'Brilliant' Commencement Speaker, Clark Dean's List: Laurel College Standouts

Below, find a roundup of the latest honors, degrees, and noteworthy accomplishments from Laurel-area students in higher education. Descriptions are courtesy of the institutions named and/or students' family members.

Clark University: Amanda G. Palmer of Laurel has been named to first honors on the Clark University Dean's List. This selection marks outstanding academic achievement during the Spring 2013 semester. To be eligible for first honors, students must have a grade point average of 3.8 or higher, of a maximum of 4.3 (all A+s).

Eastern Connecticut State University: Nana Owusu-Agyemang, originally from Ghana, West Africa and now living in Laurel, capped off her sterling three-year course of study in Communications at Eastern Connecticut State University, receiving thunderous applause after delivering the Senior Class Address during Eastern's Commencement on May 14.

One observer even called it "the most brilliant speech a student has ever delivered in the history of commencements at Eastern."

Owusu-Agyemang graduated in three years, carrying a high G.P.A., earning Dean's List distinction every semester since she arrived on campus. In April, she was inducted into the Tau Nu Chapter of the Lambda Pi Eta Honor Society, the National Communication Honor Society. She also received an Academic Excellence Award at the inaugural Inclusive Excellence Student Awards Ceremony. She also is a member of the Alpha Delta Sigma Honors Society and Psi Chi, the International Honors Society of Psychology. Also in April, Owusu-Agyemang presented during Eastern's School of Education and Professional Studies 13th Annual Excellence Expo, where Eastern's best and brightest students in the school showcase their critical thinking and presentation skills.

"Ms. Owusu-Agyemang is mature beyond her age. Her excellent people skills, enthusiasm, ethical standards, honesty and integrity, sense of humor, and character are superb," said Dwight Bachman, Eastern's public relations officer to whom Owusu-Agyemang reported as a public relations assistant. "Nana's drive, initiative, leadership, intellectual ability, breadth of knowledge, analytical and communications skills, responsibility, reliability, creativity, and organization skills truly reflect the very bright, exceptional person she is."

Bachman said as a public relations assistant, Owusu-Agyemang was demonstrated professionalism while participating in numerous public relations activities—researching and superbly writing press releases for internal and external publications, including commercial newspapers, Eastern magazine and News Flash, the University's electronic newsletter on Eastern's main web page.

Bachman said in a fast-paced environment, Owusu-Agyemang efficiently managed her time to interact with students and busy faculty members and staff to carry out many professional work assignments; followed through on every assignment, pursuing every possible resource to gather information for her stories; was focused, worked hard and smart; took initiative where appropriate; asked appropriate questions; accepted criticism with grace; pursued excellence in her work; and finished each task with high distinction.

Owusu-Agyemang also was actively involved in numerous campus activities. They included, serving as a member of the Eastern Chapter of the American Advertising Federation; International Student Association, Photography club and as public relations officer of Eastern's Africa Club, where she successfully promoted some of the campus's most informative and vibrant social events, complete with a history, culture, music and food of many countries on the African continent.

Stevenson University: Congratulations to the 2013 Spring Graduates of Stevenson University, including Kelsey Ahlquist of Laurel and Christopher Street of Laurel. Stevenson University is a coeducational, independent institution widely known for its unique synthesis of traditional liberal arts education and exceptional career preparation. The 4,200 students receive an innovative education from the six academic schools- Business and Leadership, Design, Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, Sciences, and Graduate and Professional Studies. 

University of Rhode Island: The University of Rhode Island is pleased to announce that about 3,800 undergraduates have qualified for the Spring 2013 Dean's List, including Michael G. Tait of Laurel. To be included on the Dean's List, students must have completed 12 or more credits during a semester for letter grades with at least a 3.30 quality point average. Part-time students qualify with the accumulation of 12 credits with a 3.30 quality point average.