URBANA — Senior Chris Mathy was named Student of the Year at Uni's annual year-end awards ceremony. Director Jeff Walkington announced the awards, beginning with a reflection: "Today is an opportunity for all of us to celebrate together the academic successes of many of our students. It is customary to say at these events that all of the students are winners. But at this school, I really believe that."

The awards ceremony also recognized Japanese teacher Hiroko Ito and drama teacher Barbara Ridenour, who will be leaving Uni after this year. Ito was voted by the senior class to receive the Ella Leppert outstanding teaching award.

A complete list of awards and honors earned by Uni students this year will be mailed out in the coming weeks. The following are some of the awards given at Tuesday's assembly, with an emphasis on those whose winners were announced for the first time.

Kiwanis Club of Champaign-Urbana Vic Shaul Award
Nancy Tang, senior
The Champaign-Urbana Noon Kiwanis Club started a scholarship program in 1989 in honor of one of their club's finest members — Vic Shaul, a member from 1945 until his death in 1993. This $500 scholarship recognizes Tang for her contributions to the C-U community and its young people.

Christopher Bannister Memorial Award
Katherine Floess, senior
This award is in memory of the late Christopher F. Bannister, class of 1955. Bannister said "There's something 'immediate' about our society--learning the discipline of almost anything else has fallen out of favor. But be it in music or photography or anything else, subtlety and appreciation only come from self-discipline and study. And it's very rewarding if you make that effort."

Emma Koenker Award
Zach Korol-Gold, senior
Sarah Yockey, junior
Emma Koenker, a member of the Uni High Class of 1998, died on Aug. 16, 1995, as the result of a brain tumor. In her memory, the foreign languages department presents the Emma Koenker Award each year to an outstanding foreign language student who displays enthusiasm about learning languages and has a spirit of adventure and shows an eagerness to try something new.

Illinois Science Teachers Association Award
Sarah Yockey, junior
This award, sponsored by the Illinois Petroleum Resources Board, goes to a junior or senior who has a strong science background. The student must have good leadership abilities, excellent laboratory and study skills, be able to solve problems, and have a strong scholastic rank. He or she must have an interest and desire for a career in science.

Bausch and Lomb Science Scholarship Program Award
Hannah Johlas, junior
This award goes to a junior who has demonstrated superior achievement in all of the sciences and who has shown exceptional skill in laboratory experimentation, and who possesses the qualities requisite to a future career in the sciences.

Philip Anderson Outstanding Science Student Award
Zach Korol-Gold, senior
Chris Mathy, senior
This award honors Philip Anderson, who was a member of the Uni High Class of 1940 and won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1977. This year, the award was shared by two members of the senior class.

James Tobin Award for Excellence in the Social Sciences
Katherine Floess, senior
The James Tobin Award for Excellence in the Social Sciences was established in honor of Uni graduate James Tobin, an economist who won the Nobel Prize in 1981. The Tobin Award is given each year to a graduating senior who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to the questions and principles of the social sciences.

Ella Leppert Award
Hiroko Ito, Japanese teacher
This award is named in honor of Dr. Ella C. Leppert, a long-time social studies teacher at Uni High and recognizes outstanding teaching. Selection is made by the senior class. The recipient shall receive recognition by having her name engraved on the permanent plaque displayed at the school and a cash honorarium of $100.

Wylde Q. Chicken Award
Celinda Davis, senior
Kedar Vaidya, David Bergvelt, and Megan James, freshmen
The Class of 1972 established this award 12 years ago to honor students for their unbidden creativity and their willingness to challenge orthodox ways of doing things. The full title of the award is the "Wylde Q. Chicken Spontaneous Generation Award for Coloring Outside the Lines" and it was presented this year by Scott Wyatt on behalf of the Class of 1972.

Davis took the top honor for her blog, College Corner. Vaidya, Bergvelt, and James received a second award for their Computer Literary project of tracking a weather balloon. "These students went - literally - above and beyond the call of duty" said director Walkington.

Illinois Principals Association Award
Heather Lin, senior
John Vaughen, senior
This award recognizes students who have exhibited excellence in a variety of areas, including grades, co-curricular activities, and involvement in community activities.

National Association of Secondary School Principals: Principal's Leadership Award
Adam Joseph, sr.
This award recognizes a student, selected by the Assistant Principal, who has exhibited a major commitment to the welfare of the school.

Matt Wilhelm Memorial “Service with a Smile” Award
Will Fernandez, senior
Matt Wilhelm, Class of 1999, was a dedicated member of the Uni student body who was constantly helping others. Each year, the Matt Wilhelm Memorial “Service with a Smile” Award is voted on by the faculty and goes to a member of the Uni student who, like Matt, went above and beyond the call of duty to serve the Uni community. "He does so much around Uni, always with a smile," said Walkington of Fernandez.

June Mank Award
Amrutha Kumaran, senior
June Mank was the bookkeeper for Uni High from 1972 to 1988. She served on the Champaign City Council from 1979-2003. In her spare time she drove cancer patients for treatment, delivered meals on wheels, and served on various neighborhood committees, plus church activities.

This award is voted on by the faculty and given to a student who most shares June’s supportive role in the interest of Uni High. The student may have a long-term commitment to a single project, a short-term commitment to a variety of projects, or is engaged in service to the school without being asked.

Director’s Award
Amanda Hwu
This award is given at the discretion of the director. The award is intended to recognize a student who exhibits strong character and is a good role model for others both in the classroom and outside it.

Said Walkington of Hwu: "When she speaks, she excites her audience with enthusiasm and humor."

Student of the Year Award
Chris Mathy, senior
This award is determined by the faculty. The following are the criteria used to select the winner:

1. The student demonstrates respect for the dignity and worth of the individual.
2. The student is sensitive to the needs of his/her school and community and initiates constructive action without seeking self-glorification.
3. The student is willing and able to operate as a leader or follower as the situation demands.
4. The student is creative and demonstrates ability to inaugurate and carry out original proposals. The student is not bound by tradition.
5. The student has a strong interest in and commitment to their academic program.

Faculty comments about Mathy included: "This young man is an exceptional student who deals optimistically and positively with every aspect of involvement."