April 14, 2023–The Missouri Western State University Society for Collegiate Journalists inducted 17 new members and recognized 13 graduating seniors at a ceremony on April 6.

Students inducted include: student journalists pose

  • Darren Doyle, junior from Cosby, Missouri
  • Zoe Dunn, senior from Kansas City, Missouri
  • Andruw Hamilton, freshman from Kansas City, Missouri
  • Natalie Kissinger, junior from Glenvil, Nebraska
  • Patty Lashbrook, freshman from Faucett, Missouri
  • Carmen Lemell, sophomore from Versailles, Missouri
  • Ashley Luthans, junior from St. Joseph
  • Lauren McBee, senior from Cameron, Missouri
  • Mikaela Ness, junior from Forest Lake, Minnesota
  • Hannah Owens, senior from Belleville, Kansas
  • Reese Payne, senior from Caddo Mills, Texas
  • Jaylen Roberts, junior from St. Louis, Missouri
  • Khorine Rodriguez, sophomore from St. Joseph
  • Amila Saric, junior from Urbandale, Iowa
  • Kendra Simpson, senior from St. Joseph
  • Ren Springer, junior from Lee’s Summit, Missouri
  • Katrina Zuelke, senior from Kansas City, Missouri

Graduating seniors presented with honor cords are:

  • Kenan Bjelevac, from St. Louis
  • Arianne Boma, from Harrisburg, Illinois
  • Zoe Dunn, from Kansas City, Missouri
  • Chloe Earwood, from Platte City, Missouri
  • Thomas Forness, from Cameron, Missouri
  • Anastasia Harwood, from Jefferson City, Missouri
  • Trinity Knapp, from Shawnee, Kansas
  • Harry Loomis, from St. Charles, Missouri
  • Remington Loyd, from St. Joseph
  • Lauren McBee, from Cameron, Missouri
  • Faith Perkins, from Gower, Missouri
  • Madison Spath, from Chillicothe, Missouri
  • Katrina Zuelke, from Kansas City, Missouri

Three Missouri Western alumni who now work at the school were guest speakers for the event: Elora Maxwell, digital marketing coordinator in Marketing and Communications; Gary Smith, part-time faculty member in the Department of Communication; and Derek Zimmerman-Guyer, director of communications in Athletics.

Missouri Western’s convergent journalism and public relations degree program blends broadcast, print, photography and web media coverage across platforms. Students learn to create written, visual and broadcast packages, using more than one outlet to tell the story.

The Society for Collegiate Journalists is the nation’s oldest honor society for student media leaders. SCJ advances ethical, accurate, and innovative collegiate journalism nationally and creates a strong network of advocates for First Amendment education.

Missouri Western State University is a student-centered learning community preparing individuals for lives of excellence through applied learning. Missouri Western is located in St. Joseph, Mo., and is committed to the educational, economic, cultural and social development of the region it serves. Visit missouriwestern.edu