The Standing Ovation Award recognizes an MSA faculty member or RA who exemplifies the highest ideals of the Missouri Scholars Academy.
The 2025 recipient of the Standing Ovation Award is Morgan McGurk!
Every year, MSA recognizes an MSA faculty member or RA who exemplifies the highest ideals of the Missouri Scholars Academy with the Standing Ovation Award.
From her dedication to building strong community bonds within the Academy and encouraging students to be the truest version of themselves, this year’s award winner is Morgan McGurk (MSA’19, RA’23-‘25). Morgan was recognized at this summer’s closing ceremony.
Her unwavering dedication to the Academy is something that every person at MSA can see, and we are so grateful for all of her hard work these past few years.
As a scholar in 2019 from Lee’s Summit, Morgan McGurk had low expectations for how MSA would impact her life, only seeing the program as an opportunity to build upon her resume. However, once she moved into Mark Twain Hall and started her classes, she realized just how magical and transformative MSA truly was.
“I was introduced to a culture that encouraged learning for the sake of learning and challenged us to be interested, not interesting.” said McGurk at the 2025 MSA Closing Ceremony. “At MSA, I became a more authentic, passionate, and curious version of myself, and I still carry these traits with me today.”
Last June, Morgan completed her third and final year as an RA. Since 2023, she has worked to create the strong sense of community and “magic” that she experienced in 2019 for new groups of scholars.
Grace Sullentrup, one of the 2025 Coordinators of Residential Life, described how Morgan creates this sense of belonging, saying, “When Morgan was around, you were bound to find a group of scholars engaged in lively conversation—whether discussing their favorite recent reads, the day’s Cor activity, or the best pop album of the year. Morgan has a remarkable talent for meeting scholars where they are and helping them find the space to authentically be themselves at the Missouri Scholars Academy.”
One of the qualities that made Morgan a great RA, according to Sullentrup, is her ability to build rapport within the RA community and use those relationships to create a positive, caring, and lighthearted atmosphere for the scholars.
During her speech, Morgan discussed how being an RA has changed her perspective on the Academy, saying, “My experience as an RA has made me love and appreciate MSA more than I ever thought I could. MSA feels magical as a scholar, and it’s largely because of the hard work that RAs, faculty, and staff put in behind the scenes. To be able to contribute to this magic for three years has been incredibly rewarding.”
Some of her favorite memories as an RA come from the little moments, such as conversations with scholars in her Cor classes, singing “Bohemian Rhapsody” at the street dance, and the many jokes and laughter from her house meetings. All of these experiences and more help contribute to the positive and accepting community within MSA.
Morgan finished her 2025 closing speech by defining the heart of what we aim to create at MSA. “I hope you remember how it feels to be a part of something like this. To be surrounded by people who see you, challenge you, and care about you not for what you achieve, but simply for who you are. This is the spirit of MSA.”
While her time as an RA has come to a close, she is excited to contribute to the Academy in new ways in the future. Beyond her work with MSA, Morgan graduated from the University of Arizona with a bachelor’s degree in Human Development and Family Science in May of 2025. She currently works as a Social Emotional Interventionist at an elementary school in Kansas City.
We look forward to seeing her grow in this new chapter of her life. Thank you and good luck, Morgan!
