The William Jewell Choir Department will present four unique concerts for the Fall 2026 semester. The choral department is comprised of three ensembles directed by Dr. Lawrence Abernathy, Interim Director of Choral Studies, and in collaboration with Dr. Jessica Koebbe, Director of Keyboard Studies. 

The first performance will be Concert Choir’s presentation of “Jepthe,” an Oratorio written in the mid 17th Century by Italian composer Giacomo Carissimi. The concert will consist of this oratorio as well as other shorter period works. This Concert Choir performance will take place the evening of October 30th in Gano Chapel. The next performance, on November 14th, is the Choral Scholars’ concert entitled “Jewell Tones.” This concert will present various arrangements and staples of vocal jazz. The concert will be in collaboration with various instrumentalists, and includes an arrangement written by Prince Russel-Johnson, one of the Choral Scholars. The week following, on November 18th in Gano Chapel, will be the Cardinal Voices Fall Choral Concert. The concert will explore music from the American Gospel tradition, including Robert Ray’s “Gospel Mass,” composed in 1979. Lastly, Concert Choir will continue the annual tradition of performing at The City Come Again, held on December 14th at Grace and Holy Trinity Cathedral in Kansas City. Be sure to look out for more information on these four upcoming performances from the William Jewell Choirs—these are not performances to miss!

Jewell’s 2026 Celebration of Honors was held on Apr. 24, 2026. It honored over 150 students who demonstrated excellence in various academic departments or showed leadership through service. The Faculty Award, the highest distinction William Jewell College offers to a graduating senior, was awarded to Lianna Morelli.

Other awards presented at the Celebration of Honors include the following. (Note: names are included here as presented in the program and may not reflect students’ preferred names or nicknames.)

Analytical Sciences

Engineering

Outstanding Senior in Civil Engineering: Drew T. Caudle

Mathematics

George A. Ross Mathematics Award (senior mathematics majors with the highest academic record in mathematics): Timothy G. Fay, Korbin W. Pugh

Physics

James R. Eaton Memorial Award (for achievement as a sophomore or junior physics major): Lucas Murcia Dominguez

C. D. Geilker Award (for achievement in the general physics course for a student majoring in physics, physics education, or dual-degree engineering): Miranda K. Menousek

John E. Davis Sigma Pi Sigma Award (for a rising senior physics major with the highest level of achievement in physics): Simon G. Lyon

Outstanding Senior Physics Major Award: Luxanna S. Sands

Behavioral, Natural, and Health Sciences

Biology

Dr. Burdette L. Wagenknecht Award (for an outstanding first-year biology major): Olivia L. Allen

Charles F. J. Newlon Award (for an outstanding sophomore biology major): Dilly R. Davies

Monte Harmon Award (for an outstanding junior biology major): Samantha J. Han

Dr. Burnell Landers Award (for an outstanding senior biology major): Javier Ortiz-Merino

Dr. Judith A. Dilts Award (for an outstanding junior or senior biology major): Madeline E. Hanna

Chemistry and Biochemistry

Outstanding First-Years in Chemistry or Biochemistry: Miles C. Heckadon, Lorelai F. Walker

James R. Eaton Memorial Award (for achievement as a chemistry major): Kennadie G. Sheppard, Walton R. Schenk, Zakary E. Wenger

Frank H. Fristoe Award (for achievement in chemistry): Maci M. Mayfield, Avery N. Reynolds, Marina S. Wilson

Outstanding Seniors in Chemistry or Biochemistry: Irene J. Taboada, Brayden S. Thomas

Nursing

Award for Compassion (BSN): Kaitlyn L. Tait, Kennedy K. Wyatt (AT)

Award for Scholarship (BSN): Meghan M. Wilson, Jasmine McDonald (AT)

Anne Bax Ozbolt Award for Servant Leadership: Jessica Stout

Mary Grant Seacole Award for Service: Adalena Shiddell

Outstanding Academic Achievement Award (BSN): Lauren E. Flickinger, Allison M. McIntyre (AT)

