UK Omicron Delta Kappa Honors Three With Leadership Awards

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Feb. 27, 2015) — Three members of the University of Kentucky community, a student, alumna and faculty member, received awards from the University of Kentucky's Nu Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa at its 2nd Annual Leadership Awards Ceremony Monday evening.

Founded Dec. 3, 1914, at Washington and Lee University in Lexington, Virginia, Omicron Delta Kappa recognizes achievement in:

·         scholarship;

·         athletics;

·         campus or community service, social and religious activities, and campus government;

·         journalism, speech and the mass media; and

·         creative and performing arts.

Nominees, guests, members of the Nu Circle and President Eli Capilouto, who is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa, attended the ceremony to honor the impact and leadership of several UK students, faculty and alumni. In addition to Capilouto speaking about his own experience in becoming a leader, UK Veterans Resource Center Coordinator and retired Lt. Col. Anthony G. Dotson spoke on the qualities of leadership at the ceremony.

Winners of the awards, presented by Capilouto, Nu Circle President Christina Walker and Vice President James Robertson, included Tristan Moorman, Buck Ryan and Natalee Feese.  

Tristan Moorman, awarded the Omicron Delta Kappa Impact Award, earned his bachelor's degree in human nutrition in 2012, master’s degree in business administration in 2013, and is currently pursuing a degree in pharmacy and a master’s degree in public administration. Moorman, president of the UK College of Pharmacy Class of 2017, is an active volunteer for Operation Diabetes, member of the Operation Heart Committee, and counselor of the Georgetown health fair. He has completed service projects in impoverished areas of Birmingham, Alabama, and Toronto, Canada. Moorman is also the vice president of the UK Pre-pharmacy Club and member of the Student National Pharmaceutical Association.

Buck Ryan, associate professor in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications and UK Honors Program, was awarded the Omicron Delta Kappa Outstanding Leadership & Student Enhancement Award. He is also the director of the Citizen Kentucky Project at the UK Scripps Howard First Amendment Center, and is the former director of the School of Journalism and Telecommunications. Ryan developed the Maestro Writing Concept, which has been nationally recognized and sited on Wikipedia, and was recognized for mentoring his students and hosting award-winning instructors as guest speakers in his classes.

Natalee Feese, a mathematics K-12 learning/innovation specialist at Fayette County Public Schools and co-president of the UK Alumni Band, was awarded the Omicron Delta Kappa Excellence Award. Feese graduated from UK with a bachelor's degree in education in 1989 and a master's degree in education in 1991. She continues her involvement at the university by organizing UK Alumni Band reunions, Homecoming weekend events and events at the UK Boone Center.

Other finalists for the leadership awards included:

·         Rachel Allgeier

·         James Collard

·         Ebony-Nicole A. Davis

·         Rebecca Freeman

·         Jon Lannertone

·         Dia Smith

·         Matthew Whisman

The Nu Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa was founded at UK in 1925. It was the 14th circle to be established in the nation. Previous inductees have included Kentucky governors, UK presidents, William T. Young, Ambassadors Thomas Niles and Cary Cavanaugh, and Kentucky coaches Adolph Rupp, Orlando "Tubby" Smith and Bear Bryant, among other notable leaders.