Et cetera : Area students named to Kirkwood \'Outstanding\' lists

More than 25,000 students have studied at Kirkwood Community College in the past year. On April 6, the college faculty and staff honored 148 of them as some of the best of the lot. Kirkwood held its annual Outstanding Student Awards ceremony in the ballroom of The Hotel at Kirkwood Center.

Hundreds of family members and fellow students joined the honorees for a reception and recognition of their academic and leadership attainments. Vice President of Academic Affairs Dr. Bill Lamb noted the Outstanding Student tribute reflects several exemplary things about them.

“This annual recognition is unique and special because it is not just about good grades in a classroom. Rather, our faculty choose candidates for their leadership in the classroom, too. They salute how these students focus on learning and engagement with a subject, and their collaboration with other students to help them be successful as well. We honor them for how they make our college a remarkable place to learn,” Lamb said.

In addition to awards in all academic departments, Kirkwood recognized six students who were named to the All-Iowa Academic Team, part of a national honorary group sponsored by USA Today and Phi Theta Kappa, the national honor society for two-year colleges.

All-Iowa Academic Team

Stephen Beck - Liberal Arts - Belle Plaine, IA

The following are Kirkwood Outstanding Student honorees from this area, listed with their field of study:

Stephen Beck - Liberal Arts - Belle Plaine, IA

Perry Anderson - CNC Machining Technology - Blairstown, IA

Matthew Gorkow - Diesel Agriculture Technology - Norway, IA

Amber Kopecky - Human Services - Urbana, IA

Barbara Howe - Education Careers - Vinton, IA