Nominations have opened for an award that Missouri State University officials say is the highest a student can earn.
The university’s Board of Governors is seeking nominations for its Citizen Scholar Award for the 2023-24 school year. The award recognizes students who have made great achievements in community engagement, leadership and academics.
No other award given to students is so closely tied in with the university’s public affairs mission, said Dee Siscoe, vice president for student affairs. The recognition from the Board of Governors makes this an elite award, she said.
“We’re not just looking for a good GPA, here,” Siscoe said. “We also look for service to the community and work through the university’s public affairs mission, and whether they can demonstrate good community engagement, cultural competence and ethical leadership.”
‘All the nominees are exceptional’
Getting nominated is an honor in itself — university faculty and staff members may make nominations based on their observations of how students’ actions align with selection criteria. The process includes getting two similar letters of support from other faculty or staff members.
Once those submissions are collected, a nominated student is then asked to answer questions and further elaborate about their achievements, Siscoe said. The results are evaluated by a subcommittee of the board, which then chooses six recipients.
Siscoe said the award usually draws as many as 25 nominations.
“The process is one that doesn’t lend itself to getting hundreds of nominations,” Siscoe said. “All the nominees are exceptional. The board of governors has a tough time making selections that really rise to the award.”
Students must be full-time, enrolled in either an undergraduate or graduate program, according to selection details released by the university. They must be eligible for graduation within two years of the nomination, and be in good standing with the university.
The deadline for university faculty and staff to submit nominations is Sept. 7.
Tied to mission
In accordance with a guidepost from the state government, each of Missouri’s public four-year universities have a special focus, and public affairs is that focus for Missouri State. Each year, Missouri State University's leaders develop a theme that highlights how public affairs makes a difference in the communities where graduates are heading.
That mission is emphasized to students before their first day of class, Siscoe said, and is organized into three pillars: community engagement, cultural competence and ethical leadership.
“Students learn about how we implement the mission during (new student orientation), and they hear more during a first-year transition course,” Siscoe said. “They hear about it in coursework, in student organizations.”
Started in 2007, the award seeks to highlight the importance of that mission — 95 students have earned the Citizen Scholar award since its creation. The 2022-23 class includes Morgan Blanck, Samara Mizutani Cesar, Milana Hainline, Blake Rief, Orlando X. Williams Jr. and Lindsey Sanderson.
The 2023-24 class will be named on Dec. 14 during the Board of Governors’ meeting; the winners, families and nominators will be honored during a dinner that night.
This report has been edited to include the previous class of award winners.
