William Jewell College announced the five finalists for the College’s Faculty Award – an award recognizing graduating students who exhibit the highest ideals of a liberal arts education. 

The finalists include Catherine Dema, Oxbridge history of ideas and physics major; Rachel Harris, music education major; Kelsey Lanterman, biology and Spanish major; Madison Carroll Porth, Oxbridge institutions and policy and international relations major; and Jack Still, political science and economics major.

Graduating seniors who have spent at least three years at Jewell and hold a 3.75 GPA are eligible for consideration for the award. Dr. Anne Marie Rigler, chair of the Faculty Award Committee and professor of music, emailed an application to seniors who met these requirements Feb. 17. 

In the application, applicants detailed extracurricular and service activities undertaken during their time at Jewell and wrote an essay describing their perception of what a liberal arts education means. The application was due a little over a week later, and after brief deliberation, the Faculty Award Committee selected a number of semifinalists. Students selected as semifinalists were required to submit two letters of recommendation to the Committee and partake in an interview with Committee members. 

Based on these letters and interviews, the committee selected the five finalists. A winner will be announced at the Honors Convocation April 23. 

When asked why she decided to apply for the Faculty Award, Dema noted that she was inclined to apply because of the deeply formative effect Jewell had on her outlook. 

“I decided to apply for the Faculty Award because I thought my experiences at Jewell – both academic and extracurricular – had a significant impact on how I view my approach to the world, my career and education in general,” said Dema. “I was interested in what the process would even look like and I wanted to know if the faculty also thought I would be qualified for the award. I also wanted to take the opportunity to provide some feedback to the faculty that was at times critical, but that I thought embodied Jewell’s espoused values of critical thought, inclusivity, authentic engagement and courageous citizenship.”

Dema also shared her thoughts on her Faculty Award interview experience. 

“I was frankly kind of confused during a large part of the interview. It was relatively conversational and more focused on digging into questions of value, how one ought to act and what critical thought is and looks like at Jewell. I thought it was generally interesting to have this kind of conversation with faculty I don’t often interact with that much,” Dema said. 

In a final comment, Dema remarked that she wishes the Faculty Award application process was more accessible but is nonetheless thankful to be recognized.

“I really do wish the process was a bit more equitable and fair to students,” Dema said. “The nature of the timeline for applications limited who was able to apply for the award and I think that is a shame. I also want to emphasize that I’m incredibly grateful to the faculty award committee for recognizing me in this way.” 

During her time at Jewell, Dema held leadership positions in The Hilltop Monitor, the Society of Physics Students, Gender Issues & Feminism Club, the Radical Inclusivity Committee and SUSTAIN. In addition, she volunteered as a reading partner with Primitivo Garcia, served as a member of the editorial staff of Cherwell, Oxford University’s independent student newspaper and worked as an undergraduate researcher at Jewell, Coe College and Cornell University.

After graduating, Dema plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School as a Levy Scholar. She ultimately plans to pursue a career in public interest law in order to continue focusing on issues of race and gender justice while working at the intersection of theory and practice.

For Harris, applying for the Faculty Award was an opportunity to make Jewell’s music department proud.

“I really wanted to honor [the music department] and show that they have prepped me and just encouraged me in my education at Jewell and just to show that I am ready to get out into the world and hopefully, through music education, share my Jewell education to other students,” Harris said. 

Harris found the interview difficult but ultimately regarded it as a valuable learning experience – one she hopes to impart to her own students as well.

“It was definitely challenging for me,” Harris said. “Typically, I am used to talking to children and talking about music and teaching them how to be expressive. So this was a different experience, but it really, really showed how important critical thinking is at Jewell. The topic was pretty tough this year. I was just encouraged to stand for my beliefs and just to keep going with those conversations. Even though they were really difficult and challenging concepts to talk about, I feel like I can bring those same kinds of qualities to my next classroom and encourage those students to always think deeper and pursue those deep, deep thoughts.”

Over the course of her four years at Jewell, Harris interned with the Youth Symphony of Kansas City, privately instructed violin students. She also participated in a number of musical masterclasses with famed instrumentalists, including Julia King and Randall Goosby. Her community involvement includes working as a leader with Blue Springs Young Life, being a worship team vocalist at Abundant Life Church and serving at resource fairs for the Blue Springs community. She also owns her own earring company. 

