14 Recognized as Northwestern's 2019 Outstanding Seniors

May 17, 2019

Outstanding Seniors were recognized at the 2019 Spring Alumni Reunion Awards Ceremony.

Fourteen Northwestern students were recognized as Outstanding Seniors at the 2019 Spring Alumni Reunion Awards Ceremony in the Northwestern Student Center Ranger Room.

A committee selected Jacey Bales, Cheney Bird, Kevin Cosper, Brittany Cudworth, Shalyn Farrington, Pawana Itani, Megan Maharry, Macie Malone, Jacqueline Parker, Patricia Pixler, Taryn Robinson, Darci Sander, Mary Shaffer and J.C. Wells.

This award honors outstanding graduating seniors and is sponsored by the Northwestern Foundation & Alumni Association. 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 future achievement.

Outstanding Seniors:

Jacey Bales, a native of Morrison, graduated this May with a degree in elementary education. She was a member of the President’s Leadership Class (PLC) and held the office of secretary for the Northwestern Scholar Ambassador (NSA). Bales has also been involved with the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Student Government Association (SGA), holding the position of treasurer (2016-2017), vice president (2017-2018) and is currently the president. Bales has worked on campus as a resident hall assistant in South Hall since 2016, and a secretary for the housing office since 2017.

Cheney Bird, a local to Alva, graduated in May with a Bachelor’s of Science in nursing. She has been a Certified Nurse Aide since June 2016 and Certified Medication Aide since January 2017. Bird received first place in nursing division during Ranger Research Day and was a student representative for ACEN’s, or Accreditation Commission for Education in Nursing, accreditation visit. She has been the recipient of numerous scholarships including the Roberta M. Tutt Nursing Scholarship and Edna McNally Nursing Scholarship. Bird has been a member of the SGA, NSA and PLC, as well as honored on the Red and Black Scroll Honor Society, President’s Honor Roll and Vice President’s Honor Roll. While attending Northwestern, Bird works as a Licensed Practical Nurse at Share Convalescent Home and a Sales Associate at Burlap Bungalow 319.

Kevin Cosper, of Cleo Springs, graduated in December 2018 with a bachelor’s degree in mathematics with Cum Laude honors. While at Northwestern, Cosper was an active member in Aggie Club and Math Club. He was also a member of PLC, a senate member of SGA, reporter/historian for the Red and Black Scroll Honor Society in 2017 and was elected secretary/treasurer in 2018 for NSA. Cosper has been on the President’s Honor Roll and Vice President’s Honor Roll. While attending Northwestern, Cosper worked on campus in several locations including the recruitment office, a teacher’s assistant in the mathematics department, a collegiate tutor for the Academic Success Center, and a high school tutor and summer counselor for Northwestern Oklahoma State University Upward Bound. Cosper currently works as a math instructor for Timberlake High School in Helena.

Brittany Cudworth, hails from Warwick, North Dakota, and graduated in May with a bachelor’s in business administration. Cudworth received her associate’s degree in agriculture business from Western Oklahoma State College before attending Northwestern. She has been a member of the student advisory board for the Division of Business at Northwestern, the rodeo team, and the Mu Xi Chapter of the Delta Mu Delta Honor Society. Cudworth has received recognition on the President’s Honor Roll and Dean’s Honor Roll. While attending Northwestern, Cudworth has worked as an administrative assistant and intern for the Cherokee Sales Co. since 2017.

Shalyn Farrington, of Beaver, graduated from Northwestern in May with a degree in nursing. While attending Northwestern, Farrington has been active in several organizations including a member of the Red and Black Scroll Honor Society, the historian for Northwestern Oklahoma State University Nurses’ Association, a member of Oklahoma Student Nurses Association and president of NSA. Farrington was supported by the Dean of Students to research, design, plan and implement the first ever Camp Ranger during the 2018 summer to help recruit and retain Northwestern freshman students. Farrington is currently an LPN at Share Convalescent Home.

Pawana Itani, a Nepal native, graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in nursing. Prior to attending Northwestern, Itani received a proficiency certificate level of Nursing from Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu, Nepal. While at Northwestern, Itani has been involved in many activities both on campus and in the community. She participated in Oklahoma Governor’s International Team meet and greet program, shared her journey from Nepal to Northwestern with Alva’s Kiwanis Club, mentored new international students and volunteered in freshman orientation for national and international students. Itani is currently the president of the International Student Association and received honors such as President’s Honor Roll, Vice President’s Honor Roll, Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors Scholarship and Red and Black Scroll Honor Society. She has been a part-time registered nurse at Share Medical Center since October 2018.

