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.

On April 24, William Jewell College celebrated student achievement despite the COVID-19 related cancellation of the annual Honors Convocation. Usually, Jewell will host an event to read the names of student winners of institutional awards, highlight the achievements of the Faculty Award finalists, celebrate student achievement in music and announce the Faculty Award winner. This year, Jewell printed a listing of awards and posted about the Faculty Award finalists on their Facebook page.

“[The listing] looks very much like the event program without the music and speaking parts. We will mail those to all 139 of the award recipients, along with any checks or scholarship letters on Friday as well,” said Susan Arbo, director of ceremonies and signature events. “The seniors will also receive any certificates, Phi Epsilon cords, Oxbridge medallions, departmental plaques and Faculty Award finalist and winner plaques. Most will go out on April 24 or April 27. A few other departmental awards had not yet been prepared so those will go out this summer.”

The Faculty Award finalists were highlighted – one per day – in the week leading up to the announcement, and the College posted a video announcing the winner April 24. 

Margo Evilsizor, senior international relations and Oxbridge: Institutions and Policy major, won the 2020 Faculty Award. 

Throughout her time at Jewell, Evilsizor used Jewell’s Hall Grant to conduct field research interviews in Mafraq, Jordan, for her international relations honors thesis on women’s empowerment in the Syrian Civil War. With the Pritchard Humanitarian Award she spoke out against violence against women at a self-organized public forum at the state congress in Morelos, Mexico. Evilsizor has also co-authored an article with Dr. Fletcher Cox, professor of political science, about women’s empowerment. She is president of Pi Sigma Alpha and vice president of Mortar Board, in addition to being involved in Christian Student Ministries and handbell choir.

After graduating, Evilsizor will move to Mexico City to take part in a Fulbright Program. Her long-term goals include providing women with more opportunities – potentially by impacting public policy with a law degree or starting a business to employ or microfinance women.

“I am extremely grateful for the faculty at Jewell. Winning the Faculty Award was one of many times over the course of four years where I’ve felt encouraged, supported and believed in by the faculty. I cannot thank them enough. I feel deeply grateful for their mentorship and investment in my life,” said Evilsizor.

“While I wish I could have been there to celebrate with everyone in person, I’m glad I got to be with my family and reflect on my time at Jewell with them,” continued Evilsizor. “After the announcement was released on Facebook, one of the things that we talked about was how impressive the other finalists are. I never expected to win – I felt honored to have even been placed in the same group as Caeley, Sofia, Tate and Elliott. Once again, thank you to all the faculty, staff and friends who have touched my life throughout the four years. I’m going to miss doing life on the Hill.”

Because the ceremony could not be hosted as usual, Arbo discussed Jewell’s alternative plans to honor student achievement.

“In the fall, we are planning to hold a reception in the Union Atrium where the students will be able to mingle with professors and pick up their awards. Ideally, it may be held the same weekend as the rescheduled Commencement ceremony so that the graduating seniors could attend as well,” said Arbo.

A listing of all awards was made available to the campus community in View From the Hill April 29 and are listed below.

Awards in Biology:

Dr. Burdette L. Wagenknecht Award for an outstanding first-year biology major – Elizabeth  Wilson

Charles F. J. Newlon Award for an outstanding sophomore biology major – Emily Sawyer

Monte Harmon Award for an outstanding junior biology major – Kelsey Lanternman

Dr. Burnell Landers Award for an outstanding senior biology major – Logan McKinney

Dr. Judith A. Dilts Award for an outstanding senior biology major – Alexis Nelson

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 – Emily Trout

Walter J. Stark Award for development in business studies – Nicholas Bradley

John W. Boatwright Scholars to students majoring in economics – Jacob Shutts, Jackson Still

Boatwright Economics Leadership Scholar to students majoring in economics – Alexander Hein, Tyrell Jeffrues, Carter Olsen

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

Accounting Faculty Award for the outstanding senior in accounting – Hayden Fulk

Business Faculty Award for the outstanding seniors in business administration – Lexie Stull, Parker Tergin

Economics Faculty Award for the outstanding senior in economics – Hunter Forkum

E. Anne Earnest Nonprofit Leadership Award for the outstanding senior in nonprofit leadership – Natalie Denzer

Awards in Chemistry and Biochemistry:

