Four
Southwestern College Students
Named
Fran Jabara Leadership Award Recipients
Winfield,
Kan., May 19, 2021 — Stephen Le, Andover; Brailey McMinn, Canyon, Texas; Kaname
Ellis, Round Rock, Texas; and Marcus Richard, Houston, Texas, received the Fran
Jabara Leadership Award at Southwestern College Commencement exercises Saturday
and Sunday, May 8 and 9.
Le
and McMinn were the 2020 recipients and honored during the 2020 ceremony on
Saturday, May 8; Ellis and Richard are the 2021 recipients and were honored
during the 2021 main campus commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 9.
McMinn
graduated summa cum laude (with highest honors) with a bachelor of arts degree
in elementary education. Le graduated with a bachelor of science degree
in biochemistry. Ellis graduated cum laude (with honor) with a bachelor of
science degree in biology. Richard graduated with a bachelor of science degree
in psychology and a minor in business administration.
The
Fran Jabara Leadership Award is presented to encourage the spirit of
entrepreneurship and excellence in its recipients. Jabara, an Oklahoma
State University and Wichita State University graduate, was an advocate of the
American free enterprise system and founded the Center for Entrepreneurship at
WSU in 1977.
Le,
a Pillars Scholar, was a student in the natural sciences division, but his
curiosity and creativity also meant that while he was on campus he frequented
the ceramics studio, where he created remarkable pieces of art on the potter’s
wheel. He also worked in the laptop center where he solved tech related
problems for students, faculty, and staff. Le was also a resident
assistant in Wallingford Hall. Le is currently working in a dental office
in Kansas City and will attend the University of Missouri-Kansas City dental
school in the fall.
During
her time at SC, McMinn played tennis and contributed to a team that won regular
season back-to-back KCAC championship titles. She was a resident assistant and
was also active with EdBuilders, helping to plan numerous events on campus,
including the annual trunk-or-treat community event. She was a student
government association senator representing the education division. In 2020,
McMinn was recognized as a Teacher of Promise by the Kansas State Department of
Education. McMinn has been working as a long term substitute teacher in a first
grade classroom, but recently announced that she has accepted a position
teaching second grade in Grand Prairie, Texas.
Richard
was a member of the football team and active around the campus community. He
was the student government president, a student ambassador, and resident
assistant in Wallingford Hall. Richard has received several scholarship
offers to law schools in Texas and Louisiana and is still deciding which
institution he will be attending in the fall.
Ellis
was a member of the SC volleyball squad. She was also involved in student
government and a residence assistant. She was a biology tutor and teacher
assistant for Tamara McEwen, winner of the Champion of Character award, and
Homecoming Queen. Ellis is preparing is for the medical school entrance
exam and has several medical field shadowing opportunities lined up for this
summer. She would like to be a doctor.
“Each of these
Builders makes our college very proud; they will represent us well as they move
on from Southwestern into their graduate studies and careers,” said President
Brad Andrews of the recipients. “It was a joy to honor each of them. We are
grateful for the many ways in which they strengthened our college during their
time on campus.”
