Top CLU students honored at banquet

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - May 10, 2012) Several students were honored for their achievements recently at California Lutheran University's 41st Annual Honors Day Banquet.

Clarkson Crane, whose parents and sister are CLU alumni, received the Provost's Award for Academic Excellence as the valedictorian of the Class of 2012. Crane, a biology and music major from Lancaster, entered CLU as a Presidential Scholar. He conducted biology research and served as a Biology Department assistant and president of the biology honor society Beta Beta Beta. He also played clarinet in the Honors Ensemble and was the principal clarinetist in the University Symphony and the Wind Ensemble. Crane served as a resident assistant for three years. He plans to attend medical school after graduation.

Faculty and staff selected Amanda Berg, a liberal studies major from Covina, as Senior of the Year for embodying the mission of the university through her leadership, enterprise and commitment to service and justice. Berg has represented CLU as a Student Ambassador, served on the student government's Programs Board and supported new students as a peer adviser. She has been a member of Club Teach and the Lord of Life congregation, served as the 3G Network coordinator for Campus Ministry and participated in many community service projects including service learning as a student teacher. Berg plans to earn a multiple-subject teaching credential and master's degree in education at CLU.

Graduating seniors Toccoa Kahovec, a liberal studies major from Santa Clarita, and Aaron Van Klaveren, a business administration major from Madera, were honored as Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Scholar Athletes for best exemplifying excellence in athletics and academics. Kahovec competed in women's track and field and cross country, and Van Klaveren played on the men's basketball team.

Eleven new members of the Scholastic Honor Society, the highest academic honor at CLU, were announced. The new members, all seniors, are Tiahna Borhaug, a psychology major from Sylmar; Gregory Giesbers, a physics major from Burien, Wash.; Aminah Hassoun, a political science major from Oxnard; Heather Lefevre, a communication major from Cupertino; Jeriann Lynds, a psychology major from Saugus; Logan Paris, a business administration major from Elkton, Md.; Alexander Roth, an exercise science major from Simi Valley; Robert Springer, a biochemistry and molecular biology major from Rogers, Minn.; Nicole Tracy, an art major from Palmdale; Keenan Woods, a chemistry major from Poway; and Anne Zimmerman, an accounting major from Lancaster. Upper division students qualify for the society by maintaining a grade point average of at least 3.9 on a 4.0 scale. No more than 5 percent of the students from each graduating class are invited to participate.