Outstanding First-Years in Chemistry – Mallory Dickerson, Eli Engledow, Megan Hall, Cecelia Rogers, Rachel Schon

James R. Eaton Memorial Scholarship for achievement as a chemistry major –  Hailee Brushwood, Kayla Crowder, Johnathan Haug, Sierra Sanchez, Hannah Sherman

Frank H. Fristoe Scholarship for achievement in chemistry – Catherine Cogley, Cara Kingman, Katie Parrott, Megan Rohrer, Macyn Wilbers

Outstanding Seniors in Biochemistry – Ryan Hoffman, Elizabeth Ruark

Awards in Communication and Theater:

Austin Cooper Edwards Acting Awards – Faith Harris, Terrace Wyatt, Jr. 

Virginia D. Rice Award for excellence in theatre throughout the year – Cassidy Schuster

Kim Harris Golden Hammer Award for excellence in technical theatre – Suzane Wright

Alpha Psi Omega Key Award for four years of service to Jewell Theatre Company – Terrace Wyatt, Jr.

Richard L. Harriman Theatre Scholarship for outstanding theatre students – Faith Harris, Morgan Tuttle

The Murphy Award for Excellence for a senior communication major planning a career in law – Jack Nielsen

The Department of Communication and Theatre Distinguished Service Award – Isabel Warden

The Kim and Lois Anne Harris Department of Communication and Theatre Outstanding Senior Award – Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe

Awards in Education:

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

Lutie Chiles Elementary Education Award for an outstanding sophomore in elementary education – Brady O’Donnell

Ida Coffman Education Award for an outstanding junior in elementary education – Grace Haug, Allison Rawls

Outstanding Junior in Secondary Education – Rachel Harris

Outstanding Senior in Elementary Education – Brittany Marr

Outstanding Senior in Secondary Education – Christina Vogler

Master of Science in Education Award – Michelle Martin

Awards in Engineering:

Outstanding Senior in Civil Engineering Award – Whitney Holloman

Awards in English:

Pinkerton-Rick Scholarship for English majors entering the senior year who have contributed to the English department through creative thinking and helpfulness – Hannah Koehler, Cameron White

Outstanding Senior English Major Award – Brielle Buntin

Award in History:

Kenneth Chatlos Award for the best senior capstone essay – Kendall Gammon

U. R. Pugh Memorial Scholarship for achievement as a history major – James Hobbs

Awards in Languages:

Arabic Studies Award for a graduating minor with a record of excellence – Ian McBride

Chinese Studies Award for a graduating minor with a record of excellence – Haley Call

Spanish Research Award for scholarly achievement in literary and cultural study – Samantha Schaer

Outstanding Senior in Spanish for graduating major with a record of excellence – Alexis Mijares

Awards in Mathematics:

George A. Ross Mathematics Award for senior mathematics major with the highest academic records in mathematics – Katie Bird

Awards in Music:

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

Edward Lakin Music Theory Award for the student with the highest GPA in the first year of music theory courses – William Laycock 

Linda L. Thomssen String Award for an outstanding string player – Rachel Harris

The Wes & Ginger Forbis Award for rising seniors in music – Elise Benne, Rachel Harris, Fionna Pillow

The Collegiate Artists Competition for winners of an annual competition who will perform a solo with the Liberty Symphony Orchestra – Tate Cooper

Awards in Nursing:

Awards for Integrity – (BSN) Chandler Tennyson, (BSN-AT) Brian Hoover

Awards for Compassion – (BSN) Lauren Nichols, (BSN-AT) Abigail Schott

Awards for Scholarship – (BSN) Elise Pape, (BSN-AT) Jynnifer McClinton

Anne Bax Ozbolt Awards for Servant Leadership – (BSN) Itzel Quintero, (BSN-AT) Jonathan Stratman

Awards for Excellence in Practice – (BSN) Karla Calderon-Gomez, (BSN-AT) Nikki Upton

Mary Grant Seacole Awards for Service – (BSN) Kylea McArdale, (BSN-AT) Khanh-Linh Nguyen

