Lincoln University of Missouri Honors Convocation 2024 program

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 collegelevel 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 landgrant 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 landgrant 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, rising to athletic director two years later. 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 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

Darius Watson, Ph.D.

Assistant Provost for Academic Innovation, Outreach and Research

*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

Stevie L. Lawrence II, Ph.D.

Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Lincoln University

Student Speaker

Aristotle Starks ’24

Outstanding Academic Award Recipient

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

Ceremonial Marshal

Brian Norris, Ph.D., Senate Chairman

Macebearer and University Marshal

Marshals of the Faculty/Students

Kayla Allen

Avila Hendricks

Suzanne Wilson

Sean Zeiger

Eugene Diggs II, Director of Bands

Student Speaker Aristotle Starks

A senior majoring in psychology with a minor in communication studies, Aristotle Starks maintained a perfect 4.0 grade point average throughout his undergraduate education at Lincoln. Starks serves as the peer mentor for the Honors Program and has been a tutor at the Academic Success Center for the past three years.

A passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, Starks openly discusses his experiences as a transgender man with staff, faculty and students across campus, aiming to enhance understanding of LGBTQ+-specific issues.

In the fall, Starks will commence pursuit of a Ph.D. in counseling psychology at Howard University, following graduation this spring from Lincoln University.

Presentation of Awards

Department of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences

Douglas LaVergne, Ph.D.

Dean, College of Agriculture, Environmental and Human Sciences

Kelsie Anderson

Laila Barnes

Ryleigh Case

Haley Borgmeyer

Ciana Bruce

Alondra Desha

Cassandra Fierro

Marissa Haller

Jovita Desha

Amy Haslag

Morgan Heiland

Academic Achievement Award

Shelbey Fritz

Ian Hackney

Cameron Johnson

Cedric Pace

Caroline Quaye

Tyson Robinson

Academic Distinction Award

London Henderson

Jaclyn Hutchison

Allison Jordan

Ericson Kagame

Lindsey Kluesner

Hunter Marsh

Meara Perkins

Deanna Plummer

KieAra Sanders

Isaac Stegeman

Academic Excellence Award

Chyler Hughes

Jamir Hunt

Dylan Knipker

Cheyene Koetting

Kelcie Rhimes

Ethan Robinett

Nora Thomas

Alan Turk

Kalen Williams

Maximus Threet

Caleb Wright

Melanie Sickendick

Kaitlyn Wilbers

McKenzie Williams

Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics

Aimee Busalacki, Ph.D.

Head, Department of Science, Technology and Mathematics

A.A. Kildare Award: Physical Science or Chemistry

Hiba Al-Hamami

Academic Achievement Award

Kaitlyn Blair

Myia Bradford

Jared Campbell

Kewani Campbell

Shantae George

Denita Jackson

Josiah James

Elaina Lentz

Lily Meek-Dennis

Kelvin Polk

Connor Powell

Tyanna Robinson

Mallorey Rogers

Rachel Sallis

Millie Savage

Trey Sestak

Kayla Tate

Wesley Tyndall

Hiba Al-Hamami

Ob Archibong

Travis Barrett

Cooper Feeler

Aya Al-Hamami

Michael Chipungu

Academic Distinction Award

Maynard John

Paul Kozicki

Jason Lewis

Corey Ragan

Academic Excellence Award

Malik Drummond

Connor Kremer

Michael Sifford

Glenn Wright

Joscelynn Marriott

Clayton Winkler

Department of Humanities and Communications

Matthew McGraw, Ph.D. Head, Department of Humanities and Communications

Cecil A. Blue Award: Creative Writing

Kennedy Thompson

Ilester McRoberts Award: Creative Writing

DeAni Blake-Britton

Holman-Teabeau-Blue Award: English

Emma Nunamaker

Mark Nordstrom Journalism Award

Tyra Tillman

Academic Achievement Award

Tobias Hunter

DeAni Blake-Britton

Shanthamoi Brown

Miriam Fernandez Bazylewicz

Alayna Seeney

Academic Distinction Award

Anastasia Denzmore

Jordan Parker

Academic Excellence Award

Elena Meyer

Anneus Riggs

Anna Stubinger

Tyra Tillman

Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Gary Kowaluk, Ph.D.