Outstanding Nursing Student Award (BSN): Marigrace Angelica B. Larson, Dillon Thiele (AT)

Dr. Leesa A. McBroom Spirit of Nursing Award: Ashley L. Brown

Psychological Science

Premier Graduates in Psychological Science: Paige Hefley, Erin E. Wenzel

Distinguished Graduates in Psychological Science: Lianna E. Morelli, Aimee Núñoz

Business, Communication, and Education

Business and Leadership

Hastings L. Schies Memorial Award (to a junior or senior female student majoring in business administration or finance who has demonstrated outstanding academic achievement): Allison M. Welter

Walter J. Stark Award (for development in business studies): Jace D. Walker

Boatwright Economics Leadership Scholar: Xavier M. Winston

Otis and Florence Miller Academic Award (to a senior graduating with the highest GPA in accounting, business, or economics): Victoria M. Jones

Accounting Faculty Award: Victoria M. Jones

Business Faculty Award (for the outstanding senior in business administration): Riley M. Richardson

Economics Faculty Award (for the outstanding senior in economics): Jordan M. Barger

E. Anne Earnest Nonprofit Leadership Award (for the outstanding senior in nonprofit leadership): Jordan L. Riley

Communication

Award for Internship Excellence: Patrick M. Terry, Antony J. Vanderbeek

Digital Media Communication Outstanding Senior Award: Sara A. Hartmann

Outstanding Senior Debater Award: Patrick M. Terry

The Kim and Lois Anne Harris Department of Communication Outstanding Senior Award: Emilie M. Bartlett

Education

Chad Garrison “Reach Out and Touch Someone” Award (to an education major who has demonstrated sensitivity and compassion for others through volunteer service): Sadie L. Camp

Lutie Chiles Elementary Education Award (to an outstanding sophomore in elementary education): Aneesia Y Shalabi

Ida Coffman Education Award (to an outstanding junior in elementary education): Ella G. Robinson

Outstanding Junior in Secondary Education: Brenna K. Hamilton

Outstanding Undergraduate Student Teacher: Kassidy A. Schmidt

Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher: Michelle M. Johnston

Humanities, Social Sciences, and Music

English

Pinkerton-Rick Award (an English major entering the senior year who has contributed most to the English Department in exhibiting interest, helpfulness to others, creative thinking, and competent writing skills): Kariss E. Johnson

Outstanding Senior in the English Major Award: Ivan V. Calderon

History

Kenneth Chatlos Award (for best capstone essay in the Department of History): Kandace-Rose A. Gill

U.R. Pugh Memorial Award (for achievement as a history major): Rane C. Rynard

Languages

Outstanding Major in Spanish (for a Spanish major with a record of excellence): Morgan A. Mayo

Outstanding Minor in Spanish (for a Spanish minor with a record of excellence): Lucas R. Linder

Music

Ida and Maybelle Glenn Music Award (for outstanding achievement to someone preparing to teach music): Payten Elaine Davis

Edward Lakin Music Theory Award (student with the highest GPA in the first year of music theory courses): Alyssa J. Hoffman

Linda L. Thomssen String Award (for an outstanding string player): Matthew A. Gass

The Wes and Ginger Forbis Award (for rising seniors in music): Mason M. Allenbaugh, Payten Elaine Davis, H. William Speck

The Dean Wilder Voice Award (for music majors with special consideration for students who study or participate in vocal performance and who demonstrate leadership qualities): Ivan V. Calderon, Prince-Russell C. Johnson

Liberty Symphony Orchestra Collegiate Artist Competition (winners of this annual competition perform a solo with the Liberty Symphony Orchestra): Kaylen A. Fears, Bryson J. Gates, Chèrisse A. Lubbers