Harris is currently on the hunt for a music teaching job in the Kansas City area – which she praised for its support of the arts and incredible music programs in the public school system. She will also continue her internship with the Youth Symphony of Kansas City, preparing for the upcoming in-person season. After getting a few years of teaching experience, Harris hopes to enroll in a Master’s music education program and to gain certification in the Suzuki method. 

To Lanterman, submitting her Faculty Award application felt like an appropriate way to close out her career at Jewell, especially after receiving encouragement from friends to apply. 

“Honestly, I’ve really enjoyed my four years at Jewell. I’ve had a great time and a lot of fun so it kind of just felt like a cool opportunity with the culmination of my four years and all of the emotions and feelings,” Lanterman said. “I talked to my friends about it and they were like, ‘You should apply. Why not? You might as well.’ Even if I don’t win, I just thought it was a unique thing to apply for.”

Reflecting four years back to when she was interviewed by Dr. Kenneth Alpern – director of the Oxbridge Honors Program and professor of philosophy – for admission into the Oxbridge program, Lanterman happily noted that she felt a markedly lower amount of anxiety when she saw that Alpern was a member of the interviewing Committee. 

“[It was] just like an Oxbridge interview. Alpern asked the first question, and I was like ‘Oh no,’ but it was really pushing you and trying to get the deeper thoughts out, not just surface answers. It was a really good conversation,” Lanterman said. “They really pushed at trying to ask deeper and thought-provoking questions.”

During her time at Jewell, Lanterman was a captain of the swim team, a Presidential Scholar and a member of several honors societies. Lanterman noted that being captain of the swim team was an excellent leadership experience and is generally grateful to be a part of Jewell Athletics because of the valuable relationships she formed. As a Presidential Scholar, Lanterman was connected to an alumni mentor, who she became quite close to and helped integrate her into the broader Jewell community. She also studied abroad in Granada, Spain.

Though she is still waiting to hear back from some schools, Lanterman plans to head to medical school following graduation. 

Carroll Porth saw the Faculty Award as an opportunity to reflect on how the values of a liberal arts education applied to her own development as a leader during her time at Jewell.

“I think that I applied primarily because I feel like I have grown and developed a lot as a leader and a student over the past four years. I think I embody a lot of the values of a Jewell and liberal arts education and that I would be a good candidate for the award,” Carroll Porth said. 

Like others, Carroll Porth remarked that the interview was challenging but certainly rewarding.

“It was hard,” Carroll Porth said. “There was a ten-minute portion where I was just sweating because they were asking me what it means to be human and why humans have empathy and what the word ‘value’ means. So, yeah, it was hard, but it was good. The hardest part was the unexpected nature of the questions, but I think it was a really fruitful conversation and a good chance to talk about my experiences at Jewell.”

At Jewell, Carroll Porth held leadership positions in The Hilltop Monitor, Student Senate and Zeta Tau Alpha. Most recently, Carroll Porth helped co-found the Gender Issues & Feminism Club, which provides free menstrual products and contraceptives to the campus community. Carroll Porth is also involved with off-campus service activities, including leading high school youth groups with Liberty Young Life, working as a crisis hotline volunteer for the Metropolitan Organization to Counter Sexual Assault and collaborating with a team to find solutions to human trafficking during her time at Oxford University. 

Carroll Porth plans to attend Vanderbilt University Law School. After completing law school, she hopes to either go into nonprofit work or a judicial clerkship. After that, she aspires to enter a career in government intelligence.

Still decided to apply for the award as a way to reflect on his experience at Jewell.

“I chose to apply because I have heard from previous finalists that the application is a tremendous way to reflect back on your time at Jewell,” said Still. “At this point, so close to graduation, I was looking for a way to review everything that I had experienced in the last four years, including all that I have learned, the relationships I have made and the ways in which I have changed. The Faculty Award application challenges you to do just this. I knew from the beginning that even if I did not end up winning or being named a finalist, I would be fulfilled by the chance to reflect on my experience as a student at Jewell.”

Still reiterated other finalists’ sentiments about the difficulty of the interview and noted how anxious he was for it. 