Head, Department of Social and Behavioral Sciences

Legalis Award in Political Science

Nia Walker

Academic Achievement Award

Daija Ammons

Aalycia Brown

Tyler Brown

Keri Cobb

Mya Davis

Taylor Evans

Ashlyn Alloway

Kaci Ashford

Jamilyn Bagby

Brendan Berhorst

Tala Caples

Malena Delgadillo

MiKenzie Crader

Ashton Gunter

Gwyn Jennings

David Kinard

Erin Lambert

Dalton Farris

Cortez Green

Andronae Johnson

Kiana Mayers

Aaron Mercer

Derek Ramos

Academic Distinction Award

Malachi Holliman

Alexander Johnson I

Tanasia Johnson

Benjamin Luttrell

Chloe Olson

Jillian Patton

Academic Excellence Award

Susan Meyer

Mason Reeves

Steve Ross

Aristotle Starks

Kennedy Thompson

Trayanna Rutherford

Kieanna Singleton

Laniya Stevens

Chris’ta White

Amou Riing

Shevanae Thomas

Stephanie Torres

Chenia Walker

Ashley Woods

Ryan Zoellner

Maria Villamil

Nia Walker

Jaleigha Willis

Leon Braveboy

Daniel-Xavier Brown

Jeremia Buluba

Ross Campbell

Sabriae Cox

Chase Johnson

Damian Jones

Ashlyn Libbert

Jamar Madge

Dimitri Beckford

Carter Bock

Renayjah Burton

Guilherme Capaldi

Brady Charles

Jeffrey Cunningham

Alexa Danielson

Sara Beck

Jackson Black

Makenna Branch

Leslie Callahan

Monae Carey

School of Business

Troy Frank, D.Mgt.

Professor, School of Business

Academic Achievement Award

Keiahjah Mosely

Mzondi Nkosi

Nattesha Palmer

Jeremiah Perkins

Kayla Pleasant

Collin Porch

Logen Prock

Caleb Reinkemeyer

Samore’a Robins Allen

Academic Distinction Award

Chris Gonzalez

Allison Hale

Saylor Haney

Elliott Hull

Floyd Lyles-Tannan

DauJaughn Murray

Gabriel Nunes de Souza

Academic Excellence Award

Emily Helmig

Tabitha Imhoff

Jonas Mueller

Henry Mwanza

Hanne Lokkebo Nybo

Chelsea Robinson

Rylie Schmidt

Jamahreon Smith

Mara Struemph

Jamar Treasure

Shane Verslues

Antwaan Walker

Franck-Didier Yetna

Creighton Propst

Madison Rohrer

Brandon Sewell

Emily Thompson

Kennedi White

Remon Rabie

Shanice Reid

Ashley Schaben

Charles White

Madeline Wilson

Sace Anderson

Yessnia Austin-Dixon

Zamar Brake

Donovon Bruce

Michael Buckner

Nasyah Day

Kamoy Fagan

Aysia Finney

Indya Givens

Sophia Haight

Shanette Allison

Kemari Anderson

Millicent Black

Abigail Brooks

Zachary Cook

Ameilia Darough

Maria Diamond

Abbigail Doggett

Timothy Gilbert

Stefon Humphrey

Kaydi Alderman

Karlie Allen

John Amoah

Kristal Bevely

Ajanee Bradley

Hannah Buechler

Amy Campbell

Gretta Carrender

Kaathiyayani Gunasegar

Dayshanae Hall

Emma Heather

School of Education

Stephanie Clark, Ed.D.