Outstanding Academic Achievement Award – (BSN) Jessica Farris, (BSN-AT) Kimberly Rice

Outstanding Nursing Student Award – (BSN) Juliet Connole, (BSN-AT) Brianna Ehrler

Leesa A. McBroom Spirit of Nursing Book Award – Valerie Dunn

Awards in Physics:

The Charles Don Geilker Feynman Lectures Award for an outstanding first-year physics student – William Laycock

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

C. D. Geilker Award for achievement in the sophomore physics course majoring in physics, physics education or dual-degree engineering – Kaitlyn Simms

John E. Davis Sigma Pi Sigma Award for a rising senior physics major with the highest level of achievement in physics – Catherine Dema

Outstanding Senior Physics Major Award – Caeley Pittman

Awards in Political Science:

Outstanding First-Year Student in Political Science – Ashley Chiles

Outstanding Sophomores in Political Science – Zachary Mertes

Outstanding Junior in Political Science – Jacob Shutts, Jackson Still

Outstanding Senior in Political Science – Margo Evilsizor

Dr. Will Adams Scholarship for an outstanding political science major – Madison Carroll

Pi Sigma Alpha – Matthew Oliver Senior Scholar Award – Lexie Stull

Awards in Psychological Science:

Distinguished Graduates in Psychological Science – Christopher Davison, Hannah Keeney, Riley Martin, Kaitlyn Pittala, Haley Unruh

Premier Graduate in Psychological Science – Darcy Sweet

Student Publications Awards:

The Hilltop Monitor Newcomer Award – Angelica Gutierrez

The Hilltop Monitor Rising Star Award – Jenna Hultgren, Hannah Tietz

The Hilltop Monitor Themes and Content Award – Trenton Brink

The Hilltop Monitor Editorial Leadership Award – Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, Rachel Bell, Michaela Esau, Cassie Hayes, William Humphrey, Hannah Koehler, Jack Ledbetter, Madison McCormick, Tavarus Pennington, Kyler Schardein, Elliott Yoakum

Inscape Poem of the Year – Kaitlyn O’Neal

Inscape Fiction of the Year – James Hobbs

Inscape Nonfiction of the Year – Kathryn Wilhelm

Inscape Fine Art of the Year (Visual Art, Digital Art or Music) – Bryar Buhlig

Inscape Outstanding Editor Award – Brielle Buntin

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.

Megan Sprague

Mortar Board:

National honor society demonstrating ideals of leadership, scholarship and service. Members must meet ideals of the society and have a GPA in the top 35 percent of the class.

Haley Call, Tate Cooper, Jakob Erdmann, Margo Evilsizor, Jessica Farris, Shaneann Fross, Hayden Fulk, Mckenzie Gross, Kelly Hendershot, Jeremy Hofman, Jameson Howard, Kylie Jorgensen, Emily Lakin, Sarah Lewis, Alexis Mijares, Margaret Miles, Bjorn Myers, Lauren Nichols, Jack Nielsen, Mikaela Papageorgiou, Kaitlyn Pittala, Megan Rhule, Samantha Schaer, Christopher Seward, Lexie Stull, Darcy Sweet, Haley Unruh, Elliott Yoakum

Phi Epsilon Honor Society:

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

Brielle Buntin, Karla Calderon-Gomez, Tate Cooper, Natalie Denzer, Valerie Dunn, Jessica Farris, Hunter Forkum, Jeremy Hofman, Riley Martin, Logan McKinney, Alexis Nelson, Dalton Nelson, Benjamin Pautler, Kaitlyn Pittala, Caeley Pittman, Elizabeth Ruark, Lexie Stull, Haley Unruh

Graduating with Honors:

Graduating with Honors in Biochemistry – Elizabeth Ruark

Graduating with Honors in Biology – Logan McKinney

Graduating with Honors in Communication – Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe

Graduating with Honors in English – Brielle Buntin

Graduating with Honors in International Relations – Margo Evilsizor

Graduating with Honors in Oxbridge: Institutions and Policy – Tate Cooper, Bailey Cordonnier, Tanner Devore

Graduating with Honors in Oxbridge: Literature and Theory – Kaitlyn O’Neal

Graduating with Honors in Oxbridge: Molecular Biology – Shaneann Fross, Clayton Mansel

