Alumni Association names 2014 Outstanding Seniors

Office of Communications & Marketing |Northeastern State University
TAHLEQUAH, Okla. -- Every year the Northeastern State University Alumni Association selects senior students to honor with the distinction of Outstanding Seniors. These are students who have made a significant contribution to NSU through academic achievement, campus activities, campus service, honors and awards. Of the outstanding seniors selected, the NSU Alumni Association Board of Directors will name the Jack Kaufman Senior(s) of Distinction.

Students are selected from the NSU-Tahlequah and NSU-Broken Arrow campuses. The applicants are evaluated against those from their designated campus location. All honorees are recognized at a ceremony on their prospective campus, and the Senior(s) of Distinction will also be unveiled at that time.

This year 18 students were selected as Outstanding Seniors and three Seniors of Distinction. The recipients have shown to be a value to the university and will in hope continue to remain an active stakeholder of NSU throughout their professional and personal lives.

NSU-Tahlequahs 2014 Outstanding Seniors: Jake Barber of Owasso, Jessica Breske of Tahlequah, Krista Dyess and Austyn Fulps of Broken Arrow, Tawnie Goodwin of Stilwell, Chelsea Gordon of Okemah, Tim Hicks of Beggs, Wes Horton of Pryor, Amanda Jespersen of Broken Arrow, Tricia Price of Valliant, Kymber Sanden of Noble, Thomas Teague of Clayton, and Mariah Towell of Porum.

NSU-Broken Arrows 2014 Outstanding Seniors: Jennifer Martin of Owasso, Sarah Trott of Coweta, Lauren Tull of Broken Arrow, John Tyree of Jenks, and Brandy Yrttima-Hayes of Tulsa.

Jack Kaufman 2014 Senior of Distinction recipients: Barber and Fulps from NSU-Tahlequah and Martin from NSU-Broken Arrow.

For students to be considered for this honor they must first be nominated by a current NSU faculty or staff member. All eligible nominees are invited to submit the Outstanding Senior application.

This award is an extreme honor and I am still in complete shock that I was chosen, said Fulps. I know many of the previous students that received this award, and I am lucky to be honored among them.

To be eligible, the nominee must be graduating with a bachelors degree; have a cumulative 3.25 grade point average or higher; demonstrate commitment to NSU, the community and/or student life through extracurricular involvement or service to others; be a well-rounded student who typifies the spirit of NSU; must be of outstanding quality, high moral and ethical charter, and a leader; they must also be held in the highest regard by faculty, colleagues and their peers.

I am a non-traditional student, an older adult with four children at home said Martin. I am such a nerd for NSU. I bleed green and am so passionate about the university. I encourage people every day to check out NSU and strongly advise them to attend. It has been such a great experience for me and I want others to be able to have that experience as well.

For more information about the Outstanding Senior Awards or the Jack Kaufman Seniors of Distinction, contact the Alumni Association at 918-458-2143.