Recipients of these awards include:
| Name | Role | Year Awarded |
|---|---|---|
| Ever Cole | MSA ’19, RA ’23, ’25, ’26, Media & Communication ’24-’25 | 2026 |
| Morgan McGurk | MSA ’19, RA ’23-25 | 2025 |
| Paula Mather | MSA ‘15, Office Staff ’19, ‘22-‘24 | 2024 |
| Elana Sanders-Braxton | MSA’17, RA’23-‘24 | 2024 |
| Ben Batzer | MSA ’08, Faculty ’17-’25 | 2023 |
| Jenny Blank | Coordinator of Residential Life ’22-23, Faculty ’25 | 2022 |
| Adela Caratti | Dining Hall Staff | 2019 |
| Rachel Harper | Co-Director, ’18-’25 | 2019 |
| Dani Eschweiler | MSA ’11, RA ’18, Faculty ’19, ’22 | 2019 |
| Chris Holmes | Faculty ’13-’18, ’21-’24 | 2018 |
| Steve Keller | Co-Director ’15-’25 | 2017 |
| Craig Buschkoette | RA ’14-’17 | 2017 |
| Jordan Henson | MSA ’10, RA ’13-’15, Faculty ’16-’25 | 2016 |
| McKenzi Pendergrass | MSA ’10, RA ’13-’16 | 2016 |
| KelLeigh Bryant | MSA ’12, Office Staff ’14-’19 | 2015 |
| Mike Lumetta | MSA ’09, RA ’12, ’15 | 2015 |
| Majorie Perkins | MSA ’10, RA ’14-’17, Faculty ’18 | 2015 |
| Doug Valentine | Faculty ’12-’25, Co-Director ’22-’25, Coord. COR ’23-26 | 2015 |
| Tina Casagrand | MSA ’06, RA ’12-’13, Coord. Comm. Service ’14, Faculty ’15-’18, ’22-’25 | 2014 |
| Kyna Iman | Lobbyist, ’00-’25 | 2014 |
| Abigail Keel | MSA ’09, RA ’12-’14, Faculty ’15 | 2014 |
| Kelsey Klostermeyer | MSA ’05, Med. Staff ’12-’14 | 2014 |
| David Knieter | Faculty ’12-’14, ’16 | 2014 |
| Stephen Riesenberg | MSA ’06, RA and Accompanist ’10- ’11, ’13-’14 | 2014 |
| Frankie Bruning Synovec | MSA ’05, RA ’11, ’13, Coord. Res Life ’14-’19, Res Life Liaison ’22 | 2013 |
| Brady Deaton | MU Chancellor, ’04-’13 | 2013 |
| Alex Dzurick | MSA ’06, Office Staff ’12 | 2013 |
| Kyle Lovercamp | MSA ’96, Faculty ’11-’16 | 2013 |
| Sam Rayburn | MSA ’05; RA ’11-’13; Prog. Coord. & DVD ’14-’16, Faculty ’23-25 | 2013 |
| Kurt Schaeffer | Missouri State Senator, 2002-2016 | 2013 |
| Steve Senger | MSA ’98, Faculty ’11-’14, ’19 | 2013 |
| Jesse Garwood | RA ’09, ’11-’12; Med Staff ’14-’15 | 2012 |
| Charles Hang | MSA ’07 | 2012 |
| Adithi Vellore | MSA ’07; RA ’10-’12 | 2012 |
| Angela AuBuchon | MSA ’98, Faculty ’09-’12, ’16-’17, Coord. Comm. Service ’11 | 2011 |
| Robert Bartman | DESE Commissioner of Education, 1987-2001 | 2011 |
| Ronnie Bass | MSA ’03; RA ’09-’11 | 2011 |
| Mike Kersulov | Faculty ’09-’25 | 2011 |
| Ryan Wylie | Faculty ’09-’13 | 2011 |
| Christina Andrade | MSA ’04; RA ’08-’10 | 2010 |
| Kayla Bronder | MSA ’03; RA ’07-’08; Coor. Community Service ’09; Faculty ’10 | 2010 |
| Kyle Buschkoetter | MSA ’09; RA ’13, ’15 | 2010 |
