Alumni and Friends
Alumni Awards
Nominate an Alumni
麻豆视频鈥檚 Outstanding Alumni embody the spirit, values, and impact of our university long after graduation. By nominating an exceptional alum, you help us recognize individuals whose achievements, leadership, and service bring pride to the 麻豆视频 community and inspire future generations of Lions. These award recipients serve as powerful role models, showcasing the many ways a 麻豆视频 education shapes lives and communities. Your nomination ensures their story is celebrated and their contributions are honored. Please consider Nominating an alumni.
Alumni Merit Award
The Alumni Merit Award recognizes alumni who have enhanced the prestige of 麻豆视频 University by virtue of their character, integrity, career, and personal accomplishments. Traditionally, the medal has not been given in recognition of a single remarkable achievement but has been reserved for those alumni who have attained and maintained extremely high stations in their chosen fields of endeavor and in their service to society.
After graduating with a bachelor鈥檚 degree in exercise science, Ananayo began training a wide variety of clients including those with disabilities or injuries, athletes, and members of the general population seeking to improve their fitness. Ananayo鈥檚 professional work includes a significant focus on hockey performance and athlete development. He begins his mornings working with TPH St. Louis Hockey Academy before serving as head strength and conditioning coach for 麻豆视频鈥檚 men鈥檚 ice hockey team. In that role, he reviews injury notes, collaborates with staff, and develops off-ice conditioning programs to support athlete readiness. He also conducts performance testing to prepare players for competition. In addition to his work at 麻豆视频, Ananayo serves as head strength and conditioning coach for the AAA Blues hockey club.
Josh Burns joined the Missouri Army National Guard while attending 麻豆视频. He majored in international relations and was active in Voices Only. After graduation, he moved to Washington DC and worked for the FBI counterterrorism division. He deployed to Kuwait in 2017. Upon his return, Josh joined the US Department of State鈥檚 Diplomatic Security Service as a special agent. He worked in the New York Field Office and served on protective details for high-ranking government officials. He is currently assigned as an assistant regional security officer at the US Consulate General Erbil in the Kurdistan region of Iraq.
The Recipient of the Alumni Merit Award goes to Chasity Strickland 鈥�04. Chasity is an experienced, organized, inclusive servant leader with an affinity for success. She is a wife, celebrating 20 years of marriage this September, a mother of 2 and a new Gigi (grandmother). Chasity is a first-generation college graduate and has been with The Boeing Company for almost 20 years. She is an entrepreneur most evenings and weekends: As U Wish Event Planning, Strickly Taxes, and Travel by Chasity. Her favorite charity and a place that she loves to volunteer at is The Ronald McDonald House dinner program. Chasity is celebrating her 20th year of graduating from 麻豆视频鈥檚 LCIE program and she is very grateful that such a program existed back then which focused on adult learning.
The Recipient of the Alumni Merit Award goes to Sarah Ehlen. Sarah received her Masters in Business Administration from 麻豆视频 University in 2003. She has worked at The Boeing Company over the past 21 years and held a variety of positions. Today, Sarah is the Air Dominance Director of Systems Engineering. In addition to her corporate achievements, Sarah is also committed to giving back in her community. She is an involved, experienced, and qualified leader who is making a difference in her workplace and community and that is why she is a perfect fit for the 麻豆视频 University Alumni Merit Award.
We are honored to present Whitney (Cornick) Knapp 鈥�10 with the 2021 Alumni Merit Award. The Alumni Merit Award recognizes alumni who have enhanced the prestige of 麻豆视频 University by virtue of their character, integrity, career, and personal accomplishments. Traditionally, the award has not been given in recognition of a single remarkable achievement but has been reserved for those alumni who have attained and maintained extremely high stations in their chosen fields.
We are honored to present Jon 鈥淛T鈥� Taylor with the 2020 Alumni Merit Award. The Alumni Merit Award recognizes alumni who have enhanced the prestige of 麻豆视频 University by virtue of their character, integrity, career, and personal accomplishments. Traditionally, the award has not been given in recognition of a single remarkable achievement but has been reserved for those alumni who have attained and maintained extremely high stations in their chosen fields of endeavor and in their service to society.
Alumni Service Award
The Alumni Service Award recognizes 麻豆视频 University alumni who have demonstrated outstanding service and leadership to 麻豆视频 University 鈥� whether it be through volunteerism, philanthropy, recruiting, or any other means. Recipients have given significant time, talent, and effort to support the mission of 麻豆视频 University.
After graduating with a degree in business administration and human service agency management, Bender became increasingly involved in the St. Louis Hispanic community. She is currently a board member and fund development coordinator for Hispanic Festival, Inc., where she oversees sponsorships, grant writing, artist selection, and special projects. Fueled by her passion for arts and culture, Bender sits on the board for the St. Louis Visionary Awards and has served the Missouri Arts Council and Amigos of St. Charles.