Megan Maharry, an Alva native, is expected to graduate from Northwestern in the summer of 2019 with a degree in mass communication. Maharry has been a member of the Rangers’ women’s soccer team since 2016 and earned the honors of All-Conference AllAcademic Team in 2018 and 2019. She was a representative for the Student Athletic Advisory Committee (2016-2018). While being a committed student-athlete, Maharry has also dedicated much of her time to campus media outlets Northwestern News and NWTV7. She has been a student reporter for Northwestern News since 2016 and the sports editor since 2018. Maharry also worked as a news and sports anchor for NWTV7.

Macie Malone, from Valley Center, Kansas, graduated in May with a degree in biology and a minor in chemistry. Since transferring from Hutchison Community College in the fall semester of 2016, Malone has been extremely active on the Northwestern campus. She has been a part of Northwestern Oklahoma State University Singers and Chorale. Malone has been a member of NSA and served as president in SGA. Malone also was named Miss Northwestern during the 2017-2018 school year. While attending Northwestern, Malone has been the residence hall director and residence life coordinator until February 2018. She is currently an admissions counselor/recruiter at Northwestern.

Jacqueline Parker, from Lamar, Colorado, is pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in chemistry. She has received numerous scholarships including the Kenneth and Sue Fellers Family Scholarship, the Northwestern Oklahoma State University Upper Academic Scholarship and the Dr. Paul F. Nighswonger Biology Scholarship. Parker was on the President’s Honor Roll in 2016 and 2017, and the Vice President’s Honor Roll in 2017 and 2018. While attending Northwestern, Parker has been active on campus as a senate member of SGA, and member of the Medical Sciences Club, Food Committee and Chemistry Club. Parker was also selected to be a part of the National Society of Leadership and Success in 2019.

Patricia Pixler, is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology with a minor in writing. Along with her double major, Pixler has been active on the Northwestern campus as a Biology Learning Assistant, resident assistant in South Hall and the vice president of social media and membership for Sigma Tau Delta. Pixler also has pursued her passion of writing, receiving awards for her works such as Top Feature Writer for Northwestern News in fall 2016, Top Feature Writing for Northwestern News in fall 2017 and a three-time recipient of the Agnes Lebeda Writing Award. She also serves as the president of the Writer’s Roundtable. Pixler spent a semester abroad in fall 2017 on a full scholarship to Swansea University in Wales, UK.

Taryn Robinson, of Turpin, graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and a minor in biology. Robinson maintains an active role on campus and has served in several positions in various clubs and organizations. She served as the treasurer for the Chemistry Club and Biology Club, vice president for the Medical Sciences Club, an Atlantis Fellowship Ambassador since 2018—the first ever from this region—and has been a member of NSA since spring 2018. As part of the Atlantis Project Fellowship, Robinson spent time in Pontevedra, Spain, shadowing physicians and medical professionals and observing multiple specialties.

Darci Sander, of Seiling, graduated this May with a degree in biology and a chemistry minor. While attending Northwestern, Sander has been a member of NSA and PLC and was selected to the President’s Honor Roll for four semesters. She also was selected to the Oklahoma Academic All-State in 2016 and received the State Superintendent’s Award for Arts Excellence, the Anna B. Fisher Biology Scholarship and the Kenneth and Sue Fellers Family Scholarship. Sander was a finalist for the National Merit Scholar and a semi-finalist for the National Beta Club Scholar.

Mary Shaffer, of Ringwood, completed her Bachelor of Science degree in biology with a minor in psychology this May. Shaffer has served as the president of Medical Sciences Club, senate member of SGA and a member of PLC. She was selected to the President’s Honor Roll four semesters and the Vice President’s Honor Roll, and was inducted into the Red and Black Scroll Honor Society in 2017 where she served as secretary. Shaffer currently works as an office clerk for Jim Pfeiffer, CPA, and a tutor for college students at Northwestern.

J.C. Wells, a Laverne native, graduated in May with a degree in mathematics education. Wells has been an active participant in Northwestern clubs and organizations such as NSA, Math Club, SGA, SOEA, Northwestern Academic Affairs Appeal Committee, Diversity Committee and General Education Committee. He has served as vice president for NSA, vice president for Red and Black Scroll Honor Society, treasurer for the Math Club, treasurer for SGA in 2017-2018 and vice president for SGA in 2018-2019. Wells was also selected to the President’s Honor Roll for five semesters, the Vice President’s Honor Roll for two and was a resident assistant for Coronado Hall for three years.

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