Undergrads Kavan, Winberg win Dean's Achievement Award

The annual award is presented to graduating seniors served by the Center for Diversity and Enrichment
Wednesday, April 20, 2016

University of Iowa undergraduates Caitlyn Kavan and Jennifer Winberg have been awarded the Dean's Achievement Award for the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences, presented to outstanding graduating seniors served by the UI Center for Diversity and Enrichment.  

Dean Chaden Djalali praised the students' work as undergraduates. "Caitlyn and Jenny have impressive records of academic achievement and service to the University of Iowa community," Djalali said. "I am delighted to recognize them with the Dean's Achievement Award."

Caitlyn Kavan
Caitlyn Kavan

Caitlyn Kavan (Class of 2016) is an International Studies-Global Health Studies major who grew up in Des Moines. As an undergraduate student, she has actively participated in seven multicultural student organizations and served as a facilitator for open discussions about racism and xenophobia at the University of Iowa. She has a history of working alongside administration to develop initiatives to improve the campus climate. Kavan has also served as a volunteer for several conference planning committees for regional and national multicultural student organizations. During the 2015-2016 academic year, she dedicated much of her time and effort to completing research and presenting an Honors Thesis project on stress management and eating patterns among Asian-American women. Kavan, who will graduate with Honors in the Major, has been accepted to the Public Health graduate program at Emory University.

Jenny Winberg
Jennifer Winberg

Jennifer Winberg (Class of 2016), from Hoffman Estates, Illinois, will graduate with Highest Distinction, earning a BA in Speech and Hearing Science and Spanish. Winberg mentors college-age students with disabilities in the University of Iowa REACH program, forms friendships in the Best Buddies club, and regularly interacts with children in the pediatric oncology unit at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics. She also volunteers with Friends with Aphasia, has served as an OnIowa! Leader, and has worked with organizing Dance Marathon. Winberg is active with the National Student Speech Language Hearing Association on group service projects, has achieved rankings on the Dean’s and President’s lists, and has been awarded the UI National Scholars Award and the UI Old Gold Scholarship.

Kavan and Winberg will be recognized at the Center for Diversity & Enrichment Graduation Reception on Thursday, May 12, 2016, from 3:00 pm - 5:30 pm in the Main Lounge of the Iowa Memorial Union.

The University of Iowa College of Liberal Arts and Sciences offers about 70 majors across the humanities; fine, performing and literary arts; natural and mathematical sciences; social and behavioral sciences; and communication disciplines. About 15,000 undergraduate and nearly 2,000 graduate students study each year in the college’s 37 departments, led by faculty at the forefront of teaching and research in their disciplines. The college teaches all Iowa undergraduates through the college's general education program, CLAS CORE. About 80 percent of all Iowa undergraduates begin their academic journey in CLAS. The college confers about 60 percent of the university's bachelor's degrees each academic year.