OSU College of Education Recognizes Top 10 Seniors for 2017
Wednesday, May 3, 2017
STILLWATER - The Oklahoma State University College of Education has announced its Top 10 Seniors
for 2017. The honored students represent elementary and secondary education, health
education and promotion, recreational therapy, aerospace administration and operations
and career and technical education.
Selected by the Student Affairs Committee, these students have demonstrated exceptional
qualities of leadership, academic excellence and service. Recipients must have completed
90 or more credit hours, 24 of which must be at OSU, and be eligible to graduate during
the 2017 calendar year. These students will be recognized during the College of Education
Excellence Awards reception. Honored students are:
Katelyn Bushman (Enid, Okla.) is slated to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Therapeutic Recreation. While at OSU, Bushman has been a member of the Recreational Therapy Majors Club and served as its secretary. She is a part of Omega Phi Alpha National Service Sorority and has volunteered at Oklahoma Blood Institute, Stillwater Humane Society and Cowboython. She is also a member of Rho Phi Lambda Honor fraternity, which represents recognition at the highest level in her chosen profession of recreational therapy. Katelyn had an internship at Saint Francis Rehabilitation Hospital where she was rated as a superior intern.
Addison Freiner (Tulsa, Okla.) is graduating in May with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. While at
OSU, Freiner has taken on many leadership roles. She has served as chapter president
for the Blue Key Honor Society, family relations director for Dance Marathon and second
vice president in the Education Student Council. She is also the founder and director
of Orphan Run Stillwater, a 5k race she started in 2013, which has allowed her to
raise $35,000 to build a school in Uganda, Africa. She also served as an intern and
volunteer at Bless the Children Ministries where she provided care and assistance
at an orphanage in Africa. Freiner was chosen as an OSU Senior of Significance and
an OSU Outstanding Senior.
Amber LaFerriere (Yukon, Okla.) will graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. During her time at OSU, she has served Elementary Educators of Tomorrow as education student council representative and co-vice president. She is also a part of Phi Kappa Phi honor society and was an OSU Freshman Research Scholar. LaFerriere actively serves the community by volunteering at the Stillwater Humane Society, Stillwater Multi Arts Center and Countryside Baptist Church. She is also authoring and illustrating a series of three children’s picture books.
Halie Lindberg (Canton, Mich.) is scheduled to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Education and Promotion, with an option in Exercise Science. Lindberg is a Valerie Colvin Endowed Scholarship Recipient and is fluent in Spanish. She is also a member of the Oklahoma State University spirit squad and served as OSU’s cheerleading captain. She has served her community by participating in Coaches vs. Cancer for the American Cancer Society, Up Till’ Dawn for St. Jude Research Hospital and MPower for Stillwater United Way.
Ezequiel Madrigal (Edmond, Okla.) will graduate in May with a Secondary Education degree, with an option in Foreign Language. While at OSU, he has been a member of Education Student Council and served as the Chair of EdCamp Stillwater, an unconference focused on professional development and encouraging relevant discussion for educators. He was also the Chair of Committee on Student Organizations and senator for the Student Government Organization. Madrigal served as the president of National Spanish Honor Society, Sigma Delta Pi, and has been an active volunteer for Casas Por Cristo, The Well Church and WONDERtorium Children’s Museum.
Wambui Mburu (Nairobi, Kenya) is slated to graduate in Fall 2017 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Administration and Operations, with an option in Aviation Management. A student in the OSU Honors College, Mburu is a member of the Golden Key International Honors Society, Women in Aviation organization, and OSU Flying Aggies Aviation Club. She was also an Entrepreneurship and College Counseling Annual Intern at the Equity Bank Group Foundation in Nairobi, Kenya. Mburu is involved with various community service projects such as volunteering at the Wesley Foundation and serving as a Public Relations Officer and Tutor in Johannesburg, South Africa.
Lucy McCollom (Crescent, Okla.) will graduate in Fall 2017 with an Aerospace Administration and Operations degree, with an option in Professional Pilot and a minor in Aviation Security. She has served as secretary and president of Alpha Eta Rho Aviation Fraternity at OSU and historian and vice president of Women in Aviation club. She was also the secretary for the Flying Aggies Aviation Club and a member of the Oklahoma State Flight Team. She actively serves her community by volunteering as a mentor at North Pointe Baptist Church and volunteer for City Rescue Mission in Oklahoma City.
Collin Nail (Coweta, Okla.) is scheduled to graduate in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in Career and Technical Education, with an option in Business and Information Technology Education. Nail has served as member and Membership Vice President of Alpha Phi Omega and member of NASPA Undergraduate Fellows Program. He was co-chair of 2017 Education, Health and Aviation Week, hosted by the College of Education. Nail has also served as Resident Advisor, where he was a Community Council Co-Advisor and Executive Homecoming Director. He was awarded Residential Life 2016 Student Staff of the Year and participated in the national program for diversity, Broadening Your Horizons. Nail serves his community by volunteering for the Spring Youth Service Day, Mission of Hope, The BIG Event, and Tulsa Food Bank.
Mackenzie Odom (Happy, Texas) will graduate with a Bachelor of Science degree in Aerospace Administration and Operations, with an option in Professional Pilot and a minor in Aviation Management. She has served as president, vice president, and Fly-In committee chair for the OSU Flying Aggies, where she received the OSU Flying Aggies Award for Outstanding Leadership. She has also served as vice president and secretary for the OSU College of Education Ambassadors, treasurer for OSU’s Women in Aviation organization and secretary for professional aviation fraternity, Alpha Eta Rho. She has served the community by volunteering for CASA for Kids and Trinity River Corridor Project.
Emily Tuder (Jay, Okla.) is slated to graduate in Fall 2017 with a degree in Health Education and Promotion with an option in Exercise and Health, with minors in Spanish and Nutrition. Tuder is a member and facility manager of Kappa Alpha Theta and has served on the OSU Executive Team for Dance Marathon. She was also on the Executive Team for Relay for Life and is a member of the Pre-Occupational Therapy Club. She studied abroad in Valencia, Spain, where she studied Spanish and did research for the Humphrey’s Grant. She has served the community for more than 700 hours through volunteer work for the Special Olympics and Summer Games, Relay for Life, Dance Marathon and CowboyThon, the Big Event and Into the Streets.