TWU To Recognize Outstanding Students

3/26/04

DENTON — Four Texas Woman’s University students will be recognized as outstanding students during Honors Convocation ceremonies April 15 at 10 a.m. in the Margo Jones Performance Hall, located near the intersection of Oakland Avenue and Sawyer Street.

Elizabeth Solis of Monterrey, Mexico, will receive the Outstanding Doctoral Student award. Bella Belleza-Bascon of Houston will receive the Outstanding Master’s Student award. Outstanding Senior awards will go to Kate Amorella of Borger, Erin Lansmon of Lewisville and Andrea Wensowitch of Ennis. The Leman Award, for outstanding artistic contribution to TWU, will go to Diane reader Dorn of Denton.

Elizabeth Solis

Ms. Solis’ primary objective is to act as an intermediary between Mexican nutrition specialists and nutrition specialists in the United States. Before enrolling at TWU, Ms. Solis was dean of the School of Public Health and Nutrition at the Autonomous University of Nuevo Leon (AUNL), Monterrey, Mexico. She currently is a research professor at AUNL and will graduate from TWU in August with a doctorate in nutrition and food science and a 3.8 grade-point-average (GPA).

“Elizabeth has a passionate interest in improving the health of individuals of all ages through increased knowledge and promotion of nutrition,” said Dr. Carolyn Bednar, chair of the TWU Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences. “She will be a national and international leader in this field in years to come.”

Ms. Solis was instrumental in helping negotiate a cooperative agreement between TWU and the AUNL School of Public Health. As a result of that agreement, 11 TWU nutrition students visited Monterrey in the summer of 2002 to learn about diet, public heath and nutrition in Mexico. In the summer of 2003,nine faculty and students from Mexico participated in a program at TWU.

She received a PROMEP (Programa de Mejoramiento del Profesorado de Educación Superior) scholarship to obtain her doctoral degree. She is a member of the American Dietetic Association, Fort Worth Dietetic Association, North Texas Dietetic Association, International Diabetes Federation, Latin American Federation of Dietetic and Nutrition Academic Associations, American Society of Clinical Nutrition and Mexican Diabetes Federation.

Bella Belleza-Bascon

Ms. Bascon, a nurse and head clinical research coordinator at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, will graduate in May with a master’s degree in health care administration and a 3.96 GPA. Among her long-term goals is to establish an organization dedicated to research and education in diabetes and heart disease.

“She demonstrates strong motivational skills, enthusiasm, energy, initiative, resourcefulness, dependability and creativity, while possessing a warmth of personality and sense of humor,” said Dr. Alan Garber, professor of medicine, biochemistry and cell biology at the Baylor College of Medicine. “Her abilities and accomplishments in the areas of problem solving, both from a management perspective and from a mathematical perspective, are exceptional.”

Ms. Bascon received the 2002 Abbot Laboratories Fellowship Award. She is a member of the American College of Health Care Executives (ACHE), secretary and treasurer of the ACHE student chapter at TWU, a member of the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the ADA Council on Diabetes Education.

Kate Amorella

Ms. Amorella will graduate in August with a double major in mathematics and computer science. She has a 3.6 GPA.

She was a National Collegiate Honors Council Conference Presenter in 2001 and 2002 and is a recipient of a Women In Engineering, TWU Travel Abroad and Frances Emerson scholarships. She is a member of Kappa Mu Epsilon National Mathematics Honor Society, Golden Key International Honour Society, Helping Hands (TWU’s student volunteer organization), the TWU Student Alumni Association, a TWU Honors Scholar and was recognized by Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She has served as president, special events chair and traditions chair of the Student Alumni Association, secretary and treasurer of the Athenian Honor Society and treasurer of Kappa Mu Epsilon.

Erin Lansmon

Ms. Lansmon will graduate in May with a 3.9 GPA and a bachelor of social work degree.

She is TWU Honors Scholar, member of the Athenian Honors Society, Phi Alpha Social Work Honor Society, Golden Key International Honour Society and was recognized by Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She is a recipient of a Southwestern Bell Private Academic Scholarship and TWU New Student Scholarship, and received the Outstanding Student Leader Redbud Award. She has served as publicity chairperson, meeting chairperson and service projects co-chairperson for Helping Hands, historian chairperson for the Athenian Honor Society and was graduation rose sale coordinator for the Golden Key Honour Society.

Andrea Wensowitch

Ms Wensowitch will graduate in May with a double major in marketing and management and a 3.5 GPA.

She is TWU’s first full-semester study abroad student at Harlaxton College in England. She is a member of Sigma Beta Delta International Business Honor Society, a TWU Honors Scholar and was recognized by Who’s Who Among American Universities and Colleges. She received the Emerging Leader Redbud Award from TWU, and received academic scholarships from the Dallas Women’s Club, Fort Worth Women’s Club, TWU Former Students Association and the TWU School of Management Arlyne Daly Haggard Scholarship. She has served as president of Students in Free Enterprise, vice president of the student chapter of the Association of Marketing Professionals and president of Student Alumni Association.

Diane reader Dorn

“Diane is a professor’s dream to work with inside and outside of class,” said John Weinkein, director of the TWU School of the Arts. “She is highly conscientious, dedicated and committed to her academic work and studio work.”

Ms. Dorn will graduate in May with a bachelor of fine arts degree in studio art-painting and a 4.0 GPA. Two of her paintings were purchased by the university as part of a continuing art acquisition program. She is a member of Delta Phi Delta Art Honor Society, Golden Key International Honour Society, the Film Club of TWU and the Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi. She has received the Ampersand Award for her watercolor grid titled “Breakfast” and the James Coulter Memorial Award for her acrylic on canvas titled “Libby.”

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For Further Information Contact:

Roy Kron
Director of News and Information
Tel: (940) 898-3456
e-mail: rkron@twu.edu