Five Honored as CVPA’s First Outstanding Graduates

Honoring its highest-achieving students for the first time, the College of Visual and Performing Arts (CVPA) presented the 2012 Outstanding Graduating Student awards at Radford University's Spring Commencement ceremonies.

The awards went to each CVPA department's top graduating senior who consistently exhibited the highest standards in the areas of leadership, peer mentoring, academic and artistic accomplishment, dedication to his or her chosen form of artistic expression and service as a role model for hard work and successful outcomes.

The 2012 honorees were:

Lyndsay Alyssa Halpin of Lynchburg, Department of Theatre & Cinema. Halpin, who received a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in theatre, has been involved in dramatic productions both in front of and behind the curtain. She has performed in several Pridemore Playhouse productions, including the title role in "Liza and the Riddling Cave," Myra in "Hay Fever" and Annette in "God of Carnage." She appeared on stage at the Hawes Studio Theatre in the ensemble of "The Vagina Monologues," as Izzy in "Rabbit Hole" and Callie in "Stop Kiss." Halpin also worked in Hawes Studio Theatre as a director of a one-act play "The Seventeenth of June" by Edward Allan Baker and "The Voice of the Prairie" by John Olive. She has also served as part of the box office staff and management for several years.

Deanna Marie Doyle of Alexandria, Department of Art. Doyle, who received a Bachelor of Arts degree with high honors in art with a concentration in art history and museum studies, interned at the Glencoe History Museum in Radford, the Lee-Fendall House Museum and Garden in Alexandria and the National Museum of the U.S. Navy in Washington. At the Navy museum, she was involved in teaching and developing educational activities related to exhibitions and was responsible for the creation and organization of two weeklong summer programs for primary school-age children. Doyle also gave a presentation at Longwood University's annual Undergraduate Medieval Conference on the relationship between the illustrations in "The Canterbury Tales" and medieval gender roles. She served as a peer mentor and was a volunteer at the Montgomery County animal shelter for two years.

Samantha Elizabeth Hopkins of Forest Hill, Md., Department of Dance. Hopkins, who earned a double degree with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors in dance and a Bachelor of Science degree with honors in philosophy and religious studies, completed her college career excelling in academics, dance performance and creative choreography, the department said. She also held roles in both lighting and graphic design as related to dance.

Kayla Corinne Lisa of Charlottesville, Department of Music. Lisa, who received a Bachelor of Music degree with high honors with a concentration in music education, excelled as both a scholar and a musician, her department said. Her accomplishments included earning the highest grade-point average in the department and serving as president of Mu Phi Epsilon International Professional Music Fraternity, treasurer for the RU Collegiate Chapter of the Music Educators National Conference and concertmaster of the RU Community Chamber Orchestra for four years. Lisa was also a member of Pi Kappa Lambda national music honor society, Phi Kappa Phi honor society and the RU Honors Academy.

Lauren Avery Reinhard of Newark, Del., Department of Interior Design & Fashion. Reinhard, who received a Bachelor of Science degree in design with highest honors with a concentration in interiors, was a member of the Honors Academy and was on the dean's list throughout her college career. She won her department's arts scholarship and was awarded the RU Residential Life PRIDE award. Her community service included working as a homeless shelter volunteer, a children's mentor at a local library, an administrator and active member of Invisible Children Inc. and a member of Operation Smile, American Society of Interior Designers, Resolve Uganda, the TOMS Shoes charity and Project Linus. She also was involved in grassroots political campaigning.