LINCOLN UNIVERSITY Honors
Thursday, April 17 • 11 a.m. Mitchell
The History of Lincoln University
As the American Civil War drew to a close in 1865, two regiments of emancipated Black soldiers took action on a decision that would reverberate from their Army station at Fort McIntosh, Texas, all the way to the Missouri state capital. The men, who learned to read and write as part of their training in boot camp, were determined to start a school for other freed Black people when they returned to their homes in Missouri after the war. The soldiers of the 62nd United States Colored Infantry, whose pay averaged $13 a month, came up with $5,000 to establish an educational institution in Jefferson City, which they named Lincoln Institute. The 65th Colored Infantry contributed another $1,400 to the school’s endowment.
Preparations moved swiftly to open Lincoln Institute the following year. The charter specified three requirements:
1. The institution shall be designed for the special benefit of emancipated African Americans.
2. It shall be located in the state of Missouri.
3. Its fundamental idea shall be to combine study and labor.
On January 14, 1866, an organization committee formally established Lincoln Institute. By June of the same year, it incorporated and the committee became the Lincoln Institute Board of Trustees. Richard Baxter Foster, a former first lieutenant in the 62nd Infantry, was named first principal of Lincoln Institute. On September 17, 1866, the school opened its doors to the first class of two students in an old frame building in Jefferson City.
In 1870, the school began to receive aid from the state of Missouri for teacher training. In 1871, Lincoln Institute moved to its present campus. The curriculum added college-level coursework in 1877, and in 1879 Lincoln formally became a Missouri public institution with the deeding of the property to the state. Inman E. Page, Lincoln’s first president, took office in 1880 and served until 1898, overseeing enrollment growth, the construction of new buildings, hiring of new faculty and an expanding college curriculum. Under the second Morrill Act of 1890, Missouri designated Lincoln a land-grant university, emphasizing studies in agriculture, mechanics and teaching.
In 1921, the Missouri Legislature passed a bill to expand the school to a four-year college and change the name from Lincoln Institute to Lincoln University, governed by a Board of Curators. Inman Page returned to Lincoln in 1922 to serve one more year as president of the newly designated university.
Lincoln’s high school division earned accreditation from the North Central Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools in 1925; the teacher-training program followed in 1926 and the four-year College of Arts and Sciences in 1934.
Longtime university President Sherman D. Scruggs witnessed tremendous growth during his time at the helm of Lincoln, from 1938 to 1956. Graduate instruction began in the summer session of 1940, with majors in education and history and minors in English, history and sociology. In 1954, following the Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education declaring segregated public schools unconstitutional, Lincoln University opened its doors to all who could meet its entrance criteria, regardless of ethnicity. Enrollment climbed from 400 to more than 1,000 students, triggering a move to expand curriculum and facilities.
Dr. James Frank was the first Lincoln alumnus to become president of the university, serving from 1973 to 1982. During his tenure, Lincoln University enhanced its land-grant status with the Cooperative Extension Center and acquired additional farm property. The Frank administration also developed a broadcast journalism program and began training students at campus television station JCTV.
The 1990s saw the growth and integration of nursing, teacher education, computer science and agribusiness into Lincoln’s core offerings. As the school made its way into the 21st century, Lincoln enjoyed a resurgence in athletic programs and technological advancements, both in and out of the classroom.
In 2014, John B. Moseley joined Lincoln as head basketball coach. He assumed the position of interim athletic director in 2015 and was selected for the permanent athletic director role in 2016. He began a term as interim president in May 2021, following the resignation of LU President Jerald Jones Woolfolk. On January 28, 2022, the Lincoln University Board of Curators named Dr. John Moseley president of the university.
Today, Lincoln serves a diverse student population, both residential and nonresidential, and offers an array of academic programs, research projects and public services. The university grants associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in more than 30 areas of study.
