2026 Northwestern Outstanding Graduates Honored at Annual Alumni Banquet

April 27, 2026

2026 Outstanding Graduates honored include William Baker, Colby Clodfelter, Dr. Cheryl Evans, Riley Faulkner, Taylor Munsell and Adam Jordan.

NWOSU Foundation & Alumni Release

Six individuals who earned their degrees at Northwestern Oklahoma State University were honored for their accomplishments on Saturday, April 25, 2026, during the Northwestern Spring Alumni Reunion Banquet.

Riley Faulkner, Arts Category

Riley Faulkner serves as the Director of Choral Activities at Enid (Okla.) Public Schools, as well as vocal staff for the Oklahoma Music Ambassadors. She has also led choral programs in Newkirk and Hennessey, Okla.

Under her direction, Faulkner’s treble choir was selected as an honor group for the Oklahoma Music Educators Association Winter Conference, 2025 Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) Sweepstakes 6A.

Faulkner has served as Region B&C Coordinator for Circle the State with Song, Oklahoma Music Educators Association board member, and Vice President and President of Western Honor Choir Directors Association. She will serve as the 2027-2028 All-State Chair for the Oklahoma Choral Directors Association. Faulkner’s honors include High School Teacher of the Year and District Teacher of the Year.

Out of the classroom, Faulkner is the song and worship leader at the First United Methodist Church of Enid and performs locally in jazz and show choir settings.

Faulkner graduated in 2015 with her bachelor’s degree in music education-vocal.

While a Northwestern student, Faulkner was involved in Chorale, University Singers, Community Choir, Ranger Band and Phi Delta Music Society. She performed as part of an honor ensemble at the American Choral Directors Association National Conference in Nashville, Tenn. In 2013, she traveled to China as a member of the Northwestern University Singers.

Faulkner and her husband, Joshua, also a Northwestern graduate, reside in Enid, Okla.

Colby Clodfelter, Business/Professional Category

Colby Clodfelter is the Manufacturing Director of the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company facility in Lawton, Okla. He began his career with Goodyear as a Banbury operator and steadily advanced through roles as a process specialist, team leader, and in production management in Napanee, Ontario, and Fayetteville, N.C. He later served as manufacturing director in Tupelo, Miss., before being named Manufacturing Director in Lawton. The Lawton Goodyear plant is the largest manufacturing facility in Oklahoma, employing more than 3,000 individuals.

In 2021, Clodfelter was named Goodyear Tire’s Manufacturing Ambassador for the United States. He was also honored with the “On the Rise” distinction by the leading trade publication Modern Tire Dealer. He was recognized for inspiring a new generation of leaders in the tire industry under the age of 40.

In his spare time, Clodfelter serves on the University of Oklahoma Advisory Board, Lawton’s Chamber of Commerce and the State Chamber of Oklahoma.

Clodfelter completed his bachelor’s degree from Northwestern in 2008. He later received his master’s degree in business administration from Western Governors University in 2014.

While at Northwestern, Clodfelter played for the Ranger baseball team.

Clodfelter and his wife, Lendi, also a Northwestern graduate, reside in Lawton, Okla.

Dr. Cheryl Evans, Ph.D., Education Category

Cheryl Evans is the Executive Director of the Oklahoma Association of Community Colleges. This non-profit organization supports Oklahoma’s 12 community colleges. In addition, she is an Executive Coach at Magellan Executive Partners.

Dr. Evans served as the President of Northern Oklahoma College (NOC) in Enid from 2011-2021. Prior to NOC, Dr. Evans served 17 years at Northwestern Oklahoma State University. She held many roles, including seven years as Dean of the University’s Enid Campus. While the Dean at Enid, she developed the Bridge program with NOC. This program’s purpose is to support students by making it possible to be jointly enrolled at both NOC and Northwestern.

Dr. Evans has served as chair of many organizations, including the Oklahoma Community College Presidents, the Enid Chamber of Commerce, and Youth Leadership Oklahoma. She has also served in numerous civic and non-profit organizations. Dr. Evans continues to serve as a member of the Oklahoma Historical Society Board, the Oklahoma Hall of Fame, Leadership Oklahoma’s Executive Committee and others.

Her honors include Leadership Oklahoma Class XXI, being inducted in the Oklahoma Higher Education Hall of Fame and the Oklahoma Community College Hall of Fame. Dr. Evans was named the 2021 Enid “Young Women’s Christian Association Woman of the Year.”

Dr. Evans completed her bachelor’s degree in mass communication at Northwestern in 1992. She finished her master’s degree in communication at Wichita State University in 1993 and her doctorate at Oklahoma State University in 2000.

Dr. Evans and her husband, Tom, reside in Cherokee, Okla.

Adam Jordan, Humanitarian Category

Adam Jordan has remained deeply committed to long-term care and community health. Jordan is the owner and administrator of Beadles New Beginnings in Alva, Okla., and also serves as a pharmacist at Holder Drug in Alva. Previously, he worked as a pharmacy consultant for multiple nursing homes and was an adjunct instructor at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

Jordan has been recognized with numerous honors, including being named Alva Citizen of the Year and receiving the Alva High Distinguished Goldbug Award. He has served as president of the Alva Rotary Club, treasurer for Care Providers of Oklahoma and vice chairman of the Long- Term Care Advisory Board at the Oklahoma State Board of Health. He has also served in various roles at the Alva Church of the Nazarene.

As a student at Northwestern, he was a member of the football team, Student Government Association, Baptist Student Union, Chemistry Club, Health Science Society and Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

Jordan earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry at Northwestern in 1987, then completed his degree in pharmacy from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.

Jordan and his wife, Dayna, reside in Alva.

Taylor Munsell, Ranger Recognition

Taylor Munsell competes professionally as a breakaway roper and has qualified for the National Finals Breakaway Roping five times. She earned the title of Reserve World Champion Breakaway Roper and won the Women's Professional Rodeo Association Prairie Circuit Year-End Champion four times. In 2025, Munsell achieved the pinnacle of her sport as the World Champion Breakaway Roper.

Outside of competition, Munsell gives back by hosting local clinics for kids. Through both her competitive success and her mentorship, she serves as a role model for the next generation of rodeo athletes.

As a member of the Northwestern rodeo team, she distinguished herself as Female Athlete of the Month and Junior Female Athlete of the Year. She was a two-time College National Finals Rodeo (CNFR) qualifier, captured a national championship at the CNFR, and claimed the Central Plains Region Championship twice.

Munsell earned her bachelor’s degree in health and sports science in 2019, followed by a master’s degree in adult education management and administration in 2020.

Munsell resides in Alva, Okla.

William Baker, Ranger Spirit

William Baker has 30 years of experience in accounting. He last served for Equity Marketing Alliance; prior to that position he worked for Advance Food Company, Koch Agriculture, Clyde Cooperative Association Union Equity Cooperative Exchange and the Garfield County Assessors Office.

Baker has dedicated many years of service to the Northwestern Alumni Board as the Greater Enid Alumni representative. He has played a vital role in the success of the annual Baseball, Hot Dogs and Apple Pie event since its inception in 2010. In addition, Baker contributes his time during Homecoming weekend by helping serve lunch downtown. Prior to being a member on the alumni board, Baker was a member of the Greater Enid Alumni Task Force where he assisted in Northwestern alumni events held in the Enid area.

Baker earned his bachelor’s degree in agri-business from Northwestern in 1977.

While at Northwestern, Baker was a member of the Aggie Club, Student Senate, Red and Black Scroll Honor Society and Blue Key Honor Society.

Baker and his wife, Teresa, reside in Enid, Okla.

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