{"id":4688,"date":"2020-01-07T10:55:52","date_gmt":"2020-01-07T16:55:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/?p=4688"},"modified":"2020-01-07T12:39:17","modified_gmt":"2020-01-07T18:39:17","slug":"alumni-association-honors-11-at-banquet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/2020\/01\/07\/alumni-association-honors-11-at-banquet\/","title":{"rendered":"Alumni Association honors 11 at banquet"},"content":{"rendered":"

Eleven alumni and friends were honored at the Alumni Association\u2019s 37th<\/sup> annual banquet Homecoming weekend. Congratulations! <\/em><\/p>\n

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Alumni Association Award recipients Dr. Tom Rachow, Dr. Jamel Wright ’00, Chelsey Kusek ’09 and Pat Dillon.<\/p><\/div>\n

Dr. Jamel Santa Cruze Wright \u201900
\n<\/strong>Distinguished Alumni Award
\n<\/strong>As president of Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, Dr. Jamel Wright says she often thinks about her experience as a student at Missouri Western.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I spend some portion of every day celebrating Missouri Western,\u201d she said. \u201cEvery day I have a memory of something that happened there that laid the foundation for where I am today.\u201d<\/p>\n

After she graduated with a communication studies degree with a public relations\/strategic communication emphasis in 2000, Dr. Wright earned her master\u2019s and doctorate degrees in communication studies from the University of Kansas in just four years.<\/p>\n

Dr. Wright taught at Boston University and Saint Louis University before joining the administration at Eureka College in 2014. She served as vice president\/special assistant to the president for strategic and diversity initiatives before being named interim president in 2016. She became Eureka College\u2019s president in July 2017.<\/p>\n

Watch Dr. Wright’s video here.\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Chelsey Kusek \u201909
\n<\/strong>GOLD Award
\n<\/strong>Chelsey Kusek \u201909 is an art teacher at Bell Prairie Elementary School and the subject area-lead teacher for the North Kansas City School District.<\/p>\n

She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Art Education and a minor in Spanish in May 2009 and began teaching at Bell Prairie that fall. As Bell Prairie\u2019s art teacher, she teaches more than 600 students every week.<\/p>\n

She was named lead teacher in 2015. In that role, and plans monthly staff meetings and professional development for her colleagues.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy experience at Missouri Western was so positive,\u201d she said. \u201cMy classes were just the right combination of challenging and engaging, and my happy place was certainly Potter Hall. Missouri Western truly holds a special place in my heart.\u201d<\/p>\n

She earned a Master of Education in Technology-Enhanced Teaching from Mid-America Nazarene University in 2012.<\/p>\n

Watch Chelsey’s video here.\u00a0<\/em><\/a>
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

Dr. Tom Rachow
\n<\/strong>Distinguished Faculty Award
\n<\/strong>Dr. Tom Rachow began teaching at Missouri Western in 1968 and retired this past spring after 51 years of service.<\/p>\n

Dr. Rachow, who was named Professor Emeritus of Biology, earned a Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences from the University of Iowa, and a Master of Science in Education, Biological Sciences, and a doctorate in physiology from Southern Illinois University.<\/p>\n

\u201cDr. Rachow is what Missouri Western\u2019s academic staff should be modeled after,\u201d said one of his former students. \u201cHe is not only a state-of-the-art teacher, but a great man.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have matured into a beautiful campus with a great student body,\u201d Dr. Rachow said. \u201cI am so proud of the strong academic institution we have become.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watch Dr. Rachow’s video here.\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

Pat Dillon
\nHerb \u201935 and Peggy Iffert Award for Outstanding Service to the University
\n<\/strong>Pat Dillon is the Chief Government and Community Relations Officer for Mosaic Life Care in St. Joseph. In addition to serving on a number of community organizations\u2019 boards, he completed two terms (12 years) on the MWSU Foundation Board, serving on the directorship, executive and bylaws committees, along with chairing the development committee. He has also worked on two of the University\u2019s capital campaigns and helped found the Western League for Excellence giving society.<\/p>\n

He owned The Dillon Company for 25 years before going to work for Mosaic as its retail director in 2007. He was promoted to vice president of advocacy and Government Relations in 2015, and named to his current position this year.<\/p>\n

Watch Pat’s video here.\u00a0<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

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Great Griffon Award recipients Dr. Duane Martin ’89, Mary Vaughan ’79, Tona Williams ’00, Alumni Association President; Great Griffon Award recipient Jaime Bartley ’17; and Matt Wilson, Missouri Western President.<\/p><\/div>\n

Jaime Bartley \u201917, MSN, RN, NE-BC, CCTC
\n<\/strong>Great Griffon Award
\n<\/strong>School of Nursing and Health Professions
\n<\/strong>Jaime Bartley \u201917 graduated from Missouri Western\u2019s Master of Science in Nursing: Health Care Leadership program and is the Organ Transplant Manager for the University of Kansas Health System.<\/p>\n

Under her guidance, the donor transplant program has experienced a number of changes, which resulted in a great increase in the number of living donors and transplants.<\/p>\n

Since January 2018, the University of Kansas Health System\u2019s transplant team has performed 11 internal kidney transplant exchanges or chains which impacted 50 patients (25 donors and 25 recipients). They also hosted a Big Ask Big Give workshop in February 2019 for patients, and the success of that workshop has led to other health care and National Kidney Foundation representatives from across the country seeking their input.<\/p>\n

