Three Honored with 2025 UCM Education for Service Awards

From left, Professor of Spanish Dr. Julie Stephens de Jonge, Director of Military and Veteran Services Courtney Swoboda
and student Andrea Garcia Tovar.

 

Three members of the University of Central Missouri (UCM) community who exemplify the university’s values have been recognized with the 2025 Education for Service awards.

Faculty recipient Julie Stephens de Jonge, staff recipient Courtney Swoboda and student recipient Andrea Garcia Tovar were recognized at the UCM Board of Governors meeting on April 24.

“Education for Service” is UCM’s long-standing motto. For more than a century, it has embodied the essence of UCM, guiding faculty and staff as they prepare students to graduate and become global citizens. The motto aligns with the university’s values: community, diversity, excellence, learning, opportunity and service.

Each year, an Office of Student Experience and Engagement committee selects the student award winner, a Faculty Senate committee selects the faculty award winner and a Staff Council committee selects the staff award winner. Nominations are evaluated based on detailed descriptions of how nominees embody "Education for Service" and UCM's values. 

Julie Stephens de Jonge, Ph.D., is a professor of Spanish and the Spanish program director in the Department of Modern Languages and Interdisciplinary Studies.

For more than 15 years, Stephens de Jonge has coordinated UCM’s annual Modern Languages Film Festival, which brings together hundreds of middle and high school students from Missouri and Kansas. She also regularly presents research at national and international conferences and is a published scholar, with additional publications forthcoming. 

She consistently receives strong evaluations from students, earning high marks for her enthusiasm, creating a good learning environment and her concern for student success. Her nominator said student comments “frequently emphasize her engaging classroom demeanor, rapport with students and her willingness to go the extra step to help students.”

She is also a champion for languages and global learning. She regularly leads a summer Study Tour to Spain and helps students find study abroad opportunities through the Global Vision Scholarship and the Fulbright program.

“Dr. Stephens de Jonge puts a great deal of work into designing her classes and continually uses student feedback to improve them,” her nominator wrote. “Indeed, she is dedicated to creating classes that are rigorous, informative, educational and enjoyable. Not only does she use technology to enhance student learning, she regularly seeks out professional development opportunities to enhance her pedagogical skills.”

At the 2020 Playposium Conference, Stephens de Jonge won Honorable Mention for Teaching Innovation for her presentation and research on gamification, escape rooms and online learning. On campus, she received the Excellence in Teaching (Tenure-Track) Award in 2015-16 and the Distinguished Professor of the College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences award in 2023.

Courtney Swoboda is the director of Military and Veteran Services. Using her experiences as a UCM alumna and more than 10 years in the Air Force Reserves, Swoboda has created an environment in the Military and Veterans Success Center where students feel comfortable and can access resources needed to succeed.

Her nominator wrote that Swoboda goes above and beyond to advocate for students and help them achieve their goals. She connects students with campus and community resources when she can't provide direct assistance.

“Courtney is a passionate advocate for the military-affiliated students, who represent a significant portion of the campus community and often require additional support,” her nominator wrote. "Many of these students are adult learners and first-generation college students. Courtney is always ready to step in and offer the assistance they need to navigate their journey at UCM.”

Swoboda takes pride in demonstrating the value of a higher education degree. During her three-year tenure, she has significantly grown the military-affiliated student population, achieving one of the highest numbers UCM has ever seen. Her efforts were instrumental in helping UCM achieve a top-three ranking as one of the nation's best military-friendly colleges. She also worked relentlessly to secure a new graduate military discount.

She serves on various local boards, advocates for the military community in the area, organizes the Military Appreciation Tailgate and the faculty/staff tour at Whiteman Air Force Base and participates in education and career fairs to showcase what UCM can offer the military-affiliated population. 

Andrea Garcia Tovar is a senior Psychology major from Colombia. Garcia Tovar arrived at UCM with limited English skills but worked tirelessly through the Intensive English Program and excelled in her major. She is now applying for UCM’s Counseling graduate program, where she hopes to continue supporting others. 

Her nominator said Garcia Tovar has transformed the international student experience at UCM, creating a greater sense of community and belonging. She founded the English Language Institute (ELI) Passport Program, which allows students to earn rewards for participating in cultural and social activities in Warrensburg and on campus. As the coordinator for English Cafe and Conversation Partners, she helps students improve their language skills while facilitating friendships between international and domestic students.

Garcia Tovar is a translator for Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking students, teaches international students about U.S. culture and welcomes new arrivals. With the ELI's support, she helps international students gain the cultural, social and linguistic knowledge needed to thrive at UCM. 

“She embodies UCM’s motto, ‘Education for Service,’ not just in her daily actions but in the person she is becoming – a leader dedicated to using her experiences to uplift others,” her nominator wrote. “Her work has left a lasting impact on the university, and her influence will continue to inspire future students.”