Hardin and Clark Scholars named
The Hardin and Clark Scholars, the top academic honors at Midwestern State University, and other outstanding students were named Friday night at the Academic Honors Dinner held at the Wichita Falls Country Club.
Jacob Lee Smith 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 scholarship award is given with the honor.
Smith plans to graduate in May 2010 with a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Mechanical Engineering. He is president of the MSU Basic Science and Math Club, and also serves as a member of the MSU Robotics Club and as a student member in Engineers for a Sustainable World.
Smith is a tutor for the Mechanical Engineering Program. Off campus, he is a competitor with the United State Judo Association and the Texoma Judo and Ju-Jitsu Club. Other interests include weightlifting, classic car restoration, and graphite portrait art.
Jamie Leigh Burns, a pre-med major with a minor in chemistry, 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, carries with it a $1,500 scholarship award. It is presented each spring to a student in his or her junior year.
Burns is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta and Phi Eta Sigma Honor Societies. She is also a Collegiate All-American Cheerleader and a supplemental instruction leader for biology as well as anatomy and physiology classes. Her volunteer efforts include Christmas Providers and Goodwill Industries Charities.
Outstanding Student Awards were also presented Friday evening to recognize student leadership and academic excellence at MSU.
Tristan Browne and Miriam Ngunjiri were named Man and Woman of the Year.
Browne, a psychology major, serves as a member of Psi Chi, MSU Lions Club, Association of Social and Behavioral Science, Caribbean Student Organization, Circle K International, and Mortar Board. Off campus, he volunteers his time with Habitat for Humanity and the Kirby Jr. High Math and Science Meet.
Ngunjiri, an accounting major, serves as treasurer of the Accounting Society, Pan Leader for the Caribbean Pan Ensemble, Secretary for Delta Sigma Pi, and is a member of several student organizations. Off campus, she has volunteered at Falls Fest, River Bend Nature Walk cleanup, and Faith Mission.
Outstanding Graduate Man was David Christian McPhate, an English major. He currently teaches freshman English courses at MSU and is a program coordinator for Communities in Schools which provides tutors for at-risk students.
Outstanding Graduate Woman was Michelle Beavers Hicks, a major in Special Education. She serves as advisor and publicity chairman of the 2010 Autism Conference of Texoma and is a member of Kappa Delta Pi Mu Beta chapter. She currently teaches seven children at Cunningham Elementary who are on the Autism spectrum.
Outstanding Senior Man was Kevaughan Graham, an accounting major. He serves as president of the Student Government Association and is a member of the Caribbean Students Organization, Alpha Chi, Delta Mu Delta, and MSU Students for Haiti. Off campus, Graham volunteers for Disaster Helping Hands and helps sponsor needy Texas families for Thanksgiving.
Outstanding Senior Woman was Gayle Jeffers who has a double major in Management and Spanish. She is a member of Delta Sigma Pi, a Senator for the MSU Spanish Club, a member of the Student Allocation Committee, and House Captain for the Caribbean Students Organization. Some of her volunteer efforts include Habitat for Humanity, Faith Mission, and the ARC of Wichita Falls.
Laud Edward Mills and Brittany Janae Norman were named Outstanding Junior Man and Woman.
Adam Henson was named Outstanding Sophomore Man and Stephanie Cuellar was named Outstanding Sophomore Woman.
Tin Trung Phan and Kendall Neu were named Outstanding Freshman Man and Woman.
The Alumni Award was presented to Liam Guthrie. The Omega Delta Phi Fraternity won the James L. Stewart Service Award and KeVaughan Graham was the recipient of the Viola Grady Leadership Scholarship.