Anika Smith, a communication major, was awarded a President’s Medal by President Adam Weinberg in a ceremony that took place on Friday, April 15, in Swasey Chapel. The President’s Medal is the highest honor the college bestows on a student, given for academic success as well as for creating a legacy at Denison. Smith was one of only nine students to receive this honor.
In presenting the President's Medal to Smith, Professor of Philosophy and chair of the faculty Steven Vogel said of Smith, “Anika, your time at Denison has been one of passionate and deliberate engagement. You have been selective in your choices, both academic and co-curricular, and continually have made connections between theory and practice. Chosen as a Fellow in your major of communication you have been praised by department faculty for your initiative, research abilities, leadership, and group communication skills. Whether writing reflectively in a journaling assignment, delving into pieces on 'post humanism' or working with a group to synthesize Ghandi's ‘Philosophy of Hope,’ your work in the classroom has been thoughtful and a testament to your intellectual curiosity. Your research skills have not gone unnoticed either. Having your research paper accepted as a competitive reviewed paper for the Central States Communication Associa tion Annual Undergraduate Students Conference demonstrated your proficiency in that area. Your choices of commitments outside of the classroom have been thoughtfully made. You are known as a student who, once involved in a project, commits 110 percent. The Black Student Union, African Student Association, Paving the Way, Agape Christian Fellowship, Resident Hall staff, and the Slayter Information Desk have all benefitted greatly from your enthusiasm and leadership. Anika, we thank you for having made Denison a better place by your significant contributions to life on this campus, and we are proud to call you one of our own.”
