Northwestern Outstanding Seniors Announced
April 25, 2022
Written by the Northwestern Foundation and Alumni Association
Twelve Northwestern Oklahoma State University graduates have been selected as the 2022 Outstanding Seniors.
This year’s Outstanding Seniors include Brady Bowles, Kaylea Brown, Carys Delaplane, Nicholas Dill, Yamila Galindo, Kaydee Honeycutt, Dawson Maxwell, Kinsey Neiderer, Tarra Parks, Melissa Perez, Britni Stewart and Edwin Yemoh.
This award is sponsored by the Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association and the Student Government Association to honor outstanding graduating seniors. Recipients must have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5, have completed at least 60 credit hours at Northwestern, never been subject to academic or disciplinary action, be involved in campus and/or community activities and show promise of future achievement.
2022 Outstanding Seniors
Brady Bowles, a native of Buffalo, Okla., will graduate magna cum laude in May with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Bowles plays baseball for the Rangers and has been named to the Great American Conference All-Academic Team. In 2021, he was recognized as Northwestern’s Psychology Student of the Year as well as a GAC Distinguished Scholar Athlete.
Bowles was on the President’s Honor Roll and Vice President’s Honor Roll. While attending Northwestern, he was involved in multiple campus organizations, including President’s Leadership Class, Red and Black Scroll Honor Society, Psi Chi National Honor Society and Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society.
Kaylea Brown, a native of Cleveland, Okla., will graduate summa cum laude from Northwestern in May with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. Brown was recognized on the President’s Honor Roll various times and has amassed over 100 hours of community service during her time at Northwestern.
Brown is a residence hall assistant, a student worker for the Office of Recruitment and the student assistant for the Department of Communication. Brown is a member of the Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors, Northwestern News staff, Student Government Association, Red and Black Scroll Honor Society, Thank-A-Thon Leadership Team and NWTV-7 staff. She also served as a Ranger Connection Peer Leader.
Carys Delaplane, a native of Enid, Okla., will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. In 2018, Delaplane was a member of the President’s Leadership Class. She served as the President of the Pre-Nurses Association and currently serves as the President of the Student Nurses Association.
Delaplane is a residence hall assistant as well as student worker for the English, Foreign Language, and Humanities Department. She was named to the Red and Black Scroll Honor Society and the Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. At Northwestern, she was active in Student Government Association, Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors and the BCM Student Leadership Team.
Nicholas Dill, a native of The Colony, Texas, graduated summa cum laude in December 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in mass communication. Dill played football for the Rangers and was named to the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society, as well as the President’s Honor Roll.
As a student, Dill worked for the Office of Recruitment, Northwestern News and NWTV-7. He was selected to represent the Great American Conference on the National Student Athlete Advisory Committee, and was active as a member of the Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors and Student Government Association.
Yamila Galindo, a native of Freedom, Okla., will graduate summa cum laude in May with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Galindo was a member of the 2018 President’s Leadership Class and currently works full time for Northwestern as a payroll accountant.
Galindo was recognized numerous times on the President’s and Vice President’s Honor Roll. While at Northwestern, she has dedicated time for various community service activities, Ranger Business Club, and worked as a natural science lab and learning assistant.
Kaydee Honeycutt, a native of Marquez, Texas, graduated in May 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and then graduated in December 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Honeycutt set the school record for the most career kills - over 1,1000 - in Northwestern volleyball history.
Honeycutt was a member of Northwestern’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee and volunteered her time towards numerous community service activities. She was named to the President’s Honor Roll and the Vice President’s Honor Roll. Honeycutt is a member of the Chemistry Club, Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society and National College Athlete Honor Society. She earned the NCAA Division II Athletic Director’s Association Academic Achievement Award and was recognized as GAC First Team All-Conference and GAC Honorable Mention.
Dawson Maxwell, a native of Perry, Okla., will graduate magna cum laude in May with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. Maxwell was on the President’s Honor Roll and Vice President’s Honor Roll. He is a member of the Red and Black Scroll Honor Society, Psi Chi Honors Society and Pi Gamma Mu Honors Society.
Maxwell has served as secretary, vice president and president for Northwestern’s Student Government Association. He was selected to the Leadership Northwestern class and has worked various jobs on campus, including head resident of Coronado Hall, student referee for intramurals, resident assistant of Coronado Hall and as a student worker for the J.R. Holder Wellness Center.
Kinsey Neiderer, a native of Okarche, Okla., will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Neiderer played basketball for the Lady Rangers, worked as a student assistant for the Vice President of Administration and interned for Northwestern’s Accounts Payable Department.