Graduating in the Oxbridge Honors Program:

Matthew Capps, Christopher Choe, Tate Cooper, Bailey Cordonnier, Tanner Devore, Margo Evilsizor, Shaneann Fross, Emily Hemphill, Jeremy Hodman, Heather Jackson, Clayton Mansel, Riley Martin, Kaitlyn O’Neal, Caeley Pittman, Jesse Rose, Samantha Schaer, Elliott Yoakum

The Faculty Award:

Finalists – Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, Tate Cooper, Margo Evilsizor, Caeley Pittman, Elliott Yoakum

Winner – Margo Evilsizor

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, William Jewell College’s Honors’ Convocation – set for this Friday, April 24 – was canceled. Student awards typically announced at the event will be published online Friday, April 24. The Faculty Award – one of Jewell’s most revered awards, which recognizes a senior student who embodies the values of a liberal arts education – will be announced in a video to be posted at 7 p.m. April 24. 

In the week leading up to the announcement, Jewell will feature and celebrate each of the Faculty Award finalists on social media. The finalists for 2020 are Sofia Arthurs-Schoppe, senior communication and chemistry major; Tate Cooper, senior Oxbridge Institutions and Policy major; Margo Evilsizor, senior international relations and Oxbridge Institutions and Policy major; Caeley Pittman, senior physics, Applied Critical Thought and Inquiry (ACT-In) and Oxbridge Literature and Theory major; and Elliott Yoakum, senior Oxbridge Literature and Theory major. More information about these finalists and the process of nomination can be found in this article.

Dr. David McCune, professor of mathematics and chair of the Faculty Award Committee, will record a video of the announcement to be released. Jewell will release a teaser of this video during the week, and the final announcement will be posted to Jewell’s Facebook 7 p.m. April 24.

In addition to the online announcement and publication of awards, the College will print Honors’ Convocation programs for all awardees and will mail each Faculty Award finalist a plaque recognizing their achievement.

“The Faculty Award is given to the student who best represents the ideals of a liberal arts education at Jewell. The award is the highest honor that the College can bestow on a student. It is kind of like being valedictorian of a high school class, but the award is given based on criteria that are broader than just GPA [grade point average],” said Dr. David McCune, professor of mathematics and chair of the Faculty Award Committee.

Senior students are eligible to apply for the award if they have spent at least six semesters at Jewell and have a GPA of 3.75 or above. After eligible students apply, the committee identifies between seven and nine semi-finalists – who interview with the faculty committee and submit letters of recommendation for further review. The five finalists are determined based on their written applications, interviews and letters of recommendation.

“As part of the written application, an applicant writes an essay in which they tell the committee what the criteria should be. We are interested to hear from the students what it means to ‘represent the ideals of a liberal arts education.’ Finalists are selected partly on their ability to articulate an answer. Other factors, such as academic achievement [which is defined broadly] and a student’s ability to answer questions in the interview, are also considered,” McCune said.

While not commenting specifically on this year’s finalists alone, McCune expressed pride at the exceptional nature of applicants for the award.

“Some of the applicants have published papers, some have presented research at conferences, some wrote extremely compelling essays in their applications, some have done extremely impressive work outside of the College – such as internships or work for community organizations, they provided some incredibly thoughtful and insightful answers to interview questions, etc. The work of these students makes me proud to be a professor at this institution, although the quality of our applicants makes the committee’s work difficult,” said McCune.

Anderson describes Jewell as a school that nurtured her interdisciplinary interests and pushed her toward applying her learning. Her study of physics and philosophy, both at Jewell and the University of Oxford, represent this interdisciplinary scholarship. Anderson has had extensive involvement with the Jewell community through University Innovation Fellows (UIF), Cardinal Hosts and with the Society of Physics Students, among other activities.

“The Faculty Award provides seniors with a reason to pause and reflect on their time at Jewell. I really enjoyed having this excuse to look back on the last few years and identify the good that has come from them,” said Anderson.

