College of Human Ecology recognizing 15 outstanding seniors
Thursday, Dec. 8, 2016
MANHATTAN — The College of Human Ecology at Kansas State University will honor 15 graduating seniors for excellence in engagement, leadership or research and creative activities at the college's annual awards ceremony Friday, Dec. 9.
The Engagement Award is given to graduating seniors who have made exemplary contributions that impact the well-being of the community or individuals in the community; the Leadership Award is given to graduating seniors who have exhibited excellence in leadership and contributions to their campus, college, program and professional organizations; and the Research and Creative Scholarship Award is given to graduating seniors whose research or creative activity has made a significant contribution to the field of study.
The following students are recipients of an outstanding senior award from the college:
Catherine Gwin, family studies and human services with a minor in conflict analysis and trauma studies and a certificate in conflict resolution, Baldwin City, is receiving the Outstanding Student Engagement Award. Gwin served as an undergraduate research assistant and an intern with the teen center for the U.S. Army Child, Youth and School Services. She founded K-State's Voices of Discovery, a campus group that facilitates discussions about diversity in order to build solidarity among students. Gwin's travels to Mexico, the Dominican Republic and Costa Rica have informed and encouraged her desire to help others.
Gabrielle Miller-DeLoache, early childhood education with a minor in American ethnic studies, Manhattan, is receiving the Outstanding Student Engagement Award. Miller-DeLoache was a member of the Early Childhood Student Association, a youth mentor with her church and a coach with the Special Olympics. She has experience teaching kindergarten and taught preschool at Hoeflin Stone House, the university's early childhood education center. She also has served as a case manager with Pawnee Mental Health.
Alex Fees, nutrition and health, Manhattan, is receiving the Outstanding Student Research and Creative Scholarship Award. Fees was an undergraduate research assistant in the Clarenburg Cardiopulmonary Research Lab with Timothy Musch and David Poole, professors of kinesiology. He conducted and published research regarding the utilization of beetroot juice in individuals with heart failure. He also participated in research on reactive hyperemia and completed the Honors Program with a research project that explored whether potassium channels could positively impact muscle blood flow and oxygen delivery during exercise in the heart failure.
Mariah Regier, hospitality management with a minor in business, McPherson, is receiving the Outstanding Student Leadership Award. Regier was a member of the Professional Event Management Society and active in the success of the 19th annual Travel and Dining Auction. She also was on the planning committee for the International Council on Hotel, Restaurant and Institutional Education, and interned with Special Events Management in Chicago.
Sarah Colburn, family studies and human services with minors in conflict analysis and trauma studies and leadership studies, Prairie Village, is receiving the Outstanding Student Research and Creative Scholarship Award. Colburn was a member of the research team of Mindy Markham, associate professor of family studies and human services. Colburn's role included recruiting participants, developing a codebook and qualitative data analysis for the research on post-divorce family communications. She shared the findings of the research at the college's Undergraduate Research and Creative Inquiry Forum and assisted in preparing a research manuscript for the Journal of Family Social Work.
Ellen Bodine, communication sciences and disorders and a minor in conflict analysis and trauma studies, Roeland Park, is receiving the Outstanding Student Research and Creative Scholarship Award. Bodine has worked as an undergraduate research assistant for both Debra Burnett's Language Lab and Briana Goff's Down Syndrome study. Burnett is a clinical assistant professor of communication studies and disorders, and Goff is a professor of family studies and human services. Bodine completed the Honors Program with a research project that distinguishes differences between children with and without Auditory Processing Disorder within the classroom. She also was a contributing author for a poster presentation on advice given by parents of children with Down syndrome.
