20 Journalism Seniors Inducted into Elite Mizzou ’39
The Group Is Recognized for Academics, Service and Leadership
By Dolores Obregon
Planning and Communications Staff
Columbia, Mo. (Feb. 24, 2011) — Eighteen Missouri School of Journalism and two agricultural journalism seniors were selected to be in the 2011 class of Mizzou ’39 by the Mizzou Alumni Association Student Board (AASB).
Created by the AASB in 2005, Mizzou ’39 is an award recognizing 39 outstanding seniors for their academic achievements, service and leadership to Mizzou and the community. The award, which pays tribute to the spirit of service modeled by the families that supported the founding of the University in 1839, is awarded to only 39 of the more than 3,000 graduating seniors at the University of Missouri.
Mizzou ’39 honorees must be seniors with a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher. A committee of alumni, faculty and staff review the applications and select the winners.
This year’s Mizzou ’39 recipients, who range in majors, interests and activities, were kept secret until their reveal on Feb. 13 on the historic Francis Quadrangle.
Each year, the recipients are recognized during Mizzou ’39 Week at events such as a Mizzou ’39 award banquet and reception at the Reynolds Alumni Center and during the halftime at the MU vs. Texas Tech men’s basketball game.
“There are so many stellar seniors,” said Brian Brooks, associate dean for undergraduate studies at the School. “This is an extraordinary honor that says a lot for the caliber of students we attract.”
The following are the 20 Missouri journalism seniors honored this year.
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Top row, from left: Cassie Batchelder, Jaimie Borislow, Evan Bush, Katelyn Chizek, Lindsay Cochrum, Peter Dubrowski, Annie Hildebrandt. Second row: Alexandrya Holley, Amanda Klohmann, Jacquelinne Mejia, Megan Ogar, Catherine O’Neill, James Parham, Elizabeth Reed. Third row: Julia Shuck, Kathleen Sprouse, Chris Spurlock, Elizabeth Strickert, Megan Stroup, Nathan Winters.
- Cassie Batchelder is a strategic communication journalism and political science dual major from Lakeville, Minn. She serves as a tri-director of Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis, vice president of membership for Mortar Board Senior Honor Society, a justice on the Judicial Peer Advisory Council and an intern in the MU Office of Admissions. After graduation, Batchelder will attend law school and plans a career in media law. Mentor: Brian Brooks, associate dean, Missouri School of Journalism.
- Jaimie Borislow is a radio-television journalism and sociology dual major from Indian Rocks Beach, Fla. She served as charter president of Sigma Sigma Sigma and as the president of Student Athletic Board. Borislow is a member of the Homecoming Steering Committee and the Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis Steering Committee. She also works as a producer at KOMU-TV. After graduation, Borislow will pursue a television-production career to combine her passions for entertainment and athletics. Mentor: Deanna Harper, adviser, Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis.
- Evan Bush is a magazine journalism major from Keller, Texas. Bush is a former News21 multimedia journalism fellow and a former reporter at the Columbia Missourian. He currently serves as co-executive editor of Project 573, a multimedia journalism project covering the economy in mid-Missouri. After graduation, Bush will pursue a career as a multimedia and documentary journalist. Mentor: Elizabeth Brixey, associate professor, Missouri School of Journalism.
- Katelyn Chizek is a strategic communication journalism major from Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Chizek is a member of Mortar Board Honor Society and is a media planner for MOJO Ad. She has served as a 2009 Summer Welcome leader, Mizzou Dance Marathon tri-director and Chancellor’s Leadership Class teaching assistant. After graduation, Chizek will join the Teach for America Corps in Tulsa, Okla. Mentor: David Roberts, senior coordinator, Office of Leadership Development.
- Lindsay Cochrum is a magazine journalism major from Arlington, Texas. She serves as a student coordinator for the Freshman Interest Groups program, a Journalism Ambassador, a marketing and design intern for Residential Life and as a leader in The Rock campus church. After graduation, Cochrum will attend graduate school for student affairs administration. Mentor: Laura Denlinger, hall coordinator, Residential Life.
- Peter Dubrowski is a strategic communication journalism and political science dual major from Lake St. Louis, Mo. He has interned with the Executive Office of the President in Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Department of State in Brussels, Belgium. He works on campus as a program assistant in the Transatlantic Center, as well as a student justice on the Judicial Peer Advisory Council. After graduation, Dubrowski will attend graduate school for international relations or pursue a law degree with a focus in international trade and development law. Mentor: Fritz Cropp, associate professor, Missouri School of Journalism.
- Annie Hildebrandt is a magazine journalism major from Overland Park, Kan. She is an executive member of the Mizzou Student Foundation, former president of Kappa Alpha Theta, an Honors College Ambassador and member of Griffith’s Leadership Society for Women. Hildebrandt’s post-graduation plans are undetermined at this time. Mentor: Joan T.A. Gabel, dean, Trulaske College of Business.
- Alexandrya Holley is a radio-television journalism major from Irving, Texas. She is chairman of the MSA Senate Multicultural Issues Committee, creator of SWIPES Make A Difference charitable program and secretary/PR representative for Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Delta Tau Chapter. Holley is a reporter, anchor and producer for KOMU-TV, and she also anchors for the multi-source news website Newsy.com. After graduation, Holley plans to report for an entertainment news source or anchor and produce for a local news station. Mentor: Linda Garth, director, Academic Retention Services.
