Commencement

Rachel Halupa stands while being recognized for graduating with honors in the major of marine biology.

CommenCement Spring 2021

A pair of commencement ceremonies brought friends and family of Central Methodist University graduates to Fayette on Saturday, May 8. Nearly 200 graduates walked across the stage in Puckett Fieldhouse to receive their master’s, bachelor’s, and associate’s degrees.

Prof. Skip Vandelicht, ’77

Prof. John Flanders

A highlight of the ceremonies was the commencement speech by outgoing Board of Trustees Chairman Dr. Robert “Tad” Perry, ’65. Perry, who received an honorary doctorate on the occasion as well, compiled some of his favorite advice from “some of the great commencement speeches” and added plenty of wisdom of his own.

One of the main components of Perry’s speech was breaking down the letters CMU into specific advice for the graduates to remember. The letter C, he said, stands for “caring about relationships,” M is for “managing the change that confronts you,” and U is for “understanding the privileges and responsibilities you have.” Perry also encouraged the graduates to heed the words of John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist church: “Do all the good you can do, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, so long as ever you can.”

Following Perry’s address, those graduating with honors and receiving awards were recognized. As usual, three students were highlighted as the top award-winners based on the opinions of the CMU community.

Central’s most prestigious award, the Selecman Award, this year went to Shannon Peters of Waverly, Mo. The award was established in 1957 by Bishop Charles C. Selecman, a former student at Central Methodist University and a bishop in the United Methodist Church. He requested that the award be presented to the student who has displayed the following characteristics to an extraordinary degree: good citizenship on the campus, scholarship, religious leadership, moral and spiritual qualities, and outstanding achievement.

Peters, a past president of the Student Government Association, certainly fit the requirements of the award. In addition to her service to SGA, she was a member of the volleyball team and a Heart Conference Freshman of the Year player, recruitment chair for Theta Chi Epsilon, and member of the Heart of America Student Association and Champions of Character. A dean’s list member every semester, she graduated with a degree in biology and a 4.0 grade point average.

The Victoria Award, given each year in memory of Victoria Beecroft Cutter to a graduating student who best demonstrated dedication to the principles of Central Methodist University, went to Martina Florido of Kansas City, Mo. Florido majored in political science and comparative religion and philosophy. She was the founder and president of the Philosophy Club, treasurer of the African American Student Union, and a founding member and team captain of the Mock Trial team.

This year’s Human Relations Award winner was Nehemiah Colyer of St. Louis, Mo. The award is given annually to the student “showing the most promise in human relations and human adjustment,” who “attempts to develop the ability to get along with others and work with others.” Colyer, who was unable to attend commencement due to competing with the CMU track and field team on the day, majored in interdisciplinary studies and physical therapy assistance. He was a track and field captain, an All-American, and a National Champion of Character.

Martina Florido, Winner of the Victoria Award Shannon Peters, Selecman Award Winner

File photo; Nehemiah Colyer, Human Relations Award winner

Colton Skyles, Joshua Carden, and John Tyler Polk with Coach David Calloway Brandon Swanson

Achievement Awards Spring 2021

Business:

Estill Entrepreneurship Award – Cole Hortsmann Banking and Finance Excellence Award – Harry Porritt Outstanding Senior in Business Award – Abby Littrell Noble Emmett Baskett Scholarship in Business Award –Madeline Wiseman Gentry Estill Award for Total Business Excellence – Cody Briscoe Susan Estill Award for Total Business Excellence – Ingrid Coll I Kuhle Excellence in Management Award – Bryanna Cribb Business Administration (General Business) Award – Nelida Martinez Hernandez Marketing and Advertising Excellence Award – Felixhy Domingues Nava International Business Award – Rachel Smith Sport Management Award – Lucas Gray Outstanding Senior in Accounting Award – Hannah Adams Lisa Powell Goessling Merit Scholarship – Rachel Smith Shallenburger Accounting Principles Excellence Award – Ashlee Godier Accounting Excellence Award – Zach Severns Outstanding Leadership Award – Taylor Dial Outstanding in Healthcare Administration – Anika Kallash

English:

Inscape Art Award – Will DiStefano Inscape Fiction Award – Keagan O’Riley Inscape Poetry Award – Gabriel Walker Inscape Nonfiction Award – Toni Randle

Fine Arts:

Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Collegiate Honor Award – Alec Fields Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia Scholastic Award – Alex Autry Sigma Alpha Iota Collegiate Honor Award – Amanda Lewis Sigma Alpha Iota Scholastic Award – Audrey Brandon Hickman Award for Music – Kelly Briggs Music Teachers National Association Student Achievement Award – Addylyn Gabriel American Choral Directors Association National Student Choral Musician Award – Elizabeth Cueni-Smith Dane Nelson Memorial Award – Alec Fields Luther T. Spayde Award – Michael Watts W.D. Settle Award – Madalyn Bartholomew Martin C. Harrall Award – Austin Schaedler Missouri Federation of Music Clubs Sheryl Crow Vocal Award – Rob Brown R. Paul Drummond Memorial Award – Ezechiel Daos Helen Puckett Thogmorton Award for Excellence in Music – Connor Rich Nancy Thompson Jones Gem Award – Hailey Sage Prof. Paul A. Montemurro Award – Crystal Kimmi Herman C. Byrd Award – Nick Vick Swinney Conservatory Outstanding Freshman Award – Josh Derendinger and Dalton Myler Swinney Conservatory Outstanding Musician Award – Audrey Brandon and Kylie VanGundy Swinney Conservatory Super Hero Award – Jack Fender and Mikayla Kinkead Keith House Band Fellow – Audrey Brandon Band Manager – Madalyn Bartholomew Chorale Fellow – Ezechiel Daos Opera Fellow – Hailey Sage Music Festival Fellows – Austin Bristow and Austin Schaedler Drum Major Award – Alec Fields

Trey Gaedke fist bumps Jeff Sherman, ’86

Left to right; Thomas Oge, Lauren Payne, Weida Ybarra, Paige Barnum, Madison Pragman, Erika Whitaker, Britton Tucker Prof. Pam Gordy hugs Jacob Moore

Nikole Walker Desirae Martin Parker Johnson, ’17 and Emma Johnson, ’18

Outstanding Color Guard Members – Grace Hartford, Taylor Pennington, Quibillah Harvey, Alexis McClure S. Frederick Rhoads Outstanding Newcomer Award – Cole Nowlin The Phoenix Award – Kayla Wainscott Shop Superstar – Poppy Garner Backstage Magician – Kara McQuerrey Best Assistant Director/Stage Manager – Poppy Garner, Harley Dohrman Best Male Actor in a Supporting Role – Cole Nowlin Best Female Actor in a Supporting Role – Kona Asi Best Male Actor in a Leading Role – Rob Brown Best Female Actor in a Leading Role – Catherine Barnard Most Versatile Player – Rob Brown

Nursing:

Missouri League for Nursing Award – Madeline Duren American Nurses Association Award – Karen Butkievich Outstanding Clinician Award – Delsha Sledge Outstanding Scholar Award – Madeline Duren Community Student Nurses Association Award – Melissa Etwaroo Erwin and Hazel Widel Award – Zaria Jones National Student Nurses Association Honor Cords – Karen Butkievich, Emily Hall, Zaria Jones, Melissa Etwaroo, Madeline Duren, Abigail Porter Sigma Theta Tau inductees – Catherine Barnard, Madeline Duren, Emily Hall

Sciences:

Beta Beta Beta Biology Award – Daniel Yarbrough and Amanda Kolbe AED Excellence in Physiology Award – Tate Hanners AED Excellence in Anatomy Award – Lillian Patterson AED Harold Momberg Award – Katie Caudle Dr. Ferris H. and Leona Wood Award – Whitney Pasco CMU Biology Alumni Award – Nathan Overbay GSA Excellence Award in General Chemistry – Katie Weber GSA Excellence Award in Organic Chemistry – Grace McIntosh Dr. Niels C. Nielsen Outstanding Chemistry Student Award – Bailey Stevens and Janie Leathers Chester E. Hanson Outstanding Senior Computer Science Award – Bryce Malan Clyde and Hazel Blattner Mathematics Award – Jessica Justice Dr. Richard T. Bond Mathematics Award – Jensen Lake Kappa Mu Epsilon Award – Tate Hanners Dr. Jerry Priddy Excellent in Mathematics – Kylie Avery Dr. Glenn R. Joyce Memorial Award for Excellence in Science – Jensen Lake and Jacob Ediger Dr. Larry J. Peery Award for Excellence in Physics – Jacob Sanders Jeff Wilcox “Raising the Bar” Award – Jessica Justice Sarah Rutherford Prize – Matt Klusmeyer Glen C. Riegel Student Award – Alexander Cribb Glen C. Riegel Faculty Award – Ania Slusarz

Religion/Philosophy:

George P. Vogt/O.A. “Berre” Robinson Prize – Martina Florido T. Cecil Swackhamer/Kenneth L. Burres Award – Macy Block Alpha Theta Iota (Theta Alpha Kappa) inductees – Hunter Melugin, Wesley Spargo, Elyse Travis