Returning adult students honored

The University of Wisconsin–Madison will honor more than 30 adult students at a reception on Wednesday, April 30, with awards and scholarships that recognize their academic excellence and contributions to the community.

The reception takes place from 4:30-6 p.m. in the Alumni Lounge of the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St.

Iliriana (Anna) Gashi and Nicole Harp are this year’s recipients of the Dean of Students’ Outstanding Adult Student awards. Gashi grew up in Kosovo; nine years ago, after war broke out there, she and her family fled to the United States. She and her brother were the only family members who spoke English, so they had to work to support the family for several years before Gashi could attend college. She is planning to become a physician assistant.

Harp will graduate this spring with a bachelor of social work degree and will enter the master of social work program at UW–Madison in the fall, with a concentration in mental health. In the meantime, Harp and her husband and two daughters are traveling to Biloxi, Miss., this summer to help rebuild homes devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

Four other graduating seniors were finalists for this year’s Outstanding Adult Student Award: Rachel Byington, Erin Collins, John Quinlan and Dolores Snell.

Among the thousands of nontraditional students attending college today, single parents face unique challenges. The Nancy W. Denney Memorial Scholarships and the Single-Parent Scholarships grew out of a need to recognize and support these students. Jael Currie and Jennifer Mancera will receive this year’s Nancy W. Denney Memorial Scholarships.

The following students are receiving Single-Parent Scholarships:

• Regen Borchardt, Participatory Learning and Teaching Organization Scholarship (PLATO)
• Charlotte Cummins, American Association of University Women — Madison Branch Scholarship
• Pamela Dorton, Bernice D. Kuney Scholarship
• Jill Peters-Dagel, Bernice D. Kuney Scholarship
• Amber Stamps, University League Scholarship
• Briana Woods, Cynthia McCreary Holbrook Youmans/University League Scholarship.

The Alma Baron Second Chance for Women Scholarship has been renewed for Stephanie Adams. Stuart Daily Seeds of Learning Scholarships have been awarded to Jessica Jones-Coggins and Keziah Yosef. The Marilyn L. Getscher Scholarship has been awarded to Brian Benford. And the Joe Corry and Barbara Weston Corry Scholarship has been awarded to Rose Manjon.

Recipients of Bernard Osher Scholarships are Kegan Carter, Rebecca Cram, Theresa Haffner-Stearns, Tamara Laskowski, Andrea Nelson, David Nelson, William Smoot, Monica Strathman, Tuula Virta and Heather Watts.

For more information about services for returning adult students, call (608) 263-6960.