Lemoore grad earns academic, leadership award at Newman University

Lemoore High School graduate Courtney Ford-Sartin was one of those students earning accolades. Courtney, a member of Lamda Pi Eta, earned a student leadership award from Newman University.

Newman University is a Catholic university named for John Henry Cardinal Newman and found by the Adorers of the Blood of Christ for the purpose of empowering graduates to transform society.

 The university-wide event is presented each year to acknowledge superior performance by students, and includes recognition of honor society inductees, campus leaders, students selected for this year’s Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, and top scholars in business, information technology, education, science, nursing and other academic disciplines.

 Students Daniella Buedden from Broken Arrow, Okla., and Gabriella M. Rizzi of Blue Springs, Mo., received the prestigious St. Catherine Medal, which is awarded annually to a sophomore or junior who has demonstrated outstanding service to the university, and has established an excellent record for scholastic achievement. This is the first time the medal has been awarded to two students.

 The Newman Academic Honors and Awards Convocation also featured the announcement of the Teaching Excellence Award to Associate Professor of Criminal Justice and Chair of the Social Sciences Jill Fort, Ph.D. The award is presented each spring to a full-time faculty member who has demonstrated an innovative or dynamic approach to courses, course revisions, and teaching techniques. The recipient has the honor of speaking at the following spring commencement ceremony.