The President’s Award for Exceptional Creative Achievement

The President’s Award for Exceptional Creative Achievement was established in 1953 by Dr. Martin D. Jenkins, President of what was then Morgan State College, and the tradition has been continued to encourage and give recognition to the expression of worthwhile original ideas among the students of the university. It is intended that this award will go to that member of the graduating class who has made an exceptional contribution of a creative nature.

One of the most important functions of an institution of higher education is to stimulate the development of original ideas. Although major contributions are hardly to be expected, certainly the techniques of creative thought and the habit of expressing original ideas should be developed during the undergraduate days. The budding techniques and habits so developed, it is hoped, will come to fruition in post-university years.

The Award for Exceptional Creative Achievement may go to a student who makes a creative contribution in any field or area. The winner of the President’s Award for Exceptional Creative Achievement is selected by a faculty committee. Departments and individual faculty members are invited to submit nominations for the award through the appropriate department chairperson. Nominations are supported by adequate description of the nominee’s achievement.

Previous Recipients of the Award

1953
Clifton Sands – Chemistry

1954
Clara Adams – Chemistry

1955
Gilbert Ware – Political Science

1956
John H. Onley – Chemistry
Paul M. Neale – Music

1957
Franklin D. Tucker – Psychology

1958
Raymond B. Webster – Psychology

1959
No Award Made

1960
Donald C. Gwynn – Art Education

1961
Vasily C. Cateforis – Mathematics

1962
Oliver P. Scott Art – Education

1963
Thomas E. Arthur – Music

1964
Earl Russell Barnes – Mathematics
Stephen H. Foreman – English

1965
Germaine Dennaker – Biology

1966
Harmon Watson – English

1967
Preston H. Winkler – History

1968
Michael E. Cryor – Psychology

1969
Joseph Kokosinski – Physics

1970
Joseph C. Dorsey – Modern Languages

1971
Gregory A. Shannon – Psychology

1972
Gayle L. Martin – Chemistry

1973
No Award Made

1974
Sandra Swann – Psychology

1975
Barbara Armstead – Biology

1976–77
No Award Made

1978
Anita Joyce Willis – Psychology

1979
No Award Made

1980
Evette E. Strothers – Theatre Arts

1981
No Award Made

1982
Alpha J. Williams – Telecommunications

1983
Karl Thompson – Physics

1984
No Award Made

1985
Curtis L. Jones – Physics, Engineering Physics

1986–93
No Award Made

1994
Weyden Wedderburn – Electrical Engineering

1995–96
No Award Made

1997
Kim Sydnor – Psychology

1998
No Award Made

1999
Akilah L. Boomer – Biology

2000
Andrea Jones – Psychology

2001
Malini M. Jagdel – Biology

2002
Tanika Allen – Chemistry

2003
Vernon Paris Webb – Engineering Physics

2004
Jesus J. Hernandez – Electrical Engineering

2005
Elwood Green, III – Electrical Engineering

2006
Brandon A. Reid – Engineering Physics

2007
Abidla Odesanmi – Computer Science

2008
Ronnie L. Thompson – Architecture and Environmental Design

2009
Olusanmi Fewehinimi – Architecture and Environmental Design

2010
Christina F. Southhall – Architecture and Environmental Design

2011
Melissa A. Pinard – Chemistry

2012
Tsehai Grell – Chemistry

2013
Craig S. Cornish, Jr. – History

2014
Courtney Culpepper (May) – Biology
Ralph Harper (May) – Arch. & Environ. Design
Courtney J. Morgan (Dec.) – Arch. & Environ. Design

2015
Christine Doherty (May) – Arch. & Environ. Design
Brian Asson (Dec.) – Arch. & Environ. Design

2016
Brian Baksa (May) – Arch. & Environ. Design
Andrea M. Ngure (Dec.) – Arch. & Environ. Design

2017
Daniel Beatty (May) – Arch. & Environ. Design
Brittney Gordon (May) – Biology
Oluwaseun Ojimi (May) – Civil Engineering
Nishone Thompson (May) Biology
Chey Harris (Dec.) – Psychology
Dana Holland (Dec.) – Electrical Engineering
Edward Leedy (Dec.) – Arch. & Environ. Design
Joshua Payne (Dec.) – Civil Engineering