Photo credit:  Janet Rogers, Division of Strategic Marketing and Communications

Six graduates receive honors for academics, service

“Students are at the center of everything we do,” said Mel Tyler, University of Missouri-Kansas City vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management.

Tyler spoke at the Fall Semester 2014 Honor Recipient Breakfast. Tyler, Chancellor Leo E. Morton and Advancement Assistant Vice Chancellor Troy Lillebo were among the UMKC leadership who expressed their congratulations to the students, their families and UMKC faculty.

Honor recipients are awarded for their academic achievements, leadership and service to UMKC. Faculty and staff from across campus nominate exceptional graduating students who have maintained high achievements. Once nominated, students are required to submit a personal statement describing their service and their contributions to the UMKC community. A committee selects the students who are honored at the awards breakfast on the Friday before Commencement.

All of the honor students have certain things in common, which include excellence and service. While others spent vacations and breaks on the beach or ski slopes, Morton said honors students spent their time off volunteering. Their projects ranged from leading and participating in student organizations and speaker’s bureaus to volunteering with the blind and working on social justice projects.

“You came here as successful students,” Morton said. “You leave here as successful students.”

With grace and humility, the students thanked their families, professors, mentors and friends for their support.

“UMKC has been very important to me,” said Alexander Shinn, who served as a campus ambassador and created the UMKC Climbing Club. He said his family has been incredibly supportive of UMKC, as his older brothers also graduated from UMKC and his younger brother currently attends.

“It’s been a great experience,” said Bailee Slack. “Life’s an adventure. We’ll see what’s next.”

Fall Semester 2014 Vice Chancellor Honor Recipients

Heather Beer, School of Law — Nominated by Anne Marie Marciarille, J.D.
Bradley Hook, College of Arts and Sciences — Nominated by Dr. Gayle Levy
Danielle Landrum, Henry W. Bloch School of Management — Nominated by Dr. Sarah Martin-Anderson
Alexander Shinn, College of Arts and Sciences — Nominated by Katherine Garey
Bailee Slack, School of Biological Sciences — Nominated by Tammy Welchert
Victoria Wu, School of Computing and Engineering — Nominated by Debby Dilks and Brian Hare