When the opportunity to serve others arrived, these students acted.

The Missouri State University Board of Governors acknowledged six students with the Citizen Scholar Award Thursday (Dec. 13). The award honors students who exemplify academic success and the university’s public affairs mission.

“These young leaders are making their communities better,” said Carrie Tergin, board chair. “They really set the standard for what it means to be a Citizen Bear.”

The 2018-19 Citizen Scholars

The Citizen Scholar recipients are:

Tia Clemens, senior, Springfield

Clemens is majoring in civil engineering. She is an intern at Olsson, a local engineering firm, where she enjoys helping people gain access to clean water. Clemens created a non-profit STEM organization that tutors K-12 students in the Springfield area and volunteered at several organizations, including Ozarks Food Harvest.

Tyree Davis IV, graduate, Kansas City, Missouri

Davis is working on a Master of Health Administration. He served as the student member of the Board of Governors from 2016-18, and has advocated for students’ needs on campus. Davis serves as an executive board member for the Missouri State NAACP chapter.

Koby Ljunggren, junior, Battlefield, Missouri

Ljunggren is majoring in biochemistry with a minor in mathematics. He has a passion for active citizenship and has served on executive boards of the Residence Hall Association, the National Residence Hall Honorary and Pi Kappa Phi fraternity.

Anthony Priest, senior, West Plains, Missouri

Priest is majoring in sociology with a minor in anthropology. A transfer student from Missouri State-West Plains, Priest has volunteered with the Community Partnership of the Ozarks Alliance and Community Clean Up, the Grant Beach Community Dinner and Blanket Buddies. With Blanket Buddies, he traveled to Ukraine and Mexico to support disadvantaged orphans.

Husref Rizvanovic, senior, Kansas City, Missouri

Rizvanovic is majoring in biology, microbiology and biotechnology with minors in chemistry and psychology. He worked as a pharmacy technician and patient care associate at Mercy Hospital, and served as a camp counselor for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Daezia Smith, graduate, Murfreesboro, Tennessee

Smith is working on a Master of Global Studies. She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and Springfield Welcome Home. Smith is also a founder and current president of Global Leaders and Mentors (GLaM), a student organization that promotes inclusion through increased interaction between U.S. and international students on campus.