The legacy of those long-ago soldiers lives on in the growth of the university and the success of its graduates. The Soldiers’ Memorial Plaza on the campus quadrangle pays artistic tribute to the vision of the men of the 62nd and 65th Regiments and the embodiment of their dream.
Order of Program
Presiding
Stevie L. Lawrence II, PhD
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
*Academic Processional
War March of the Priests from Athalia, arranged by Felix Mendelssohn
Lincoln University Band
*National Anthem
Star-Spangled Banner, Frances Scott Key & John Stafford Smith
Lincoln University Band
*Musical Selection
Lift Every Voice and Sing, music by J. Rosamond Johnson
Lincoln University Band
Greetings
Victor B. Pasley
Board of Curators President
John B. Moseley, EdD
Lincoln University President
Introduction of Speaker
Saint Rice Jr., EdD
Associate Provost for Undergraduate Education & Dean of University College
Keynote Speaker
Rhonda Allen-Lewis ‘02, ‘10
Presentation of Awards
*Alma Mater
Lincoln, O, Lincoln, arranged by Benjamin F. Allen Lincoln University Band
* Academic Recessional Pomp and Circumstance March No. 1, Sir Edward Elgar
Lincoln University Band
Speaker Highlight
Rhonda Allen-Lewis
BS Ed ’02, MA ’10
Rhonda Allen-Lewis is a Jefferson City native and Lincoln University alumna with 23 years of experience in education. She holds a bachelor’s degree in elementary education and a master’s degree in guidance and counseling from Lincoln, as well as a master’s degree in educational administration from Grand Canyon University. She is in her fourth year as an assistant principal at Lewis and Clark Middle School.
Allen-Lewis previously taught second through fourth grades at East and Thorpe Gordon elementary schools before serving as a behavior interventionist. While at Thorpe Gordon, she led the district’s only elementary drama program for 10 years, guiding students through theatrical performances. She now directs the drama club at Lewis and Clark and recently founded Theater for Youth, or “Ty,” an organization named in honor of her late father, Tyronne Allen.
Her dedication to education and community service has earned her multiple honors, including the Zonta Woman of Achievement Award, the 2017 Jefferson City School District Teacher of the Year award and the Mother of the Year award from the Masonic Lodge. She was also recently nominated for the Youth Leadership Award by Building Community Bridges.
Allen-Lewis is deeply involved in her community. She has been a mentor with Big Brothers Big Sisters for 10 years, positively impacting the lives of young people. She is also a member of the American Legion Auxiliary, an organization dedicated to supporting veterans and their families. Each Thanksgiving, she and her family volunteer by distributing and delivering meals to families throughout the community. As an active member of the Lincoln University Alumni Council, she continues to support her alma mater.
In her free time, Allen-Lewis enjoys singing at church and various events, listening to podcasts, shopping online and staying active at the gym with her husband, John. She also cherishes time spent with their beagle, Winston, taking him on walks and enjoying his company.
