The awards recognize students, staff and faculty who have gone above and beyond to create and promote a spirit of community on campus, as well as outstanding student organizations that have made community development an essential component of their activities. Exceptional students are also honored for academic excellence as well as exemplary faculty for teaching excellence. 

President’s Spirit of Southeast Awards: These awards are given to five undergraduate students with a minimum 3.0 GPA who have completed at least 60 credit hours and who demonstrate integrity, leadership, and involvement both on and off campus, encourage others to get involved, and embody the best of Southeast.

• Layla Bouzihay, Jonesboro, Ark., senior integrated marketing communications major with a minor in fashion entrepreneurship
• Anna Carpenter, Shelbina, Mo., senior agribusiness, agriculture communications major
• Madelyn Johnson, East Prairie, Mo., senior communication disorders major with a minor in autism studies
• Mohammed Osman, Khartoum, Sudan, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, senior cybersecurity major
• Grace Powderly: Cape Girardeau, Mo., senior biology, biomedical sciences major with minors in chemistry and medical entrepreneurship

First-Year Student Awards: The First-Year Student Awards recognize one or two undergraduate students with a minimum of 2.75 GPA who have completed 30 credit hours or less and demonstrate exemplary leadership by a first-year student.

• Kennedee Nash, Blytheville, Ark., freshman theatre major
• Blake Patterson, Hillsboro, Mo., first-year sophomore business administration, management major
• Myroslava Zelenchuk, Lviv, Ukraine, freshman nutrition major

University Contributor Awards: These awards are given to students, faculty members, and/or staff members who have contributed significantly to the University, although recipient may not hold a formal leadership position.

• Pamela Mills, instructor of geosciences
• Jana Gerard, coordinator of the University’s EDvolution® Center
• Dan Koeppel, data warehouse manager for Information Technology
• Jennifer Woolf, coordinator of career counseling for Career Services
• Nur E Afra Anika, Dhaka, Bangladesh, senior electrical applications and physics major with a minor in mathematics
• Megan Thompson, Red Bud, Ill., senior interior design major with minors in architectural design and theatre

Student Life Achievement Award: This award is given to one or two students, a faculty member and/or a staff member who have demonstrated outstanding achievement in building community at the University.

• Daniel Frew, Swansea, Ill., senior political science major with a Spanish minor
• Brady O'Neill, Maryville, Ill., sophomore exceptional child major
• Sheanique Syms, St. Louis, Mo., sophomore management major with minors in human resources management and dance

Civic and Global Engagement Award: This award recognizes one or more students, faculty, or staff who see the moral, civic, and global dimension of public and social issues, claim an appropriate measure of personal responsibility for addressing these issues, and have worked to make a difference in the civic life of our community through both political and non-political processes.

• Trent Ball, associate provost and associate vice president for equity and access
• “Hear/Here Our Voices” student performers:
  • Grace Bailey, Ferguson, Mo., sophomore music major
  • De’Vontae Graham, St Louis, Mo., freshman dance major
  • Grace Khayati, Papillion, Neb., freshman musical theatre major
  • Kennedee Nash, Blytheville, Ark., freshman theatre major
  • Kenya Nash, St. Louis, Mo., freshman musical theatre major
  • Evie Rodenbaugh, New London, Mo., sophomore musical theatre major
• Camille Shoals, Black Jack, Mo., senior political science major with a minor in rhetoric and public communication 

Outstanding Student Organization Award: This award is given to one or more registered student organizations that have made outstanding contributions to the betterment of the University community.

• Nepalese Student Association (NSA) 

Outstanding Student Organization Advisor: This award recognizes one or two volunteer advisors (whose advising role is not part of their official role at the University) who advise a student organization and show a strong commitment not only to the student organization but to the development of student leaders.

