Awards and Recognition
Alumni Awards Banquet
Every year at Homecoming, the Missouri Western Alumni Association honors accomplished alumni for outstanding contributions to their field, their university and/or their community.
All Griffon alumni and friends are invited to attend the next Missouri Western Alumni Association awards banquet on Friday, October 15, 2021.
Congratulations to the 2021 Alumni Award Honorees!
Teresa Fankhauser '79
Distinguished Alumni Award: Teresa Fankhauser ’79, Executive Director, Allied Arts Council
Teresa Fankhauser graduated from Missouri Western in 1979 with a B.S. in Education – Speech/Theatre.
Now serving as the executive director, Fankhauser joined the Allied Arts Council in 2005. She works with local arts agencies, Missouri Western, the City of St. Joseph and the St. Joseph School District to foster the arts in St. Joseph. Her position includes working with local, state, and national organizations and agencies to effect positive changes for the arts. She is past president of Missouri Citizens for the Arts, the Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies, and has served as a Missouri Arts Council panelist.
Currently she is Vice Chair of the St. Joseph Downtown Community Improvement District and serves on the board of the Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies and Missouri Citizens for the Arts. She is a member of the Americans for the Arts attending their professional development conferences, and has pursued professional development through the Prairie Arts Management Institute, the Kennedy Center Partners in Education Conference, the Missouri Association of Community Arts Agencies conference, and the International Festival and Events conference.
Prior to joining the Allied Arts Council, she served as Managing Director of the Performing Arts Association of St. Joseph, and co-owned the Ice House Theatre with husband Erich Uhlhorn.
Stephanie Stewart '97
Distinguished Faculty Award – Stephanie Stewart ’97, associate professor, MWSU Nursing
Stephanie Stewart has been a registered nurse since 1997, having graduated with her BSN from Missouri Western. Stephanie has worked in many areas of nursing, from medical-surgical to gerontological nursing.
After taking an opportunity to teach in a licensed practical nursing program, Stewart knew that nursing education was where her heart was most happy. She began teaching in Missouri Western’s prelicensure baccalaureate program in August 2013.
Stewart is currently pursuing her doctorate and will complete all requirements in May 2022.
She is a co-founder of the Freudenthal Center for Parkinson’s Disease, a non-profit organization that offers free programs to those diagnosed with PD.
Krystal Graham '13
GOLD (Graduate of the Last Decade) – Krystal Graham ’13, Regulatory Affairs Officer, PATH
Krystal Graham earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology – Health Sciences in 2013. She has since used her education in both the animal and human health regulatory industries – working for Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and PATH, a global nonprofit accelerating health equity in low- and middle-income countries.
During her time at Boehringer Ingelheim, Krystal worked on the international regulatory affairs team, learning the regulatory requirements for Japan, Russia, Australia, New Zealand and other emerging markets for animal health biologics.
Now at PATH, Krystal has shifted to human health and is currently a regulatory affairs officer where she provides expert guidance throughout all phases of planning and subsequent clinical trials to gain World Health Organization Prequalification to address some of the most serious global health crises in low and middle-income countries.
Krystal and her husband, Patrick, have two children and are located in the greater Seattle area.
Tom Richmond
Herb ’35 and Peggy Iffert Award for Outstanding Service to the University – Tom Richmond, Parts Distribution Manager, Altec Industries
Giving back comes easy for Tom Richmond; it’s in his DNA. The first recipient of this award was his father, Dr. George Richmond, in 2007. Richmond’s ties to Missouri Western began back in 1969 when his father moved the family to St. Joseph to take a job at the newly named Missouri Western College.
A lifelong community advocate, Richmond serves, or has served, on the Board of Directors for the Missouri Western State University Foundation, St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Trustees for the Mosaic Life Care Foundation, the United Way Volunteer Center Advisory Committee and has taken part in many other community involvement endeavors including Specialty Industries, Grace Evangelical Church, Mosaic Quality Committee, St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce (Economic Development), Sunrise Optimist Club, Valley Community Food Kitchen, United Way of Greater St. Joseph and Young Life.
He currently serves as the Budget Committee Chair on the Missouri Western State University Foundation Board and is a member of the Western League for Excellence and the Arts Society.
Richmond has worked at Altec Industries since 1981 and is currently Manager of Altec Parts Distribution. He and his wife Judy have four children and 12 grandchildren.
Susan Campbell '01
College of Business and Professional Studies – Susan Campbell ’01
Susan J. Campbell is the head of SJC Marketing, a full-service marketing, communications and content company offering strategic solutions for businesses in the commercial and nonprofit sectors. Susan is a professional writer and consultant, with expertise in marketing, communications, content creation and targeted distribution. A graduate of Missouri Western with a core focus on marketing, Susan brings more than 20 years in marketing, leadership and professional communications to her team.
In addition to her role with SJC Marketing, Susan is also active in the local community, serving on a number of boards and committees for local organizations, including the Missouri Western State University Foundation Board, the Craig School of Business Advisory Council, Rotary International and the St. Joseph Library Foundation Board. Susan entered the Strategic Communication program with the University of Missouri School of Journalism in 2018, earning her master’s in 2020.