“To be honest, it was very intimidating. I had tremendous respect for each member of the Faculty Award committee and I did not want to let them down with my response to their questions, so I was extremely nervous. It might have been the most nervous I have ever been for something,” Still said. “But at the end of the day, I knew that all I could do was to be myself and just give it the best shot that I had. That is what got me to this point in the first place, and I was not about to abandon that now. The questions the committee asked were very challenging and certainly tested all the knowledge and skills that I have obtained since coming to Jewell. But, overall, it was an eye-opening experience that I am thankful for.”

In a final comment, Still expressed his gratitude for being considered for the award. 

“Regardless of whether I am named the winner, I would not change a single thing about my time as a student at Jewell. I gave all of myself to my academics, to my sport, to the relationships I was fortunate enough to build, and to the broader community,” said Still. “To be named the Winner of the Faculty Award would obviously mean the world to me. But just being recognized as a finalist – and to be considered in the same light as my fellow finalists, who represent the highest ideals of this College – is a tremendous honor in itself. I am so grateful.”

Throughout his four years at Jewell, Still was a member of the men’s golf team, president of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity, co-founder and president of Cardinal Union, a University Innovation Fellow, President of College Democrats and a member of Student Senate.

Upon graduation, Still will move to Washington D.C. to take part in an eight-week internship with The Fund for American Studies, working with the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys, an organization that aims to reform the criminal justice system. His ultimate goal is to attend law school to become either a civil rights lawyer or prosecuting attorney. 

Among these five finalists, a winner will be announced at the Honors Convocation April 23. The event has limited seating due to COVID-19 and a link to a livestream of the event will be transmitted to the Jewell community in the coming week.

The Hilltop Monitor, William Jewell College’s student newspaper, came out on top in its division, winning first place in the Sweepstakes category, along with 21 awards in various individual categories. This is the third year in a row The Hilltop Monitor has taken home a win in the Sweepstakes category. 

The awards given by MCMA honor the best work published by college newspapers across Missouri in the calendar year of 2020. 

The Hilltop Monitor competed in Division 3, which consists of publications from small four-year colleges and universities across Missouri. Included in this division along with Jewell are Avila University, Culver-Stockton College, Drury University, Evangel University, Missouri Valley College and Park University. 

A list of the awards granted to The Hilltop Monitor staff are listed below:

Sweepstakes

• The Hilltop Monitor Staff, first place

News Writing

• Kyler Schardein, second place, “The Movement to Remove a Confederate Soldier Statue from Liberty”

Editorial Writing

• Michaela Esau, first place, “The impact of community on learning”
• The Hilltop Monitor Editorial Board, honorable mention, “Letter from the Editorial Board: Black lives matter”
• Zachary Dube, honorable mention, “Opinion: Now is not the time for Amy Coney Barrett to join the Supreme Court”

Feature Writing

• Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, second place, “Volunteer programs in China cut short as coronavirus spreads”
• Catherine Dema and Christina Kirk, honorable mention, “Students and alumni attend local protests in opposition to racism and police brutality”

Sports Writing

• Savannah Hawley, first place, “Recap of the Current Athletic Season”
• Hayley Michael, honorable mention, “Working Out While Making It Work”

In-Depth News Reporting

• Catherine Dema, honorable mention, “Jewell overhauls orientation mentor program in radical inclusivity efforts, COVID-19 response”

Investigative Reporting

• Christina Kirk, first place, “Jewell uses Intercultural Development Inventory to assess cultural competence”
• Catherine Dema and Christina Kirk, second place, “Jewell cuts 2021-2022 tuition by 45% to increase price transparency”

Column

• Agatha Gutierrez, second place, “Go Your Own Way: An Advice Piece”
• Michaela Esau, third place, “How to be good when the world is bad”

Sports Column

• Christina Kirk, first place, “Opinion: Enough with the looks-policing in women’s sports”

Entertainment Review

• Krista Halstead, third place, “Movie Review: The Boys in the Band”

Feature Photography

• Kari Tott, second place, “Appreciating What Earth Has to Offer”

Nonpolitical/Entertainment Cartoon

• Minnie Goodbody, first place, “Cartoon: 2020’s New College Reality”
• Kitt Wilhelm, second place, “Kitt’s Toons #30”

Information Graphic

• Christina Kirk, second place, “Intentions for Re-Opening: National Statistics”
• Claire Henry, third place, “Do I need to wash my mask?”

