{"id":1482,"date":"2026-04-24T09:40:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-24T09:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/2026\/04\/24\/2026-04-24-2026-odk-honorees\/"},"modified":"2026-10-06T23:08:42","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T23:08:42","slug":"2026-04-24-2026-odk-honorees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/2026\/04\/24\/2026-04-24-2026-odk-honorees\/","title":{"rendered":"2026 ODK\u00a0Honorees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Introducing the finalists for senior man and woman of the year<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Julia
Julia Sikora, Elizabethtown, Pa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Julia Sikora Elizabethtown, Pa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sikora will graduate with a degree in science\/history middle level education with minors in special education and Biblical & Religious Studies. A Trustee Scholar and the executive student body president, she has served on the Student Government Association all four years, with three years on the executive team. She has played clarinet for the Grove City College Pit Orchestra, Symphonic Orchestra and Wind Ensemble, and has been actively involved in Orientation Board, the Office of Admissions, IM sports, the Deeply Rooted Mentorship Program and the Wolverine Broadcast Network. Sikora is a member of several honorary organizations, including Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board, Lambda Epsilon Delta and Kappa Delta Pi. Additionally, Sikora serves at St. Faustina Parish and East Main Presbyterian Church, is a TA for the Education Department and has served as president of the Fellowship of Christian Educators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

John Garrett Hillsborough, N.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Garrett will graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering. The 2025 Homecoming king, he has been a member and leader in New Life Ministry and ICO Rural Ministry. He has served as a freshman RA and teacher for fifth grade Sunday school. He has also been involved in the MENtor program, Plowshare and the Redbox Global Outreach program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Annalina Brant Stoystown, Pa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brant will graduate with a dual degree in biochemistry and molecular biology. She has actively served and led in a variety of academic organizations, including the Association of Women Students, the American Chemical Society, the Pre-Health Society, the Christian Medical and Dental Association and the TriBeta Biological Honor Society, for which she serves as vice president and created the Biobuddies Mentorship Program. Brant has worked as a patient care technician with UPMC Somerset Emergency Department, an EMT for Superior Ambulance and the rugby team and as a biology lab TA. She has also been a member and leader of a number of other campus groups, some of which include ICO Philadelphia, Orientation Board, Homecoming Committee, Mortar Board, Omicron Delta Kappa, Crown & Sceptre and the Deeply Rooted Mentorship Program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nathan (Nate) Ehst Douglassville, Pa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ehst will graduate with degrees in Biblical & Religious Studies and management. He has served as an RA in Hicks and the ARD in Ketler. He has been involved in New Life, IM sports, the MENtor Project and Outer Mountain Outreach, where he served as a trip leader. He is also a member of Theta Alpha Kappa honorary, where he served as president.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hannah Phillips College Park, Md.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Phillips will graduate with a dual degree in sociology and psychology. She is an assistant resident director after serving two years as an RA and serves on the Student Government Association. Phillips has been an active participant of the Political Cognition Lab and ICO Lithuania, where she served as senior student lead both years of its existence. She has also been a choreographer for Orchesis, an executive for the Swing Dance Club, the social media coordinator and a TA for the Psychology Department and radio host for the Wolverine Broadcast Network. Additionally, she is a member of Psi Chi, Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jackson Hays Benton, La.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hays will graduate with degrees in Biblical & Religious Studies and management. A Trustee Scholar and the founder of His Power DISplayed, he has served as the SGA class president for the past four years. He has been involved with ICO Lithuania, IM sports, Men\u2019s Birmingham Mission Trip, Roundtable and Unity of Faith Church, where he served as a lay pastor for two years. He has worked as an exam proctor for Disability Services and as a summer intern for both the Student Life & Learning Office and the Advancement Office. Jackson has also been a member of Crimson & White Society, Omicron Delta Kappa, Mortar Board, the BARS honorary, TAK, and the Alpha Epsilon Chi (AEX) housing group, for which he served as vice president of social affairs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abigail (Abby) Plank Millersville, Pa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plank will graduate with a degree in elementary education. She is the assistant resident director of Colonial Hall after serving two years as a resident assistant in MEP. She has been part of ICO Aliquippa all four years, serving as a student leader for three of them. She has also participated in the Redbox Global Outreach program, where she had the opportunity to serve in Trujillo, Peru for a summer. Plank is also a member and treasurer of the LED Elementary Education Honorary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

David Thomas Portland, Ore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thomas will graduate with a degree in mechanical engineering. A Trustee Scholar and founder of the men\u2019s lunch Bible study, he has served as a leader in Alliance Church\u2019s youth group and ICO Chattanooga. He has also served has a worship leader for 24-Hour Worship and Redeemer Anglican Church. David has been involved in the MENtor program, IM sports, the track and field team, the Redbox Global Outreach program in Indonesia and the Omicron Xi Fraternity, where he has served as chaplain. He is also a member of Omicron Delta Kappa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ashley Van Dixhoorn Charlotte, N.C.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Van Dixhoorn will graduate with a degree in mathematics. A Trustee Fellow, she is an active member and leader in a variety of organizations, including the Crimson & White Society; Orientation Board; for which she served as an executive of the Religious Committee; the Deeply Rooted Mentorship Program, for which she served on the leadership team; Crown & Sceptre; Omicron Delta Kappa; ICO Aliquippa and ICO Chattanooga. She has been involved in the Physics Club, the study abroad program, IM sports and the senior women\u2019s Bible study, for which she served as a group leader. Van Dixhorrn has also served as a youth group leader and as a TA for Dr. McIntyre.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Braedon Weigle Mechanicsville, Pa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Weigle will graduate with a degree in philosophy. He is an active member and leader in the Swing Dance Club, where he serves as president, and the Orchesis Dance Company, where he has been a choreographer. He has been involved in the Ballroom Club, Orientation Board, the Philosophy Society, Faculty Follies and ICO Tucson. He is also a member of Mortar Board and Omicron Delta Kappa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"John
John Garrett, Hillsborough, N.C.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Annalina
Annalina Brant, Stoystown, Pa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Nathan
Nathan (Nate) Ehst, Douglassville, Pa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Hannah
Hannah Phillips, College Park, Md.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Jackson
Jackson Hays, Benton, La.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Abigail
Abigail (Abby) Plank, Millersville, Pa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"David
David Thomas, Portland, Ore.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Ashley
Ashley Van Dixhoorn, Charlotte, N.C.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Braedon
Braedon Weigle, Mechanicsville, Pa.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Introducing the finalists for senior man and woman of the year<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":873,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[186],"tags":[56,18],"class_list":["post-1482","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-campus","tag-issue-2026-04-24","tag-news"],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/2026-04-24-20-2026-odk-honorees-1.jpg",701,886,false],"thumbnail":["\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/2026-04-24-20-2026-odk-honorees-1.jpg",119,150,false],"medium":["\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/2026-04-24-20-2026-odk-honorees-1.jpg",237,300,false],"medium_large":["\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/2026-04-24-20-2026-odk-honorees-1.jpg",701,886,false],"large":["\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/2026-04-24-20-2026-odk-honorees-1.jpg",701,886,false],"1536x1536":["\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/2026-04-24-20-2026-odk-honorees-1.jpg",701,886,false],"2048x2048":["\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2026\/09\/2026-04-24-20-2026-odk-honorees-1.jpg",701,886,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"Ian Schartner","author_link":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/author\/schartnerij23\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Introducing the finalists for senior man and woman of the year","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1482"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2589,"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1482\/revisions\/2589"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/873"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1482"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1482"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stuorgs2.gcc.edu\/thecollegian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1482"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}