Eight Northwestern Oklahoma State University seniors receiving the Outstanding Senior Award are among the award recipients at this year’s Spring Reunion Day Awards Ceremony April 27 at 5:15 p.m. in the Student Center Ranger Room on the Alva campus.
A committee selected Jessica Blanchard, Cali Crissup, Janel Mitchell, Clay Reed, Morgan Reinart, Rhiannon Sherrill, Myka Storie and Jill Weidemann as 2013 Outstanding Seniors.
To apply, December 2012 or May 2013 graduating seniors had to have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5, have completed at least 60 credit hours at Northwestern, be involved in campus and/or community activities, show promise of future achievement and never have been subject to academic or disciplinary action. The award, sponsored by the Northwestern Foundation and Student Government Association, includes a plaque and gift card.
Outstanding Seniors
Jessica Blanchard
Blanchard, of Enid, will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Currently the Psychology Club president, she has previously served as treasurer of the club. In addition to working as a psychology professor’s assistant, she has acted as a camp leader for the Northwestern Psychology Summer Science Academy. Active in her community, she has volunteered her time with Pet Me Pets Organization and Enid SPCA. She has been listed on the President’s Honor Roll.
Cali Crissup
Crissup, a Helena native, earned her bachelor’s degree in mass communication with summa cum laude honors in December 2012. While at Northwestern, she reported and edited the news for NWTV as a staff reporter and post-show editor and for the Northwestern News as editor, staff writer, reporter and designer. A member of Leadership Northwestern, Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors and the President’s Leadership Class, she served as president and vice president of her sorority, Alpha Sigma Alpha. As the reigning Miss Northwestern in 2010, she received the Miss America Academic Achievement Award at the Miss Oklahoma Scholarship Pageant. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in mass communication from Oklahoma State University.
Janel Mitchell
Mitchell, of Arnett, will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education. She is a member of the President’s Leadership Class, Student Government Association, Society of Professional Journalists, Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association and Student Oklahoma Education Association. From 2010 to 2011, she worked as an anchor and news reporter for NWTV. She has served as vice president of public relations and recruitment, chapter president and social chair of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority. Listed on the President’s Honor Roll and Vice President’s Honor Roll, she was named Freshman Queen and elected vice president of the freshman class.
Clay Reed
Reed, of Byron, will graduate in May with bachelor’s degrees in biology and chemistry. Listed on the President’s Honor Roll, he received the Elks National Foundation Student Award, the Oklahoma Heritage Oklahoma History Award and the Rotary Leadership Award. A scholarship recipient, he has been named an Oklahoma Academic Scholar and a U.S. Academy All-American Scholar. Active in research at Northwestern, he earned first place in Ranger Research Day 2012. He is a member of the Chemistry Club, Biology Club, Medical Sciences Club and President’s Leadership Class and an honorary member of Sigma Tau Delta, Alpha Nu Psi.
Morgan Reinart
Reinart, originally from Okeene, will earn his bachelor’s degrees in biology and health and sports science in the summer of 2013. He has been a member of the Medical Sciences Club, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Immaculate Heart Neuman Society. Listed on the President’s Honor Roll and Vice President’s Honor Roll, he has been named Who’s Who Among American College Students. A CPR-certified emergency medical first responder, he was a volunteer firefighter from 2007 to 2012 in the Okeene and Alva communities.
Rhiannon Sherrill
Sherrill, a Turpin native, will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in biology. A scholarship recipient, she has been listed on the President’s Honor Roll and Oklahoma Honor Roll. She is a member of the Student Government Association, Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors, Chemistry Club, Medical Sciences Club and Leadership Northwestern. She is a resident assistant and has served as president of Rangers Excelling at Leadership.
Myka Storie
Storie, of Ponca City, will earn her bachelor’s degree in mathematics with a minor in health and sports science in May. She is a member of the Student Government Association, the President’s Leadership Class and Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority. She has served as captain of the cheerleading squad, president and vice president of the Math Club, and president of the Red & Black Scroll Honor Society. Named the 2012 Northwestern Outstanding Mathematics Student and a 2012 Leadership Northwestern Chesapeake Scholar, she has been listed on the President’s Honor Roll and Vice President’s Honor Roll.
Jill Weidemann
Weidemann, originally from Woodward, will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and a minor in English. She is a member of the Red & Black Scroll Honor Society, Rangers Excelling at Leadership, Conserving Our Ranger Environment and Psychology Club. Listed on the President’s Honor Roll and Who’s Who Among American College and University Students, she was selected as a Leadership Northwestern Chesapeake Scholar, Masonic Scholar and secretary of the freshman class.
Other Award Recipients
Kaylee Byrd, Reed and Weidemann will be awarded the T.C. Carter Award, presented to the graduating seniors with the highest grade point average.
Other Northwestern students and faculty to be recognized include:
Storie receiving the John F. Kennedy Award, Cary Cox receiving the Dr. Joe Dollins Merit Award, Robin Cline receiving the John Ted Meier Student Teaching Award, Gabriel Dunbar and Blanchard receiving the Psychology Student of the Year Award, Rance Castleberry receiving the Sabin and Pearl Percefull Scholarship Award, Kathryn Montes receiving the Newman Civic Fellow Award, Cassaundra Webb receiving the deSERVING Ranger Award, and Dr. Kay Decker receiving the John Sheffield Teacher of the Year Award.
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