Dakota Wesleyan University seniors selected for Honors of Distinction Awards
May 4—MITCHELL — Four Dakota Wesleyan seniors were awarded the fourth annual Honors of Distinction awards, the university's highest honors, during the annual Honors Banquet Friday night, May 2.
Established in 2022, the Wesleyan Honors of Distinction are awarded annually to four Dakota Wesleyan University seniors who have most notably embodied and exemplified the university's values of learning, leadership, faith and service. One senior receives Wesleyan Honors of Distinction in each category.
To qualify for candidacy, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher (3.7 for the learning distinction), as required by each award's guidelines, and be ranked as senior status. Those eligible submit an application, and the finalists are selected by a Student Senate-appointed panel. The finalists are then interviewed by a committee of students, staff and faculty who choose the recipients.
In the category of Honors of Distinction for Learning is Aletheia Underhile of Tripp, daughter of Andy Underhile and Nhora Underhile. Underhile is graduating with a History major. She was active on campus with Diversity Council, the McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service and as a tutor for religion, government and history. She has had several national opportunities including the American Enterprise Institute's fall summit and summer honors program and was awarded a Hertog Foundation scholarship. Underhile is a trained debate chair and moderator for Braver Angels where she chaired a national debate at the 2024 convention in Wisconsin and has moderated debates at the USD School of Law. She has accepted a position with Braver Angels national debates team.
In the category of Honors of Distinction for Leadership is Logan Serck of Hudson. He is the son of Phillip and Michelle Serck and is an Elementary Education major. Serck played football for DWU and served on the team leadership council all four years. He is also a member of Aspiring Educators. Serck worked with Hanson High School in Alexandria to help establish their first wrestling program which recently sent two qualifiers to the state tournament. He also works for his family's business, Serck Construction. Most recently, he completed his student teaching at Hanson Elementary School. After graduation Serck will be teaching at Alcester-Hudson middle school.
In the category of Honors of Distinction for Faith, the recipient is Nathan Meyers of Brandon. He is a Nonprofit Business Administration major and is the son of Mitch and Amy Meyers. Meyers played baseball for the Tigers and served as team captain this past year. He is a 2024 Daktronics Scholar Athlete. He serves on the Student Ministry Council, is the Student Athlete Chaplain and has led Fellowship of Christian Athletes, helping to increase participation by 20 percent. Meyers will be pursuing a Masters degree at DWU in the fall while working at Fusion Church in Mitchell.
In the category of Honors of Distinction for Service, the student selected is McKinnely Mull of Vernal, Utah. The Biochemistry major is the daughter of Diana Mull, Chris Schlosser, Jason Mull and Jennifer Mull. Mull is a standout softball player and captain of the softball team where she has been recognized as a Daktronics Scholar Athlete. She served on Student Senate for three years and is currently Senior Class President. She has been a resident assistant since 2023 and currently serves as senior resident assistant. Her campus involvement includes student ambassador, CHAOS, Lost and Found, and she is a tutor in math, chemistry and biology. Off campus she has been involved with Sanford Softball as a volunteer coach and periodically volunteers in the children's department at the University of Utah Hospital. She works as a medication aide at Countryside Living in Mitchell and works as a research assistant for Adult and Pediatric Neurology at the University of Utah. Mull plans to take a gap year and apply to medical schools.
The following students were also candidates for Honors of Distinction:
Wesleyan Honor of Distinction for Learning
Peyton Bagley, Rapid City
Khasidy Hodge, Missoula, Mont.
Wesleyan Honor of Distinction for Leadership
Abigail Brunsing, Wagner
Isabella Gregg, Moreno Valley, Calif.
Wesleyan Honor of Distinction for Faith
Kaitlyn Christensen, Mitchell
Keesha Letcher, Bridgewater
Wesleyan Honor of Distinction for Service
Anthony Acosta, Grand Island, Neb.
Alyssa Crnic, Omaha, Neb.