Ashley Schmelzle, communication sciences and disorders with a minor in conflict analysis and trauma studies, Sabetha, is receiving the Outstanding Student Engagement Award. Schmelzle has served as an anatomy lab instructor, a member of the Child Language Research Lab, recruitment chair for the Conflict Analysis and Trauma Studies Association, and as an author with the Down Syndrome Research Team. She has volunteered with Catholic Ministries, the Red Cross, Flint Hills Volunteer Center and both the K-State and Kansas chapters of the Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
Kayla Cross, personal financial planning and technology management with a minor in business, Salina, is receiving the Outstanding Student Research and Creative Scholarship Award. Cross was the peer financial coach with the Student Money Management Center on the Kansas State University Polytechnic Campus for the last two years. This position included one-on-one meetings with peers with financial questions or in financial distress and presenting to student groups, classes, incoming freshman, veterans and workshops. Her involvement has allowed development of her communication and interpersonal skills.
Sevda Tasci, personal financial planning with a minor in business, Salina, is receiving the Outstanding Student Leadership Award. Tasci was founder and president of the Kansas State Polytechnic Financial Planning Association. Through this leadership, she ensured three members attended the national conference in Boston, Massachusetts, coordinated multiple fundraisers and mentored younger students. Tasci volunteered with Empty Bowls and the Salina Emergency Food Bank.
Ashley Rottinghaus, hospitality management with a minor in business, Seneca, is receiving the Outstanding Student Engagement Award. Rottinghaus was secretary and vice president of the Club Managers Association of America and active in the Professional Event Management Society and Kappa Omicron Nu honor society. She has volunteered at the College of Human Ecology's gameday white tent events, the study abroad fair and the comedy club at the Wareham Opera House in Manhattan. Rottinghaus has been a mentor and traveled to Cambodia to teach English and help rebuild a school.
Evan Kempf, kinesiology, Shawnee, is receiving the Outstanding Student Leadership Award. Kempf was founder and vice president of the K-State Powerlifting Club. Through his determination, the club became an official university student organization in 2014, has increased to 20 active members and is also recognized by the United States Powerlifting Association. Kempf's leadership has created an outlet for other students to be physically active and involved during college.
Kelsie Bigenwalt, communication sciences and disorders, Topeka, is receiving the Outstanding Student Leadership Award. Bigenwalt served as intramural chair, apparel chair, risk manager and president of her sorority. She was a lab leader for the Anatomy of Speech Mechanism course and an undergraduate research assistant in both the Child Language Lab and the Office of Educational Innovation and Evaluation. Bigenwalt mentored through Big Brothers and Big Sisters and worked as a paraeducator in the autism resource room at a local elementary school.
Kimberly Britton, kinesiology with a minor in entrepreneurship, Wichita, is receiving the Outstanding Student Research and Creative Scholarship Award. Britton participated in the NASA study by Thomas Bristow, professor of kinesiology, which inspired her to get involved with research looking at the benefits of CrossFit on fat reduction by Katie Heinrich, associate professor of kinesiology. Britton also conducted research with Craig Harms, professor and head of the kinesiology department, in the Human Exercise Physiology Lab. She interned with the fitness coordinator at Fort Riley and helped train soldiers, developed interval training regimens and taught group exercise classes.
Lauren Sokolosky, family studies and human services and a minor in conflict analysis and trauma studies, Wichita, is receiving the Outstanding Student Leadership Award. Sokolosky served on the executive board of the Union Program Council and was its co-chair for summer events, campus outreach and music. She was an undergraduate research assistant and an undergraduate teaching assistant for three different courses. A founding member and treasurer of the Conflict Analysis and Trauma Studies Student Association, Sokolosky worked with diverse populations as a volunteer for the Counseling Center; client support provider with Pawnee Mental Health; and a mentor to foster children.
Cody Derby, athletic training, Glenwood Spring, Colorado, is receiving the Outstanding Student Leadership Award. As president of the Student Athletic Training Association, Derby scheduled, coordinated and led each meeting. His leadership led to the first K-State Athletic Training Month Seminar. He also was active in leadership at his fraternity and volunteered as a Wildcat Warm-Up counselor for incoming freshman students for two years.