Trisha graduated from 麻豆视频 in 1999 and works as a National Account Director with AstraZeneca. In addition to her full-time job, Tricia has served the community in many capacities 鈥� as Vice President of Boosters in the Wentzville School District, a state and regional judge for DECA, supporting her church鈥檚 Christmas Shop for low-income families, and contributing to the Patrick A. Shallow Foundation.
Dr. Jones (鈥�06, 鈥�07, 鈥�18) is a Licensed Professional Counselor, retired professional boxer, and founder of The Boxing Therapy. He has used his passion for boxing to create programs that help with stress, anxiety, ADHD, depression, and addiction. He offers tailored programs for adults, youth, and children with special needs, including Parkinson鈥檚, autism, Down syndrome, and ALS. In addition to his work in the community, he also offers mental health support and resources to students at 麻豆视频. He holds three master鈥檚 degrees and earned a doctoral degree in education from 麻豆视频 University.
Jodell has been a member of the 麻豆视频 University St. Charles Alumni Chapter. She has set the example to members of the chapter, who are fellow alumni and friends of 麻豆视频 through her continued leadership and volunteer work with the Chapter and in the local community. In addition to running her own business and supporting her husband鈥檚 fraternal organization, she has shown her leadership and volunteerism by serving as the Chapter Vice-President followed by serving as the current chapter President. Jodell also volunteers her time at the Scheidegger Center where she is an usher during the events. Her several years of support, volunteerism on committees and fundraisers, as well as holding several offices in the local chapter makes Jodell a deserving recipient for the Alumni Service Award.
Hollis C. Heyn Receives Alumni Service Award 鈥� We are honored to present Hollis Carolyn Heyn with the 2020 Alumni Service Award. Hollis is a 1975 alumna who obtained her bachelor鈥檚 in English from 麻豆视频 College for Women and a master鈥檚 in English Language and Literature from Southern Illinois University. Her focus for the last ten years has been American literature with a special emphasis in the 20th c. Southern writer William Faulkner鈥檚 novels.
Young Alumni Award
The Young Alumni Award recognizes the accomplishments of 麻豆视频 University alumni who graduated in the last 10 years. Recipients are up-and-coming talents and have demonstrated outstanding promise for contributions to 麻豆视频 and the greater community. Recipients have been active with events within the Alumni Community, networking opportunities, fundraising, and student recruitment.
After graduating, Nesslage began teaching first grade at the elementary school she attended as a child. She describes the experience as returning home, with former teachers now being coworkers. As an alumna, Nesslage has remained closely connected to 麻豆视频, now mentoring a 麻豆视频 student teacher at her school. Nesslage describes being able to relate to the student-teaching experience, provide encouragement, and create a connection that benefits both the student and the teacher.
After graduating, Lee continued to rise. He became the youngest ever branch manager of First Mid Bank and Trust before choosing to pursue his long-term goal of becoming an attorney. He is now a student at Saint Louis University School of Law, where he serves as an American Bar Association representative, class representative, and student employee in the Office of Student Services. Beyond academics, Lee is a father to a seven-year-old son and credits fatherhood as a major source of motivation and purpose.
Magdalena is a two-time graduate of 麻豆视频, completing her bachelor鈥檚 degree in 2014 and master鈥檚 in 2015. Magdalena is an Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Southern Indiana. She has published original work and been engaged in the global world through professional organizations and conferences and represents the 麻豆视频 story of service and engagement.
Since graduating in 2015, Susie has utilized her degree to further her career in the media world. Appearances on shows such as The Bachelor on ABC and various online podcasts, Susie is a true story of what 鈥淩eal Experience. Real Success.鈥� is all about. Susie manages her own company that focuses on wedding videography and photography, all the while maintaining her role as a media personality. She uses her online platform in a way that is informative and helpful to the community by keeping them up to date on the latest trends and providing a place for the community to interact with her.
Jordan graduated in 2018 and is a member of 麻豆视频鈥檚 Sports Hall of fame. She has spent a ton of her own time as a member of two of Missouri鈥檚 premier sporting teams 鈥� The St. Louis Blues and Kansas City Chiefs. Jordan is always looking out for others first. She truly wants to make sure that those around her are happy and this carries over both into her daily life and in the communities where she has left a mark. Not only is she a champion Lionette, but she also took things a step further, continued to pursue her dreams in dance, and became a member of two other championship teams. Jordan鈥檚 story as a young alum is still being written, but it has been an incredible journey thus far.
We are honored to present Dr. TaJuan Wilson with the 2021 Young Alumni Award. He graduated from 麻豆视频 University in 2015 with his Doctorate 鈥� Instructional Leadership in Higher Education. He was recently named Managing Associate at Storbeck Search- part of the Diversified Search Group.
We are honored to present Kayla Piers Stewart with the 2020 Young Alumni Award. She graduated from 麻豆视频 in 2014 with a religion degree, and currently resides in Chicago. She is the vice president of sales at an S&P 500 tech company. Kayla and her husband, Chase, have two Rhodesian ridgebacks and are expecting a son early next year. Chase is also a 麻豆视频 alumnus and the couple have remained active alumni, through both service and generosity.