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Dakota Wesleyan University seniors selected for Honors of Distinction Awards
May 4—MITCHELL — Four Dakota Wesleyan seniors were awarded the fourth annual Honors of Distinction awards, the university's highest honors, during the annual Honors Banquet Friday night, May 2. Established in 2022, the Wesleyan Honors of Distinction are awarded annually to four Dakota Wesleyan University seniors who have most notably embodied and exemplified the university's values of learning, leadership, faith and service. One senior receives Wesleyan Honors of Distinction in each category. To qualify for candidacy, students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher (3.7 for the learning distinction), as required by each award's guidelines, and be ranked as senior status. Those eligible submit an application, and the finalists are selected by a Student Senate-appointed panel. The finalists are then interviewed by a committee of students, staff and faculty who choose the recipients. In the category of Honors of Distinction for Learning is Aletheia Underhile of Tripp, daughter of Andy Underhile and Nhora Underhile. Underhile is graduating with a History major. She was active on campus with Diversity Council, the McGovern Center for Leadership and Public Service and as a tutor for religion, government and history. She has had several national opportunities including the American Enterprise Institute's fall summit and summer honors program and was awarded a Hertog Foundation scholarship. Underhile is a trained debate chair and moderator for Braver Angels where she chaired a national debate at the 2024 convention in Wisconsin and has moderated debates at the USD School of Law. She has accepted a position with Braver Angels national debates team. In the category of Honors of Distinction for Leadership is Logan Serck of Hudson. He is the son of Phillip and Michelle Serck and is an Elementary Education major. Serck played football for DWU and served on the team leadership council all four years. He is also a member of Aspiring Educators. Serck worked with Hanson High School in Alexandria to help establish their first wrestling program which recently sent two qualifiers to the state tournament. He also works for his family's business, Serck Construction. Most recently, he completed his student teaching at Hanson Elementary School. After graduation Serck will be teaching at Alcester-Hudson middle school. In the category of Honors of Distinction for Faith, the recipient is Nathan Meyers of Brandon. He is a Nonprofit Business Administration major and is the son of Mitch and Amy Meyers. Meyers played baseball for the Tigers and served as team captain this past year. He is a 2024 Daktronics Scholar Athlete. He serves on the Student Ministry Council, is the Student Athlete Chaplain and has led Fellowship of Christian Athletes, helping to increase participation by 20 percent. Meyers will be pursuing a Masters degree at DWU in the fall while working at Fusion Church in Mitchell. In the category of Honors of Distinction for Service, the student selected is McKinnely Mull of Vernal, Utah. The Biochemistry major is the daughter of Diana Mull, Chris Schlosser, Jason Mull and Jennifer Mull. Mull is a standout softball player and captain of the softball team where she has been recognized as a Daktronics Scholar Athlete. She served on Student Senate for three years and is currently Senior Class President. She has been a resident assistant since 2023 and currently serves as senior resident assistant. Her campus involvement includes student ambassador, CHAOS, Lost and Found, and she is a tutor in math, chemistry and biology. Off campus she has been involved with Sanford Softball as a volunteer coach and periodically volunteers in the children's department at the University of Utah Hospital. She works as a medication aide at Countryside Living in Mitchell and works as a research assistant for Adult and Pediatric Neurology at the University of Utah. Mull plans to take a gap year and apply to medical schools. The following students were also candidates for Honors of Distinction: Wesleyan Honor of Distinction for Learning Peyton Bagley, Rapid City Khasidy Hodge, Missoula, Mont. Wesleyan Honor of Distinction for Leadership Abigail Brunsing, Wagner Isabella Gregg, Moreno Valley, Calif. Wesleyan Honor of Distinction for Faith Kaitlyn Christensen, Mitchell Keesha Letcher, Bridgewater Wesleyan Honor of Distinction for Service Anthony Acosta, Grand Island, Neb. Alyssa Crnic, Omaha, Neb.