Website Design

• Christina Kirk and Savannah Hawley, third place

In a time-honored tradition at William Jewell College, the student body collectively votes for superlative awards for different majors in the different academic programs offered at Jewell. The most recent vote was held last week, and the awards for each program are listed below.

Accounting: Biggest Personalities

ACT-In: Least Likely to Be a Double Major

Biochemistry: Least Likely to Go on a Medical Mission Trip

Biology: Most Sane

Business Administration: Most Hardworking

Chemistry: Most Likely to Follow Lab Safety Protocol

Civil Engineering: Least Likely to Wear a Neon Yellow Vest

Communication: Most Likely to Win the Faculty Award

Data Science: Most Explainable Major

Digital Media Communication: Hardest Major

Economics: Least Likely to Be Concerned About the Suez Canal Blockage

Education: Most Likely to Earn a Six-Figure Income

English: Best Postgrad Job Prospects

French: Most Popular Major

History: Least Likely to Check out a Library Book

Mathematics: Most Likely to Know How to Write an Essay

Music Education: Least Likely to Be Heard in the PLC

Nonprofit Leadership: Most Likely to be the CEOs of a Fortune 500 Company

Nursing: Least Likely to Complain About the Amount of Work They Have

Oxbridge: Most Humble

Philosophy: Most Coherent

Physics: Most Social

Political Science: Most Likely to Get Elected

Psychological Science: Most Emotionally Stable

Spanish: Least Likely to Talk About Their Study Abroad Experience

Swim Team: Least Cult-Like

Theatre: Most Laid Back

Congratulations, Cardinals!

Christian outreach at William Jewell College expanded this semester with the establishment of a new bible study club: WJC Bible Study. First-year civil engineering majors Grant Stubbs and Jordan Jermain founded this club a couple of weeks into the spring 2021 semester.

“Jordan and I wanted to start this club to give the students a form of Christian outreach on campus. We want to give other students an opportunity to hear the word of God, as well as giving us a chance to grow in our faith,” Stubbs said.

To spread the word about the club, Stubbs and Jermain made an Instagram account to publicize meeting dates and share words of spiritual inspiration. The account currently has over 150 followers. 

Though Stubbs was initially skeptical about how much interest there would be among students, he stated that an average of about 20 people attend the club’s weekly meetings. At its peak, around 30 students attended – an impressive turnout for a Jewell student organization. 

“During a typical meeting, we watch a video to start off,” Stubbs said. “After that we read a short passage and go over some discussion questions with the group. Sometimes we go over 2 or 3 passages. Meetings usually run for about 45 [minutes].”

Stubbs and Jermain also often bring snacks to help incentivize attendance. 

In some of their previous meetings, the club has focused on studying particular books – Ecclesiastes, for example, at their March 8 meeting – or on broader Christian concepts like the concept of peace and what it means to Christians at their March 1 meeting. 

“The discussions are structured around questions asked about the passage. They serve as an open floor for anyone to share thoughts or questions about the passage or video,” Stubbs said.

Jewell has a few other spiritual organizations, the most notable of which being Christian Service Ministries (CSM), a non-denominational Christian worship group that provides resources and activities to help members of the campus community grow in their faith. However, Stubbs notes that WJC Bible Study provides a function distinct from CSM because it centers specifically on scriptural studies while CSM engages in a number of faith-building endeavors, including service activities and worship events.

“Our club does not have the typical structure of worship, then a sermon. Our club is more discussion based and focused on exploring Jesus’ teachings as a group,” Stubbs said. “We would love to give people opportunities to give sermons and worship together. Hopefully that is in our future.”

Stubbs reiterated that WJC Bible Study’s mission centers around outreach and that the ultimate goal of the club is to bring Christians in the campus community together. 

“The goal of this club is to reach as many people as possible at this school and help them learn about God. It is also to create fellowship and bring fellow believers together,” Stubbs said.

If you are interested in WJC Bible Study, meetings are held in Mathes Hall every Monday at 7 p.m. To get updates about meetings and to receive pieces of spiritual inspiration, follow WJC Bible Study’s Instagram, @wjcbiblestudy.