This year’s finalists are:

Photos were provided by finalists as part of the application process, and provided to the Hilltop Monitor by the Marketing Department.

Allen, Ampofo, and Brandt all intend to continue to medical school after their time at Jewell. Calderon plans to work as a teaching artist in Kansas City, and Morelli will take a gap year before pursuing a Ph.D in clinical psychology.

The winner of the Faculty Award will be announced at the annual Celebration of Honors, held at 7 p.m. in Gano Chapel on Apr. 24, 2026.

The finalists for the Faculty Award – the highest honor bestowed on a graduating senior on the part of the William Jewell College faculty – have been announced. Finalists are selected on the basis of “academic achievement and exemplification of the highest ideals of a liberal arts education.” Further, finalists must have a minimum GPA of 3.75 and have attended Jewell for 3 or more years. 

This year’s finalists are:
Agatha Echenique, senior Oxbridge history of ideas and philosophy double major. 
Alexandra Entz, senior nursing and ACT-In double major.
Hattie Miller, senior political science and international relations major.
Christian Santiago, senior history and political science double major. 

The winner of the Faculty Award will be announced April 21st at 7 p.m. during the Honors Convocation held at Gano Chapel.

William Jewell College hosted its annual Celebration of Honors ceremony on April 23. The hybrid event was held in Gano Chapel with a limited number of attendees spaced out in the auditorium – to comply with COVID-19 restrictions –  and all other attendees watching the event via Zoom. This was the first celebratory event held in Gano Chapel since Jewell introduced COVID-19 safety guidelines last year. 

The Celebration of Honors, held the same day as Duke Colloquium, is a chance for the College to honor student achievement, which includes the presentation of the prestigious Faculty Award. 

The 2021 Faculty Award winner is Jackson Still, economics and political science major from Lubbock, Texas. Still is a member of the Cardinal golf team and Mortar Board. During his time at Jewell, Still co-founded the Cardinal Union and served as its president. He also served in leadership roles in Phi Gamma Delta, College Union Activities, and Student Senate. After graduation, he will be an academic intern at The Fund for American Studies Program in Washington, D.C., while attending George Mason University. 

Still credits this award to “the men of Phi Gamma Delta here at Jewell and all they have done to push me to become the man I am today,” as well as his professors for their dedication. According to Still, “acceptance of the Faculty Award is a testament to the exceptional community that we have at Jewell more than it is a recognition of any individual achievement.” 

The complete list of departmental and student awards is as follows.

Awards in Biology:

Dr. Burdette L. Wagenknecht Award for an outstanding first-year biology major – Alexis Harper

Charles F. J. Newlon Award for an outstanding sophomore biology major – Rachel Reaves 

Monte Harmon Award for an outstanding junior biology major – Mason Alexander

Dr. Judith A. Dilts Award for an outstanding junior biology major – William White

Dr. Burnell Landers Award for an outstanding senior biology major – Caleb Houghton

Awards in Business and Leadership:

Hastings L. Schies Memorial Scholarship for a deserving junior or senior female student majoring in business administration or finance who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement – Felecia Cummons

Walter J. Stark Award for development in business studies – Anthony Hansen

John W. Boatwright Scholar to a student majoring in economics – Jayme Coon

Boatwright Economics Leadership Scholar to a student majoring in economics – Noah Mayo

Otis and Florence Miller Academic Award for the senior graduating with the highest GPA in accounting, business or economics – Malorie Colby

Accounting Faculty Award for outstanding seniors in accounting – Malorie Colby, Garrett Peoples, Grant Peoples

Business Faculty Award for the outstanding senior in business administration – Zachary Bayless

Economics Faculty Award for the outstanding senior in economics – Carter Olsen

E. Anne Earnest Nonprofit Leadership Award for the outstanding senior in nonprofit leadership – Kylee Newton

Awards in Chemistry and Biochemistry:

Outstanding First-Year in Chemistry or Biochemistry – Jorey Luebbert, Kyla Schulte, Carly Thacker

Promising First-year in Chemistry or Biochemistry – Alyssa Hash, Ethan Nichols, Traeten Thorell

James R. Eaton Memorial Scholarship for achievement as a chemistry major – Hailee Brushwood, Cecelia Rogers

Frank H. Fristoe Scholarship for achievement in chemistry – Eli Engledow, Megan Hall, Megan Rohrer, Rachel Schon, Hannah Sherman

