UMKC Honor Recipients and Trustees’ Scholars recognized
Twenty exceptional University of Missouri-Kansas City students were feted with breakfast and meaningful words from the faculty and staff who mentored them.
These included UMKC Trustees’ Scholars, a program that provides a fully-funded education to a select group of undergraduate freshmen seeking a degree at UMKC. And they were Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management honor recipients nominated by faculty and staff based not only on their academic achievement, but their volunteer service to the campus and community.
“Talk about impressive human beings,” said Chancellor Leo E. Morton at the program, presented at the Student Union. “You stood out in a competitive environment. You gave the gift of selflessness.”
Each student, joined by family and close friends — some who had traveled thousands of miles, offered their own emotional words of gratitude.
“UMKC is where I feel safe, where I find peace,” said Faiza Chaudhry, a School of Education student who was honored. She is Muslim, and said she finds acceptance among her peers that she doesn’t always find in public. She taught herself, because she had been denied an education, and received a high school GED. She has three children she’s raising herself while her husband lives overseas.
Each year, the number of students nominated grows, said Mel Tyler, vice chancellor for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management. The students honored were:
- Caren Abraham, honor recipient, School of Dentistry, nominated by Richard Bigham
- Gloria Anderson, honor recipient, School of Education, nominated by Breann Branch
- Amber Arshad, honor recipient, College of Arts and Sciences, nominated by Andrea Drew Gounev and Kathleen Kilway
- Ida Ayalew, honor recipient, College of Arts and Sciences, nominated by LaNee’ Bridewell, Angela Cottrell and Sandra DuPree
- Faiza Chaudhry, honor recipient, School of Education, nominated by Angela Cottrell, Tara McGuffin and Chiluba Musonda
- Haley Crane, honor recipient and Trustees’ Scholar, Conservatory of Music and Dance, nominated by Katie Garey and sponsored by Debby Ballard
- Howard Ehana, honor recipient, School of Computing and Engineering, nominated by Sandy Gault
- Daniel Galarza, Trustees’ Scholar, School of Computing and Engineering, presented by Coretta Carter, sponsored by Steve Doyle
- Charles Harris, honor recipient, College of Arts and Sciences, nominated by Mona Lyne and Keichanda Dees-Burnett
- Yunhsuan Hoover, honor recipient, School of Pharmacy, nominated by Cameron Lindsey
- Rachel Howland, honor recipient, School of Pharmacy, nominated by Angela Brownfield
- TeeJay Hughes, Trustees’ Scholar, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, presented by Kate Wozniak, sponsored by Steven Bernstein
- Klorissa Kaven, honor recipient, School of Nursing and Health Studies, nominated by Eric Grospitch
- Chelsea Light, honor recipient, School of Medicine, nominated by Holli Paulk
- Jordan Miles, Trustees’ Scholar, College of Arts and Sciences, presented by Tara Allen, sponsored by Kelli Wright
- Claire Peterson, Trustees’ Scholar, School of Nursing and Health Studies, presented by Jana Rudigier, sponsored by David Oliver and Dave Harrison
- Jazmin Richardson, honor recipient, School of Nursing and Health Studies, nominated by Ronalda Cole-Manney, Sandra DuPress, Sally Ellis Fletcher and Tiffany Williams
- Loreley Robie, honor recipient, School of Medicine, nominated by Peter Koulen
- Alexis White, Trustees’ Scholar, Henry W. Bloch School of Management, presented by Doranne Hudson, sponsored by David Shapland
- Caroline Zeller, honor recipient, School of Dentistry, nominated by Richard Bigham