SPRINGFIELD, Mo. – The Department of Behavioral & Social Sciences at Evangel University has announced its 2021 graduation awards. The awards were presented during the Baccalaureate service held on Thursday, May 6, in the Robert H. Spence Chapel auditorium.
Students in the Behavioral & Social Sciences Department live out their calling in service to others, finding commonality under the banner of the “helping professions.”
Majors offered include criminal justice, government, history, psychology, social sciences and social work. The military science (ROTC) program is also included in this department.
The following awards were presented:
Outstanding Graduate in Criminal Justice
- Brett Underwood from Fordland, MO
Outstanding Graduate in Government
- Jonathan Baumann from Burke, VA
Outstanding Graduates in Psychology
- Gabriela Rivera-Michaud from Lihue, HI
- Emily Russell from Topeka, KS
Outstanding Graduate in Social Science Education
- Kendra Smith from Willow Springs, MO
Outstanding Graduate in Social Work
- Bailey Odom from Cedarville, AR
Outstanding Graduate in Research in Psychology
- Luke Carpenter from Colorado Springs, CO
The Ryan Parke-Hartje Award for Outstanding Student in Behavioral Science
- Cecilia Corbin from Branson, MO
The Kendrick-Karmarkovic-Holsinger Award for Outstanding Achievement in Social Science
- Spenser Wilhelm from Hermosa, SD
Outstanding Graduate in Social Work Practicum
- Nydia Solano from Beech Grove, IN
Outstanding Graduate in Social Work Research
- Dylan Quiggle from Osceola, IN
Academic Excellence in Psychology
- Emily Bass from Troy, MO
- Aubrey Shepard from Ozark, MO
Academic Excellence in Psychology Practicum
- Jillian Cochran from Nixa, MO
- Renon Kirkpatrick from Ozark, MO
The Class of 2021
Evangel University and its seminary celebrated 544 graduates at its joint commencement ceremony at JQH Arena in Springfield, MO on May 7. Graduates earned a total of 25 doctoral, 130 master’s, 344 bachelor’s and 45 associate’s degrees. The majority of the AA’s are from Evangel’s James River College campus.
Participants included both 2021 and 2020 graduates, as the university was unable to hold an in-person commencement ceremony last year due to the coronavirus.
The commencement speaker was Dr. Greg Mundis, Sr., a CBC (’73) and AGTS (’97) alum and executive director of Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM). Mundis oversees the work of more than 2,700 missionaries serving in more than 255 countries, territories, and provinces.
In 2020, Mundis was diagnosed with COVID-19 and spent more than 50 grueling days in the hospital, much of that time on a ventilator, fighting for his life. He experienced a miraculous recovery and is now back to work full-time.
###
Evangel University, with the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (AGTS), is a comprehensive Christian university committed to excellence in educating and equipping students to serve the Church and society globally. Evangel and AGTS serve more than 2,200 students from all 50 states and numerous foreign countries, offering 70 undergraduate majors and 19 master and doctoral degrees.
Additional 2021 Departmental Outstanding Graduates:
Business & Economics: https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/business-economics-department-2021-eu-graduation-awards/
CAGS: https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/college-of-adult-graduate-studies-2021-eu-graduation-awards/
Communication: https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/communication-department-2021-eu-graduation-awards/
Education: https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/education-department-2021-eu-graduation-awards/
Humanities: https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/humanities-department-2021-eu-outstanding-graduate-awards/
Kinesiology: https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/kinesiology-department-2021-eu-graduation-awards/
Music: https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/music-department-2021-eu-graduation-awards/
Natural & Applied Sciences: https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/natural-applied-sciences-department-2021-eu-graduation-awards/
Theology & Global Church Ministries: https://www.evangel.edu/press_releases/theology-global-church-ministries-department-2021-eu-graduation-awards/