Outstanding Seniors in Chemistry or Biochemistry – Catherine Cogley, Cara Kingman

Awards in Communication and Theatre:

Austin Cooper Edwards Acting Awards – Isaac Chizhik, Jaimeson Satterfield

Virginia D. Rice Award for excellence in theatre throughout the year – Sequoia Crissman

Kim Harris Golden Hammer Award for Excellence in Technical Theatre – Garrett Washington

Alpha Psi Omega Key Award for four years of service to Jewell Theatre Company – Sequoia Crissman

Richard L. Harriman Theatre Scholarship established in 1994 by the Fine Arts Guild for outstanding theatre students – Faith Harris, Morgan Tuttle

Digital Media Communication Outstanding Senior Award – Bryar Buhlig

The Department of Communication and Theatre Award for Internship Excellence – Michaela Esau

The Murphy Award for Excellence to a senior communication major planning a career in law – Madeline Wingert

The Kim and Lois Anne Harris Department of Communication and Theatre Outstanding Senior Award – Lydia Enge, Madeline Wingert

Awards in Education:

Chad Garrison “Reach Out and Touch Someone” Award to an education major who has demonstrated sensitivity and compassion for others through volunteer service – Tyler Heston

Lutie Chiles Elementary Education Award to an outstanding sophomore in elementary education – Charlene Noble

Ida Coffman Education Award to an outstanding junior in elementary education – Brady O’Donnell

Elementary Student Teacher Award – Grace Haug, Sydney Offield

Secondary Student Teacher Award – Rey Camareno, Tanner Vance

Outstanding Seniors in Elementary Education – Lillian Frevert, Carman Stephenson

Outstanding Senior in Secondary Education – Rachel Harris

Awards in Engineering:

Outstanding Senior in Civil Engineering – Shane Lang

Awards in English:

Pinkerton-Rick Scholarship to English majors entering the senior year who have contributed to the English department through creative thinking and helpfulness – Emma Mayfield, Tyler Sherman 

Outstanding Senior English Major Award – James Hobbs

Award in History:

Kenneth Chatlos Award for best capstone essays in the Department of History – Kaitlyn Harken, James Hobbs

U. R. Pugh Memorial Scholarship for achievement as a history major – Hayley Michael

Awards in Languages:

Spanish Research Award for scholarly achievement in literary and cultural study – Kelsey Lanterman

Outstanding Senior in Spanish to a graduating major with a record of excellence – Carter Olsen

Awards in Mathematics and Data Science:

George A. Ross Mathematics Award to a senior mathematics major with the highest academic record in mathematics – Connor Morehouse

Awards in Music:

Ida and Maybelle Glenn Music Scholarship for outstanding achievement to someone preparing to teach music – Dre’Shon Tolbert

Edward Lakin Music Theory Award to the student with the highest GPA in the first year of music theory courses – Daniel Samsel 

Linda L. Thomssen String Award for an outstanding string player – Kathleen Wilcock

The Wes & Ginger Forbis Award for a rising senior in music – Laurence Dahlsten

The Collegiate Artists Competition, the winner of this annual competition performs a solo with the Liberty Symphony Orchestra – Laurence Dahlsten

Awards in Nursing:

Awards for Integrity – A’Leiya Clark (BSN), Jennifer Hutton (BSN-AT)

Awards for Compassion – Abigail Rand (BSN), Traci Fleming (BSN-AT)

Awards for Scholarship – Meredith Scarborough (BSN), Alice Kirsch (BSN-AT)

Anne Bax Ozbolt Awards for Servant Leadership – Halie Juarez (BSN), Bailey Brockley (BSN-AT)

Awards for Excellence in Practice – Cutter Sanders (BSN), Gabrielle Miranda (BSN-AT)

Mary Grant Seacole Awards for Service – Cody Lampe (BSN), Marissa Dillon (BSN-AT)

Outstanding Academic Achievement Award – Kaitlyn Pohl (BSN), Mona Akbarnia (BSN-AT)

Outstanding Nursing Student Award – Annemarie Boeh (BSN), Manuel Arciniega (BSN-AT)

Leesa A. McBroom Spirit of Nursing Book Award – Anjeli Ravi (BSN-AT)

Awards in Physics:

The Charles Don Geilker Feynman Lectures Award to an outstanding first-year physics student – Ellesa Henning

