College of Human Ecology names 17 outstanding graduating seniors
Friday, May 1, 2015
MANHATTAN — The College of Human Ecology at Kansas State University is honoring 17 graduating seniors for excellence.
The students are selected by their academic program in the college for outstanding academic achievements and contributions to the program, the university and the community.
• Eleanor Musil, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in communication sciences and disorders, Blue Rapids. Musil served as an undergraduate research assistant, anatomy lab instructor and an active member of the Student Speech and Hearing Association. She is chair of Smurthwaite House, a leadership/scholarship house for women. Musil plans to pursue a master's degree in communication sciences and disorders at the university.
• Mackenzie Schmeidler, a summer 2015 bachelor's candidate in apparel marketing, Hays. Schmeidler served as an apparel textiles ambassador, was co-chair for the annual ATID Symposium and worked as a museum assistant and undergraduate teaching assistant. After an internship with Geneologie, which specializes in Greek apparel, she will manage the company's university accounts throughout Kansas.
• Gabriel "Katie" Lierz, May 2015 early bachelor's candidate in childhood education, Hiawatha. Lierz was president of the Early Childhood Student Association, presented at the annual conference of the Kansas Division of Early Childhood, was a research assistant for special education in Tanzaniaand has been involved in community volunteer work. She will pursue a master's degree in child life at the University of La Verne in California.
• Taran Carlisle, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in kinesiology, Kansas City. Carlisle has served as a research assistant in a public health lab and as a Kinesiology Student Association officer. Through the university's International Service Teams program, he went on a two-month trip to Kenya, volunteering at a children's home. Carlisle plans to attend medical school.
• Joshua Allen, a summer 2015 bachelor's candidate in hotel and restaurant management with a secondary major in gerontology, Leavenworth. Allen, who also has a minor in business, served as president of the Hospitality Management Society, was open house chair for the College of Human Ecology and a member of the College of Human Ecology Council. He completed an internship in summer 2014 at Piping Rock Country Club in Long Island, New York.
• Lauren Fischer, May 2015 bachelor's graduate in nutrition and health, Leawood. Fischer, who also has a dual major in dietetics, has been vice president and secretary/historian of the human nutrition department's Health and Nutrition Society. She was a member of Chimes, the junior honorary, and Silver Key, the sophomore honorary. She will complete an internship through the university's coordinated dietetics program to become a registered dietician.
• Emily Wilson, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in dietetics, coordinated program, Leawood. Wilson has attained her 1,200 hours of supervised practice at St. Joseph Medical Center, Kramer Dining Center and Hy-Vee Grocery Stores. A member of the College of Human Ecology Council, she plans to become a registered dietitian.
• Arianna Levin, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in apparel design and production, Manhattan. Levin was an apparel textiles ambassador and co-chair for the ATID Symposium. She was a summer 2014 intern in New York City with Sapphire Bliss, a luxury intimates apparel company, and will join the company as a design assistant.
• Lindsay Schmidt, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in athletic training, Newton. Schmidt was president of the Student Athletic Training Association and volunteered for the All-University Open House and National Athletic Training Month. She has worked as a camp nurse in Oklahoma and a certified nurse's assistant at Asbury Park Retirement Home. She plans to continue her education in physical therapy or athletic training.
• Danielle Dobratz, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in public health and nutrition with a secondary major in gerontology, Olathe. Dobratz, who also has a minor in Spanish, was a member of the college's honors program and secretary of Phi Eta Sigma, a national honor society. She worked as a certified nursing assistant at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community and the Good Samaritan Society. She will attend the physician assistant program at Jefferson College.
• Caysi Gatts, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in family studies and human services, Ozawki. Gatts, who also has a minor in conflict analysis and trauma studies, was in the college's honors program, serving as a mentor. She also was on the College of Human Ecology Council. She was an intern with Project YES! and the Institute for the Health and Security of Military Families. She plans to pursue a master's degree in social work at Washburn University.
• Dayna Pachta, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in dietetics, didactic program, Riley. Pachta, who also has a minor in business, has been president of the university's WellCAT ambassadors, vice president of the Student Dietetic Association and a member of the university's Honors and Integrity Board. She has accepted a postbaccalaureate dietetic internship at the KU Medical Center in Kansas City.
• Yesica Swenson, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in family studies and human services, Salina. A first-generation college student at K-State State University Salina, Swenson has been involved in the Salina community through Big Brother Big Sisters, Health Lifestyles Panel and the Friends of the Lindsborg Library board. She plans to work at OCCK as a case manager to help people with disabilities reach their goals.
• Logan Wardyn, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in personal financial planning, Salina. Wardyn, who also has a minor in business, served as lead peer financial counselor in the K-State Salina Student Money Management Center and was a peer tutor in mathematics, statistics and economics. He is concurrently enrolled in a master's degree in business at Kansas Wesleyan.
• Morgan Streeter, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in family studies and human services with a secondary major in gerontology, Valley Falls. Streeter, who also has a minor in American ethnic studies, was a member of Kappa Omicron Nu and a volunteer at Meadowlark Hills Retirement Community in Manhattan. She will join the occupational therapy program at the University of Kansas Medical Center and specialize in geriatrics.
• Samantha Claassen, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in nutritional sciences and dietetics, Whitewater. Claassen served as an undergraduate teaching assistant, was a College of Human Ecology ambassador and a scholar tour guide. She was a member of Mortar Board, Chimes and Silver Key honor societies. Claassen will attend the University of Kansas Medical School.
• Foster Kutner, May 2015 bachelor's candidate in interior design, Englewood, Colorado. Kutner was an interior design ambassador, president of the student chapter of the International Interior Design Association and an interior design teaching assistant. She participated in interior design study tours to Korea, Italy and France. She hopes to work for a multidisciplinary design firm.
