RADFORD – Radford University Provost Wil Stanton presented awards to six outstanding faculty and staff members during the university’s convocation on Thursday.

Each year the RU Foundation bestows awards upon faculty and staff for their exceptional individual performances. In addition, the Foundation allows each award recipient to select an outstanding RU student who will receive a scholarship in the recipient’s name.

Associate Professor of Physics Rhett Herman is the recipient of the 2007 Donald N. Dedmon Professorial Award. The award, established in 1978, recognizes a faculty member who is dedicated to teaching as a primary function and demonstrates excellence in teaching and advising students. Herman has been a member of the RU physics faculty for nearly 11 years and is known  for engaging students in research.

Herman chose physics majors Jarrad Miller of Linden and Caleigh Samuels of Burke to share a scholarship in Herman’s name.

(IN THE ACCOMPANYING PHOTOS: Award winners are pictured with RU President Penelope W. Kyle and Provost Wil Stanton following the award presentations at last Thursday's convocation.)

Professor of Music Bruce Mahin received the 2007 Award for Creative Scholarship. The award was established to recognize faculty who have a consistent and sustained record of creative contributions to their academic discipline. Mahin joined the RU faculty in 1989 and has been a dedicated teacher, adviser and administrator while remaining professionally active in the field of music. Mahin is an accomplished composer and performer. He was in residence as research fellow at University of Glasgow (Scotland) in 1996. He is a former president of the Southeastern Composers League, a former co-chair of the Society of Composers Region 3, and the recipient of awards from Meet the Composer and the Virginia Commission for the Arts. His works are available on compact disc through Capstone Recordings and published in score by Pioneer Percussion, Ltd.

Mahin selected music major Daniel Jenkins of Roanoke to receive a scholarship in his honor.

Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders Claire M. Waldron is the recipient of the 2007 Distinguished Service Award. Waldron is the immediate past president of the Faculty Senate and former faculty representative to the Board of Visitors.

Communication sciences and disorders major Samantha Harner of Bland will receive a scholarship in Waldron’s honor.

Lisa McDaniel, manager of the Walker Technology Center for Academic Computing, received the 2007 Anna Lee Stewart Award for Contributions to Faculty Development. McDaniel has worked in the Department of Academic Computing since 2000, coordinating the general purpose computer labs throughout campus.

McDaniel chose Joel Brown of Virginia Beach, an information science and systems major, to receive a scholarship in her honor.

Professor of Psychology Dianne Friedman was the recipient of the Distinguished Faculty Adviser award. Friedman developed and directs the Psychology Advising Center, which is devoted to advising all new psychology majors during their first year in the program.

Pre-nursing major Lakea Patterson of Danville will receive a scholarship in Friedman’s honor.

Donna M. Dunn, advising coordinator for the College of Education and Human Development, received the 2007 Distinguished Professional Advising Award. Dunn was recognized for her role as a higher education adviser who supports the academic environment through providing sound advice and guidance to students concerning academic and developmental issues.

Dunn selected education major Keith Thomas of Roanoke to receive a scholarship in her honor.