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Jacob Cunning ’16<\/p><\/div>\n

Jacob Cunning \u201916
\n<\/strong>Great Griffon Award
\n<\/strong>Craig School of Business & Technology
\n<\/strong>Jacob Cunning \u201916 graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Management and immediately became an active alumni volunteer. Since he graduated, he has served on the St. Joseph Alumni Chapter Steering Committee and the Legacy Day Committee.<\/p>\n

Cunning served as an intern at Boehringer Ingelheim while he was a student and was hired there after he graduated, moving with the company to its Atlanta office. He is currently a Consultant, Human Capital at Deloitte, a multinational professional services network, and he continues to reside in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

Cunning holds the distinction of being the youngest member of Missouri Western\u2019s Clock Tower Society, an honorary society that recognizes donors who have made the MWSU Foundation a beneficiary of their estate.<\/p>\n

Duane Martin \u201989
\n<\/strong>Great Griffon Award
\n<\/strong>Liberal Arts and Sciences
\n<\/strong>Duane Martin \u201989 earned a bachelor\u2019s degree in political science from Missouri Western. In 2014, he founded EdCounsel, LLC, a firm dedicated to defending and supporting Missouri\u2019s public schools.<\/p>\n

Throughout his career, Martin has represented more than 40% of Missouri\u2019s public school districts. He has also published scholarly articles in national publications.<\/p>\n

Martin graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law. He was a judicial law clerk at the Missouri Court of Appeals and an Assistant Attorney General for the State of Missouri. Martin has also taught as an adjunct professor in the doctoral program for education at St. Louis University.<\/p>\n

Mary Sprake Vaughan \u201979
\n<\/strong>Great Griffon Award
\n<\/strong>College of Professional Studies
\n<\/strong>Mary Vaughan \u201979, a native of St. Joseph, graduated with a bachelor\u2019s degree in leisure management and served 32 years in the Parks and Recreation Department for the city of Maryland Heights, Missouri. She became the director in 1998 and guided a great expansion of programs in the department, overseeing the construction of a new Community Center before retiring in 2016.<\/p>\n

Vaughan was a past president of the Alumni Association and chair of numerous committees for the group. She is currently serving as district secretary for the Missouri Arkansas District of Kiwanis International. Throughout her career, Vaughan also held many positions with the Missouri Parks and Recreation Association, including president.<\/p>\n

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Ben Allen ’19<\/p><\/div>\n

Benjamin Allen \u201919
\n<\/strong>Clifford Hughes \u201955 Award
\n<\/strong>Benjamin Allen, who graduated with a biology degree, health sciences concentration, in 2019, excelled in both student organizations and in academic pursuits.<\/p>\n

He was president of Alpha Sigma Phi, where he had the opportunity to redesign the fraternity and turn it into one of the leading organizations on campus. He also participated in the Barbara Sprong Leadership Challenge and was on the University\u2019s strategic plan committee.<\/p>\n

Allen also had the opportunity to conduct research with Dr. Carissa Ganong for nine weeks in a Costa Rican rainforest. He is currently working at Boehringer-Ingelheim as a Quality Control Technician and plans to attend graduate school in the future to become a physician\u2019s assistant.<\/p>\n

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Evan Banks ’19<\/p><\/div>\n

Evan M. Banks \u201919
\n<\/strong>Graduating Student of the Year
\n<\/strong>Evan graduated with degrees in history and political science with a minor in peace and conflict studies, but not before he got involved in several organizations across campus.<\/p>\n

As a student, he served as vice president of the Student Government Association and director of external relations, as a tutor, and as president of the History Society.<\/p>\n

Evan is currently an admission counselor for Missouri Western.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone in my departments took an interest in my career, and I would not be the person I am today were it not for them. I am so grateful for the opportunities and experiences that Missouri Western afforded me,\u201d said Evan, a native of Las Vegas.<\/p>\n

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Shi Qing Ong ’19<\/p><\/div>\n

Shi Qing Ong \u201919
\n<\/strong>Dr. Robert A. Vartabedian International Student of the Year
\n<\/strong>Shi, from Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, graduated with a biology degree with a health science concentration and is currently studying physical therapy at the University of Oklahoma Health Science Center.<\/p>\n

She played golf for the Griffons for four years. In her senior year, she won her record 14th<\/sup> career and fifth consecutive event. Qing Ong was named MIAA Women\u2019s Golfer of the Year two years in a row and recognized as Missouri Western\u2019s Female Student Athlete of the Year twice.<\/p>\n

Qing Ong also conducted genetic research with Dr. Todd Eckdahl and presented her work at a national conference.<\/p>\n

Nominate for Alumni Association awards today!
\n<\/strong>Nominations for all Alumni Association awards may be submitted year round online at missouriwestern.edu\/alumni. Along with the nomination form, a letter stating why you believe the person deserves this award must accompany the application. The deadline is March 1 each year. Current members of the Alumni Association Board of Directors are not eligible for nomination.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

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Eleven alumni and friends were honored at the Alumni Association\u2019s 37th annual banquet Homecoming weekend. Congratulations! Dr. Jamel Santa Cruze Wright \u201900 Distinguished Alumni Award As president of Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois, Dr. Jamel Wright says she often thinks about her experience as a student at Missouri Western. \u201cI […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":57,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[22,33],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4688"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/57"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4688"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4688\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4707,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4688\/revisions\/4707"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4688"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4688"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.missouriwestern.edu\/magazine\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4688"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}