Political Science

Outstanding First-Year Student in Political Science: Anna M. Daughtry

Outstanding Sophomores in Political Science: Aidan T. Carter, Alyssa B. Engle

Outstanding Junior in Political Science: Andrew J. Allen

Outstanding Seniors in Political Science: Elliot M. Labeth, Ethan E. Naber

Dr. Will Adams Award (for an outstanding political science major): Zoe G. Ralston

Pi Sigma Alpha – Matthew Oliver Senior Scholar Award: Owen M. Kerrigan

Theatre

Austin Cooper Edwards Acting Awards (peer-voted award for strongest performers of the Jewell Theatre Company season): Ivan V. Calderon, Emma Kelly

Virginia D. Rice Award (for excellence in theatre throughout the year): Lianna E. Morelli

Kim Harris Golden Hammer Award (for excellence in technical theatre): Kendall M. Robbins

Alpha Psi Omega Key Award (for four years of service to Jewell Theatre Company): Ivan V. Calderon

Richard L. Harriman Theatre Award (established in 1994 by the Fine Arts Guild for outstanding theatre students): Kathryn L. Calcara, Brenna K. Hamilton

Student Publication Awards

The Hilltop Monitor

The Hilltop Monitor Newcomer Award: Simone M. Collins

The Hilltop Monitor Community Outreach and Engagement Awards: Alesia M. Dickey, Matthew J. Parker

The Hilltop Monitor Editorial Leadership Award: Ethan E. Naber

Special Honors

Graduating with Honors

Graduating with Honors in Psychological Science: Kelsey Coleman, Lianna E. Morelli

Graduating with Honors in Philosophy: Matthew J. Parker

Graduating with Honors in Mathematics: Korbin W. Pugh

Honors Institute in Critical Thinking Fellows

Simone M. Collins, Lauren E. Flickinger, Lily Frazier, Megan J. Giffin, John W. Jenkins, Ian Lewis, Molly J. McBratney, Jace D. Walker, Erin E. Wenzel, Annalyse Yoder

Pryor Leadership Fellows

Madison L. Atwood, Clifford Brandt, Lily Frazier, Megan J. Giffin, Jocelyn P. Hayes, Kevin Madrid Rodriguez, Anthony J. Vanderbeek, Erin E. Wenzel, Mya Zavala

Oxbridge Honors Program

Grace E. Allen, Ariel Chen, Jonathan Fang, Lila Frazier, Kandace-Rose A. Gill, Ethan E. Naber, Matthew J. Parker, Kaleah Petersen, Jacqueline Quach, Ryleigh Sallinger

Mortar Board

Grace E. Allen, Clifford Brandt, Hadley Fletchall, Riley E. Frasure-Smith, Kaitlyn Hodkins, Connor Hull, Liliana M. Jackson, John W. Jenkins, Landis Johnson, Owen M. Kerrigan, Sara Madsen, Morgan A. Mayo, Molly J. McBratney, Jacqueline Quach, Rane Rynard, Adalena Shiddell, Irene J. Taboada, Dylan F. Tighe, Erin E. Wenzel, Mya Zavala

Phi Epsilon Honor Society

Grace E. Allen, Kailynn R. Byrne, Ivan V. Calderon, Lauren E. Flickinger, Riley E. Frasure-Smith, Megan J. Giffin, Sara A. Hartmann, Paige Hefley, John W. Jenkins, Victoria M. Jones, Eliott Labeth, Lianna E. Morelli, Zachary Nichols, Hayley E. O’Keefe, Riley M. Richardson, Jordan L. Riley, Irene J. Taboada, Brayden S. Thomas, Laura Torres Arroyo, Erin E. Wenzel

The Faculty Award

The Faculty Award is the most significant distinction awarded to a graduating senior. Finalists are selected from those students who have spent at least three years in residence at William Jewell College and who have a grade point average of 3.75 or higher. The winner is selected by a faculty committee on the basis of academic achievement and exemplification of the highest ideals of a liberal arts education.

