Murray State seniors honored during virtual senior breakfast

Murray State’s administration honored the senior class of 2020’s prestigious accomplishments during a virtual senior breakfast Wednesday morning.

President Bob Jackson kicked off the annual event, delivering a message of hope for the 2020 class in spite of a tumultuous semester.

“Stay strong, be safe and healthy, take care of yourself and others, and best wishes in your career or during graduate or professional school,” Jackson urged seniors. “Finally, come back often. We hope to see you at homecoming this fall. God bless, and go Racers.”

Student Government Association President Trey Book awarded the Ralph H. Woods Memorial Award, which recognizes outstanding leadership and service on behalf of the Murray State student body, to Claudia Burcham, who is the office coordinator for the Center for Student Involvement.

Book also announced the Jim Bauer Outstanding Staff Service Award, which is given to a Murray State staff member who goes above and beyond in their duties, and is voted on by students. This year’s recipient was post office manager James Smith.

Next, the Max Carman Outstanding Teacher Award, which is awarded to a person who exhibits excellence in teaching, was given to Dr. Michelle Santiago, of the Hudson School of Agriculture.

Dr. Don Robertson, vice president of student affairs and enrollment management, followed Book by honoring the 2019 SGA officers and the newly elected officers for the 2020-21 school year. He also presented the Omicron Delta Kappa J. Carl Fisher Book Award, which went to Alesa Wilson. Wilson has served as president of the national leadership honor society this year.

Jen Caldwell, coordinator for student conduct and special projects, presented the distinction of Who’s Who Among Murray State Students to 85 students. View the full list of recipients below the article.

The residential college award-winners were also announced on Wednesday. Read the full list of recipients below the article.

Murray State’s recipients for Outstanding Senior Man and Woman were also named. Rachel Huck was named the Outstanding Senior Woman. Huck, an accounting major, maintained a 4.0 GPA and is an honors diploma recipient. Huck was previously named the outstanding sophomore, junior and senior in accounting.

The distinction of Outstanding Senior Man was awarded to Kyle Britton. Britton maintained a 4.0 GPA as an engineering major with a concentration in advanced physics and aerospace engineering. He is an honors diploma recipient, and has served in the BCM, Honors Student Council and has studied abroad.

While the virtual senior breakfast was certainly an unprecedented experience for the class of 2020, it succeeded in commemorating the hard work of many distinguished Murray State students during their memorable years as Racers.

Who’s Who Among Murray State Students complete list: 

Laurie Abbott, Sydni Anderson, Noah Bailey, Christian Barefield, Cole Barnett, Tyler Belcher, Emma Benson, Kristen Bialek, Abigail Bingham, Kyle Britton, Blakely Broder, Ellie Brower, Ashton Brown, Emilea Bullen, Alyssa Busche, David Carman, Piper Cassetto, Madison Chapman, Devin Chen, Kendall Clark, Sarah Clark, Justin Cole, KirstyAnn Cole, Kathleen Condon, Taylor Cook, Hannah Crawford, Taylor Davis, Holly Doom, Meike Drewell, Shannon Enzenberger, Lindsey Falkner, Leah Feldhaus, Abrielle Fischer, Ryan Flaherty, Grace Fugate, Jenny Gibbs, Macy Glosson, Emily Green, Savannah Grogan, Julia Grothe, Jill Guetersloh, Gabrielle Hardison, Mandolyn Harvey, Catherine Hine, McKayla Hoskin, Josephine Hubele, Rachel Huck, Allison Jarrett, Lexi Jones, Lara Justice, Cameron Kelly, Brooke Kordys, Abagail Lanier, Keenan Lautner, Brennon Lilly, Jacob Littlefield, Zoie Markman, Katelyn May, Sara Meuth, Carly Middleton, Lexie Mills, Alyssa Mitan, Michaela Molnar, Margaret Moore, Alexandria Morgan, Emily Perry, Emma Piepenbrok, Gavin Posey, Rachel Renik, Lauren Robison, Hannah Simmons, Jamie Slaton, Taylor Stinson-Tanner, Jensen Striegel, Kendyl Suess, Allison Sweeney, Amanda Swift, Kimberly Thomas, Brittny Tyler, Aaron Voshage, Alexandria Wheeler, Ashlyn Willett, Jayden Willis, Alesa Wilson, Keragan Young.

Residential College Awards:

Clark College: Academic Achievement: Aaron Voshage; Outstanding Service: Shannon Enzenberger, Destiny Dowell; Shield Bearer: Kendall Clark, Gabrielle Hardison

White College: Academic Achievement: Ryley Kimmel, Alexandria Wheeler; Outstanding Service: Courtney Decker, Cecilia Stapleton; Shield Bearer: Alesha Allen, Lauren Young

Springer-Franklin: Academic Achievement: Amanda Walden; Outstanding Service: James Horton, Sydney Simpson; Shield Bearer: McKayla Hoskin, Peyton Raley

Richmond College: Academic Achievement: Mark Tyler; Outstanding Service: Alex Terry; Shield Bearer: Alex Terry, Brittny Tyler

Regents College: Shield Bearer: Mackenzie Jane Cook, Jared Richard Mader

Hester College: Academic Achievement: Catherine O’Rourke, Rose Rechtien; Outstanding Service: Jacob Bandura; Shield Bearer: Jacob Bandura

Hart College: Academic Achievement: Kali Forden; Outstanding Service: Zoe Avery; Shield Bearer: Jenna Brey, Ocean Tindall-Small

Elizabeth College: Academic Achievement: Emilea Bullen; Outstanding Service: Ashley Carter, Mariah Critchelow, Amy Turner, Hannah Tomes; Shield Bearer: Kaitlyn Brooks. Tyler Belcher