• Brandy Hepler, instructor of elementary education, for Kappa Delta Pi (KDP)
• Clay Wittig, interim assistant director of facility operations, for National Residence Hall Honorary (NRHH)

Provost Awards: Provost Awards are given to one undergraduate student from each college as well as one graduate student from the University who have a minimum of 3.0 GPA and have demonstrated academic excellence. This year’s Provost Award recipients are:

• Anthony Kandilaroff, Maryland Heights, Mo., senior music performance, instrumental major
• Jennifer Tenholder, Florissant, Mo., senior cybersecurity major with minors in computer science and computer networking
• Dorise Clark, Helena, Ark., senior double major in health sciences and biology, biomedical sciences
• Grace Hiller, Herculaneum, Mo., junior historic preservation major with a minor in interior design
• Kate Appleman, Jackson, Mo., senior biology, biomedical sciences major with minors in Spanish, chemistry, physics and child development
• Kia Jefferson, Poplar Bluff, Mo., second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Natural Science in biology (Graduate Category) 

Experiential Learning Awards: The Experiential Learning Award is given to an undergraduate student or group of students from each college as well as one graduate student or group of students from the University who successfully participate in a learning experience that best exemplifies the experiential learning goals at Southeast.

• SE Creative students, led by Mike Simmons, instructor of mass media
  • Molly Galik, O’Fallon, Mo., senior double major in TV and film and advertising with minors in graphic communication technology and integrated marketing communications
  • Alisha Reisenbichler, Jackson, Mo., sophomore advertising major with minors in entrepreneurship and French
  • Tanner Voss, Bartelso, Ill., senior advertising major with minors in graphic communication technology and agriculture/horticulture entrepreneurship
  • Rachel Westhoff, Festus, Mo., sophomore double major in TV and film and advertising with a minor in graphic communication technology
• “Principles of Entrepreneurship” Class, taught by Dr. Ed Crowley, assistant professor of management
  • Benji Arrigo, Bourbon, Mo., senior theatre, design/technology major with a minor in entrepreneurship
  • Chase Jones, St. Louis, Mo., junior business administration major
  • Curtis Null, Crystal City, Mo., junior business administration major
  • Sky Spies, O’Fallon, Mo., senior entrepreneurship major with a minor in accounting
• “Health Promotion Planning and Evaluations” Class, taught by Dr. Jeremy Barnes, professor of exercise physiology: health promotion and director of the Southeast Prevention Resource Center
  • Garrison Collier, Dexter, Mo., senior exercise science major
  • Donald Harvey, St. Louis, Mo., junior health promotions major
  • Cole Nabors: Blountsville, Alabama, senior nutrition major with a minor in exercise science
  • Lexus Pointer, Riverton, Ill., senior nutrition major with minors in health promotion and marketing management
  • Matt Rosen, Festus, Mo., senior dietetics major with a minor in health promotion
• Fall 2021 “Problems in Historic Preservation” Class, taught by Dr. Lily Santoro, associate professor of history
• Elizabeth Bangert, Coldwater, Mo., senior animal science major with minors in biology and chemistry
• Clare Jones, Pendleton, S.C., senior mathematics major
• Faron Bartens, Steeleville, Ill., second-year graduate student pursuing a Master of Arts in public history, historic preservation

Provost Awards for Teaching Excellence

• Graduate Teaching Assistant Award: Amanda Milbrandt, Department of Chemistry and Physics
• Excellence in Assessment of Student Learning Award: Joel Ramdial, instructor of kinesiology, nutrition and recreation and director of the Master of Science and Applied Nutrition program
• Excellence in Supporting Undergraduate Research Award: Dr. Sarah Shaner, assistant professor of chemistry
• Excellence in Teaching General Education Award: Garion Lovig, instructor of mathematics
• Excellence in Experiential Teaching Award: Dr. Joseph Jefferson, director of jazz studies and assistant professor of trombone/euphonium
• Excellence in Student Mentorship Award: Amber Cook, associate professor of theatre and design and technology area coordinator
• Excellence in Teaching Innovation Award: Jeremy Griffin, instructor of graphic and interactive design