Head, School of Education

Academic Achievement Award

Keyara Houston

Ja’miyah Jackson

Kasey Kilburn

Stephanie Layton

Darrell Lewis

Malijah McClendon

Taylor Miller

Donte Moore

Ryann Muenks

Shana Nunn

Academic Distinction Award

Lee-Sha Jones

Johnnie Kerns

Natalie Kilgore

Telisha Mastrangelo

Myriah McCabe

Rachel Meyer

Maris Ollison

Beverly Penermon

Emma Rakes

Dejone Raymond

Academic Excellence Award

Kennedy Holzschuh

Joshua Keller

Abigail Kempker

Kiara Kempker

Brianna Lefman

Maggie Lindemann

Kevon Maitland

Taylor Mann

Wan

Marsya Mohd Nazri

Odeshia Nanton

Sydney Nelson

Leslie Robertson

Jordyn Smith

Tanisha Tunstall

Dervin Walker

Brooke Ware

Elise Williams

LaCalvin Wilson

Lamarco Yates

Evey Redel Sharisin

Saniya Simmons

Louis Soliz

Bailee Stewart

Leeanna Stickels

Clara Taylor

Nicole Waggoner

Destiny White

Ramsey Pickens

Maggie Reed

Bethany Rimel

MacKenzie Sanford

Emma Schaefer

Erica Schweer

Ann-Marie Simpson

Nyah Singh

Elizabeth Struemph

Abby Sweezer

School of Nursing

Abbie Bredeman, MSN, RN

BSN Program Coordinator, School of Nursing Assistant Professor

Academic Achievement Award

Brooke Baldwin

Breonna Barnard

Jeremia Buluba

Slena Caldwell

Ayreona Carter

Shamar-Kay Fable

Ariyan Akins

Whitney Ankton

Brant Aulbur

Annalisa Barclay

Gracie Bernskoetter

Haley Brandt

Myriah Crusoe

Haley Bridges

Jayla Brown

Sierra Fischer

Chloe Helming

Rileigh Hunt

MacKenzie Kueffer

Nehlia Mills

Jenna Nichols

Academic Distinction Award

Zoey DeHaas

Camille Evans

Kenley Haslag

Elizabeth Heckman

Rachel Holsapple

Mychael Jett

Savannah Kirchner

Academic Excellence Award

Musili Folas

Kasi Olden

Courtney Shane

Brooklyn Worthey

Kennethia Young

Makayla Luebbert

Kaila Montgomery

Kameryn Patterson

Samuel Switzer

Saige Verslues

Brianna Wilbers

Clare Hart Lucia Wilde

Outstanding Academic Awards

Institutional Recognition for 4.0 GPA

Darius Watson, Ph.D.

