Recognizing student excellence
Ablah Awards
Each year at commencement, one male and one female student are awarded the Ablah Awards. Established by Fran and Geri (Ablah) Jabara to honor Geri’s parents, Harvey J. and Leona J. Ablah, the awards perpetuate their vision of entrepreneurism and the American dream.
Graduate Ashley Dinh, a biology major and accounting minor, won the Leona J. Ablah Award and biochemistry major Joshua Dessenberger won the Harvey J. Ablah Award. They were honored for their servant leadership and commitment to make positive change in the world.
“Newman University has assisted me a great amount in preparing for life and transforming society,” Dinh said. “I am proud to be a graduate of Newman and I hope my time here showed how passionate I am for the success of the community.”
Dessenberger sees the awards as “a win for all of us.”
“I think we’ll all end up transforming society,” Dessenberger said. “I’m looking forward to the years to come and what I can do for the world.”
Both earned early acceptance into The University of Kansas Medical School.
Academic Awards
Several Newman University students were recognized for their exceptional academics and leadership by school during the annual Academic Awards Convocation April 10.
The 2024 Ablah Award nominees were also acknowledged. The female nominees were Marie Brunet, Elise Helfrich, Sister Mary Jane Frances Jackle, Kayla Kindsvater, Catherine Madison, Olivia Parsley, Alexis Stallard and Hadassah Umbarger. The male nominees were Henry Cheatum, Austin Fullerton, Nathan Huie, Asher Khokhar, Sam Roy and Antonio Ureno.
St. Catherine’s Medal
Thomas Munn was awarded the 2024 St. Catherine’s Medal, which recognizes the exceptional contributions of a student to the university and the larger community.
The accounting major’s leadership as a residence assistant for Carrocci Hall and his ability to live out his Catholic faith contributed to his nomination. In one nominator’s words, “He puts his heart into everything he does and everyone he talks to.”
“I wouldn’t be where I am without my Catholic faith,” Munn said. “It’s the biggest role in everything I do.”