| Jennifer Richards Fisher | MSA ’04; RA ’08-’09; Senior RA ’10; Faculty and Coord. Comm. Service ’11; Staff Asst ’12; Asst. Coord. Res Life ’13; Faculty ’16-’19, ’24 | 2010 |
| Barry Still | RA ’08-’09; Senior RA ’10; Faculty ’11, ’14-’15 | 2010 |
| Vince Foley | Lead Technology Assistant, ’05-’06, ’08-’11 | 2009 |
| Greg Holliday | Psychologist ’03-’18; ’22-’25 | 2009 |
| Steve Ikpe | MSA ’99; Medical Staff ’07-’09 | 2009 |
| Nicholas Jain | MSA ’06; RA ’09, ’11-’12; Faculty ’15 | 2009 |
| Meredith Johnson | MSA ’05; Office Staff ’07-’11 | 2009 |
| Jennifer Sanders | RA ’08-’09; Coord. Res Life ’10-’14; MU Res Life Liaison ’13-’15 | 2009 |
| David Weber | MSA ’06; RA ’10-’11 | 2009 |
| Kate Blankemeyer Votaw | MSA ’03; RA ’07-’09; Faculty ’13 | 2008 |
| R.J. Koscienlniak | RA ’06-’08, Faculty ’24-’25 | 2008 |
| Kyndal Marshall Riffie | MSA ’03; Office Staff ’06-’10; Media Producer ’08-’10; Webmaster ’11- ’14 | 2008 |
| Justin Arft | MSA ’94; Faculty ’05-’13 | 2007 |
| Rose Briccetti | MSA ’01; RA ’05-’07 | 2007 |
| Sarah Jenkins | MSA ’00; RA ’05-’07; Coord. Comm. Service ’08 | 2007 |
| Bill Palmer | Faculty ’02, ’06-’10 | 2007 |
| Brian Stuhlman | MSA ’93; Teacher Apprentice ’00; Part Time Faculty ’01; Faculty ’02, ’07- ’25 | 2007 |
| Laura Baty Kauffman | MSA ’98; RA ’02; med staff, science, and Comm. Service ’04, ’06-’07; Faculty ’13 | 2006 |
| Marcia Chatelain | Faculty ’03-’07 | 2006 |
| Jeffrey Gall | Faculty ’94-’96; Coord PSD ’97 | 2006 |
| Dan Glover | Graphic Designer and Publications Consultant, ’00-’06 | 2006 |
| Mollie Hosmer-Dillard | MSA ’99; RA ’04-’05; Part Time Faculty and Coord. Comm. Service ’06 | 2006 |
| Partick Jackson | MSA Disc Jockey, ’00-’06 | 2006 |
| Chris Joplin | RA ’98-’99; Med Staff and Science Assistant, ’00 ( | 2006 |
| Magda Mello | Dining Hall Staff ’99-’11 | 2006 |
| Michael Rozier | MSA ’97; RA ’01-’02; Senior RA ’03; Faculty ’08 | 2006 |
| Amy Smith | Dining Hall Staff ’97-’13 | 2006 |
| Ian Willie | MSA ’05 | 2006 |
| Silas Allard | MSA ’98; RA ’02-’03, ’05; Coor. Res Life ’06 | 2005 |
| Tom Bander | MSA ’96; RA ’99-’00; Development Staff ’04-’05 | 2005 |
| Adam Campbell | MSA ’93; RA ’03; Senior RA ’04-’05; Faculty ’07, ’09, ’11, ’18; Lead Volunteer ’14 | 2005 |
| Shannon Ferguson | MSA ’98; RA ’02-’04; Senior RA ’05; Coord. Res Life ’06-’09 | 2005 |
| Suzette Heiman | Faculty ’96-’09 | 2005 |
| Ericca Thornhill | MSA ’90; Faculty ’02-’04, ’07, ’12, ’22; Spec. Asst. ’06 | 2005 |
| Chris Young | MSA ’00; Tech Staff, Office Staff, & Photographer ’02-’08; Program and Media Coord. ’06-’09; Faculty ’09 | 2005 |
| Daivd Buck | Faculty ’01-’05; Coord. PSD ’06- ’07 | 2004 |
