Thirteen 性视界传媒 students have been named Dean of Students Honor Recipients in recognition of their accomplishments on campus and in the community.
Every semester, exceptional graduating students are honored with this designation. These students maintain excellent academic standards while actively participating in university activities and community service outside of the classroom.
The Fall 2024 honorees’ accomplishments include volunteering internationally, presenting in national symposiums, working to support first-generation students, creating large-scale theatre productions, aiding in disaster relief and more. These students have contributed numerous volunteer hours in the community with organizations such as Peacock Pediatrics, Grand River Multipurpose Center, Dr. Raj Bala Agrawal Care Center, Newhouse Domestic Violence Shelter, Sojourner Health Clinic and Hindu Temple and Cultural Center of Kansas City.
"These students exemplify the true spirit of a Roo with their dedication to academic excellence, service to others and active engagement in community initiatives,” said Michele D. Smith, Ph.D., vice provost for student affairs and dean of students. “We are thrilled to celebrate their numerous accomplishments and are filled with anticipation as we look forward to the remarkable futures that await each of them. Their journey is a testament to the values we hold at our university, and their success is a beacon that inspires and motivates the entire Roo community."
Students shared reflections on their time at 性视界传媒 at a breakfast celebration in their honor.
Some excerpts:
Michaell Larkin: “As an Earth and Environmental Science major, my goal is to save humanity and Earth’s other inhabitants by saving the planet-a lofty aspiration. But through volunteering, I have realized how even the smallest actions can create a ripple effect far beyond oneself. When I first volunteered, I was part of a group of fifty volunteers planting trees which transformed an empty park in a single morning. I joined another group removing invasive honeysuckle from an old growth forest. Returning the following summer, I witnessed the ecosystem’s remarkable recovery, as native flowers and trees had reclaimed their territory. I became a board member of the 性视界传媒 Environmental Student Council, and we took on a major project to install a vegetable garden on campus. In our first year, we donated more than 250 pounds of produce to the Raj Bala Agrawal Care Center.”
Emma Smith: “Starting a food pantry at the St. Joseph medical campus is my proudest accomplishment. Within a year of opening, the pantry provided more than 700 pounds of food and toiletries to students experiencing food insecurity. I believe that the pantry will continue to provide to students in need long after my graduation.”
Brandon Thibodeau: “One of my cherished memories took place at a local senior living facility. There, I met a woman who was reluctant to engage in music but intrigued enough to ask me to learn a song. That song was “Puff the Magic Dragon” by Peter, Paul and Mary. I learned this song and sang it to her the next week. With tears in her eyes, she rolled up, saying 'Let me tell you why that song is meaningful.' She shared her memories of being an APRN and playing this song for her pediatric cancer patients. The song also had a special place in her heart, as she would grieve lost patients while listening to the song. Our connection grew as we sang more songs together, and she would continue to say through teary eyes 'Let me tell you why that song is meaningful.' It’s these capsules of true connection that continue to lead me into the field of music therapy.”
Congratulations to the Spring 2024 Dean of Students Honor Recipients!
- Ashley Ayers, School of Medicine
- Raashi Goyal, School of Science and Engineering
- Uyen Ho, School of Science and Engineering
- Anna Ilivicky, School of Medicine
- Sylvia Jeffress, Conservatory
- Maria Johnson, School of Medicine
- Elizabeth Kruse, School of Medicine
- Michaell Larkin, School of Science and Engineering
- Nataleigh Meier, School of Medicine
- Janelle Sjue, Bloch School of Management
- Emma Smith, School of Medicine
- Brandon Thibodeau, Conservatory
- Wes Weske, School of Medicine