DETROIT - Kathy Borovicka of Amherstburg is one of two graduating Wayne State University seniors who will receive the prestigious Howard A. Donnelly Award during the university's spring commencement ceremonies at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 6, in Cobo Arena.

The award is given annually to a man and to a woman in the spring graduating class in recognition for outstanding contributions to the university and to the community from the standpoint of student activities, leadership and service, consistent with superior scholarship.

Borovicka is a graduate of F.J. Brennan Catholic High School in Windsor and is the daughter of Vincent and Jitka Borovicka. She will receive a Bachelor of Science degree in honors biological sciences, summa cum lauda, with a co-major in university honors. She has been on the College of Science Dean's List each term since enrolling at Wayne State in 2001, and in 2002 was named to the chemistry department chair's honor list for academic excellence. During the past two years, she was awarded two prestigious scholarships through the College of Science.

In recognition of her volunteer work on behalf of the Canadian National Institute for the Blind, Borovicka received Canada's International Year of Volunteers Award and a Hearts That Light the Way Award in 2001 and 2002, respectively. She has done volunteer work for the Malden Park Continuing Care Centre, a residence for persons with disabilities, and the Leblanc Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy Clinic.

Her volunteer activities have included fundraising events for Habitat for Humanity, the Terry Fox Run, and Walk Towards Independence, to name a few. In Detroit, she was a volunteer assistant at Harper University Hospital and at the Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute.

Borovicka is a tutor and a supplemental instruction leader at WSU's Academic Success Center and an assistant in the Molecular Genetics Laboratory. She plans to pursue a career in medicine.

Also receiving a Donnelly Award at the commencement ceremonies will be Charles Stamboulian of Farmington Hills, Mich. He and Borovicka are among approximately 3,000 degree candidates in the WSU spring graduating class.

Wayne State University is a premier institution of higher education offering more than 350 academic programs through 13 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students in metropolitan Detroit.