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April 2, 2024
Northwest Missouri State University honored outstanding organizations, students, faculty and staff Monday during its 14th annual Northwest Awards and Recognition.
“It is incredible to witness the synergy that is demonstrated by the various departments and other areas of the University – all converging to celebrate excellence and the achievements of one another,” Northwest President Dr. Lance Tatum said during the ceremony’s concluding remarks. “Dedicated, passionate and hardworking. These are words that characterize today’s recipients. Their efforts have not only enriched their lives but also left an indelible mark on this University. From research to exceptional service, each award recipient personifies what is so special about this University.”
The Northwest Awards and Recognition is a collaborative celebration to recognize excellence exhibited by students, faculty and staff. The event celebrates awards presented by Student Employment, the Graduate Office, the Office of Student Involvement, B.D. Owens Library, the International Involvement Center, the Office of Human Resources, Student Senate and the Student Success Center.
As the ceremony’s keynote presenter, Stancy Bond, a senior instructor in the Department of Language, Literature and Writing, invited attendees to ponder the role love plays education, student success and leadership. Bond elaborated her love of knowledge, how love inspires a culture of support and belonging, how love creates curiosity and creativity, a love of diversity and inclusion, a love of passion and purpose, and a love of future leaders.
“Our future is in good hands because of people like you,” she said to the audience. “Love-based leadership empowers students to become compassionate, empathetic and ethical leaders. By modeling kindness, integrity and empathy, love leaders inspire students to become agents of positive change in their communities and beyond. So when you think about these things and you think about how love impacts your life, I hope that you will remember some of these tenets of love and take them forward. But as we celebrate the accomplishments today of our award winners, let us also celebrate the impact love and leadership has in education.”
A complete listing of the nominees appears below. Award recipients are marked with an asterisk; they are pictured with Tatum and an excerpt of their nominators’ comments.
Mariely Sabino
“Mariely embodies professionalism and a go-getter attitude. She consistently surpasses expectations by not only completing assigned tasks with exceptional quality but also proactively seeks out additional work to assist the faculty more. Mariely’s dedication to excellence is evident in her attention to detail and her willingness to go above and beyond to support the faculty. She takes initiative, asks pertinent questions and does research to ensure that all tasks are adequately completed. She is kind to everyone she encounters, very helpful and respectful. Her proactive approach and eagerness to take on new challenges make her an invaluable asset.”
Women’s Club Basketball members Amaira Peterson and Meagan Moreland
“Women’s Club Basketball has created opportunities for women on campus to experience competitive basketball without the need to join the University women’s basketball team and thus has filled a missing niche in Northwest club sports. This allows wider student organization participation because more student interests are met. In this way, students are able to connect and increase their well-being.”
Abby Linhart, representing the Homecoming Parade Committee
“The dedication shown by this year’s committee was extraordinary. Multiple professional staff members remarked that this was the most effectively run parade in many years. The lineup of entries was smooth; there was ample participation, including entries from diverse student populations that are not typically represented in such festivities. This demonstrates the extensive outreach done by the organization and committee.”
Ryan Shurvington
“Ryan has provided the utmost support to the leadership of our chapter since he became an advisor, in no small part because of his prior experience as chapter president and his positive rapport with all members of the chapter. He knows what the executive board has to deal with consistently and has passionately assisted anytime he has been asked. His leadership is known and respected across the Bearcat community, not just among our chapter members.”
Student Senate President Elizabeth Motazedi
“The Student Senate provides opportunities for student leadership development. Members gain valuable experience in governance, using their voice, advocacy and organizational leadership. The Student Senate embodies the spirit of Northwest through pride, positivity, passion and a dynamic campus environment. Student Senate is a group of advocates for their fellow students. The Student Senate is truly an outstanding and invaluable asset to the Northwest community and has been now for over 100 years.”
Denise Neal
“Her leadership aligns with the values of her organizations because she actively lives them; she attains a high degree of academic success, maintains a positive social presence and is dedicated to the communities she belongs to in her executive leadership roles. It is no easy task to be a president and on a governing council simultaneously, but she has successfully pulled it off for months and shows no signs of slowing down. Her work is remarkable for its consistency and alignment with her own personal values as well as those of BSU and Northwest itself.
Nick Bolton
“Nick Bolton is an ever-present force on the Northwest campus. He participates heavily in student life activities while also maintaining a high academic performance and, as such, exhibits the values of our institution. Nick demonstrates a high level of involvement, participating actively in seven organizations and an on-campus job. Nick loves Northwest, as demonstrated by his consistency in advocating for the University and all Bearcats. Nick is humble and kind to everybody he meets. He is a highly active member of the Northwest community.”
Kelli Wilmes
“Her ability to create connections and work as a team with each of her students and co-workers is a powerful quality. She is committed to the learning of all her students and has dedicated herself to many opportunities while ensuring that she devotes her time and attention to every single individual. It is clear that her students and their success in education and life is what she values the most.”