Anderson will be interning with the Society of Rheology at the American Institute of Physics in Washington, D.C. this summer – an experience coordinated by the Society of Physics Students. After this internship, she will represent the Society of Physics Students at the International Conference for Physics Students in Cologne, Germany. Anderson plans on then working for a year before pursuing graduate education.

Borgert has been involved in several academic societies including Phi Alpha Theta, the history honor society; Sigma Tau Delta, the English honor society; Alpha Lambda Delta; Mortar Board; and, Sigma Alpha Iota, a women’s music fraternity.  She also served as an officer for the Alpha Delta Pi sorority and aided their philanthropic efforts. Bogert sought to maintain high academic standards and high ideals of service throughout college.

“I have had a very trying and turbulent four years both at this institution and in my private life. My selection as a finalist reminded me that I chose this college because I believed that its intellectual community was going to be the very best that I could hope to find. It also reminded me once again that I made the right choice. No matter what else I experienced, I have no regrets about the personal and professional relationships that I was able to cultivate, and no regrets about the top-quality instruction I received from my truly excellent professors,” said Borgert.

Borgert plans to pursue a museum studies graduate degree at the University of Central Oklahoma before eventually pursuing advanced degrees in archaeology and anthropology.

Daniel is a Yates Scholar, Choral Scholar, Emerging Leader, as well as a member of Alpha Lambda Delta, Mortar Board, and Phi Epsilon. He has been involved in cabinets and administrative positions in a wide array of clubs and activities – including Inscape, Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, QUILTBAG and philosophy club – and is the founding vice president for the newly formed Students for Mental Health group. Daniel has worked in the professional classical music field as a singer and composer – he is proud to have participated in Jewell’s critical thinking and service learning community.

“[The process] has made me think a lot about external validation, perfectionism, and hyper-achievement… Jewell – and Oxford, during my Oxbridge junior year abroad – have humbled me and helped me understand priorities in a more healthy way, that I can’t always be 200 percent productive and that I need to take care of myself and learn to say ‘no’ or ask for help or leniency, without feeling excessive guilt or experiencing an identity crisis. Something about which I’ve been dialoguing with people a lot this year is vulnerability… Being authentic and being willing to fail and to evolve – that’s something like ‘vulnerability,’ and it’s so important,” Daniel said.

After graduation, Daniel plans to work in digital marketing and music administration, and continue to work as a freelance singer and composer while applying to graduate programs in music composition – to start in fall 2020 or 2021. He hopes to continue building his career in contemporary-classical music, collaborate with other artists and thinkers, and combine his artistry with his activism in any way he can.

Dice has had widespread involvement in the Jewell community – including with Student Senate, DECA, UIF and Cardinal Hosts. His academic curriculum, research and service projects contributed to his decision to apply for the Faculty Award.

“The faculty award process has required me to pause and reflect on my experience as a Cardinal. This semester has been particularly hectic, balancing senior coursework, my honors project, extracurriculars and work. However, the application process required me to reflect on each facet of the campus I have contributed to. This reflection process made me sentimental, requiring me to summarize how each incremental activity impacted my resultant educational experience… It is always a great day to be a Cardinal, and I am excited to continue contributing to William Jewell College as an Alumni,” said Dice.

After graduation, Dice will work as a research assistant at the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. The analytical role will require use of Python to clean and analyze datasets for research of banking regulation economists. He will also pursue a dual degree masters in business administration and business intelligence and analytics at Rockhurst University.

Quiroga, a native of Bolivia, founded and is current president of Mi Gente – Jewell’s Latinx community, is president of philosophy club, is a resident assistant and is involved in Jewell’s discussions about diversity and inclusion. She spent summers volunteering, interning with Save the Children International, using a Hall Grant to spend time in Germany and working with Outreach International.

“I’m humbled to be among this amazing group of fellow seniors who are finalists! This process has not made me reflect on my own time as much as it made me feel in awe and proud of everyone else’s journey… and I get to call these people friends. Jewell has been a unique place for growth with others and going through the application process for the Faculty Award put the whole journey in perspective,” said Quiroga.

After graduation Quiroga plans on returning to Bolivia before pursuing a master’s degree in international development at the Graduate Institute of Geneva, Switzerland.

The Faculty Award Winner will be announced during Honors’ Convocation April 26 at 7 p.m.