Earlier last month, Midway University presented two student awards – the President’s Award and the Midway Woman Award. Typically, these are presented at the May Commencement ceremony but with the postponement of that event, the awards were presented to the students when they participated in a modified, socially distanced ceremony. Midway University hosted four smaller ceremonies on a Saturday in early August for students who wanted to have an in-person celebration.
The President’s Award is the highest honor bestowed upon a Midway University graduate. This award is presented to an individual who has demonstrated excellence in the areas of scholarship, leadership and service. The recipient of the award must have maintained at least a 3.75 grade point average. This year’s recipient, Kendra Legters (right) of Bloomfield, New York, earned her degree in equine studies, and provided a great deal of service to Midway University and the community. During her four years at Midway University, she demonstrated academic excellence by being named to the Dean’s List every semester. She was active in co-curricular activities, student life and athletics. She was a founding member of Gamma Beta Phi, a national honors and service society and served as secretary this past year. She served as president of the Disciples for Campus organization for two years and was an active member of the Midway Activities Council, as well as a member of the Student Government Association. While at Midway, she was a Resident Assistant, a member of the Hunt Seat team and served on the executive board of the Midway Horse Association.
The Midway Woman Award is given to a graduating female undergraduate who demonstrates a profound sense of service to others and is a role model who exemplifies the core values of the University. Additionally, the recipient of the Midway Woman Award must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. This year’s recipient, Mikala McClain (left) of Franklin, Kentucky, received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology: Drug and Alcohol Counseling. Along with being an Eagle Prep Mentor for two years, she was a Resident Assistant this past year. In her senior year she took on the position of Vice President of Eagle Outreach, a community service organization and assisted with a variety of service projects. Mikala was also part of the Eagle Envoy giving tours to prospective students and families and was the manager for the Men’s and Women’s Volleyball teams. She earned a spot on the Dean’s list for 5 semesters. In 2019, she was recognized with the Student Affairs Eagle Leadership Award.