“Kristin has gone above and beyond to expand and improve the Mock Interview Day experience for Northwest students. She bends over backwards to make sure that students are not only prepared but able to excel in the mock interviews they schedule. She makes a point to greet students as they arrive for the interviews and makes sure they are not nervous or unsure about what is about to happen. She is also always willing to work with students before, during or after the events to make sure they are ‘career ready, day one.’”
Mistura Hassan
“She contributes to the internationalization of campus by serving as the president of the African Student Organization and creating a welcoming community for students from African countries. She has also served in several positions on Student Senate, championing inclusion initiatives on campus.”
Dr. Robert Voss
“Voss possesses a depth of knowledge in the content he teaches. His expertise provides students with a solid foundation for decision-making and academic success. I trust him implicitly when facing tough choices regarding my degree, future classes and life after graduation. Finally, he can create an engaging and interactive classroom experience. His classes are not only entertaining but also maintain an environment where students feel inspired to exceed expectations and challenge themselves. His encouragement for excellence extends to students and is inspiring.”
“Patty has been at Northwest for 34 years and has helped countless broadcast students learn the trade and be successful. She has gone above and beyond to train students and give them real-world experiences so that they are ‘career ready, day one.’ She is a dedicated public servant who works tirelessly to keep the community informed and updated. She is the one person everyone turns to for advice and information on how the station works.”
“Dustin is a selfless individual who is committed not just to his own successes but the successes of those around him. Dustin is an extremely hardworking individual who wants to see our campus succeed. This is evident in how many organizations he is involved with across campus. Dustin is involved in Sigma Tau Gamma, serving as the former president; Order of Omega; is a university tutor and an active volunteer with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Nodaway County. Dustin is hardworking, selfless and bringing success to everything he is a part of.”
United States Institute for Theatre Technology
“This group of students are dedicated to this craft and are thirsty for more knowledge. This want to learn more, and to take every opportunity they can to get better is a reflection of the Bearcat attitude. From setting up to strike, this student organization is fully hands-on. This is a time for students to create their own lighting designs and show off newfound talents learned in weekly meetings. Besides putting on Northwest Dance Company, USITT provides weekly workshops for all students to gain greater knowledge on tech theatre.”
Jeremy Waldeier and Shelby Wood, representing the Northwest Admissions Team
“The Northwest admissions team is committed to all current and future Bearcats. They organize daily tours, bus tours, visit days and travel to high schools in the surrounding areas to inform prospective students of all of the perks of being a Bearcat. Working in admissions as a student ambassador, I see the hard work and dedication they have to all Bearcats. They are always on campus offering a helping hand, making students feel supported and preparing for the future. Simply put, you can’t have a university without students, and we wouldn’t have amazing students without the admissions team.”
Dr. Taylor Harrison
“Dr. Harrison is most deserving of this award because he supports his students after they are no longer his students. Dr. Harrison continues to guide me and be a constant source of support and inspiration. I don’t know where I would be if he had not helped me through my first semester here; however, I do know that I would not have been nearly as successful without his support, guidance and kindness. Dr. Harrison has taken the time to help me grow as a leader and become more confident in my ability to help other students.”
“Taylor Suiter works very hard to create an environment where everyone can feel welcome. She is also someone I feel comfortable voicing concerns to, both professional and academic. If I do not know who to talk to, I know that Ms. Suiter would either be that person, or she would help me find the person best suited to the situation. I believe that Taylor Suiter is most deserving of this award because I have never witnessed someone work so tirelessly for the success of her students and for the success of students that are not hers.”
Nick Bolton
“Nick Bolton is an ever-present force on the Northwest campus. He participates heavily in student life activities while also maintaining high academic performance and, as such, exhibits the values of our institution.”
D.J. Ross
“As someone who didn’t have a parent who went to college, I had to make my way through Northwest. One that that I slowly understood was that I wasn’t alone. Through my connections, I was able to give back to other students through Student Organizations and events. Sharing my story with first-gen students, like myself, has been one of my favorite things to do as a leader on campus.”
“She relates to students as she has a similar background to the students she is mentoring and has experienced some of the struggles they are going through. She is an advocate for students and will speak up on their behalf if the students cannot speak up for themselves. Students are comfortable with Malayna and reach out to her with questions or concerns. Malayna has contributed to the recruitment of countless TRIO SSS participants. She has helped with the operation of Northwest’s first-generation celebration and has co-presented with TRIO SSS professional staff for multiple admissions groups. Her enthusiasm for TRIO SSS and commitment to student success is infectious.”
