SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – Missouri State University-West Plains graduate Victoria “Tori” York, Highlandville, was one of six students who received the 2016-17 Citizen Scholar Award presented today, Dec. 15, by the Missouri State University Board of Governors during its regular meeting in Springfield.
The award, established in fall 2007, is given annually to students “who exemplify the concept of a citizen scholar,” university officials said.
York graduated magna cum laude with an Associate of Arts in General Studies degree from Missouri State University-West Plains in May 2015 and transferred to the Missouri State University campus in Springfield, where she is on track to complete a Bachelor of Science in English Education in May 2017.
During her time at Missouri State-West Plains, York was an active participant of the Student Speech and Theatre Association of Missouri (SSTAM), serving as vice president, secretary and a member of the Student Congress competition team. She also was one of the admissions office’s Student Ambassadors, a resident assistant in the Grizzly House residence hall, a Welcome Week group leader and member of the Phi Beta Lambda student business organization and Tri Lambda student spirit organization. She also received the 2015 Outstanding Student Leader, Resident Assistant and Student Ambassador Appreciation awards and was included in the 2015 Who’s Who Among Students in American University’s and Colleges.
Since transferring to the Springfield campus, York has continued her active role, joining such organizations as the Missouri State Teachers Association, Psychology Club, Sigma Tau Delta English honor society, Phi Kappa Phi honors college, Phi Eta Sigma honor society and Kappa Delta Pi education honor society. She also attended the Governor’s Leadership Forum on Faith and Values and served as a presenter at the Missouri State University Undergraduate Literature Conference in April 2016, discussing “Feminism and Firefly: How One Unconventional Western Challenges Traditional Gender Roles.”
Her desire to serve both campus communities, as well as the community at large, can be seen in her volunteer work with the Children’s and Young Adult Book Review Board of Missouri, Camp Heritage, Boys and Girls Club of America, and as assistant director of a local Pathfinders organization. She also assisted with SSTAM’s high school speech and debate tournaments
“Tori is a great choice for this award,” Missouri State-West Plains Chancellor Drew Bennett said. “Not only has she excelled in the classroom, she has taken the three pillars of our public affairs mission – ethical leadership, community engagement and cultural awareness – to heart through her academic work and her volunteerism. She represents the ideal citizen scholar, and we are proud of her.”
Those nominating York for the award pointed out she is deeply dedicated to attributes of a citizen scholar, pointing out they have been “impressed with her intelligence, strong work ethic, and commitment to diversity and social justice, traits that make her a deserving recipient of this award.” They praised her maturity, conscientiousness and her serious approach to her education, adding “she understands the concept of ‘claiming’ an education.”
Her positive attitude also made York stand out among her peers, her nominators said. “It is not unusual to see a student leader with a positive attitude, who wants to succeed, but to see a leader who wants that for others is less common and more valued,” they explained. “She has always been a team player, but beyond working well with others, she encourages and builds others,” which is a notable trait for a future educator, they added.
Other recipients of the award this year include Jaggar Deed, a graduate student from Republic who is pursuing a bachelor’ degree in finance and a master’s degree in health promotion and wellness management; Kimberleigh Eng, a graduate student from Woodbridge, Virginia, who is pursuing a master’s in business administration degree; Caroline Finnell, a junior from Chesterfield majoring in dietetics; Alexis “Ali” Jemes, a senior religious studies major from Independence; and Michelle Pellegrino, a senior from St. Peters triple majoring in economics, mathematics and modern language.
The Citizen Scholar Award is given to students who have contributed to the university, advanced the university’s public affairs mission, and have significantly engaged in extra-curricular accomplishments and/or in significant service activities to the community. Each recipient receives a crystal globe in recognition of the award, and their names are added to the Citizen Scholar Wall at Plaster Student Union on the Springfield campus.