Finalists were asked to address the following question: “Given your experience at William Jewell College, how do you understand the relationship between critical thinking, community, and the pursuit of a meaningful life?”

Faculty Award Finalists

Grace E. Allen, Derrick Ampofo, Clifford Brandt, Ivan V. Calderon, Lianna E. Morelli

The announcement comes over a year after the College’s declaration of exigency and a previous round of layoffs.

Several of Jewell’s former departments were suffering from a faculty crunch even before this most recent downsizing. (While departments have been formally replaced with academic divisions, courses—and faculty—are still listed by department.) Five of Jewell’s departments—Business, Engineering, Mathematics, Philosophy, and Psychology—only have one full-time faculty member. Jewell intends to accommodate this shortage by adding to these departments: at the time of publication, the College is hiring assistant professors in Education, Engineering, and Psychology. Other changes include merging the Philosophy department into Political Science.

According to multiple sources, the College could not find space in budget plans to make these hires after student enrollment was lower than expected in the 2025-26 academic year.

Separately, the Board of Trustees voted to permanently halt student enrollment into the Oxbridge program, the only honors program remaining at Jewell. The College paused enrollment for the 2025-26 academic year after the College’s declaration of exigency. Current students in the program would be permitted to graduate with their majors. The College has reportedly expressed interest in opening another honors program built on the foundation of the Pryor Leadership program.

These changes suggest that the College is changing its program offerings by emphasizing Business and other pre-professional programs (in line with interim President Van Horn’s guidance).

If you are a student affected by program changes at Jewell and wish to talk to the Hilltop Monitor about changes in your program, you can contact us here.

This story is developing.

The press release noted that Van Horn’s vision for Jewell’s future emphasized “personalized education rooted in the liberal arts and humanities, aimed at preparing students for successful careers and civic engagement in a constantly changing world.” His experience includes tenures as the president of Brevard College in North Carolina and Young Harris College in Georgia, both of which had or continue to have affiliations with the Methodist church.

It is not surprising that the Trustees have chosen Van Horn as interim president given the new direction of the College under the Reimagine Jewell initiative. Bill Gautreaux, chair of the Board of Trustees, noted that Van Horn’s “[unique] data driven results-oriented focus” would help the College “build on Jewell’s long history of academic excellence and student success.” It is unclear what emphasizing a “results-oriented focus” means at this time for programs and faculty, given cuts to both last year.

A New Direction

In an interview with Higher Education Digest, Van Horn outlined a myriad of policy outcomes for smaller private colleges that he believed would help them flourish. Two of his policy proposals are particularly relevant in viewing the way Van Horn will lead the College.

First, Van Horn emphasized that “[i]nstitutions must continue to identify low-producing majors and eliminate them from their offerings.” As Jewell thins its program offerings (having eliminated majors in International Relations, Mathematics, Oxbridge, Philosophy, Spanish, and Theatre this past year, among others), Jewell administration appears to have already emphasized identifying and removing “lower-producing majors” in an effort to reduce program spending.

Second, Van Horn emphasized that colleges, especially small private colleges, must “refocus the Boards, alumni, faculty, and staff on the mission of the institutions… focus on the type of student that [they] historically served and determine if this was still the mission for the institutions.” This includes, where necessary, “reducing the number of hours in the core curriculum” and changing the institution’s focus from core curriculum to double majors or certificates that enable student success, particularly in the workforce. As Jewell becomes more diverse and moves away from its Baptist roots, College administrators must decide whether to double down on Jewell’s historical mission or upend it.

No matter one’s feelings about Critical Thought and Inquiry (CTI) classes, it is clear that the Reimagine Jewell initiative, under the leadership of Van Horn, represents a significant shift for William Jewell College and its administration. Will Van Horn lead a shift out of exigency and toward a flourishing Jewell? Or will the College lose sight of the liberal arts emphasis that has caused its success for so long?

As usual, only time will tell.
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