MISSOURI BAPTIST UNIVERSITY TARTAN

In 1964, St. Louis Baptist leaders founded Missouri Baptist University—then Missouri Baptist College—to be a light to our communities and beyond. Since then, the evangelical Christian university in St. Louis, Missouri has grown in students, programs and facilities, and remains true to its founding mission. By interweaving rigorous academics and Christian values, Missouri Baptist University continues to inspire graduates to become Christ-like influencers in their communities and careers.

To commemorate the inauguration of Missouri Baptist University’s seventh president, Dr. Keith Ross, the University released a traditional tartan in the fall of 2018. The pattern, selected by a group of MBU faculty and staff, is a visual representation of MBU’s timeless values and the optimism of what is yet to come.

Each color woven into the Tartan pattern represents one of the University’s Core Values: The crimson represents the blood of Christ, as we are serious and intentional about our Christian faith.

The light blue resembles the sky and reminds us to look heavenward as we commit ourselves to freely and responsibly search for truth.

The bold richness of the dark blue inspires us to strive for excellence as it symbolizes trust, loyalty and wisdom.

The purity of the white represents integrity and honesty, as we believe in the importance and cultivation of character.

The sterling gray represents social change, which is achieved through alumni whose lives are distinguished by service and leadership.

These colors interlaced together form the Missouri Baptist University traditional tartan. When this pattern is displayed, let it be a symbol of our commitment to be faithfully present to each other, our tasks and our chosen career so we may always be a light for Christ, and let His light shine brightly.

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. … In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” Matthew 5:14 & 16

Core Values

• We are serious and intentional about our Christian faith.

• We freely and responsibly search for truth.

• We strive for excellence.

• We believe in the importance and cultivation of character.

• We believe in social change through service and leadership.

Graduates of the School of Education who have completed requirements for initial teacher certification receive a pin at the Commissioning Service held the Sunday prior to commencement. The pin signifies that graduates are commissioned to be reflective, problem-solving, professional educators of excellence who will work to enhance the lives of their students intellectually, spiritually, physically, and socially and to influence their students so that they may become positive change agents in their world.

Graduates of the Master of Arts – Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Master of Arts – School Counseling degree programs receive a pin at a commissioning ceremony held the day of commencement. The pin signifies the graduate counselor’s entry into and commitment to the helping profession. The pin is symbolically worn over the graduate’s heart, to remind them of their calling to facilitate the personal growth, development, and empowerment of the diverse individuals they serve.

Graduates of the School of Nursing receive a nursing pin in a ceremony that marks the first time a nursing student finally becomes in name and title “graduate nurse.” As faculty award the School of Nursing pin to each graduate, the placement of the pin symbolically conveys the transfer of the faculty’s nursing knowledge, skill, attitude, and professionalism. The placement of the pin also represents the time-honored tradition of welcoming the new nurse into the profession of nursing.

Mbu Honors

MBU Honors engages a diverse population of highly motivated students with scholarly and creative challenges that empower and equip them to be expansive, innovative thinkers, conscious global citizens, and curious, committed followers of Christ. We ask that students take intellectual risks; that they hold themselves to high standards; that they act as servant leaders on campus and off; and that they engage the big questions of today and yesterday with rigor and charity. The program not only prepares students for careers and graduate school, but also trains them to become compassionate leaders, both in the Christian community and in the world. MBU Honors graduates wear navy blue and gold medallions. Dr. Larry Smith is the Director of MBU Honors.

Kirenda Marietta Brown

Brianna Nichole Fischer

Alise Megan Grogg

Grace A. Hahn

Madisyn Joy House

Emily Rose Kohnen

Lorraine Ann Linson

Jenny Rice

Zander Justin Smith

Allyson Nicole Trask

Mikayla Alexis Ware

National Honors

Alpha Chi

Alpha Chi is a national, coeducational honor society with the purpose of promoting academic excellence and exemplary character among college and university students and honoring those who achieve such distinction. As a general honor society, Alpha Chi admits to membership students from all academic disciplines who are in the top ten percent of the junior and the senior classes. As a phrase from its constitution suggests, Alpha Chi seeks to find ways to assist members in “making scholarship effective for good.” The faculty and student members of the Omicron Omega Chapter of Alpha Chi wear blue and green cords with a medallion. The sponsor is Dr. Julie Ooms.

Kaylee Joy Ascher

Mikayla Jo Dierker

Alexander Engelhardt

Brianna Nichole Fischer

Tia L. Frey

Jessica Rose Kunkel

Emily Diana Leaver

Abigail Grace Movila

Tiffani Marie Siekmann

Austin George Smith

Zander Justin Smith

Zoe M. Wade

Kappa Delta Pi

Kappa Delta Pi is an international honor society in education, with a national membership of undergraduate and graduate students, university faculty and administrators, classroom teachers, school administrators, retired educators, Laureate members, and honorary members. Its purposes are to promote excellence, recognize honor students, and acknowledge outstanding contributions to education. The Missouri Baptist University chapter is open to high achieving students planning careers in the field of education. The faculty and student members of the Chi Pi Chapter of Kappa Delta Pi wear jade and violet honors cords. Dr. Bridgett Niedringhaus is the Chapter Counselor.