During her time as a student, Neiderer recorded several hours of community service work. She served on the Division of Business Student Advisory Council and as captain of the Women’s Basketball Team. Neiderer was recognized on the President’s Honor Roll, as an NCAA Division II All-Academic Honoree and as an NJCAA Academic All-American.
Tarra Parks, a native of Wichita, Kan., graduated summa cum laude in December 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Parks is currently pursuing a master’s degree in general psychology at Northwestern. She was a member of the President’s Leadership Class and played volleyball for the Rangers.
Parks was on the President’s Honor Roll and earned the 2022 Northwestern Hall of Fame Scholarship. She is a member of the Chi Alpha Sigma National College Athlete Honor Society and earned the NCAA Division II Academic Award.
Melissa Perez, a native of Ringwood, Okla., will graduate cum laude in May with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Perez was on the President’s Honor Roll and the Vice President’s Honor Roll. She was recognized as a Great American Conference Distinguished Scholar Athlete while competing in Cross Country and Track for the Rangers
While at Northwestern, Perez was active in the Chemistry Club and Spanish Club. She worked in the Office of Recruitment, Chemistry Lab and Northwestern Housing Office. Perez volunteered for several community service activities and was a member of the Red and Black Scroll Honor Society.
Britni Stewart, a native of Chandler, Okla., will graduate cum laude in May with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture education. Stewart was a resident assistant in South Hall and worked in the Counseling & Career Services Office at Northwestern.
Stewart served as Vice President of the Northwestern Aggie Club and worked numerous community service hours for the Woods County Livestock Show and Northwest Area Livestock Show. She was active in the Student Government Association and the BCM Leadership Team.
Edwin Yemoh, a native of Ghana, West Africa, will graduate in May with a bachelor’s degree in computer science. Yemoh served as President of the NWOSU Cultural Club and is currently active in Northwestern’s Student Government Association.
During his time at Northwestern, Yemoh has balanced school and work. He works as a resident assistant for Coronado Hall, in the ITV Department and as a cook for Chartwells inside the Coronado Café. He’s been recognized on the President’s Honor Roll and as a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Yemoh also worked as an Upward Bound camp mentor in 2021.
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Other Award Recipients:
Newman Civic Fellows Award – Austin Rankin
The Newman Civic Fellows Award is named for Dr. Frank Newman, one of the founders of Campus Compact, who dedicated his life to creating opportunities for student civic learning and engagement. Students are nominated by their college or university president as inspiring college student leaders who have demonstrated an investment in finding solutions for challenges facing communities throughout the country.
The deSERVING Ranger Award – Chambrea Cook
The deSERVING Ranger Award is designed to recognize an outstanding Northwestern Oklahoma State University student serving within the Northwestern communities and campuses. Nominees demonstrate a dedication to service and a sense of responsibility to the Northwestern Student Learning and Civic Engagement vision, serve as community service models for other students, possess exceptional leadership and organizational skills, and exhibit a consistent work ethic and availability.
Outstanding Psychology Student Awards – Madison Dehlinger (Alva), Klaire Hopkins (Enid)
This award is given to an outstanding graduating senior majoring in psychology. Established in 1991 by the Northwestern Psychology Club, the criteria for selection include grade point average, field-related activities, classroom participation and potential of continued success.
Dr. Joe Dollins Merit Award – Emily Poindexter
This award is given in honor of Dr. Joe Dollins who served as a Northwestern faculty member from 1946-1948 and 1957-1970. It is given annually to a student who has completed the student teaching professional semester. Selection is made on cumulative grade point average and promise of future achievement in the field of education.
John Sheffield Teacher of the Year Award – Dr. Jason Wickham
The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Student Government Association honors the memory and ideals of Dr. John Sheffield in annually making this award. The recipient must show genuine enthusiasm for people, courage to give of self to others, and faith to trust in his or her honored profession.
John Ted Meier Student Teaching Award – Kimber Taylor
This award is made annually to a student completing requirements for the teaching certificate. Criteria for selection include fairness, empathy for all students, a sense of humor and academic achievement.
T.C. Carter Award - Madison Dehlinger, Mikayla Edris, Shelby Gibbs, Barbara McPherson and Katelyn Schieber
This award is named in honor of Dr. Thomas C. Carter, chairman of the Biology Department from 1916 until his retirement in 1952. It is presented to the graduating senior with the highest grade point average.
John F. Kennedy Award – Dawson Maxwell
The Northwestern Oklahoma State University Student Government Association honors the memory of John F. Kennedy by annually presenting this award. The recipient must serve the university community and the country, display school spirit, promote the university, possess leadership, participate in organizations, and strive for academic betterment and achievement.