Hardin and Clark Scholars announced

The Hardin and Clark Scholars, the top academic honors at Midwestern State University, and other outstanding students were named April 18 at the Academic Honors Dinner held at the Wichita Falls Country Club.

Erin Kathleen Short, a chemistry major, was named Hardin Scholar. This is the university's highest award for academic excellence and was begun in 1961 by the Hardin Foundation. It is presented each spring to a student during his or her senior year and a $2,500 award is given with the honor.

Short was the 2007 Outstanding Honors Student of the Year. She serves as a

member of  the Gamma Sigma Epsilon national honor society, the Beta Beta Beta national biology honor society, and the Alpha Chi senior honor society.

She is an MSU Ambassador, an Academic Support Center Tutor for Athletes, and a student researcher for the Chemistry Department. 

Erin volunteers as a First Baptist Bible Study Member, at the Salvation Army

Food Drives, at the Festival of Lights, and on the University Programming Board.

Kartaka Bell, a psychology major, was named Clark Scholar. The Clark award was established in 1976 to honor E. B. Clark, a former chairman of the Board of Trustees of the MSU Foundation. It is presented each spring to a student in his or her junior year and carries with it a $1,500 award.

      She is a member of the Alpha Lamda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Societies. Her

on-campus activities include volunteering with various health, political, educational, and

international related programs and activities sponsored by her sorority, Delta Sigma

Theta.

      Off-campus volunteer work includes working with the city-wide voter's registration,

with the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, and with church fundraising at St. Luke's

Church. Kartaka also mentors children from the local Boys and Girls Club and from

Patsy's House through the Child Advocacy Program.

                                                                                                            4/18/08