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Outstanding Recent Graduates

The Outstanding Recent Graduate award recognizes an outstanding recent graduate from each of the undergraduate colleges and schools at Emporia State University. Selection for this award is based on criteria determined by each school/college and the stipulation that the recipient be no more than 10 years past graduation at Emporia State University. This award is sponsored by the ESU Alumni Association and is facilitated by the ESU Ambassadors organization. See the 2008 biographies here, and a full list of recipients with degree years by clicking here.

The 2009 Outstanding Recent Graduates

Megan (Chalfant) BurgessMegan Burgess

Topeka

BS 2005, Emporia State University

Megan is a replenishment specialist at the Hills Pet Nutrition corporate headquarters. She was previously a market analyst for Payless Shoe Source. Megan had been actively engaged on a variety of issues, and she ran three political campaigns on campus, but focused on different parties; since graduating, she has assisted ESU with interns. While in college she was a significant part of the American Democracy Project and organized students for some of the significant ADP events.

* * *

Mark F. Schmelzle

Valley Center

BSB 1999, Emporia State University

MBA 2000, Emporia State University

 Mark Schmelzle

Mark is a certified public accountant, licensed in Kansas and a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and Kansas Society of Certified Public Acountants.  He joined Allen, Gibbs & Houlik in 2001.  He was promoted to manager in 2005 and then to senior manager in 2008.  Mark serves primarily as an assurance manager specializing in serving middle-market, closely held businesses. Mark has nearly 10 years of experience serving clients in the following industries:  financial services, mortgage banking, retail, wholesale distribution, manufacturing, auto and construction equipment dealerships, oil and gas, and investment banking. He also manages all of the firm’s ERISA auditing.

* * *

Jodie (Kimball) Leiss

Emporia

BSE 2003, Emporia State UniversityJodie Leiss

MS 2006, Emporia State University

Jodie is an instructor at ESU in the department of health, physical education and recreation.  From 2003 to 2008, she was a teacher at Village Elementary School in Emporia. Her contributions to society include serving on the PTA & PTO of various elementary schools, and on the student intervention team at Village Elementary.  She is coordinator for Kansas Kids Fitness Day. Professionally, Jodie is president of the Kansas Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Association and has been selected for their young professional award.  She has received a grant for equipment at Village Elementary School through GeoFitness Company.  She is also the vice president of the health section for the Central District of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.

 

The 2008 Outstanding Recent Graduates

The 2008 recipients were be honored at the Alumni Awards banquet on Friday, Oct. 24, during Homecoming festivities.  See an interview with Jeremy Luby and Jared Larson.

Larson

Jared Larson

Annville, Penn.

College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

BA 2002, BA 2002

Jared Larson is studying for his Ph.D. in global governance at the University of Delaware while performing research in the United States and in Spain. He is a commentator on Spanish radio regarding U.S. foreign policy, speaking Spanish fluently and French and Portuguese very well, with proficiency in five other languages. His publications appear in Spanish journals and conference proceedings. He has taught at Lebanon Valley College, the University of Delaware, and ESU, and has taught English in Madrid.  

Luby

Jeremy Luby

Overland Park, Kan.

School of Business

BSB 2003, MBA 2004

Jeremy Luby, the senior web developer at American Century Investments, has designed several web pages for non-profit groups. He is the sole proprietor of Tenretni Computer Systems in Emporia, a Direct Channel Innovation Award recipient and a Corporate Circle of Honor inductee. The former ESU webmaster designed and implemented the current university website, has spoken at professional development seminars and to a student group on campus, and has donated books on financial planning to ESU students.

Wheat

Todd Wheat

Olathe, Kan.

Teachers College

BSE 2001, MS 2004

Todd Wheat is the principal of Northview Elementary School for the 2008-09 school year, after serving as an administrative principal intern at the Arbor Creek and Sunnyside schools the past two years. He began his career teaching second and then sixth grade, and is now pursuing his doctorate of education. He consistently serves on district-wide committees and teams focused on leadership, facilities, staff development, safety, curriculum, and parents, while creating new programs, writing successful grants, and much more.

 

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Outstanding Recent Graduate
Award Recipients

  1991

Marlin Berry (MS 1982)

Kurt Breitenbach (BSB 1979)

Charles Greenlief (BS 1983)

  1992

Kimberly (Krebs) Beardslee (BS 1982)

V. Ann (Scheve) Mayo (BS 1982, MS 1985)

Kim Penner (BSB 1980)

  1993

Karen (Burns) Meenan (BSB 1983, MBA 1985)

Janet (Pepperdine) Smith (MS 1989)

Nedra (Kneeland) Reynolds (BS 1981, MA 1984)

  1994

Marjorie McHenry (MS 1987)

Richard Morrell (BSE 1979, MS 1982)

Jan (Biles) Steinert (BSB 1980)

  1995

Audie Baughman (MBA, 1986)

Darla (Hodges) Mallein (BSE 1980, MS 1994)

Alain-Phillippe Durand (BA 1992)

1996

Deborah Huth (BS 1988)

Craig Kuckelman (BSB 1991)

Joan (Carley) Brewer (BSE 1991, MS 1994
1997

Brad Minear (BSB 1983)

Lisa Wagner (BSE 1987)

Daniel Wann (MS 1987)

1998

Kim Pember (BSB 1988, MBA 1989)

Everett Spellman (BS 1991, MS 1993)

Donna Stuber-McEwen (MS 1987)

1999

Sarah (Gleason) Cook (BS 1992)

Kristi (King) DeMint (BSB 1994)

Dawn Ella (Brawley) Rust (MS 1989)

2000

Mario Bonilla (BSB 1994)

Shawn M. Brewer (BS 1991, MS 1993)

Jeremy Kohomban (BS 1989)

2001

Brian E. Cathers (BS 1992)

Kenneth L. Harmon (BSB 1995)

Jeffrey P. McAdoo (BSE 1994, MS 1998)

2002

Jarod W. Allerheiligen (BSB 1996)

Megan McGaffin Dillingham (BA 1996)

Lisa (Pendergast) Gates (BS 1994, MS 1997)

2003

John A. Blaufuss, Jr. (BSB 1994)

Benjamin Butler (BFA 1997)

Marcie (Hamilton) Frederickson (BSE 1997, MS 2001)

2004

Cynthia Price (BA 2000)

Darin Selby (BSB 1999, MBA 2000)

Stacy (Cox) Shipley (BSE 1995, MS 1999)

2005

Ken Hamby (BSB 1995)

Brian Obermeyer (BS 1994, MS 1996)

Faith Scott (BSE 1996)

2006

Bob Fitzpatrick (MS 2003)

Rapheal “Joey” Hamilton (BSB 1995)

Vandy Blue Spikes (BS 1997)

2007

Rob Curley (BIS 2001)

Jeff Johnson (BSB 1997, MBA 1999)

Michelle Moore (BSE 1996, MS 2003)

2008

Jared Larson (BA 2002, BA 2002)

Jeremy Luby (BSB 2003, MBA 2004)

Todd Wheat (BSE 2001), MS 2004)

2009

Megan (Chalfant) Burgess (BS 2005)

Mark Schmelzle (BSB 1999, MBA 2000)

Jodie (Kimball) Leiss (BSE 2003, MS 2006)

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Last Updated November 17, 2009