Rogers State University honored 35 students, a recent alumnus and two community partners during its inaugural HILL Awards on Friday morning.
The awards recognize High Impact Leaders and Leaders (HILL) among the student body with awards presented for each level of academic classification as well as for student workers. Awards were presented to a recent alumnus who has demonstrated leadership and to community partners who support university initiatives that enhance student development. The awards program was conceived and organized by the RSU Office of Student Affairs.
“The HILL Awards represent an exciting new tradition at RSU that celebrates our students and recent alumni who embody the next generation of leaders in our region, state and beyond,” said RSU President Dr. Larry Rice who joined Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Brent Marsh in presenting the awards.
The awards recognize accomplishments based on four key areas: commitment, community engagement, influence and integrity. The students, alumni and community partners were each nominated for consideration by RSU faculty, staff or students.
Freshmen honorees included:
- Allison Clayborn of Chetopa, Kansas, nominated by Maddy Lambing
- Jacob Cooper-Garbey of Tulsa, nominated by Maddy Lambing
- Benjamin Seif Drywater for Tahlequah, nominated by Autumn Fourkiller
- Morgan Hutchison of Collinsville, nominated by Autumn Fourkiller
- Mattie Johnston of Pryor, nominated by Calli Knight
- Tayler Lee of Okemah, nominated by Chris McCormick
- Dalton Noland of Claremore, nominated by Ha Nguyen Tran Thien, Zyong Tran, Duc Nguyen, and Julian Raja Tashman
- Jesus Ramirez of Catoosa, nominated by Derek Larkin
- Wade Gabe Woodson of Bixby, nominated by Maddy Lambing
Sophomore honorees included:
- Colt Berry of Afton, nominated by Elisha Enlow
- Rusty Cook of Claremore, nominated by Dr. Keith Martin
- Alexandrea Culp of Claremore, nominated by Dr. Jim Ford
- Allison Grossman of Chouteau, nominated by Faith Gates
- Morgan McSpadden of Big Cabin, nominated by Dr. Keith Martin
- Chandler Payne of Claremore, nominated by Kyla Short
- Mikala Richardson of Claremore, nominated by Shiloh Johnson
- Monica Scott of Sapulpa, nominated by Shiloh Johnson and Jairus Bradley
- Cambry Standridge of Owasso, nominated by Dr. Jim Ford
Junior honorees included:
- Michaela Farrill of Shawnee, nominated by Rachel Smith
- Abigail Hollihan of Claremore, nominated by Bethany Allen
- Kayleigh Stallcup of Enid, nominated by Lexie Podest
- Tayler Stover of Broken Arrow, nominated by Sara Braun
Senior honorees included:
- Jasmine Baker of Dewey, nominated by Christi Mackey & Dr. Lori O’Malley
- Jairus Bradley of Bixby, nominated by Blake Fisher
- Sarah Due of Pryor, nominated by Dr. Jim Ford
- William Golden of Claremore, nominated by Christi Mackey & Dr. Lori O’Malley
- Brad Groeneveld of Chelsea, nominated by Dr. Brent Marsh
- Sherrie Sherrick of Claremore, nominated by Dr. Lori O’Malley
Student workers honored included:
- Alexandrea Culp of Claremore, RSU Foundation & Development, nominated by Shiloh Johnson
- Sarah Due of Pryor, RSU Academic Enrichment, nominated by Dr. Jim Ford
- Hailey Gillispie of Henryetta, RSU Career Services, nominated by Calli Knight
- Naomi Roman of Tulsa, RSU Communications Department, nominated by Jairus Bradley
- Shelby Snodgrass of Chouteau, RSU Pryor Campus, nominated by Faith Gates
- Cambry Standridge of Owasso, RSU Admissions, nominated by Rachel Smith
The Recent Alumni of Excellence Award recipient was Bailey Lynn Weis, who has worked extensively in Oklahoma government since her 2011 graduation, including working in the lieutenant governor’s office. In 2013, she was named to the OKC 30 Under 30 List, the prestigious award for having proven professional achievement, community involvement and commitment to Oklahoma’s future. She currently works on the gubernatorial campaign for former Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett. Weis was a member of RSU’s inaugural women’s soccer team where she was a four-year letter winner. She was nominated by Sara Braun.
Two Community Partners of Excellence Awards were presented, one for a private organization and one for a public/not-for-profit entity. Enterprise Holdings LLC, a Fortune 500 company and leader in the car rental industry, was honored as the private community partner for its work on behalf of student development and career services, including participating in mock interviews, etiquette dinners and workshops.
Claremore Collective, the community’s young professional organization, was honored as the not-for-profit community partner. Claremore Collective has provided free access to professional development conferences, worked closely with students and student organizations and opened its monthly mixers to RSU students.
Chris Williams received the award on behalf of Enterprise, while Meggie Knight received the award on behalf of Claremore Collective.
The event concluded with a special posthumous HILL Award presentation to Rugina Irving, an RSU fine arts junior from Vinita who passed away in January. Irving was nominated for the award by RSU fine arts faculty member Anh-Thuy Nguyen, who noted that Irving worked to make connections with her fellow students and had a thoughtful appreciation for art. Her parents, Raymond and Ruth Irving of Vinita, accepted the award during Friday’s ceremony.
The HILL Awards program was organized by Maddy Lambing, Director of Student Activities, and Calli Knight, Director of Career Services. Photos from the event may be found online at https://photos.app.goo.gl/bgKN71Rj81cQAX393