The annual Honor’s Ceremony will once again honor selected students for their academic and co-curricular achievements.

For over 15 years, Baldwin Wallace University has honored student achievement through its Honor’s Ceremony.

Around 40 students will be granted awards and scholarships for shining bright in the classroom or through various activities on campus this year.

Trina Dobberstein, vice president for Student Affairs and dean of students, said the event emphasizes both academic and co-curricular excellence.

Staff, faculty and coaches nominated students to receive these awards and scholarships for participation in campus activities, academics or athletics.

“Anytime you can acknowledge excellence is really a good thing,” said Dobberstein. “I think people like to celebrate that. It is amazing what people are able to do and accomplish.”

During the ceremony, the Outstanding Senior Awards for the class of 2019 will be announced.

The 10 students who receive the awards will also be acknowledged at commencement, she said. Each year, the outstanding senior award is gifted to students who are exemplary in their respective field, study or department. The award shows a composite of all the work they have done over the course of their time at Baldwin Wallace.

Along with the Outstanding Senior awards, ‘named’ scholarships will be distributed as well. Friends of the college or alumni, said Dobberstein, fund most of the scholarships on the list.

These people, along with faculty, the administration, and the board of trustees are encouraged to attend the ceremony, said Steve Stahl, BW provost.

The goal of the ceremony is, not only to reward student successes, but to motivate other students on campus, too.

The Honor’s Ceremony, along with other events throughout Ovation, highlight some of the most impressive student accomplishments, he said. Awards and scholarships are carefully selected by staff and faculty from various departments that will truly display student talent.

“This is where we give out the most important student awards,” said Stahl. “That is why we have asked [people] on the academic side to pick out their most prominent awards that [show] the biggest impact.”

Overall, said Dobberstein, the ceremony is a great way to celebrate excellence across the campus in all disciplines, both inside and outside the classroom.

“We try to say ‘this is why you’re here, to do these things,’” Dobberstein said. “I think the message is both affirming and motivating.”

This year’s ceremony will feature a cornhole match between BW President Bob Helmer and Provost Stahl against BW’s cornhole team taking place on April 25 at 3:20 p.m. in Gamble Auditorium in the Kulas Musical Arts Building.

The Honor’s Ceremony will begin at 4 p.m. the same day following the corn hole game also in Gamble Auditorium.