Abby Lewis, a health science major from Greenbrier, Ark., and Kñeisha McDonald, a biology major from Nassau, The Bahamas, were named the recipients of the 2023 Wiley Lin Hurie Memorial Award during the University’ 66th annual Honors Day ceremony on Wednesday, May 3.
The Hurie Award is presented to the outstanding senior in the graduating class as voted on by the faculty. It is named in honor of the long-time president of the University and is the highest honor given to an Ozarks student.
Lewis was also named the Outstanding Student in Exercise Science and McDonald was named the Outstanding Student in Biology during the ceremony.
A member of the women’s soccer team at Ozarks, Lewis has co-authored several academic research papers during her time at Ozarks, including “Creatine Supplementation Improves Muscular Performance without Additional Impact on the Cardiovascular System in Trained Women.” She was selected to present her research later this month at the American College of Sports Medicine Annual Meeting and World Congress in Denver, Col. She has been a member of the Ozarks Humane Society and has volunteered at the Needy Paw Animal Shelter. Lewis has also served in the University’s Operation Christmas Child and trail cleanup efforts and has served as a volunteer with the Greenbrier Soccer Club and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Following graduation, she plans to enroll in the exercise science graduate program at University of Central Arkansas. Her parents are Lindsey and Sarah Lewis.
McDonald participated in several research internships and programs during her time at Ozarks, including a summer research fellowship in the Arkansas INBRE program at the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. She was a member of the Tri-Beta National Biological Honors Society, the Ozarks Biological Society, the Ozarks Historical Association, the Chapel Choir, Chi Alpha Campus Ministries, Wordsmiths and the President’s Advisory Council. McDonald also volunteered with the University’s Science Day and with Earth Day trail cleanups. Following graduation, she will enroll in the Ph.D. program in biomedical sciences at West Virginia University with a focus on immunology and microbial pathogenesis. Her parents are Keith and Wendy McDonald.