James R. Eaton Memorial Scholarships for achievement as sophomore or junior physics major – Graham Chambers-Wall

C. D. Geilker Award for achievement in the general physics course for a student majoring in physics, physics education or dual-degree engineering – Hope Peck

John E. Davis Sigma Pi Sigma Award for a senior physics major with the highest level of achievement in physics – Graham Chambers-Wall

Outstanding Senior Physics Major Award – Catherine Dema

Awards in Political Science:

Outstanding First-Year Students in Political Science – Jacqueline Hensley, Hattie Miller

Outstanding Sophomore in Political Science – Christian Santiago

Outstanding Juniors in Political Science – Zachary Mertes, Hayley Michael, Madalyn Newton

Outstanding Senior in Political Science – Madison Carroll Porth

Dr. Will Adams Scholarship for an outstanding political science major – Kyler Schardein

Pi Sigma Alpha – Matthew Oliver Senior Scholar Award – Jackson Still

Awards in Psychological Science:

Distinguished Graduates in Psychological Science – Addisyn Cress, Rhyann Fisher, Hannah Koehler

Premier Graduate in Psychological Science – Kole Wagener

Student Publications Awards:

The Hilltop Monitor Newcomer Award – Zachary Dube, Krista Halstead, Elizabeth Payton

The Hilltop Monitor Community Outreach and Engagement Award – Samantha Bahler

The Hilltop Monitor Editorial Leadership Award – Trenton Brink, Catherine Dema, Agatha Gutierrez, Savannah Hawley, Christina Kirk, Hannah Koehler, Kyler Schardein, Kari Tott

Inscape Poem of the Year – Michaela Esau

Inscape Fiction of the Year – Jenna Hultgren

Inscape Creative Nonfiction of the Year – James Hobbs

Inscape Fine Art of the Year for Visual Art, Digital Art or Music – Kenton Fox-Horst

The John and Mary Pritchard Humanitarian Service Awards:

The Award annually goes to one or more William Jewell students who commit to engaging with people in need, developing relationships with people different from them in all fundamental aspects and learning about their unique gifts and about what God calls them to do with those gifts.

Noah Mayo

Mortar Board:

A national honor society demonstrating ideals of leadership, scholarship and service. Members are selected through an application process and must the meet ideals of the society and have a GPA in the top 35% of their junior class.

Kayla Burdette, Catherine Cogley, Malorie Colby, Christopher Cotton, Addisyn Cress, Catherine Dema, Elizabeth Ellis, Tori Farr, Brianna Francis, Lillian Frevert, Rose Galetti, Tyrell Jeffries, Cara Kingman, Christina Kirk, Hannah Koehler, Chance Lister, Kylee Newton, Caitlin Overmeyer, Kaitlyn Popejoy, Madison Carroll Porth, Elizabeth Quinn, Allison Rawls, Teagen Rich, Megan Sprague, Jessica Steinbach, Carman Stephenson, Jackson Still, Alexander Thiessen and Macyn Wilbers

Phi Epsilon Honor Society:

Students graduating in the 10% of the class based on institutional GPA and a minimum of 60 credit hours at William Jewell College.

Lacey Albers, Catherine Cogley, Malorie Colby, Elizabeth Ellis, Lillian Frevert, Kaitlyn Harken, James Hobbs, Thomas Hollinberger, Cara Kingman, Hannah Koehler, Kelsey Lanterman, Garrett Peoples, Grant Peoples, Kaitlyn Pohl and Victoria Vogt

Graduating with Honors:

Graduation with Honors is awarded to students who completed a project within their declared major and Graduation with Distinction is awarded to students who completed a project in a subject outside of their declared major. Eligible students must graduate with a minimum GPA of 3.5 and must have completed A-level work on a project over two or more semesters.

With Distinction in Chemistry – Kaitlyn Popejoy

With Distinction in Philosophy – Madison Carroll Porth

With Honors in Education – Lillian Frevert, Carman Stephenson

With Honors in Oxbridge History of Ideas – Catherine Dema

With Honors in Oxbridge Institutions and Policy – Madison Carroll Porth

WIth Honors in Physics – Catherine Dema

Graduating in the Oxbridge Honors Program:

Isaac Chizhik, Catherine Dema, Savannah Hawley, Christina Kirk, Caitlin Overmeyer, Madison Carroll Porth, Jacob Shutts and Nathan Wasson

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.