Kansas State University

MANHATTAN — Eighteen students have been named outstanding graduating seniors in the College of Human Ecology at Kansas State University. They were selected by their professors for their academic achievement, professional potential, leadership, participation and service.

They will be recognized at the college's Graduation Honors and Student Awards Celebration at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 16, in All Faiths Chapel on the Manhattan campus.

The students are:

Breanna Hamilton, athletic training, Clearwater. Hamilton served as president of the university's chapter of the Student Athletic Trainers Association, which recognized her as an upcoming student leader. She was a resident assistant on campus and completed athletic training experiences with the university's football, cheerleading team and track and field teams and with the 4th Brigade and Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Riley.

Courtney Bothwell, dietetics didactic program, human nutrition and kinesiology, Hutchinson. Bothwell was an intern at Derby Dining Center and a nutritionist assistant at Mercy Regional Health Center in Manhattan. She received numerous scholarships, was on the cadaver dissection team and was an officer in the Student Dietetic Association. Bothwell will serve as a dietetic intern at the KU Medical Center.

Samantha Kellerman, nutritional sciences, Leawood. President of the Student Alumni Board, Kellerman also was a Putnam scholar. She was part of a medical mission trip to Peru in 2012 and worked with at-risk youth during an alternative spring break trip to Oklahoma. After graduation, she will attend an accelerated nursing program at Research College of Nursing in partnership with Rockhurst University in Kansas City.

Taylor Johnston, nutrition and kinesiology and dietetics, Lenexa. Johnston is a certified personal trainer with the American College of Sports Medicine. A Kansas State University cheerleader, she has received numerous scholarships. After graduation, she will do her dietetic internship at Ohio State University, Columbus, where she plans to complete a master's degree.

Samuel Honey, personal financial planning, Manhattan. Honey served as a research assistant in the Institute of Personal Financial Planning, a peer financial counselor with Powercat Financial Counseling and as an intern with Keating & Associates. He was a member of the college's 2013 Financial Planning Challenge team that placed third in the nation. He was president of the Invest-a-Cats Club and vice president of the Financial Planning Association chapter. Honey has accepted a financial planning job in St. Louis, Missouri.

Devin Amos, hotel and restaurant management, Overland Park. Amos was president of the Professional Convention Management Association chapter and marketing chair for the Travel and Dining Auction for two years. She also is a singer and songwriter who has performed at many philanthropic events. Amos has accepted a position as a coordinator with The Wellington Group, which specializes in incentive travel and special event management in Kansas City.

Laura Walker, family studies and human services, Overland Park. Walker has studied conflict resolution in South Africa and Northern Ireland. She was an intern with the Institute for the Health and Security of Military Families and a researcher with Trauma Research, Education and Consultation. She plans to work for Colonial Presbyterian Church in Kansas in the areas of accessing resources, the elderly population and foster care/adoption initiatives. She also would like to attend graduate school.

Shanna Stewart, nutrition and health and dietetics, Overland Park. Stewart has been a sports nutrition intern with the university's athletics program and a College of Human Ecology ambassador. She was a Wildcat Wellness coach, a member of the cadaver dissection team and volunteer with the Flint Hills Breadbasket and Champions Are Readers.

Karolyn Barclay, early childhood education, Pomona. A nontraditional student, Barclay has been a full-time student and sole support of her family as she completed her degree. She was a volunteer at several school programs. She wants to earn a master's degree and become an advocate for quality child care and early childhood education in Kansas.

LaCrista Brightbill, family studies and human services, Salina. Brightbill has served as president of Kappa Sigma Alpha and as a student senator with the university's Student Governing Association. She interned at Salina's Volunteer Center and has been a Red Cross volunteer.

Veronica Rottinghaus, communication sciences and disorders, Seneca. Rottinghaus is a social justice minister at St. Isidore's Catholic Student Center, a program leader at the Boys and Girls Club and an infant room assistant teacher at Stone House. She plans to seek a master's degree in communication sciences and disorders at Kansas State University and work with the infant toddler population.

Benton McGivern, kinesiology, Topeka. McGivern received several scholarships, including from the Mark A. Chapman Scholars Program. He has volunteered with the Flint Hills Community Clinic and at Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for chronically ill children. He also has been active in a funded cancer research program at Kansas State University. McGivern has been accepted to the University of Kansas Medical School and hopes to become an orthopedic surgeon.

Ben Harstine, public health nutrition, Towanda. Recipient of the prestigious Presidential Scholarship, Harstine spent seven weeks in an immersive Chinese language and culture studies in China in 2011. He has been an orientation leader and a new student services volunteer at the university and a training intern with Target Training Services in Oman. He's also been involved in community projects.

Landon Kern, apparel marketing, Wichita. Kern served on the planning committee for the Showcase of Excellence runway this year and was as an officer for the Apparel Marketing and Design Alliance Club and an apparel, textiles, and interior design department ambassador. He was a visual intern at Anthropologie in Houston.

Lauren Nutt, apparel design and production, Wichita. Nutt was an ambassador for the apparel, textiles, and interior design department, an undergraduate teaching assistant, member of the Human Ecology student council and was open house chair in 2012. She has accepted a position as assistant designer for women's outerwear at Land's End, where she was an intern last year. Her design won Best of Show at the recent Apparel, Textiles, and Interior Design Showcase of Excellence.

Ann Vosbeek, dietetics coordinated program, Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Vosbeek completed her 1,200 hours of supervised practice in dietetics with K-State Research and Extension, Kramer Dining Center, Stormont Vail Trauma Center, Aldergate Village Retirement Community Center and Shawnee County Health Department. She was an intern for Share our Strength Cooking Matters in Denver and was a Wildcat Wellness coach.

Hannah Querheim, interior design, Waterloo, Illinois. Querheim has been an interior design teaching assistant, secretary of the Human Ecology student council and president of Kappa Omicron Nu Honor Society.  She attended Leadership Honors Bootcamp and participated in an interior design study tour to Korea. After graduation she will work with Quadrant Design Architect + Planners in Waterloo.

Kristen Brunkow, family studies and human services, Ponca City, Oklahoma. Brunkow was a member of the Human Ecology Student Council, treasurer of the Gerontology Club, president of Alpha Delta Pi sorority and vice president of Silver Key, the sophomore honorary. She founded a student group called Strength Advocates and has interned with K-State Research and Extension. She also was named a Dean of Student Life Outstanding Graduating Senior. She would like to continue her education in gerontology and organizational development.