May 16, 2019
Students honored by gender, women, and sexuality studies department
Faculty and students in the gender, women, and sexuality studies department gathered on May 10 to celebrate their accomplishments. Six students were inducted into the Beta Alpha chapter of Iota Iota Iota, the department's academic honor society: Courtney Keith, Kaylee Kipp, Mercedes Payton, DeAnna Scheffler, Katherine Sundgren and Brianna Womack. Department head Christie Launius and faculty member Susan Rensing also were initiated as honorary members.
Sophomore Marley Lowe is the recipient of the Clarina Howard Nichols Scholarship this year. The scholarship is named for a 19th century Kansas journalist and women’s rights activist, and is awarded annually to a first- or second-year gender, women, and sexuality studies major based on a combination of GPA and an essay. The scholarship recognizes the long history of feminist activism in Kansas and supports the new generation of change-makers. Marley Lowe is pursuing degrees in communication studies, American ethnic studies, and gender, women, and sexuality studies. She wrote about her work organizing an "Unthanksgiving" event in her capacity as the programming chair of K-State Housing and Dining's Social Justice Alliance.
Mercedes Payton is the recipient of this year's Founders Scholarship for Academic Excellence in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies, which is awarded annually to a gender, women, and sexuality studies major with junior standing, based on their academic record,.
The Kathleen C. Goetsch Scholarship, awarded based on financial need, was given to Melanie Johnson this year. Johnson is a senior double-majoring in gender, women, and sexuality studies and sociology.
Two students, Tessa Ervin and Mercedes Payton, shared the department’s paper competition award this year. Ervin, a first-year biology major, won for her essay, "Removal and Reeducation," written for Rachel Levitt's First-Year Seminar, and Payton, a junior in gender, women, and sexuality studies, won for her essay, "Not Like Other Settlers," written for Harlan Weaver's Advanced Fundamentals in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies class.