| Ted Carnahan | MSA ’99 | 2004 |
| Margaret Hagenhoff | DESE Administrative Assistant ’01- ’10 | 2004 |
| Antwaun Smith | MSA ’91; Comm. Service Staff ’99; Faculty ’03-’04, ’07 | 2004 |
| Travis Thornhill | MSA ’90; Comp. Staff ’02-’04; Exec. Sec’y MSAAA ’04-’16 | 2004 |
| Kate Virostko | MSA ’92; RA ’00-’01; Co-Coord. Res Life ’02; Coord. Res Life ’04-’05 | 2003 |
| Lucy Chang | MSA ’03 | 2003 |
| Sara Copeland | MSA ’93, RA ’00-’01 | 2003 |
| Leslie Eager | MSA ’97; RA ’01-’02; Senior RA ’03- ’04; Fac ’05 | 2003 |
| Kenyon Railey | RA ’01-’02; Medical Staff ’03 | 2003 |
| David Welch | Co-Director ’93-’09 | 2003 |
| Ila Guthrie | Dining Hall Staff ’85-’02 | 2002 |
| Nicholas Kirschman | Faculty ’99-’06, ’09-’22 | 2002 |
| Ryan Moore | MSA ’91; RA ’95-’97; Asst. Faculty and Program Staff ’00-’01; Faculty ’02-’03 | 2002 |
| Eric Rogers | MSA ’90; RA ’94-’97 | 2002 |
| Kevin Wolf | RA ’86; Senior RA ’87-’89 | 2002 |
| Jerry Wright | Quick Copy Service ’95-’02 | 2002 |
| Alex Campbell | MSA ’93; Office Staff ’96; RA ’97, ’99; Medical and Science Assistant ’01 | 2001 |
| Nancy Fischer | Faculty ’99-’09 | 2001 |
| Steve Ornes | MSA ’90; RA ’95, ’97-’98; Faculty and Program Staff ’01; Faculty ’02- ’05 | 2001 |
| Tyler Perrachionne | MSA ’01 | 2001 |
| Jenelle Beavers | MSA ’95; RA ’98-’99; Senior RA ’00; Coord. Res Life ’01, Assoc. Director ’17 | 2000 |
| Hoa Ngo | RA ’97-’99; Senior RA ’00; Coord. Res Life ’01; Asst. Instructor ’03-’04 | 2000 |
| Mike Todd | MSA ’94; Office Staff ’98-’00; Faculty ’04 | 2000 |
| Rick Vogt | MSA ’88; RA ’92, ’94-’95; Coord. of Technology ’98-’01; Faculty ’03, ’05, ’08 | 2000 |
| Sarah Moore | MSA ’90 | 2000 |
| Pat Garrett | RA ’95; Faculty ’96-’02 | 1999 |
| Frances Logan | Dining Hall Staff ’85-’99 | 1999 |
| Mike O’Brian | Faculty ’93-’00 | 1999 |
| Robin Wenneker | MSA ’85; Office Staff ’88 | 1999 |
| Jeannie Bealer Harding | MSA ’86 | 1998 |
| Jim Meyer | MSA ’90; RA ’94-96, ’98; Program Coord. ’97, ’99-’00; Exec. Sec’y MSAAA ’99-’01; Faculty ’01-’11, ’14- ’15; Coord. PSD ’08-’16 | 1998 |
| Joan Potthast | Faculty ’96-’11 | 1998 |
| Don Arni | Faculty ’87-’88, ’90-’09 | 1997 |
| Leasa Kowalski | MSA ’96 | 1997 |
| Karl Qualls | MSA ’87; RA ’91-’92; Program Coord. ’93-’94, ’96, ’98; Faculty ’99- ’00 | 1997 |
| Nancy Singer | Faculty and Yearbook ’90-’93; ’95- ’00 | 1997 |
| Frank Corley | Faculty ’92-’98, ’07-’25; Coord. PSD ’00-’05 | 1996 |
| Dan Massey | MSA ’89; Office Staff ’93; Computer Specialist ’94-’96; Chief Technology Specialist ’96 | 1996 |
| Kristin Moore | MSA ’88 | 1996 |
| Tom Byrnes | Faculty ’92-’95 | 1995 |
