OSU-Cascades announces 2024 Distinguished Student Awards recipients

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon State University–Cascades has announced that 24 students of the class of 2024 are being honored as the recipients of the 2024 Distinguished Student Awards.

The Distinguished Student Awards are among the top honors given by OSU-Cascades faculty to students and recognize outstanding academic achievement and contributions to each degree program’s field of study.

The undergraduate students and their fields of study are:

• Gabriela Williams of Powell Butte - American Studies. 

• Meisen Hu of Bend - Arts, Media and Technology. 

• Jennifer McCabe of Bend – Biology.     

• Daniel Schimmoller of Bend - Business Administration. 

• Kimberly Markley of Bend - Computer Science. 

• Dallas Bennett of Silverton - Energy Systems Engineering. 

• Thomas Nguyen of Tracy, California - Engineering Science.

• William Stewart of Bend - Environmental Sciences.                   

• Lucia Pigni of Bend - Hospitality Management. 

• Michael Azevedo of Bend - Human Development and Family Sciences. 

• Bethany Burr of Bend – Kinesiology.    

• Ama Garza of Bend - Liberal Studies.   

• Haley Mohr of Bend - Natural Resources. 

• Soren Nyquist of Bend - Outdoor Products.

• Mari Pliskow of Bend – Psychology.     

• Olivia Handran of Denver, Colorado - Social Science.    

• Danielle Logan of Bend – Teaching. 

• Jorge Aguilera Lopez of Woodburn - Tourism, Recreation and Adventure Leadership.   

The graduate recipients and their fields of study are: 

• Shonna Edwards of Bend - Master of Counseling: Clinical Mental Health Counseling.       

• Kieran Kuiper of Bend - Master of Counseling: School Counseling. 

• Melissa Smith of Arlington, Virginia - Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing.  

• Daniela Calle Quezada of Sisters - Master of Teaching: Elementary Education. 

• Shawn Boyd of Bend - Master of Teaching: Secondary Education. 

• Samantha Noregaard of Bend – Doctor of Physical Therapy.

To view stories about the award recipients, visit osucascades.edu/distinguished-students.

About OSU-Cascades:  Oregon State University’s campus in Bend brings higher education to Central Oregon, the fastest growing region in the state. Surrounded by mountains, forest and high desert, OSU-Cascades is a highly innovative campus of a top-tier land grant research university, offering small classes that accelerate faculty-student mentoring and experiential learning. Degree programs meet industry and economic needs in areas such as innovation and entrepreneurship, natural ecosystems, health and wellness, and arts and sciences, and prepare students for tomorrow’s challenges. OSU-Cascades is expanding to serve 3,000 to 5,000 students, building a 128-acre campus with net-zero goals.