Presentation of Awards
Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
Tunsisa Hurisso, PhD
Interim Dean, College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences
Academic Achievement Award
Kelsie Anderson
Laila Barnes
Annabelle Bonnot
Ryleigh Case
Jaylon Davis
Haley Borgmeyer
Jacob Claborn
Malcolm Davis
Alondra Desha
Cierra Bradley
Dacey Colbert
Courtney-Nicole Cooper
Ian Hackney
London Henderson
Xaivion Jones
Christian King
Christian Larson
Ackeem Mullings
Cedric Pace
Deanna Plummer
Tyson Robinson
Jacob Schulte
Academic Distinction Award
Marissa Haller
Cassandra Hile
Mason Igou
Allison Jordan
London Lewis
Melanie Loesch
Tristan Mitchell
Mya Moore
Academic Excellence Award
Montanah Hall
Morgan Heiland
Jamir Hunt
Cheyene Koetting
Maddalen Prenger
Kelcie Rhimes
Jaliyah Smith
Abigail Thomeczek
Kalen Williams
Isaac Stegeman
Caleb Wright
Melanie Sickendick
Mya Uptegrove
Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics
Aimee Busalacki, PhD
Head, Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics
Academic Achievement Award
Mohaimin M. Alwaely
Kewani Campbell
Kenyatta Hampton
Nathan Allen
Ob E. Archibong
Abigail Barrett
Kaitlyn J. Blair
Myia S. Bradford
Michael Chipungu
Josiah D. James
Zachary Marr
Isaiah I. Pariag
Academic Distinction Award
Cooper Feeler
Hiba Al Hamami
Denita Jackson
Maynard S. John
Albert Kemeh
Melon J. Lowenfield
Millie R. Savage
Gabriella G. Newman
Ramsey W. Pickens
Mallorey A. Rogers
Emmanuel Rwotomiya
Wesley N. Tyndall
Korriana D. Williams
Maxwell L. Black
Abbigail R. Conrad
Malik C. Drummond
Nathan Allen
Josiah James
Academic Excellence Award
Michelle Granja
Finn Robin Johannesmann
Treston Lewis
Associates of Academic Achievement
Zachary Marr
Isaiah Pariag
Joscelynn L. Marriott
Madelynn Sechrest
Clayton C. Winkler
Emmanuel Rwotomiya
Department of Humanities and Communications
Bryan Salmons, PhD
Chair, Department of English
Cecil A. Blue Award: Creative Writing
Cheyene Koetting
Ilester McRoberts Award: Creative Writing
Cassandra Hile
Holman-Teabeau-Blue Award: English
Megan Twehus
English Achievement Award
Mackenzie Graham
Mark Nordstrom Journalism Award
Joel Stroschein
Outstanding Journalism Senior
Tobias Hunter
Outstanding Academic Performance in Humanities
Yessnia Auston-Dixon
Aalycia Brown
Savannah Contreras
Mackenzie Graham
Whitney Ankton
Yessnia Austin-Dixon
Aalycia Brown
Caroline Glydewell
Cassandra Hile
Malachi Holliman
Cheyene Koetting
Elena Meyer
Academic Achievement Award
Mackenzie Graham
Imani Harris
Malachi Holliman
Tobias Hunter
Emma Nunamaker
Megan Twehus
Anneus Riggs
Alayna Seeney
Morli Wilcox
Gabriel Williams
Academic Distinction Award
Cassandra Hile
Makayla Luebbert
Savannah Contreras
Cheyene Koetting
Elena Meyer Joel Stroschein
Academic Excellence Award
Treston Lewis
Emma Nunamaker
Megan Twehus
Nia Walker
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Gary Kowaluk, PhD
Head, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Jionna Bady
Jamilyn Bagby
Aalycia Brown
Keri Cobb
Shamar-Kay Fables
Rebecca Aggrey
Aleena Ahmed
Daija Ammons (posthumous)
Tala Caples
Vanessa Cardenas
Savannah Contreras
