Two NSU Students Receive Prestigious Award

TAHLEQUAH A demonstrated ability to lead and desire to help others are just two of the many qualities shared by Northeastern State University seniors Jaclyn Munson and Kristin King. Through their appointment as Senator Herb Rozell Scholars, each is being rewarded for their leadership and service efforts.

Established to honor the outstanding works and deeds of the former state senator, who dedicated 28 years of public service to the people of District 3 and the State of Oklahoma, the Senator Herb Rozell Scholars Program recognizes NSU seniors with tremendous campus and community leadership, outstanding scholastic achievement, and commitment to excellence for the future. Funded by private donations to the NSU Foundation, the scholarship helps pay toward each recipients expenses for the upcoming year, freeing them to explore additional opportunities for service and leadership.

As I pursue a career in optometry, Im grateful for the strong therapeutic legislation Sen. Rozell instilled in Oklahoma law, said Munson. Because of his actions, Oklahomans have had access to a higher level of care from their optometric physicians. I only hope to serve as a link between his historical efforts and the future of optometry.

A member of the Presidents Leadership Class, Munson is a Biology major from Sandwich, Illinois, and Tahlequah with an active academic and volunteer calendar. She has conducted optometric research with the Northeastern State University Oklahoma College of Optometry regarding contact lenses and higher order aberrations of the eye and served on several selection committees for the NSU Natural Sciences Department. Munson is a member of the Pre-Optometry Club and is a former Redmen Ambassador. She is an NSU Peer Leader and also volunteers with Help-In-Crisis.

Sen. Herb Rozell has done so much in the way of community service during his time as a legislator and educator, said King. I am honored to be selected as a Rozell Scholar, not only for the scholarship opportunities, but for the service opportunities. I look forward to representing NSU in the coming year.

A member of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, King currently serves as president of the National Panhellenic Council at NSU. A native of Byng, Okla., King has maintained a 4.0 grade point average throughout her academic career at Northeastern. The Accounting and Financial Planning major is named in Whos Who Among Students in Colleges and Universities. Under the guidance of Dr. John Yeutter, the Honors Scholar has conducted research of various financial planning software packages, which she hopes to publish following her graduation from Northeastern.

The Senator Herb Rozell Scholars Program was established in 2004 by Rozells friends and family upon the senators retirement from the state legislature to honor his outstanding work and accomplishments. Previous program honorees include Mary Betancourt, Natalie Morris, Breanna Walker and Cody Brumley.