A St. Louis native, Susan now lives in Faucett, Missouri, while her husband maintains the family farm. She is the mother of one MU graduate now living in Colorado and one MU student currently pursuing her business degree, hopefully with a focus in marketing so she can one day take over SJC Marketing while Susan plays all day.
Derek Coats '02
College of Liberal Arts – Derek Coats ’02
Derek Coats received his Bachelors of Science in Political Science from Missouri Western in 2002.
Derek currently serves as Deputy Chief of Staff to United States Senator Roy Blunt, where he has worked for 10 years. In that role, Derek oversees many aspects of the day-to-day operations of the Senator’s offices throughout the state and works closely with the Chief of Staff on the senator’s major projects and strategic initiatives. Prior to Senator Blunt, Derek held various positions in the offices of United States Senator Christopher S. (Kit) Bond, which was made possible because of an internship during his last semester at Missouri Western.
Derek and his wife, Kellie Ann, reside in Columbia with their son, Carter.
Dan Ramming '97
College of Liberal Arts – Dan Ramming ’97
Daniel Ramming has a B.A. in Studio Art from Missouri Western and is currently an art teacher and yearbook advisor at Central High School in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Ramming has taught art and special education in various educational settings, including teaching Artscape. He has taken on additional duties as an adviser for different clubs and activities as needed.
He has been involved with Downtown St. Joseph redevelopment for more than two decades, including as a board member and Vice President of the Downtown Association.
Ramming was on the Trails West! Steering Committee for several years, and has been involved in other Allied Arts Council events. He donated his sculpture, “Reaching Skyward,” to be a permanent part of Sculpture Walk.
Ramming has long been involved in the LGBTQ+ Rights movement in Greater St. Joseph Area. He was instrumental in creating a Missouri Western scholarship to help LGBTQ+ families afford a better education. He is currently the President of the Midland Empire Equality Coalition, which organizes the St. Joe Pride Festival.
Gary Baumann '09/'12
College of Science and Health – Gary Baumann ’09/’12
Gary Baumann earned his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry in 2009 and his Master of Applied Science in Chemistry in 2012, both from Missouri Western.
He currently serves as Group Leader QA Investigations at Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica. In 2021, he published his first science fiction book, “Convergence.” Gary serves Missouri Western and the St. Joseph community by volunteering with fundraising programs, alumni events and community boards/organizations.
While studying to complete his master’s, Gary worked part time as an ECG tech at Heartland Health (now Mosaic Life Care), instructed Missouri Western chemistry labs as a graduate assistant and interned at the Kit Bond Incubator.
Upon graduation, Gary began working at BioZyme, a St. Joseph-area livestock nutrition and animal microbiology company, while continuing to teach at Missouri Western for a few years, sharing his passion for science with students. In 2019, Gary joined QA at Boehringer Ingelheim. In March 2021, Gary transitioned to his current role as Group Leader, Quality and Compliance, Deviations.
In April 2021, Gary celebrated his 12th wedding anniversary with his wife, Emily (also a chemistry department graduate). They welcomed their son, Bridger Arcturus, into the world in August 2020.
Isaiah Colbert '21
Clifford Hughes ’55 Award – Isaiah Colbert ’21
Born and raised by his parents, Victor and Debra, in Kansas City, Missouri, Isaiah Colbert graduated in May 2021.
Majoring in business management and minoring in entrepreneurship, Isaiah was all about being involved. He was named a two-time all-conference football player, along with being a two-time team captain. Isaiah was also a recipient of the Chris Faros Memorial Scholarship.
He served as president of his fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, as well as peer mentoring during his time with Missouri Western. All while founding and running his own DJ business in the spring of 2019.
Mackenzie O'Neill '21
Graduating Student of the Year – Mackenzie O’Neill ’21
A St. Louis native, Mackenzie O’Neill was steadfast in the pursuit of her nursing degree, all while balancing a collegiate soccer career and representing her fellow athletes on the national stage. She was Chair of the NCAA DII Student-Athlete Advisory Committee E-Board and Vice Chair and member of the Division II Legislation Committee.
She served as a tutor for five nursing courses through the Center for Academic Support and was named Golden Griffon SAAC (Student Athlete Advisory Committee) volunteer of the year in 2018-19.
Liam Nevin '21
International Student of the Year – Liam Nevin ’21
Liam Nevin is from Brisbane, Australia and came to Missouri Western in the fall of 2019.
He was heavily involved with the international community on campus, offering rides to the airport or store and helping with emotional support. He was also very involved with the Missouri Western Men’s Soccer Club team, and served as a player and coach in 2019 and 2021. In spring 2021, Liam served as a volunteer assistant coach with the Missouri Western Women’s Soccer team who finished second in their conference.
He will be back at Missouri Western in fall 2021 to begin an MBA program and serve as the graduate assistant for the Missouri Western Women’s Soccer team.
Nominations
If you would like to nominate someone for an award, please see the nominations page and follow the instructions listed for each award.