Belen Vanegas
“Her ability to empathize with our students is essential and shines during moments of high intensity such as finals week. Belen is tasked with assisting students who receive accommodations due to their diagnosed disabilities every day. Being able to effectively help these students who are at a higher risk of feeling anxious or distracted during their exams requires patience and understanding at a very high level, which Belen possesses. The impact that Belen has made on the University and the Office of Title IX and Equity will leave a mark on many of the students that we serve.”
Aydan McMahon
“Aydan is charged with very complex duties, including maintaining 85 school district placement relationships, writing and drafting letters, connecting by phone with school leaders from partner schools, using spreadsheets to keep track of 250 student teachers, assisting with payments due, and ensuring students graduate after completing their in-school teaching experiences. She helps the numerous processes run smoothly and injects clever improvements daily. She is also our editor for high-level grant applications. This year she provided edits on a grant series that received over $110,000 for education students’ scholarships. All that she does helps boost Northwest’s ability to truly serve many schools and communities that we work with.”
Kenzie Martin
“We discovered the Bearcat Food Pantry was being utilized more frequently, and this was causing us to run out of food. Kenzie took the initiative to research how other universities ran their food pantry to help ensure we could help all students in need. Kenzie worked on a cross-functional team that focused on getting new students involved on campus, helping them feel comfortable in their own skin, and figuring out how the Student Affairs departments can contribute to their success at Northwest. Her dedication doesn’t stop at the doors of the Student Affairs complex. She donates her time as a ‘big’ in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. Because of her selflessness, there is a little girl that gets to spend time every week hanging out with Kenzie.”
Didar Orazgeldiyev
“Didar is an incredibly skilled and reliable contributor to our team. He has created original artwork, illustrations, and design contributions to our marketing materials and communication efforts. He boasts a well-developed sense of style and strong design knowledge. In addition to completing assigned design projects, Didar embraced the opportunity to learn and assist with building websites for Northwest. His work ethic is unmatched, as he strives to make his contributions impactful and his work promotes all aspects of the University, including programming, inclusion, student involvement and recruitment. His style and work will undoubtedly be seen in the artwork and designs our office puts out for several years to come.”
Adrian Keller
“As the international recruitment assistant, she helps support recruitment efforts of our staff and is one of the first people our international students interact with as they apply to attend Northwest. She knows our processes and the information we need to pass on to international students and makes sure other student employees know it, too. She made a handbook for her positions, so other student employees have something to refer to as they are learning and working. She has the courage and boldness to step up for herself and others in a way that only comes from time and experience. She is such a light to our office and a natural-born leader.”
The Student Affairs Complex team
“These team members are among the first interactions students have when they come onto campus as we are their Bearcat ID source. Our team routinely works through lines of 100-plus new students. They do it quickly and with the same smile and attention to detail from the first to last student. This team must also know about housing offerings and costs, room change processes, cancellation requirements, meal plan information, student billing processes, fee schedules, break housing, building maintenance requests and so many more things that cross multiple disciplines. We have so much faith in them. They truly care for each other and other members of our department.”
Terry Immel
“While I have trained and worked alongside many supervisors across the country, only Terry has instilled in me the belief that I can pursue any path in life. She has witnessed first-hand the racial struggles I have overcome as a student and has been present for my highest and lowest of days. As a student who doesn’t have family support, I appreciate every lesson Terry has provided on being an adult and persevering through the challenges of everyday life. Over the past three years at Northwest, I have witnessed her patience, kindness and professionalism with every student and faculty member at our school. Terry is a trailblazer on our campus, consistently going above and beyond for organizations, clubs, events, meetings, and more.”
Grace Wineinger
Grace Wineinger for “Language of Concealment: Analyzing the Euphemisms of The Holocaust,” written for Dr. Devlin Scofield’s Research Seminar course. The paper focused on the use of euphemism by the Nazi Party during the Holocaust, aimed to conceal their genocidal actions and protect themselves from legal repercussions. The paper delves into the impact of language on inciting hatred and sheds light on the consequences of linguistic manipulation during one of humanity’s darkest chapters.
Genevieve Plum
Genevieve Plum for “Thousands Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest: A History of Mental Health and Deinstitutionalization in the United States,” written for Dr. Rob Voss’s The United States to 1877 course. The paper examines the treatment and care of mentally ill people throughout United States history and covers the rise and demise of state mental institutions intertwined with federal law and cultural stigmas for an increasing population.
Ryan Watson
Ryan Watson for “Comparison between Quechan Agriculture and Commercial Agriculture within the Arequipa Province of Peru,” written for Dr. Jesse Lane’s Geographic Approaches to Research course. The paper focused on ways rising incidents of a lack of biodiversity of crops are becoming an increasing concern throughout the world. The study investigated the relationship of Indigenous and intensive agricultural practices to the local biodiversity and environment using a mixed-methods approach. The study concluded that Indigenous agricultural practices are significantly more environmentally sustainable.