Kenzie Crader
Shaneal Clarke Giddings
Legalis Award in Political Science
Nia Walker
Academic Achievement Award
Blake Fischer
Malachi Holliman
Destine Monroe
Jacob Schrimpf
Kieanna Singleton
Academic Distinction Award
Mya Davis
Divyasheni Gunasegar
Alexander Johnson I
Tanasia Johnson
Academic Excellence Award
Callianne Nilges
Litzi Romo
Steve Ross
Madelynn Sechrest
Teddy Smith
Shevanae Thomas Morli Wilcox
Jillian Patton
Ashley Woods
Maria Villamil
Nia Walker
Zenin Hall
Ashlyn Libbert
Nattesha Palmer
Dimitri Beckford
Carter Bock
Daniel-Xavier Brown
Torri Hinnah
School of Business
Natalie Mikhaylov, PhD Head, School of Business
Academic Achievement Award
Jeremiah Perkins
Logen Prock
Jamahreon Smith
Academic Distinction Award
DauJaughn Murray
Henry Mwanza
Kayla Pleasant
Academic Excellence Award
Tabitha Imhoff
School of Education
Adria Waters, PhD
Assistant Professor of Education
Academic Achievement Award
Jamar Treasure
Franck-Didier Yetna
Samore’a Robins Allen
Emily Thompson
Antwaan Walker
Hanne Lokkebo Nybo
Sace Anderson
Blayden Brown
Donovan Bruce
Michael Buckner
Shanette Allison
Kristal Bevely
Rachel Meyer
Claire Bexten
Kaathiyayani Gunasegar
Emma Heather
D’onna Crumbley
Nasyah Day
Aysia Finney
Sophia Haight
Academic Distinction Award
Taylor Miller
Maris Ollison
Emma Rakes
Academic Excellence Award
Abigail Kempker
Kiara Kempker
Sydney Nelson
Lindsay Marcum
Dejone Raymond
Hunter Schulte
Elise Williams
MacKenzie Sanford
Dervin Walker
Destiny White
Emma Schaefer
Angel Woehr
Bernice Adjeiwaa Adjei
Ariyan Akins
Whitney Ankton
Breonna Barnard
Ayreona Carter
Annalisa Barclay
Haley Bridges
Musili Folas
Clare Hart
Jason Arnold
Madilyn Buschjost
School of Nursing
Jennifer McCord, PhD, MSN, RN, CRRN Head, School of Nursing
Academic Achievement Award
Brittany Emanuel
Karli Gardner
Rileigh Hunt
Makayla Johnson
Nehlia Mills
Academic Distinction Award
Elizabeth Heckman
Rachel Holsapple
Makayla Luebbert
Maggie Mahoney
Academic Excellence Award
Taylor Heimbaugh
Peter Mubiru
Kasi Olden
Bisola Oni
Hailey Schrimpf
Courtney Shane
Lydia Schoonover
Saige Verslues
Beza Tirfe
Lucia Wilde
National Society of Leadership & Success
Tobias Morgan, PhD Chief Student Affairs Officer
Cornelius Brownlee, EdS Assistant Dean of Student Conduct and Community Standards
Bryanna Ball
Shavonna Barnes
Sarah Bradley
Aalycia Brown
Daniel-Xavier Brown
Deyana Chism
Courtney-Nicole Cooper
Kenzie Crader
Aliceia Davis
Bonita Dorssom
Nicole Fann
Cooper Feeler
Ladonna Hull
Juarez Jones
Joscelynn Marriott
Sydney Nelson
Jason Reade
Al-Lesha Robinson
Antonio Steward
Carolyn Swillum
Nia Walker
Morli Wilcox
Outstanding Academic Awards
Institutional Recognition for 4.0 GPA
Stevie L. Lawrence II, PhD
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Kyriah Anderson
Courtney Barahona
Adonis Calzadilla Fuentes
Shyln Collier
Cristopher Eddy
Bianca Ekholm
Tiahna Harris
Cierra Hein
Jake Bertram
Maxwell Black
Kally Bruce
Savannah Contreras
Ashlynn Davidson
Mallorie Fick
Sergio Aguilera Serrate
Claire Bexten
Josephine Bezzole
Cierra Bradley
Sarah Bradley
Hannah Brenneke
Sean Casey
Koung Won Choi
Caylin Chunn
