experience, Imke challenged herself to question received perceptions and think in more nuanced, complex ways. The result is a startling, complex collection of poems. Imke also contributed time and effort to the program, going beyond what was expected by creating an MFA Program Newsletter that highlighted faculty and other students' voices.
Molly Knight
Bend, Oregon
Master of Arts in Teaching: Elementary Education
From the faculty:
Molly is uniquely poised to best support all students with endorsements in Elementary Education, Middle School Mathematics, and English for Speakers of Other Languages. Her students’ lives will be enriched by the level of dedication, skill and love she brings to the classroom. She worked with faculty and cooperating teachers to ensure students left her class with a positive image of themselves as mathematicians along with confidence in their ability to solve problems in and out of the school.
Kathryn Simpson
Bend, Oregon
Master of Arts in Teaching: Secondary Education
From the faculty:
Katie has consistently gone above and beyond throughout her time at OSU-Cascades — so much so that a local middle school hired her before the end of her teaching program. Katie has handled the challenge of a full-time teaching job while completing her graduate degree with a steadfast attitude and high achievement. She knows math is a subject anyone can understand, and she hopes to be a teacher who can meet students where they are and instill confidence.