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2025 Hardin, Clark Scholars Named at Honors Recognition Banquet
The Hardin and Clark Scholars, the top academic honors at Midwestern State University, and other outstanding students were named during the annual Honors Recognition Banquet April 25 in D.L. Ligon Coliseum.
Rykir J.A. Evans was named Hardin Scholar. Evans is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in computer science. The Hardin Scholar is the university’s highest award for academic excellence and was begun in 1962 by the Hardin Foundation. It is presented each spring to a student during his or her senior year and a $3,000 scholarship award is given with the honor.
Evans is a Redwine Honors Scholar at MSU Texas and is active in the Mathematics Club, McCoy College Student Advisory Committee, Honors Programs Student and Officer Councils, and serves as the team manager for the men’s basketball team. Evans is the IT coordinator for the National Society of Leadership and Success Chapter, a member of the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) Chapter and National Model United Nations.
Earlier this spring NASA announced that MSU Texas was selected to present designs in its annual NASA SUITS challenge. Evans assisted in writing the 20-plus page proposal and named team lead for the graphical user interface portion of the project. Evans aspires to an astronaut.
His volunteer activities include a Burkburnett High School STEM Outreach Presentation as part of the NASA SUITS team, Booked Up in Archer City, Cleanup Crew for Adopt-A-Highway and science fair judge.
Finalists for the Hardin Scholar were Madisyn Kellsie Butler and Katelin Elizabeth Causey.
Kandice R. Adams, who is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in musical arts, 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, and carries with it a $1,500 scholarship award. It is presented each spring to a student in his or her junior year.
Adams is a member of the MSU Texas Wind Ensemble, Brass Chamber Ensemble and the Midwestern Singers, and assists with set and clearing of many of the groups’ events. She is the founding member of Tessitura, a program being developed for MSU Texas student focused on the arts that will promote the health and well-being of students.
Pursuing her passion for music, Adams volunteers extensively with Burkburnett Highs Band, where she has been booster club president for seven years. She is also an active volunteer with the MSU Texas –hosted Red River Chorale Festival, UIL Solo and Ensemble contests and Marching Band.
Professional, Candice plans to continue working with music students in an educational environment and continue volunteering in the community.
Finalists for the Clark Scholar were Gage Ayden Ahlmark, Elijah Reed Coker, Victoria De Jesus Heredia, Garrett Nicholas McCutcheon, and Damaya Phillips.
Leadership Awards
Leadership awards were presented to Outstanding Students of the Year Quintan Ringwald and Mmesoma Unachukwu, Outstanding Graduate Students Brett Mitchell and Mara Hill, Outstanding Seniors Ethan Bailey and Marisol Mora, Outstanding Juniors Germano Diehl Setti and Madisyn Butler, Outstanding Sophomores Kayton Shahan and Victoria Heredia, and Outstanding Freshmem Chase Williams and Mary Kerr.
The Viola Grady Leadership Award was presented to Kyann Roberts; the James L. Stewart Service Award was presented to MSU Texas Circle K International;
Howard Farrell Community Excellence Award was presented to Kiann Joseph; and the Fraternity and Sorority Life Award was presented to Vivian Valdez. The Alumni Association Award was presented to Rykir Joe Allen Evans.
Academic Awards
Academic awards presented to students in the Dillard College of Business Administration were Outstanding Accounting Student Victoria Martinez, Outstanding Economics Student Caio Vinicuius Serratto Monteiro, Outstanding Finance Student Erik Wagner Rohwedder de Resende, Outstanding General Business Student Kerris Faith Cameron, Outstanding Management Student Abeni Alyssa Valdez, Outstanding Business Analytics and Information Student Austyn Nichole Garcia, and Outstanding Marketing Student Samuele Muroni.
Students recognized from the Gordon T. and Ellen West College of Education & Professional Studies were Outstanding Adult Education Student Carly Rae Cherry, Outstanding Bachelor of Applied Arts and Sciences Student Kimberly Renee Cervantes, Outstanding Early Childhood Studies and Early Care Student Tyjia Eliyah Thomas, Outstanding Elementary Education Student Kaitlin Anglin, Outstanding 4th Through 8th Grade Education Student Kaila Nicole Reed, Outstanding Physical Education Student Isaiah Thomas Marks, Outstanding Secondary Education Student Jordyn Denise Jackson, Outstanding Sport, Coaching, Leadership, and Administration Student Trinadee Lela Imotichey, and Outstanding Substance Abuse Counseling Student Christine Balla.
Awards presented to students in the Lamar D. Fain College of Fine Arts were
Outstanding Art Student Nicholas John Pedon, Outstanding Mass Communication Student Abby Jo Turner, Outstanding Music Student Charity Nicole Smith, and Outstanding Theatre Student Alexis Marie Scoggins.
Students recognized from the Robert D. & Carol Gunn College of Health Sciences & Human Services were Outstanding Criminal Justice Student Zarria Sharmane Carter, Outstanding Dental Hygiene Student Haiden Nicole Kosse, Outstanding Exercise Physiology Student Lily Ann Thompson, Outstanding Nursing Student Jacob Spencer Turnbow, Outstanding Radiologic Science Student Kayden Jo Skidmore, Outstanding Respiratory Care Student Wendy Johana Romero, and Outstanding Social Work Student Jennifer Ashley Martinez.
Students recognized from the Prothro-Yeager College of Humanities & Social Sciences were Outstanding English Student Autumn Grace Johnston, Outstanding Student in a Foreign Language Melody Delamarter, Outstanding History Student Ranferi Jaimes, Outstanding Humanities Student Katelin Elizabeth Causey, Outstanding Global Studies Student Sean Michael Provenza, Outstanding Political Science Student Taylor Lynn Clark, Outstanding Psychology Student Aribah Tahir, and Outstanding Sociology Student Shanna Lea Kronk.
Awards presented to students in the McCoy College of Science, Mathematics & Engineering were Outstanding Biology Student Ashley Nicole Caraway, Outstanding Chemistry Student Sebastian Ibarra Chavez, Outstanding Computer Science Student Kerry Manolagas, Outstanding Environmental Science Student Zantia Stephanie King, Outstanding Geosciences Student Anna Grace Kough, Outstanding Mathematics Student Thomas Jeremiah Carpenter, and Outstanding Mechanical Engineering Student Kory Kolton Prather.
Awards presented to students in the Dr. Billie Doris McAda Graduate School were Outstanding Graduate Student in Business Administration Hailey Rain Smith, Outstanding Graduate Student in Education Kaylor Falon Winter-Roach, Outstanding Graduate Student in Health Science & Human Services Lavin Peaches Green, Outstanding Graduate Students in Humanities & Social Sciences Taylor Meghan Ullman and James Riley Copy, and Outstanding Graduate Student in Science, Mathematics & Engineering Samual Oluwatobi Olatunde.
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