College names 16 outstanding seniors
Monday, May 14th, 2007
The College of Human Ecology at Kansas State University recognized 16 new graduates with Outstanding Senior Awards.
Selections, from each academic area in the college, were made by faculty and based on academic achievements, leadership, participation in service on campus and in the community, and their professional potential.
The students and their newly bestowed Bachelor of Science degrees are:
Todd Heer – dietetics
From Bonner Springs, Todd was active with Kappa Omicron Nu and Phi Upsilon Omicron honor societies. He also was a member of the K-State’s Student Dietetic Association, Nutrition and Cancer Research Group and American Red Cross Club. In addition, he taught heart healthy and diabetes education classes to soldiers and dependents for the Fort Riley Red Cross. He received an Undergraduate Cancer Research Award from K-State’s Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research and completed a food service management internship at K-State. Heer would like to be an Army dietitian.
Amanda Henriksen
communication sciences and disorders
Amanda, from Courtland, was a member of the College of Human Ecology Honors Program and a manuscript from her senior honors project was accepted for publication in the Early Childhood Education Journal. She also was a member of the College of Human Ecology Ambassadors and Kappa Omicron Nu and Phi Upsilon Omicron honor societies. She has been active in her sorority, Gamma Phi Beta, serving as president; was a
member of Order of Omega Greek honorary; served as a K-State Greek ambassador; and served with the Mid-American Greek Council Association. She also was a member of K-State’s Mortar Board, Chimes and Silver Key honoraries, and was president of the K-State Student Speech Language Hearing Association.
Rebekah Swafford – early childhood education
Rebekah, from Emporia, is a member of the National Scholars Honor Society and the National Dean’s List. She also is a K-State honors list student. She has been president of the Early Childhood Education Interest Group and has worked at the Hoeflin Stone House Child Care Center. Swafford plans to attend graduate school at K-State.
Molly Murphy – communication sciences and disorders
Molly was a member of the College of Human Ecology’s Honors Program and a K-State honors list student. She also served as a College of Human Ecology ambassador and a K-State housing and dining services ambassador. She was president of Smurthwaite Scholarship/Leadership House and was a member of the K-State Student Speech Language Hearing Association and Kappa Omicron Nu honor society. In addition, she served as a tutor to Korean elementary students. She will attend graduate school at K-State to become a speech-language pathologist. She is from Girard.
Jessica Weaver – hotel and restaurant management
Jessica, from Manhattan, was president of the Human Ecology Council. She also has been a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars; K-State’s Hospitality Management Society; Eta Sigma Delta, the international hospitality honor society; and Kappa Omicron Nu, the national honor society for human sciences. While at K-State, she received seven scholarships, including one to spend a summer studying in Spain.
Wally Walstrom – nutrition and exercise sciences
Wally also graduated summa cum laude from K-State in 2005 with a bachelor’s in kinesiology, is a pole vaulter on K-State’s track and field team. He is a member of Acadia Leadership House and has received the Nina Browning Human Ecology Telefund and the Flint Hills Classic scholarships. An honors list student at K-State, he has been accepted into Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences’ College of Osteopathic Medicine. He is from Marysville.
Lindsay Podhajsky – nutritional sciences
From Olathe, Lindsay was member of the College of Human Ecology’s Honors Program and a K-State honors list student. She received an Undergraduate Cancer Research Award from K-State’s Terry C. Johnson Center for Basic Cancer Research and was a two-time recipient of the Gamma Sigma Delta Junior Honor Award. She has carried out basic laboratory research in omega-3 fatty acids and lung fibrosis. She also is a member of Alpha Epsilon Delta, the premedical honor society. Lindsay will attend the University of Kansas Medical School.
Julia Bonney – interior design
Julia, Overland Park, was involved with student chapters of the International Interior Design Association, American Society of Interior Design and the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She also studied abroad for a year in London and was selected for several professional internships. Julia was the only member of her class to be certified as a LEED, or sustainable building expert, before her > graduation from K-State. She will spend the summer as an intern for Perkins + Will in Chicago, then head back to K-State to earn her master’s in architecture.
Amanda Barrett
human ecology and mass communications
From Topeka, Amanda is a member of Blue Key, a senior leadership honorary, and Kappa Omicron Nu, the national honor society for human sciences. She served as marketing chair of the College of Human Ecology’s 2007 travel and dining auction and was public relations chair for the 2007 All-University Open House. Barrett also served as a director and counselor for K-State’s Wildcat Warm-up program for incoming students, a campus tour guide and an intern for K-State’s new student services. In addition, she is a member of Zeta Tau Alpha sorority. Barrett has been hired by K-State as an admissions representative.
Rebecca Dale – hotel and restaurant management
Rebecca served as Telefund chair on the College of Human Ecology Council and was a campaign and student coordinator for the department of hotel, restaurant, institution management and dietetics. She has been active in her sorority, Kappa Alpha Theta, serving in several leadership positions. She is a member of Eta Sigma Delta, the international hospitality honor society, and Kappa Omicron Nu, the national honor society for human sciences. She has served an internship with Advanstar Veterinary Healthcare Communications in Baltimore, Md. Rebecca is from Ulysses.
Erin Messing – life span human development
From Wellington, Erin received eight scholarships while at K-State. A dance minor, she was a member of the K-State Classy Cats, was active in K-State’s KanDance club and did volunteer work with children. Messing plans to seek a second bachelor’s degree in nursing and work in neonatal care and delivery.
Layla Z. El-Chami
family life and community services
Layla, Wichita, was a member of the College of Human Ecology Honors Program and Kappa Omicron Nu, the national honor society for human sciences. She also was a K-State multicultural ambassador, serving as president; the Hispanic American Leadership Organization, serving as treasurer and vice president; and a multicultural assistant for Ford Hall and a community assistant, both through K-State housing and dining services. Layla has been a volunteer for the Kansas Children’s Service League and as a court appointed special advocate. She plans to pursue a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy at Friends University.
Adam Ybarra – athletic training
Adam, Wichita, is a member of the K-State Multicultural Honor Society, a student member of the National Athletic Trainers Association and received a Minority Scholarship from the Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society. He has served as a student athletic trainer for K-State’s baseball, women’s crew and football teams. He also has served an internship with the San Diego Chargers. Adam plans to attend graduate school in sports administration.
Theresa Kasper – personal financial planning
Theresa received the College of Human Ecology’s R. Jean Sego Commencement Award for leadership, service, professional potential and academic achievement. She was on the K-State’s National Collegiate Financial Planning Team, helped establish Invest-a-Cats and has been published in two professional journals. She was a member of the Human Ecology Council, president of Future Financial Planners and a Human Ecology senator for the Student Governing Association. She will attend Washburn University Law School in the fall. She is from Wilson.
Kaycee Dragastin – public health and nutrition
From Virginia, Neb., Kaycee participated in the College of Human Ecology Honors Program. A K-State honors list student, she received a Gamma Sigma Delta Junior Honors Award of Merit and Outstanding Freshman Award. She also is a member of Kappa Omicron Nu and Phi Eta Sigma honor societies, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, K-State Pre-Pharmacy Club and K-State Pre-Dental Club. Kaycee was an active volunteer. Her work included building a fish habitat at Tuttle Creek and mentoring middle school students. She plans to continue her education to become a pharmacist.
Audra Bartlett – apparel marketing
A K-State honors list student from Rochester, N.Y., Audra was president of the Apparel Marketing and Design Alliance and coordinator of the Better Opportunities for Single Soldiers annual fashion show.
This entry was posted on Monday, May 14th, 2007 and is filed under Dean's Blog.