Radford University

The Virginia Sports Information Directors announced Tuesday afternoon that newcomer Ashlyn Traylor has been named the VaSID Freshman of the Year, making Traylor the first-ever Highlander to earn the award in the over 50-year history of the program.

After a five-year hiatus, as of April 10, 2023, Radford University again has a circle of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK). During a ceremony in the Bonnie Auditorium at the Hurlburt Student Center on campus, 31 students were inducted into the revitalized student organization. Dr. Jean Mistele, director of the Citizen Leader Program and professor in the mathematics and statistics department led efforts to restart the ODK circle at Radford University (RU). Her efforts were supported by team members Dr. Timothy Reed, vice president of membership and operations at ODK headquarters, Dr. Pamela Frasier, professor in the health and human performance department, Dr. Chapman Rackaway, chair and professor in the political science department, and Jacob May, Circle assistant and undergraduate student at Radford University. Mistele, Frasier and Rackaway were also inducted into Omicron Delta Kappa per national requirements. Mistele serves as Circle coordinator, and Frasier and Rackaway serve as faculty advisors. The unique mission of ODK is to recognize and encourage collaboration among collegiate leaders. The Society seeks to identify, celebrate, and engage collegiate and community leaders from different backgrounds, perspectives, and generations. Members enjoy scholarship opportunities, leadership development programs, access to a national network, and more. The eligibility requirements for ODK include: -Two semesters (one year) as a full-time student at Radford University. -Sophomore, junior, or senior standing. -A minimum grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 (sophomores), 3.5 (juniors), or 3.6 (seniors). -Exemplary character as evident by the submission of a resume and character references. -Achievement of special distinction in leadership.

The Radford University Office of Sponsored Programs and Grants Management (SPGM) has announced that Shala Cunningham, Ph.D., received a $24,049 external grant from Physiopedia Plus, LTD for the project, "Managing and supporting the ReLAB-HS project research activities for Physiopedia."

The Radford University Office of Sponsored Programs and Grants Management (SPGM) has announced that Sharon Gilbert, Ph.D., received a $100,000 external grant from the Virginia Department of Education for the project, "Virginia Consortium for Teacher Preparation in Early Childhood Special Education."

Facing a massive challenge with back-to-back tournaments and no break in between, Radford men's golfer Bryce Corbett rose to the occasion and has been rewarded with Big South Men's Golfer of the Week honors, the conference office announced Thursday afternoon.

Radford University presented 677 undergraduate and graduate degrees during the 2022 winter commencement exercises. On Dec. 9, 2022, graduate degrees were awarded and on Dec. 10, undergraduate degrees were awarded at the Dedmon Center on main campus in Radford, Virginia. This ceremony marked the first for President Bret Danilowicz to confer diplomas for departing Highlanders. Keynote speaker and alumna, Nicole Robinson '02, president of Ursa Space Systems, left the graduates much to think about, saying, "When you leave here today, see this as the first step into your life unimagined. Be open to the potential, the adventure, the unanticipated opportunities ahead." Robinson advised, "Life is truly about what you can't imagine. In fact, it isn't even about what happens to you but more about how you respond."

The Big South Conference announced Wednesday afternoon that Konstantinos Raptis has been named Big South Player of the Week for the second straight week after a flawless record in doubles and singles for the Highlanders.

On Saturday, March 4, three Radford University Graphic Design majors took home "Addys" at the Western Virginia Advertising Awards in Roanoke. Seniors Valerie Ray and Emily Woods, and junior Britiany Rorrer, earned two Judges Choice Awards plus three Gold and three Silver awards between them in the student competition. The competition is sponsored by Roanoke's chapter of the American Advertising Federation to recognize excellence and creativity in advertising across all media platforms. Winning entries are eligible to enter the District 3 awards contest which covers Virginia and the Carolinas. From there, winners can move on to the national competition. Valerie Ray garnered both a Gold and Judges Choice award in the Sales Promotion Packaging category for a fictional brewery, Backyard Brewing, that subtly played on the university's Highlander identity. "The idea was Kilt Guilt Scottish Ale would be their first nationally distributed beer," Ray explained, "so it needed unique packaging to be set apart from the dozens of other craft brews available." "I created a wicked rendition of the Loch Ness monster with a kilt hanging from its mouth to imply it must have eaten a Scotsman." Ray said the product came out of a course project and the most difficult part was physically constructing the beer caddy. She had to print and then apply the paper to a regular grocery store carrier by hand. In addition to this, Ray also picked up a Gold for her Burpee Seeds packaging and a Silver for Nichols and Sheppard advertising. Emily Woods's Silver Addy came from her work rebranding Lipton Tea that she produced last fall in her Packaging and 3D Design class. The project asked her to redesign the Lipton Tea logo and branding currently seen in stores. "We also had to design six tea packaging boxes that each would hold 20 tea packets," Woods said. "Each tea packet had a restriction of only using two colors. The project in total had over 120 mockups between the tea boxes and the tea packets." Britiany Rorrer also did very well at the competition. She won a Silver for her Nature Anatomy poster series and both a Gold and Judge's Choice award for "Cooking and Cuisine." Her entry was featured in the ceremony's official program as was Ray's Kilt Guilt.

