Every semester two students are chosen to be the outstanding senior man and woman. On Nov. 16, at the senior breakfast, Alyssa Brooke Cecil and William Cole Hackett received the honor.
Cecil, accounting major from Buckner, Ky., said Murray State has helped her transform into the person she is today.
She was named outstanding student in accounting her sophomore and junior year, is a Becker Ambassador and is vice president of Beta Alpha Psi.
“I honestly can’t describe what an honor being named Outstanding Senior Woman is,” Cecil said. “I’m still in shock that it’s me. Without the professors and people here, I wouldn’t be who I am.”
Cecil plans on pursuing her MBA at Murray State in the spring. She also has an internship at Ernst and Young next summer and aspires to become a certified public accountant and work at a Big Four public accounting firm.
This semester’s outstanding senior man, Hackett, is a biology major from Boaz, Ky., said some of his honors include being named Who’s Who Among Students in American Junior Colleges, the Coca-Cola Silver Scholar and the Gamma Beta Phi leadership award.
“I consider being acknowledged as the Outstanding Senior Man a great honor,” Hackett said. “I know that there are many other students on campus who have tirelessly worked to better the University and community while excelling academically, so to be chosen out of such an accomplished group of students is truly humbling.”
He said it is the highest honor he has received in his academic career, and he greatly appreciates those who chose him for the award.
His plans after graduation are to attend either the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry or the University of Louisville Dental School to pursue a career.
“I hope to eventually open my own dental practice in order to assist individuals in the community with their dental health,” Hackett said.
Both students are involved with volunteer work and honor societies on campus. Cecil and Hackett held jobs while achieving full-time status as a student.
Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs, said the selection comes from the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities.
The students selected by Murray State for the 2012-13 award are graduating in December.
Robertson said the students receiving the award was a great honor and the students should be proud of their accomplishments.
The leaders of the Residential College Council makes the final selection.
Cecil and Hackett will both give valedictorian speeches at the December 2012 Commencement ceremony. The event begins at 10 a.m. Dec. 15, and is at the CFSB Center. The event lasts about two hours.
Story by Meghann Anderson, Assistant News Editor.