Barry recognizes outstanding student achievement during annual Honors Convocation

On Friday, May 2, Barry University held its annual Honors Convocation to recognize the outstanding academic achievements of the university’s students. More than 150 people were in attendance for the event which distinguished students from eight of Barry’s schools and colleges.

Barry’s most distinguished award, the St. Catherine Medal, is given annually to two students who exemplify outstanding service or leadership among their peers. The award is granted by the Kappa Gamma Pi National Catholic College Honor Society to a pair of Barry students, a senior and a sophomore or junior. The Honors Committee has conferred this medal each year upon outstanding Barry students who have displayed high ideals and leadership in Catholic college education. The recipient of the medal is selected on the basis of leadership and service to Barry University and/or church and community.

Dianna Bellian, a senior English major who graduated on May 3, earned this year’s award in the senior category; while junior Shantell Monreal, a Pre-Law and Pre-Professional biology double major, was named the award recipient in the sophomore/junior category.

Bellian earned the award for her leadership involvement in numerous university sponsored clubs and organizations during her tenure at Barry. She has been the chair of the Honors Program Student Advisory Board since 2012, was vice president of Barry’s English Association and Philosophy Club, and has served as a commissioner for the Student Government Association’s Elections Committee. Bellian’s has served as a writer and copy editor for The Barry Buccaneer and has been a participant in the College Bride’s Walk against domestic violence for four-straight years.

Bellian has an outstanding academic record at Barry and has presented her work at various conferences, most recently at the Sigma Tau Delta International Honors Society Convention in March. Bellian is a member of two academic honor societies, Sigma Tau Delta and Delta Epsilon Iota.

In three years at Barry, Monreal has participated in a variety of philanthropic work at various locations throughout the Miami area. Her community service includes work at Saint Kieran Catholic Church, the Palmer House Nursing Center, Saint James School, the San Juan Bosco Clinic, the Haitian Youth Community Center, the Sinai Plaza Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, and Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church.

Monreal has served Barry as both a senator and vice president of the Student Government Association. She has previously held the positions of treasurer and president of the Phi Alpha Delta Pre-Law Fraternity. She is an ICUF Fellow and a Barry Student Ambassador. Monreal is a member of three academic honor societies: Delta Epsilon Iota, Phi Eta Sigma, and Delta Epsilon Sigma.

In addition to the St. Catherine Medal, the dean of each school and college, located on the Miami Shores campus, awarded their unit’s Dean’s Award to one or two students. The winners of Barry’s Deans’ Awards were selected because of their academic commitment and their representation of their school/college.

The Deans’ Awards Winners are:

College of Arts and Sciences:

College of Health Sciences:

School of Business:

School of Education:

School of Human Performance and Leisure Sciences:

School of Professional and Career Education:

School of Social Work:

In addition to the Deans’ Awards, students were also recognized in the categories of writing, scholarship, and honor societies inductees. A list of these winners is below.

Sigma Tau Delta Writing Awards:

Scholarship Awards:

Dr. Lloyd D. Elgart Memorial Scholarship: Dominique Franklin – Major: Accounting

Honor Societies:

Alpha Chi: 

Delta Epsilon Sigma: 

Kappa Gamma Pi: 

Phi Eta Sigma: 

Check out the photo gallery from the event. Visit the Honor Societies website for more information about Barry’s Honors Convocation and how to apply for membership in a university-sponsored honor society.