A trio of Radford women's lacrosse players swept the weekly Big South awards for the past week of play, the conference office announced on Tuesday morning. Ashlyn Grogan (Offensive Player of the Week), Olivia Hunter (Defensive Player of the Week) and Mady Cheney (Freshman of the Week) were recognized for their performances following the Highlanders' two victories over Delaware State and Akron to wrap up non-conference play.

On the the final day of her adult health clinical rotation in the medical/surgical unit at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital, RUC nursing student Alivia Pinnix took extra time to ensure a patient felt heard throughout the day and had a safe space to allow a therapeutic conversation. As a result, she was nominated for a DAISY Award - an international honor recognizing skillful and compassionate care provision for patients and families.

The Big South Conference announced Wednesday afternoon that Konstantinos Raptis has been named Big South Player of the Week after his flawless singles and doubles record last week that led Radford to a pair of wins.

Radford men's basketball's DaQuan Smith has been named to the 2022-23 NABC Division I All-District 3 Second Team, the organization announced Tuesday morning.

Junior Art Education major Raeven Harris represented Radford University as the inaugural pre-service board member at the Virginia Art Education Association (VAEA) Winter Conference. She was selected from nominees from across the Commonwealth.

Senior Stephanie Sheline and sophomore Jackson Hunter have been selected as Radford's nominees for two awards given by the Virginias Collegiate Honors Council (VCHC). Radford has more past winners of these awards than any other institution.

Last month, Radford University Eminent Professor of Anthropological Sciences Donna Boyd, Ph.D., and senior anthropological sciences major Tori Pate presented their research on skeletal trauma at the American Academy of Forensic Sciences' 75th annual meeting in Orlando, Florida.

As part of her duties as a speech-language pathologist at Carilion New River Valley Medical Center, Jessica Cartwright Wisman '08, M.A. '10, consults with other healthcare professionals caring for hospitalized adults. Recently, her actions helped save a life which resulted in her being named a Carilion Clinic Healthcare Hero.

Radford women's soccer alumna Jessica Wollmann '19 was one of a select few student-athletes in the nation to be awarded an NCAA Postgraduate Scholarship.

Radford catcher Julian Rojas has been named to the 2023 Buster Posey National Collegiate Catcher of the Year Watch List, given to the top catcher in Division I, the Wichita Sports Commission announced last week.

The Big South Conference announced Tuesday afternoon their end of season awards list, which included Ashlyn Traylor being named Big South Freshman of the Year and Vanessa Blake also earning all-academic honors.

Dr. Heather Keith, executive director of faculty development at Radford University, co-authored a book, "Lives and Legacies of People with Intellectual Disability," that was included in Association of College and Research Libraries' CHOICE list of DEIA Resources.

On the strength of three shutdown performances, including two against top-25 foes, Radford senior Ty Burton has been named the Big South Relief Pitcher of the Week, the conference office announced Monday afternoon.

The Big South Conference announced Sunday afternoon that Ashlyn Traylor has been named the Big South Freshman of the Week, the seventh weekly award for Traylor who continues to set the bar higher and higher as the first Radford women's basketball player to ever win the award seven times in one season.

In only its second year, the Radford University mock trial team made incredible progress at the American Mock Trial Association regional tournament Feb. 18-19 at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, VA. Coach Don Martin, instructor of criminal justice, said the team has competed in only three in-person tournaments in the history of the program. In those tournaments, Radford's best performance was a one win and tie (out of eight possible ballots to win). At the regional tournament in February, Radford University's A team won four ballots and won in head-to-head competition against Lafayette and Elon. A total of five ballots are necessary to advance to the next stage of the playoffs, and the A team came close. The team lost by two ballots with a score of 99-97 and 98-96. The B team faced one of the best teams in the country, UVA, and perennial power house, Richmond. The team now turns it focus to preparing for next year, forming a student organization and recruiting incoming freshmen for next year.

Following an impressive outing at the Virginia Tech Challenge this past weekend, Raichelle Cornelius has been named the Big South Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced Wednesday afternoon.

Radford catcher Garrett Pancione has been named the Big South Freshman of the Week, the conference office announced Tuesday afternoon.

The Big South Conference announced Monday afternoon that Ashlyn Traylor has been named the Big South Freshman of the Week. It is the sixth weekly award for Traylor, who again makes history as the first Radford women's basketball player to ever win the award six times in one season.

Fifty Radford University students joined faculty and staff representatives, Board of Visitors members, and President Bret Danilowicz and First Lady Kay Danilowicz for the university's annual Advocacy Day. A tradition that is in its 23rd year, Advocacy Day allows students to share the importance of their state-supported education with General Assembly members and to ask elected representatives to consider voting for legislation that would benefit the university. Several students spoke across 12 different meetings over a three-hour span on Wednesday, Feb. 1, inside the Pocahontas Building in Richmond.

Radford University has released its Dean's List for Fall 2022. Appearing on the Dean's List is the most prestigious academic recognition RU students can receive for their performance during a semester. Students will be placed on the Dean's List if they meet four specific criteria. They must have 12 semester hours of coursework graded A-F; earn GPA's of at least 3.4 for courses not graded on a pass-fail basis; obtain no grade lower than "C"; and receive no incomplete grades.

Radford men's basketball guard DaQuan Smith has been named Big South Player of the Week for the second time this season, the conference office announced Monday afternoon.

The Big South Conference announced Monday afternoon that Ashlyn Traylor has been named the Big South Freshman of the Week, the fifth weekly award for Traylor who makes history as the first Radford women's basketball player to ever win the award five times in one season.