- Amanda Klohmann is a convergence journalism major from St. Louis. She serves as an officer of Delta Gamma sorority, is a member of the Greek Week Steering Committee, a captain of the MU Women’s Club Soccer team, is a founder of the Online News Association club at MU and is a member of the Griffiths Leadership Society for Women. After graduation, Klohmann will pursue job opportunities in online journalism, social media and mobile development. Mentor: Kathy Murray, assistant director, Student Life.
- Jacquelinne Mejia is a convergence journalism major with an emphasis in international reporting and a minor in business from Downey, Calif. She serves as the dance choreographer of the Hispanic-American Leadership Organization, member and past president of the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, MU Career Center specialist, writer and video editor for Newsy.com, student editor for Global Journalist magazine and is an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta. She was a 2010 Top Ten Homecoming Royalty court member and a 2009 Summer Welcome Leader. After graduation, Mejia plans to return to southern California to pursue a career in multimedia production and editing for either a broadcast or film company. Mentor: Vicki Boyd-Kennedy, academic adviser, Arts & Science/The Learning Center.
- Megan Ogar is a magazine journalism major from St. Louis. She serves as an MU Tour Team co-chair, a Relay for Life team captain and a member of the Women’s Leadership Conference Steering Committee. After graduation, Ogar will travel as a national consultant for Kappa Delta Sorority. Mentor: LeAnn Stroupe, coordinator, Visitor Relations.
- Catherine O’Neill is a magazine journalism major and women’s and gender studies minor from Glendale, Calif. She contributes to the beauty department at Fitness magazine, leads a team of reporters for Project 573 and serves as a Journalism Ambassador. O’Neill was the vice president Panhellenic for Kappa Alpha Theta and the leadership director for Rooted. After graduation, O’Neill plans to pursue a career in magazine editing in New York City. Mentor: Shawn Wallace, academic adviser, Missouri School of Journalism.
- James Parham is a radio-television journalism major from Duncanville, Texas. He serves as a student assistant for the MU soccer team, a reporter/videographer at KOMU-TV and a reporter/anchor at KBIA. Parham has served in various roles for Beta Upsilon Chi and Memorial Baptist Church in Columbia. He worked as a community advisor for Residential Life. Parham plans to continue his studies in the graduate program at the Missouri School of Journalism while continuing to work for the MU soccer team as a graduate assistant. Mentor: Gary Grigsby, associate professor, Missouri School of Journalism.
- Elizabeth Reed is a convergence journalism and English dual major from McKinney, Texas. She serves as president of the Hispanic-American Leadership Organization, a student coordinator for Residential Life and the new media coordinator for Zimmer Radio and Marketing Group. After graduation, Reed plans to work as an associate Web producer and social media planner. Mentor: Pablo Mendoza, assistant director, Student Life and Multicultural Center.
- Julia Shuck is an agricultural journalism major from Perry, Mo. She serves as a College of Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources (CAFNR) Ambassador, International Association of Students in Agriculture and Related Sciences (IAAS) MU chapter founder and president, IAAS World editor, National Agri-Marketing Association MU president, Agricultural Communicators of Tomorrow MU president, National Collegiate Agricultural Ambassadors, Lambda Pi Eta communications honors fraternity, MBS Textbooks intern and IEP Language Partner, among other activities. After graduation, Shuck will work with agricultural journalists in Ghana before earning her master’s degree in international agriculture development. Mentor: Sharon Wood-Turley, assistant professor, Agricultural Journalism.
- Kathleen Sprouse is an agricultural journalism major from Kansas City, Kan. She serves as a research fellow of the McQuinn Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership along with helping other campus activities, such as Rockin’ Against Multiple Sclerosis, CAFNR Ambassadors and MU Entrepreneurs’ Club. After graduation, Sprouse will pursue a master’s degree in agricultural business at Michigan State University. Mentor: Randy Westgren, professor, CAFNR.
- Chris Spurlock is a convergence journalism major from O’Fallon, Mo. He currently serves as a campus tour guide and is a former Residential Life peer advisor, Summer Welcome leader and Top 10 Homecoming Royalty candidate. After graduation, Spurlock plans to work as an infographics artist at a St. Louis-area newspaper or TV station. Mentor: Karen Mitchell, assistant professor, Missouri School of Journalism.
- Elizabeth Strickert is a strategic communication journalism major from Charlotte, N.C. She is an active member of Chi Omega, served on the Greek Week and Dance Marathon steering committees, and studied abroad in London in Spring 2010. After graduation, Strickert will pursue a career in public relations in the healthcare field. Mentor: Holly Higginbotham, adjunct faculty, Missouri School of Journalism.
- Megan Stroup is a magazine journalism/history dual major from Hilmar, Calif. She serves as chapter president of Alpha Delta Pi and is a facility lead at MizzouRec student recreation complex. Stroup also has been involved in Griffiths Leadership Society for Women, STRIPES, The Maneater and Dance Marathon Steering Committee. After graduation in December, Stroup plans to work in the magazine industry on the East coast. Mentor: Mary Kay Blakely, associate professor, Missouri School of Journalism.
- Nathan Winters is a print and digital news major from Franklin, Wis. He serves as the senior community adviser with MU Residential Life for TRUE Scholars House, vice-president of the National Residence Hall Honorary and assists with research studies in the PRIME Lab. After graduation, Winters will attend a graduate school program in higher education/student affairs. Mentor: Jeanne Abbott, associate professor, Missouri School of Journalism.
Updated: May 20, 2020