SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A Birch Tree native and Missouri State University-West Plains graduate was one of six students who received Missouri State University’s 2019-2020 Citizen Scholar Award.
Seth Hadley graduated summa cum laude with an Associate of Arts in General Studies with a Specialization in Honors in May 2016 from Missouri State-West Plains. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Literature in May 2018 from Missouri State University, graduating summa cum laude. He is currently working on a Master of Arts in Writing with an emphasis in Rhetoric and Composition at Missouri State. He is expected to graduate in May 2020.
During his time at Missouri State-West Plains, Hadley was an active participant in the Phi Theta Kappa honor society, the International Student Organization and the William and Virginia Darr Honors Program, the latter of which requires 64 hours of community service work. He also served as vice president of the Spectrum LGBTQ Alliance and was selected to participate in the China Semester Study Away Program in fall 2015 where he served as a tutor and intern.
In addition, Hadley volunteered with the MOChips child fingerprint tracing program; served as a judge for the 2015, 2016 and 2017 LAD Language Arts Fairs for area school districts; and was a group leader for the campus’ Welcome Week activities.
Hadley was also included in the Who’s Who Among American Junior Colleges list in 2016, and he was selected by faculty to receive the Outstanding Associate of Arts/Associate of Science/Associate of Applied Science Student Award at Missouri State-West Plains’ 2016 commencement ceremony.
Since transferring to Springfield, Hadley has used his talents and academic endeavors to help students, especially those who struggle with literacy issues and feel marginalized because of them. As one of 15 students chosen as a graduate assistant in the English Department for the 2018-2020 cohort, he was the only one selected to participate in a new initiative that allows students to complete developmental and entry level English courses in the same semester.
Hadley was appointed as the graduate student representative of the Missouri State University Composition Committee, has had his work published in the university’s “Logos: Undergraduate Academic Journal” and was selected as a speaker at the Missouri State University Undergraduate Literature Conference in 2017 and 2018.
The awards were presented Thursday, December 12, by the Missouri State University Board of Governors at the group’s regular meeting in Springfield.
Established in fall 2007, the award is given annually to students “who exemplify the concept of a citizen scholar”, according to the university.
Other recipients of the award this year include:
- Cassidy Cunningham, a graduate student from Rogersville seeking a Master in Business Administration;
- Niyati (Mia) Sethi, a graduate student from New Delhi, India, who is seeking a master’s degree in religious studies;
- Rachel Prather, a graduate student from Springfield seeking a professional degree in occupational therapy;
- Robbyn Rose, a senior organizational communication and psychology major from Harrison, Arkansas;
- Stephanie Urich, a junior psychology and dietetics major from Morrisville.
The Citizen Scholar Award is given to students who have contributed to the university, advanced the university’s public affairs mission, and have significantly engaged in extra-curricular accomplishments and/or in significant service activities to the community.
Each recipient receives a crystal globe in recognition of the award, and their names are added to the Citizen Scholar Wall at Plaster Student Union on the Springfield campus.