Sydney Katherine Berry

Christine Elaine Brander

Carrie Renee Cupp

Mikayla Jo Dierker

Allison Ruth Hunter

Dorian Hunter Jett

Anna Morgan Lowrey

DeBora Denise McKenzie

Brittany Nicole Nieder

Beth Ann Nippert Kitchell

Michael Matthew Pingel

Sahara Madeline Stiebel

Krista Leeann Stoker

Kappa Omicron Nu

Kappa Omicron Nu (KON), the National Honor Society for the Human Sciences, promotes empowered leaders who use an integrative approach to enhance quality of living through excellence in scholarship, leadership, and research. The Collegiate category of membership includes undergraduate and graduate students duly enrolled in an institution represented by an active chapter of Kappa Omicron Nu. Undergraduate students shall have declared a major in family and consumer sciences or one of the specializations in the human sciences, have completed 45 semester hours or equivalent, and rank in the top 25% of their class in the unit. Graduate students shall be enrolled in a graduate program in family and consumer sciences or one of the specializations in the human sciences, have completed 12 semester hours of graduate work or equivalent, and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale. Any chapter, at its discretion, may establish higher collegiate eligibility criteria. The Human Sciences are those fields committed to improving social justice and developing more desirable relations in communities, organizations, and

NATIONAL HONORS (continued)

the wider society for the benefit of all. Fields include (but are not limited to) athletic training, exercise science, family and consumer sciences, food science and human nutrition, health sciences, kinesiology, and wellness. The faculty and student members of the Nu Alpha Iota chapter of Kappa Omicron Nu wear medallions with a burgundy ribbon for graduation recognition The chapter sponsor is Mr. Michael Nolan.

Brianna Nichole Fischer

Jamie Renee Hopkins

Holly Michelle McAndrew

Joshua Paul Munn

Madison Taylor Sargent

Dominic Michael Smith

Phi Alpha

Phi Alpha is the National honor Society for Social Work. The purpose of Phi Alpha Honor Society is to provide a closer bond among students of Social Work and promote humanitarian goals and ideas. Phi Alpha fosters high standards of education for Social Workers and invites into membership those who have attained excellence in scholarship and achievement in Social Work. To be eligible for membership, students must have a major in Social Work, have completed at least 9 credit hours, and rank in the top 35% of their class. The faculty and student members of the Delta Iota Psi Chapter of Phi Alpha wear royal blue and yellow honor cords. The faculty sponsor is Dr. Tamlyn M. Ashford.

Lillian Marie Cooper

Allyson Haley Drese

Constantina Lynn Harris

Samantha D. Perry

Caroline Marie Rogers

Mariah Nicole Smith

Sigma Zeta

Larissa Alene Sumner

Kimberly Sue Wirth

Nicholas Kristopher Ziegler

Sigma Zeta is a national, undergraduate honor society with the purpose to encourage and foster scholarly activity and recognize academic scholarship in the natural and computer sciences and mathematics. To be eligible for membership, students must have a major in the natural sciences or mathematics, have junior/ senior standing, with an overall GPA of 3.5. The faculty and student members of the Gamma Lambda Chapter of the Sigma Zeta National Honor Society wear medallions with a gold ribbon. The sponsors are Dr. Mary Vedamuthu and Dr. Mark Duerr.

Kennedy Layne Bennett

Nathan Brock

Kirenda Marietta Brown

Paul G. Dannegger

Madison S. Feick

Alise Megan Grogg

Natalie Vitale Hecht

Elyse Marie Lewis

Holly Michelle McAndrew

Claudia Marie Petti

Michael Pingel

Kevin David Rodriguez Ramos

Jordon Sanders

Zander Smith

Marshals

The FACULTY MARSHAL is the Chairperson of the Faculty Executive Committee.

The Junior Marshals are those students in their class with the highest cumulative grade point average. They are distinguished by the wearing of honor cords in the university’s colors: royal blue and white.

Faculty Marshal

Dr. Julie Ooms, Associate Professor of English

Junior Marshals

Morgan Cane

Brandon Phillip Carter

Ronald Delashmet

Natalie Edson

Sarah Michelle Elders

Melody Francis

Samuel Goedde

Emma Grace Hinson

Emily Marie Juergens

Sydney Kardasz

Nicholas Christopher Kelly

Sara Klunder

Zulkarnejn Kunic

Caleb Little

Milos Markovic

Spencer Balcomb McCarty

Allyson E. McClung

Mikayla Erin Meeden

Abbey Jo Mortland

Maggie Ralls

Tia Reed

Racheal Ruckman

Jessalynn Scheltens

Summer Scherder

Brent Seyer

Samuel Joseph Shreffler

Jacob Allan Simmons

Meredith Ann Spratt

Nathan Stotts

Jairva Rai Stroud

Claire Summers

Rasmus Harry Svensson

Ashtin Townsend

Allen Delane Unterreiner

Katarina Nina Vasiljkovic

Katelyn Grace Wilber