| Paulina Pranschke | MSA ’91 | 1995 |
| Chad Prewett | MSA ’89; RA ’93-’96; Faculty ’01- ’02; Exec. Sec’y MSAAA ’02-’03; Coord. Res Life ’03 | 1995 |
| Anna Rybolt | Quick Copy Service, ’85-’94; Deceased ’96 | 1995 |
| Manuel Tatayon | MSA Lead Security Officer ’85-’88 and ’90-’97 | 1995 |
| Jack Dykes | Res Life Custodial Services ’85- ’94; Deceased | 1994 |
| Jason Fletcher | MSA ’91; Office Staff ’94-’95 | 1994 |
| Stuart Shaw | RA ’89; Asst. Instructor ’90 | 1994 |
| Allena Volskay | MSA ’91 | 1994 |
| Kim Fischer Redinger | MSA ’87 | 1993 |
| Roger Richardson | Faculty ’90-’07; Deceased ’12 | 1993 |
| Andy White | MSA ’87; RA ’91; Senior RA ’92-’93; Faculty ’04-’05 | 1993 |
| Karen Davis | Faculty ’87-’90, ’92-’93 and ’95-’99 | 1992 |
| Toby Gilks | MSA ’85 | 1992 |
| Heather Kirkpatricks | MSA ’85; RA ’89-’97; Asst. Coord., Res Life & PSD ’98-’99 | 1992 |
| Tonya Lanes | MSA ’85; RA ’89-’92 | 1992 |
| Betty Prathers | Dining Hall Manager ’86-’94 | 1992 |
| Ake Takahashi | Faculty ’88-’22; Deceased ’26; Taiso Master forever | 1992 |
| Monica Cawveys | MSA ’87; Office Staff ’90-’91; RA ’92- ’94; Asst. Instructor ’97; Faculty ’98- ’00; Lead Development Officer ’06 | 1991 |
| Keith Elmore | Coord. PSD ’85, ’87, ’89-’96, ’98-’99 | 1991 |
| Bill Nelson | Faculty ’85-’86 | 1991 |
| Bill Northrip | Faculty ’86-’87, ’89-’91; Deceased ’99 | 1991 |
| Carla Schlink | Administrative Associate ’87-’09 | 1991 |
| Bryan Watson | MSA ’87; Office Staff ’90-’91; RA ’92- ’93; Senior RA ’94; Law Workshop ’96 | 1991 |
| Patty Wells | Sr. Secretary ’87-’94 | 1991 |
| Bill Young | Faculty ’88-’89 | 1991 |
| Tina Crayton | RA ’88-’89; Senior RA ’90-’96; ’98; Asst. Coord., Journalism ’99; Coord. Residential Life ’00 | 1990 |
| Vicki Crayton | Faculty ’88-’95, ’97-’98 | 1990 |
| Angela Wilson | MSA ’88 | 1990 |
| Julia Alsobrook | RA ’85; Hall Coord. ’86; Coord., Residential life ’87-’99; Asst. Journalism and Community Service ’00; Faculty ’04 | 1985 |
| Doug Anthony | RA ’85-’88, ’90; Asst. Instructor ’92; Program Coord. ’95 | 1985 |
| Mike Bancroft | Faculty ’85-’91 | 1985 |
| Ed Grooms | Faculty ’85-’86, ’88-’09 | 1985 |
| Bill Heyde | Faculty ’85-’99, ’01-’06 | 1985 |
| Lou Jobst | Faculty ’85-’15 | 1985 |
| Kim Moody | RA ’87; Program Coord. ’88-’92 | 1985 |
| Paul Rahmoeller | Faculty ’85-’15; Special Staff ’16-17; Coord. PSD ’18-’22 | 1985 |
| Bob Roach | Co-Director ’85-’92; Deceased ’11 | 1985 |
| Dexter Schraer | Faculty ’85; Program Staff ’86-’87; Coord. PSD ’88; Coord., Special and Alumni Events ’89-’99 | 1985 |
| Ted Tarkow | Co-Director ’85-’14 | 1985 |