Carolina Dos Santos
Cataleya Ewing
Riccia Balingit
Adam Benrahou
Vanessa Cardenas
Abbigail Conrad
Bonita Dorssom
Freshman Award
Khiana Holliday
Excellent Ikorukwishaka
Brody Johns
Harper Moats
Camille Moore
Kayuuyor Okolo
Vincent Osei
Cayley Rackers
Sophomore Award
Elysia Frayer
Eugena Goldammer
Hannah Heisler
Hayley Jones
Chesney Luebbering
Constance Neblett
Junior Award
Kaitlin Griep
Sherell Hill
Myisha Holmes
Donovan Joyner
Baz Lachcik
Treston Lewis
Jessica McBride
Kaleb Niebuhr
Callianne Nilges
Corey Patterson
Steve Ross
Senior
Award
Abbigail Farmer
Blake Fischer
Heather Hoffman
Abigail Kempker
Christopher McCormick
Nicolas Rankins
Chemiah Reed
Ashley Reyes
Hailey Rush
Zoria Shields
Zaria Tomlinson
Francesca Tucci-Haack
Khyla Washington
Emma Nunamaker
Saylie Schaefer
Aidan Struemph
Elizabeth Sutton
Nicolas Tovar Cardona
Megan Twehus
Madelynn Sechrest
Tayler Siebeneck
Michaela Starbuck
Kaleah Toran
Robert Tucker, Jr
Madelyn Twehus
Alondra Warren
Jasmine Williams
Melissa Williamson
Kristi Wisdom Shepard
Emma Wolken
Ashley Schaben
Ann-Marie Simpson
Morgan Storz
Honors Program
Troy Frank, DMgt, Honors Programs Director
Kelsie Anderson
Khioncey Anderson
Kyriah Anderson
Whitney Ankton
Yessnia Austin-Dixon
Annalisa Barclay
Laila Barnes
Abigail Barrett
Jake Bertram
Kaitlyn Blair
Haley Brandt
Daniel-Xavier Brown
McKenzie Burns
Serenity Cade-Williams
Jared Campbell
Jesse Johnathan Canamore
Michael Chipungu
Ja’Niyah Christmon
Courtney-Nicole Cooper
Kenzie Crader
Janelle Dobson
Carolina Dos Santos
Malik Drummond
Camryn Duncan
Brittany Emanuel
Sydney Evans
Kamoy Fagan
Musili Folas
Karli Gardner
Mariah Gilard
Michelle Granja
Divyasheni Gunasegar
Kaathiyayani Gunasegar
Michaela Gunter
Madison Hampton
Isabelle Harley
Janiah Harris
Malachi Holliman
Rachel Holsapple
Jamir Hunt
Rileigh Hunt
Mason Igou
Ja’miyah Jackson
Alexander Johnson I
Tiera Jones
Britney Jordan
Albert Kemeh
Jayla Lee
Treston Lewis
Makayla Luebbert
Floyd Lyles-Tannan
Rosalind Lyles-Tannan
Danneika Lyn
Alicia Malone
Lily Meek-Dennis
Rachel Meyer
Jaliyah Mitchell
Kaila Montgomery
Peter Mubiru
Jonas Mueller
DauJaughn Murray
Sydney Nelson
Callianne Nilges
Mzondi Nkosi
Kasi Olden
Cedric Pace
Jeremiah Perkins
Ayiana Peters
Dejone Raymond
Angela Reynolds
Eric Reynolds
Brooklyn Riggens
Nathaniel Robinson
Steve Ross
Rachel Sallis
Jelani Sambury
Hailey Schrimpf
Madelynn Sechrest
Courtney Shane
Laniya Stevens
Josie Stewart
Joel Stroschein
Abigail Thomeczek
Cornelius Thompson
Wesley Tyndall
Mya Uptegrove
Tanner Uptegrove
Maria Villamil
Dervin Walker
Nia Walker
Shenice Watkins
Shenice Watkins
Keilen Watts
Tionna Wesley
Jade Westbrook
Chris’ta White
Gabriel Williams
Korriana Williams
Qar’rhee Williams
Jaidyn Young
Criteria for Awards
Academic Excellence Awards — Three semesters at Lincoln University, full-time student, with between a 3.8-4.0 cumulative GPA.
Academic Distinction Awards — Three semesters at Lincoln University, full-time student, with between a 3.5-3.79 cumulative GPA.
Academic Achievement Awards — Three semesters at Lincoln University, full-time student, with between a 3.2-3.49 cumulative GPA.
Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics
Associates of Academic Achievement — Recipients are full-time students who have earned thirty hours towards an associate’s degree with a cumulative GPA of 3.2.
Department of Humanities and Communications
Cecil A. Blue Award in Creative Writing — Excellence in creative writing, a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or better.
Ilester McRoberts Award in Creative Writing — Awarded annually to an inspirational undergraduate creative writing student at Lincoln University.
Holman-Teabeau-Blue Award in English — This award goes to an English major in the first half of his or her major program and recognizes exceptional promise in that student. The recipient must have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.2.
English Achievement Award — This award goes to an English major in the second semester of his or her junior year who demonstrates consistent effort and significant improvement in performance, especially in critical thinking and writing. The recipient must have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.2.
Mark Nordstrom Journalism Award — This award goes to a journalism major who demonstrates a commitment to media convergence. The recipient must have achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.2.
Outstanding Journalism Senior — This award is given to a student who demonstrates competence and passion for the profession, positively impacts their school, and adheres to high ethical standards while advancing through the degree program.
Outstanding Academic Performance in Humanities — Awarded annually to full-time students with 30+ credit hours and a minimum of a 3.2 cumulative GPA.
Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences
Legalis Achievement Award in Political Science — Maintain at least a 3.2 cumulative GPA, enrolled full-time during the academic year and considered a pre-law student.
Criteria for Awards cont’d
Outstanding Academic Awards
Students who have a cumulative GPA of 4.00 at Lincoln University (transfer credit is not included in this calculation).
Honors Program
Scholars in the program must be a full-time student at Lincoln, maintain at least a 3.2 GPA, and positively represent the university to the campus community and beyond.
The National Society of Leadership and Success (NSLS)
Members must participate in leadership development programs to build valuable academic and professional skills, striving for personal growth and positive community impact.
Special Thanks
Lincoln University extends sincere thanks to those who contributed to the success of Honors Convocation. Your steadfast dedication and service are deeply appreciated.
Macebearer and University Marshal
Brian Norris, PhD Faculty Senate Chair
Marshals
of
the Faculty and Students
Eugene Diggs II Director of Bands
Lincoln University Leadership Board of Curators
Victor B. Pasley ’68, MS Ed, President
Everidge Cade ’73, BS, Vice President
Tina Shannon, MPA, Secretary
Richard R. Popp, JD, Treasurer
Vernon V. Bracy ’82, BS
Stacia R. Bradley Brown ’74, EdD
Richard G. Callahan, JD
Terry Rackers, BS
Nia Walker, Student Representative
President’s Leadership Team
John B. Moseley, EdD, 21st President
Tim Abney ’78, BS, Director of Athletics and Campus Recreation
Ashton Cleveland, EdD, Chief Operating Officer
Greg Emanuel Jr., MA, Chief Information Officer
Gary Hill, DCJ, Chief of Police and Vice President of Campus Culture
Stevie Lawrence II, PhD, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Kathy Mangels, MA, Interim Chief Financial Officer
Tobias Morgan, PhD, Chief Student Affairs Officer
April Robinson, MS, Executive Director and Chief Human Resources Officer
Danisha Williams, EdD, Executive Director of Enrollment Management
Grant Winrow, EdD, Vice President for University Advancement
The Alma Mater
Lincoln, O, Lincoln
We thy proud children are; Thou art our guiding star, Lincoln, believe.
Ours are hearts that yearn for thee No matter where we be; Morning, noon, and always, we Are Lincolnites.
Thy name, O, Lincoln Shall e’er to us be dear. Thy mem’ries sacred, near Hold us to thee. Thy honors ours shall be, Thy cause when just shall we With loyalty defend –For thee we’d die.
Lincoln, O, Lincoln!
We thy proud children are; Our hearts both near and far Love thee with delight. No matter where we are; Whether present, absent, far, Morning, noon, we always are True Lincolnites!
