Each year a select group of students graduate with distinction in their major. This seriously high honor is reserved for an elite group of students who graduate from the Honors College and complete a self-designed, rigorous program of course work in their major, culminating in a final distinction project.

Seventeen Missouri State students achieved this honor this May.

• Daniel Amuedo graduated with a degree in cell and molecular biology. Daniel’s final distinction project is titled Free-Standing Liquid Membranes as a Non-Fouling Filter for the Removal of Micro-Plastics from Water.
• Madeline Arnold graduated with a degree in speech-language pathology. Madeline’s final distinction project is titled Language Options for Children Who Are d/Deaf or Hard of Hearing: A Survey of the Deaf Community.
• Sarah Bachler graduated with a double major with distinctions in both professional writing and creative writing. Sarah’s final distinction project in professional writing is titled Hybridization of Virtual Reality and Technical Communication in Employee Training. Sarah’s final distinction project in creative writing is titled Finding Felicity.
• Sarah Crain graduated with a degree in psychology. Sarah’s final distinction project is titled Exploration of Personality Traits and International Study Abroad Location Choice Rating.
• Courtney Cummins graduated with a degree in psychology. Courtney’s final distinction project is titled Childhood Adversity: A Possible Stereotype Threat Affecting Resiliency and Performance.
• Edye Fletcher graduated with a degree in nursing. Edye’s final distinction project is titled Vaccine Hesitancy Within Hispanic/Latinx Population.
• Abby Gann graduated with a degree in cell and molecular biology. Abby’s final distinction project is titled Angiogenesis in Microvascular Endothelial Cells with UTP Stimulation of P2Y2 Receptors.
• Rachel Haselhorst graduated with a degree in musical theatre. Rachel’s final distinction project is titled “It’s An Art”: The Importance of Communication in Collaboration.
• Sydney Hill graduated with a degree in accounting. Sydney’s final distinction project is titled The Influence of Beta Alpha Psi on Student Graduate Success.
• Emily Karnuth graduated with a degree in speech-language pathology. Emily’s final distinction project is titled Training Speech Pathology Graduate Students on the Typical English Grammar of Spanish-English Bilingual Children.
• Mackenzie Morris graduated with a degree in economics. Mackenzie’s final distinction project is titled Personal Tax Exemption and Fertility in the United States: An Empirical Study by Groups.
• Abbie Poisson graduated with a degree in cell and molecular biology. Abbie’s final distinction project is titled Pediatric-Onset Orthopedic Disorders.
• Corey Ratsch graduated with a degree in athletic training. Corey’s final distinction project is titled A Comparative Analysis of Concussion Protocol in the National Football League and National Hockey League, as Measured by the 5th International Consensus Statement.
• Kendall Vowels graduated with a degree in entertainment management. Kendall’s final distinction project is titled Cancel, Postpone, or Reschedule: The Live Music Industry’s Response to Ticket Refunds During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• Daria Wiederkehr graduated with a degree in interior design. Daria’s final distinction project is titled Sustainable Interior Design: How it Can Trigger Lifestyle Changes that Will Help Protect our Planet.
• Leanna Zelle graduated with a degree in cell and molecular biology. Leanna’s final distinction project is titled P2Y2 Receptor and VEGFR-2 dependent Angiogenesis in UTP Stimulated Microvascular Endothelial Cells.
• Debra Zerr graduated with a degree in fashion merchandising and design. Debra’s final distinction project is titled Senior Collections “Fuego Amor.”

Please join me in congratulating these students.

Thanks for all you do for Missouri State!