Carroll College - Helena, MT

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Carroll Commencement 2008: College Graduates 281 and Confers Awards on Outstanding Students, Faculty and Community Members

May 14, 2008

On Saturday, May 10, 2008, Carroll College (Helena, Mont.) conferred degrees on 281 graduates during its 98th Commencement ceremony.

During the ceremony, the college announced several awards to faculty, students and outstanding citizens. The 2008 Distinguished Scholar Award was presented to Dr. Jennifer Geiger, associate professor of biology at Carroll and a National Science Foundation-funded researcher studying the origin of Hawaiian fern species.

The 2008 Outstanding Teaching Award was conferred upon Dennis Wiedmann, long-time Carroll professor of political science. The college's newly inaugurated Faculty Career Achievement Award was presented to Dr. Richard Lambert, professor of philosophy. A Carroll faculty member since 1970, Lambert recently published a book, "Self Knowledge in Thomas Aquinas: The Angelic Doctor on the Soul's Knowledge of Itself."

The commencement ceremony also included the conferral of the title professor emerita of mathematics on Marie M. Vanisko, class of 1967, who taught for over 30 years in Carroll's Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering. Her career includes appointments at the United States Military Academy and the University of California, Stanislaus.

In addition, the college announced the appointment of two faculty members to endowed professorships. History Professor and award-winning historian and author Robert R. Swartout, Jr., was named Carroll's first holder of the Fr. William F. Greytak Professorship in History and the Humanities. In addition to his 30-year career at Carroll, he has distinguished himself as a leading scholar of East Asian and Montana history.  Professor of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering, John L. Scharf was named as the first holder of the Byron and Irene Roberts and Albert and Marie Nix Professorship in Engineering. Scharf has served at Carroll since 1976 and is the longtime chair of the college's Department of Mathematics, Computer Science, and Engineering. He has also served as interim vice president of Academic Affairs. 

Monsignor Kevin O'Neill of the Diocese of Helena presented Carroll College's Borromeo Award for outstanding community service on Irene Roberts of Helena. Roberts has served on the board of Helena Food Share and as a co-chair for Carroll College's IMPACT campaign, among many other volunteer efforts.

The college conferred an honorary doctor of arts degree on Western artist Robert F. Morgan of Helena. The award, presented by Carroll Associate Professor of Fine Arts Chuck Driscoll, recognized Morgan's accomplishments in portraying the greatness of the West and of his native Montana through his paintings, drawings, murals and sculptures.

The Bishop Gilmore Memorial Trophy for Outstanding Scholarship for seniors carrying the highest grade-point average after four years at Carroll was awarded to three students:

Benjamin Ejli Noland of Geyser, Mont.

Scott Robert Milch of Billings, Mont.

Veronica L. Hagfeldt of Scobey, Mont.

The Michael Murphy Award for outstanding collegiate citizenship went to Kevin Jam of Red Lodge, Mont. Jam also delivered the class of 2008 response speech at the commencement ceremony. During his Carroll career, Jam participated in seven Campus Ministry Headlights Immersion Service trips in major U.S. inner-cities, Montana and Guatemala. Kevin was also avidly involved with Carroll Student Ambassadors, the Associated Students of Carroll College, new student orientation, Men Upholding the Dignity of Women on Campus and Big Brothers Big Sisters. He also worked as a community advisor in a campus residence hall.