Assistant Provost for Academic Innovation, Outreach and Research

Aleena Ahmed

Jason Arnold

Jionna Bady

Jake Bertram

Claire Bexten

Maxwell Black

Shaneal Clarke Giddings

Savannah Contreras

Hannah Brenneke

Madilyn Buschjost

Musili Folas

Brianna Lefman

Treston Lewis

Maggie Mahoney

Lindsey Brandt

Amy Campbell

Vanessa Cardenas

Abbigail Conrad

Blake Fischer

Kaydi Alderman

Karlie Allen

Tatiana Beaumont

Sara Beck

Jackson Black

Freshman Award

Courtney-Nicole Cooper

Felippe Da Rocha Pane

Kaleb Gernander

Montanah Hall

Taylor Heimbaugh

Finn Robin Johannesmann

Vinzent Krieger

Madalitso McHambalinja

Sophomore Award

Kaleb Niebuhr

Hanne Lokkebo Nybo

Kierra O’Rourke

Maddalen Prenger

Mason Reeves

Steve Ross

Junior Award

Clare Hart

Emily Helmig

Andrew Hueste

Abigail Kempker

Dylan Knipker

Senior Award

Hannah Buechler

Miriam Fernandez Bazylewicz

Kennedy Holzschuh

David Kinard

Connor Kremer

Kimani Mugo

Callianne Nilges

Sadie Nivens

Emma Nunamaker

Hailey Schrimpf

Jose Roberto Tanchyn Tanchyn

Nicolas Tovar Cardona

Megan Twehus

Madelynn Sechrest

Josie Stewart

Madelyn Twehus

Emma Wolken

Erin Lambert

Kelcie Rhimes

Ashley Schaben

Ann-Marie Simpson

Lucia Wilde

Maggie Lindemann

Taylor Mann

Aristotle Starks

Charles White

Madeline Wilson

Honors Program

Amy Gossett, Ph.D., Honors Programs Director

Karlie Allen

Kelsie Anderson

Whitney Ankton

Yessnia Austin-Dixon

Makenna Bailey

Annalisa Barclay

Laila Barnes

Travis Barrett

Jake Bertram

Jackson Black

Kaitlyn Blair

Haley Brandt

Elvis Bridgeman

DeAni Blake-Britton

Daniel-Xavier Brown

Leslie Callahan

Jared Campbell

Jesse Canamore

Michael Chipungu

Ja’niyah Christmon

Kenzie Crader

Janelle Dobson

Abbigail Doggett

Brittany Douglas

Malik Drummond

Sydney Evans

Kamoy Fagan

Musili Folas

Karli Gardner

Kaathiyayani Gunasegar

Michaela Gunter

Dayshanae Hall

Kenyatta Hampton

Madison Hampton

Isabelle Harley

Janiah Harris

Abby Herod

Yahel Holliday

Malachi Holliman

Rachel Holsapple

Keyara Houston

Chyler Hughes

Jamir Hunt

Rileigh Hunt

Jaclyn Hutchison

Mason Igou

Ja’miyah Jackson

Alexander Johnson I

Andronae Johnson

Cameron Johnson

Kamryn Regina Johnson

Britney Jordan

Tiera Jones

Ericson Kagame

Samia Lazenby

Treston Lewis

Makayla Luebbert

Floyd Lyles-Tannan

Rosalind Lyles-Tannan

Danneika Lyn

Alicia Malone

Brenden Maltbia

Savannah Mansaw

Lindsay Marcum

Ra’nyah Marion

Kiana Mayers

Mylah McCanton

Lily Meek-Dennis

Rachel Meyer

Wan

Marsya Mohd Nazri

Kaila Montgomery

DauJaughn Murray

Sydney Nelson

Mzondi Nkosi

Cedric Pace

Kameryn Patterson

Jeremiah Perkins

Ayiana Peters

Corey Ragan

Dejone Raymond

Alyssa Rehagen

Shanice Reid

Brooklyn Riggens

Gloria Roberson

Chelsea Robinson

Tyanna Robinson

Steve Ross

Rachel Sallis

Courtney Shane

Michael Sifford

Tia Singh

Aristotle Starks

Laniya Stevens

Josie Stewart

Elizabeth Struemph

Nora Thomas

Abigail Thomeczek

Kennedy Thompson

Wesley Tyndall

Maria Villamil

Chenia Walker

Dervin Walker

Nia Walker

Shenice Watkins

Rahman Watson

Keilen Watts

Tionna Wesley

Deonna West

Jade Westbrooks

Chris’ta White

Gabriel Williams

Korriana Williams

Makayla Williams

McKenzie Williams

Qar’Rhee Williams

Sierra Willman

Madeline Wilson

Jaidyn Young

Kennethia 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

A.A. Kildare Award — At least 3.2 GPA; outstanding achievement in a physical science: physics or chemistry.

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.

Mark Nordstrom Journalism Award — Awarded to a student majoring in journalism who has completed a minimum of eighteen (18) hours in journalism courses with a GPA of at least 3.2 in these courses, as well as a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or better in all courses. The student must demonstrate a commitment to media convergence.

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.

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 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!