NSU Announces Jack Kaufman Outstanding Senior Awards

TAHLEQUAH Northeastern State University will present nineteen graduating seniors with Jack Kaufman Outstanding Senior Awards at a special ceremony on Saturday, April 26 at 10:30 a.m. in Ball Room C of the University Center on the Tahlequah campus.

Considered a visionary by those who knew him, the late Jack Kaufman will go down in NSU history as one the institutions most active and influential alumni. In recognition of his exceptional support of the university and its alumni association, the Jack Kaufman Outstanding Seniors Awards are given to deserving seniors each year who are nominated by NSU faculty and staff.

Recipients have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.25 or higher, have demonstrated their concern for Northeastern through campus involvement, and are considered all-around students who typify the spirit of NSU.

The nineteen students are:

James Keith Badgett

Mustang
Hospitality and Tourism Management

Keith is the son of Scott and Kathy Badgett. He is a member of the Presidents Leadership Class, Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity, Delta Mu Delta Honor Society and Rho Theta Sigma Honor Society. He has maintained involvement with Baptist Collegiate Ministries, RiverHawk Ambassadors and Rookie Bridge Camp. Keith was named Mr. NSU and to Whos Who Among American College and Universities.

Laverne Bowen

Altus
Spanish

Laverne, a Spanish major, is the daughter of Alexander and Claudette Bowen. She is a member of the Northeastern State University Marching Band, Association of Black Collegians and is president of Alpha Angels Incorporated. Laverne was named to the Presidents Honor Roll, Deans Honor Roll, Alpha Chi Honor Society and Whos Who Among American College and Universities.

Leslie Byrd

Broken Arrow
Political Science and Geography

Leslie is the daughter of Derek and Janice Mills and Joy and Sean Robinson, and the wife of Nathan Byrd. She has participated in the Residence Hall Association, Northeastern Student Government Association and the Northeastern Activities Board. She is a member of Rho Theta Sigma Honor Society and Gamma Theta Upsilon International Geography Honor Society. She was named to the Presidents Honor Roll, Deans Honor Roll and Whos Who Among American College and Universities.

Drushea Dear

Bokoshe
Political Science

Dru is the daughter of David and Terri Dear. She is a member of the Presidents Leadership Class, served as president of the Northeastern Student Government Association and the Oklahoma Student Government Association and was part of the NSU RiverHawk Flock. Dru received the Alpha Sigma Alpha Four Aims Intellectual Award, and was named one of the Top Five Greek Women and the 2006 NSU Homecoming Queen.

Dale Denwalt II

Tahlequah
Mass Communications

Dale is the son of Dale Denwalt Sr. and Pamela Cook-Denwalt. He was involved with the Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature, Northeastern Student Government Association, Society of Professional Journalists and served as the editor of the Northeastern. Dale was named to Whos Who Among American College and Universities, and received Honors Society Awards for High GPA, Organizational Involvement and Leadership.

Tiffany Heydt

Miami
Biology

Tiffany is the daughter of Robert and Sally Heydt. She is a member of the Presidents Leadership Class, Northeastern Student Government Association, Northeastern Activities Board and the Pre-Optometry Club. Tiffany was inducted into the Rho Theta Sigma Honor Society and Alpha Chi National College Honor Scholarship Society and named to Whos Who Among American College and Universities.

Joani Howard

Tulsa
Biology

Joani is the daughter of Michael Howard and Christina Edmonds. She is a member of the Presidents Leadership Class, Northeastern Student Government Association and Northeastern Activities Board. She was inducted into Rho Theta Sigma Honor Society and Alpha Chi Honor Society, and was named to the Presidents Honor Roll. Joani has received the Student Activity Award for both the Presidents Leadership Class and NSGA.

Kristin King-Eller

Ada
Accounting and Financial Planning

Kristen is the daughter of Wayne and Kathy King and the spouse of Ryan Eller. She is a Sen. Herb Rozell Scholar and is involved with the Honors Program, Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, Northeastern Activities Board, the Accounting Society, Oklahoma Intercollegiate Legislature and Baptist Collegiate Ministries. Kristen is also a member of the Delta Mu Delta Honors Society and was nominated as one of the Top 5 Greek Females.

Challis McDonald

McAlester
Hospitality and Tourism

Challis is the daughter of Martin and Christy McDonald. She is a member of the Northeastern Student Government Association, Presidents Leadership Class, Northeastern Activities Board, Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, Riverhawk Ambassadors and is a Rookie Bridge Camp volunteer. Challis was inducted into the Rho Theta Sigma Honors Society and Delta Mu Delta Honors Society. She was named to the Presidents and Deans Honor Rolls and is the recipient of the Alpha Sigma Alpha Founders Award.

Jaclyn Munson

Sandwich, Ill.
Biology

Jaclyn is the daughter of David and Linda Munson. She is a Sen. Herb Rozell Scholar and a member of the Presidents Leadership Class, Northeastern Activities Board, Pre-Optometry Club, Pre-Professional Health Club, and the RiverHawk Ambassador program. Jaclyn was inducted into Rho Theta Sigma Honor Society, and was the winner of the Oklahoma Woman of the Year Leadership Award.

Kellen Palmer

Corrales, N.M.
Healthcare Administration

Kellen is the son of Richard and Susan Palmer. He is a member of the American Indian Science and Engineering Society, Northeastern Student Government Association, Phi Sigma Nu Native American fraternity served as president and vice president of the Native American Student Association. Kellen was named to the National Deans Honor List, was an NSU Homecoming King candidate and is in the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

Jakob Prill

Tulsa
Business Administration

Jakob is the son of Bruce and Rhonda Prill. He is a member of the Northeastern Activities Board, Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and Baptist Collegiate Ministries, and has volunteered at Rookie Bridge Camp. Jakob was inducted into Rho Theta Sigma Honor Society, and named to the Deans Honor Roll and Whos Who Among American College and Universities Students.

Jodi Rule

Bentonville, Ark.,
Accounting

Jodi is the daughter of Gene and Sue Ogle and the spouse of Philip Rule. She has served as president of the Rotaract Club and is a member of the Accounting Society, Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) and Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society. Jodi was named to both the Presidents and Deans Honor Rolls.

Nathan Smith

Tahlequah
International Business

Nathan, an international business major, is the son of Richard and Lori Smith and Lisa Ross. He is involved with the NSU Model United Nations Program and is vice president of the Government and International Studies Society. Nathan is a member of the Delta Mu Delta Business Honor Society and Phi Alpha Theta History Honor Society, and was named to the NSU Deans Honor Roll and the National Deans Honor Roll.

Lauren Woods

Claremore
Chemistry

Lauren is the daughter of Rusty and Kim Woods and Karen Owens. She is involved with the Honors Program, Delta Zeta sorority, Baptist Collegiate Ministries and the Northeastern Student Government Association. She is also a member of the Rho Theta Sigma Honor Society and Alpha Chi Honor Society. Lauren named Greek Woman of the Year and to Whos Who Among American Colleges and Universities.

4/18/2008

Published: 2008-04-18 00:00:00