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April 2026 News at UCM
By Nicole Lyons, May 1, 2026
Students, faculty and staff at the University of Central Missouri (UCM) are closing out the spring semester by bringing home plenty of state and national awards. Faculty and staff also showcased their expertise with conference presentations and research publications.
Check out the April news roundup to read about all the ways UCM employees and students
are redefining what’s possible every day.
The UCM News Bureau publishes the news roundup, a monthly collection of newsworthy
moments from UCM’s two campuses. UCM faculty and staff members can submit items for
consideration at ucmo.edu/news/news-roundup.
Students Earn 24 Awards in Missouri Broadcast Education Association Contest
For the third year in a row, UCM students topped all other schools competing in the Missouri Broadcast Education Association’s annual contest.
UCM students placed in 13 categories, earning 24 awards, including seven first-place awards. Categories
and award winners included:
Radio Drama: Kaia Trujillo, first place for “A Christmas Carol;” Walker Dehn, second place for
“Santa Inc.;” and Jason High, third place for “The Creak Upstairs”
Radio Commercial: Katherine Hamilton, first place for “Moonlit Petricor;” Conner McKee, second place
for “Heroes;” and Quinton Weed, third place for “Colton Steak House”
Radio Sports Show: Brad Hadank, first place for “Sportspage,” and High, second place for “Fourth and
High”
Radio Station Promo: Hamilton, third place for KMUL
Radio News Story: Linda Alviar, second place for “No Kings Rally Warrensburg”
Radio Show Promo: Carson Meade, second place for “Behind the Board;” Hamilton, third place for “Magic
of the Movies;” and Meade, honorable mention for “Mellow Mornings”
Radio Sports Play-by-Play: Hadank, first place for UCM Mules Basketball vs. Nebraska Kearney
Podcast: High, first place for MO History Podcast
Script Writing-News: Gavin Moore, honorable mention for “Missouri Governor Mike Kehoe Signs New Redistricting
Bill”
Multicamera Live Sports Event: Advanced Multicam Studio Production class, first place for UCM Mules Basketball vs.
Missouri Western
Video Commercial/Promo: High, second place for “UCM Store”
Intermediate Film: Nolan Baker, Ethan Hunt, Megan Weaver, Addi Miller, Madeline Otero and Evan Harrel,
first place for “Magnumortis”
Music Video: Rudy Potocnik, Coleman Hook, Sydney Barger and Regina Robinson, second place for
“Did U Pray,” and Wyatt Zirkle, Otero, Kayla Blankenship and Rosalyn Schuster, third
place for “Misfit Islands”
Musical Theatre Major Wins National Awards from ACTF
Hannah Vath, a senior Musical Theatre major and Dance minor from Dalton, Nebraska, won two national awards from the American College Theatre Festival (ACTF).
In January, Vath won the Region V ACTF Irene Ryan Acting Scholarship competition, standing out amongst 300 students in the
seven-state region. This prestigious award recognizes, honors and provides financial
assistance to outstanding student performers, awarding eight $500 regional scholarships
and one national scholarship annually.
The eight regional winners competed in the national festival in April, where Vath won the Classical Acting Award and the Mark Twain Comedy Award,
earning monetary scholarships for both.
Talking Mules Compete at National Tournaments
The UCM Talking Mules speech and debate team competed at a pair of national tournaments in April.
On April 9-12, the Talking Mules competed at IPDA in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where
three students stood out.
Luke Fitzsimmons, a sophomore from Kansas City, Missouri, and Tristan Jackson, a sophomore
from Grain Valley, Missouri, teamed to be Double-Octofinalists in Open Team IPDA.
Fitzsimmons was also a Double-Octofinalist and 10th-place speaker in junior varsity
IPDA. Charlie Vitale, a sophomore from Kansas City, Missouri, was a Novice IPDA Octofinalist.
On April 16-20, two members of the Talking Mules reached the final eight at the National
Forensics Association tournament in Nashville, Tennessee. As a team, UCM finished
seventh in sweepstakes.
Paige Showen, a senior Communication Studies major from Raymore, Missouri, was an
octofinalist in Dramatic Interpretation and Sophie Katcher, a sophomore Communication
Studies major from Moberly, Missouri, was an octofinalist in Impromptu.
The tournament was the Talking Mules' final competition of the 2025-26 season.
Research Journal Publishes Workplace Risk Assessment Study Conducted by Professor, Student
Miaozong Wu, Ph.D., professor of Occupational Risk and Safety Sciences and graduate program coordinator of Occupational Safety Management, recently had research published in the Journal of Safety Research.
The research is titled “Risk of COVID-19 infections at the workplace: Lessons learned from OSHA investigations.” The research journal is affiliated with the National Safety Council and published
by Elsevier.
Wu (pictured) conducted the study with professional and academic colleagues and Cade
McNeeley, a safety professional pursuing a master's degree in Occupational Safety
Management at UCM.
The study focused on assessing workplace risk using U.S. Occupational Safety and Health
Administration (OSHA)-confirmed work-related COVID-19 infection cases from 2020 to
2024.
The analysis showed that certain industries had a higher risk of COVID-19 exposure
and infection, particularly health care and social assistance, public administration,
and manufacturing. The results provide insights for future reference of other potential
epidemics and pandemics.
Study Abroad Coordinator Serves on Scholarship Selection Panel
Matt Chiesi, study abroad coordinator for UCM’s Center for Global Education, recently served on the selection panels for the Benjamin A. Gilman International Scholarship Program.
Chiesi shared his time and expertise while evaluating applications for the 2026 scholarship
program, which is part of the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and
Cultural Affairs (ECA).
For the 2025-26 academic year, the Gilman Program will provide approximately 3,100
exceptional U.S. undergraduate students with funding to support their participation
in study abroad programs and international internships. These Gilman Scholars will
share American culture and values and learn languages and cultures, bringing that
knowledge back to campuses and communities across the United States.
Associate Professor Awarded MKN Achiever Award
Stacey Korson, associate professor of Literacy, was awarded the MKN Achiever Award at the MKN Annual Conference on April 1 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The MKN Achiever Award is presented by the Missouri-Kansas-Nebraska (MKN) Chapter
of the Educational Opportunity Association. It is given to an outstanding former TRIO/GEAR
UP participant who has received recognition within their profession or for outstanding
academic achievement and who has made significant civic, community or professional
contributions.
Korson, an alumna of UCM's TRIO McNair Scholars Program, left, is seen with MKN President Erika Sterup at the conference awards banquet.
UCM Students Place Among Top Teams in National Digital Marketing Competition
Four UCM students placed in the top 30 teams in the prestigious 2026 National Digital Marketing Competition.
Abbie Echols, of Blue Springs, Missouri; Andrew Jordan, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri;
Mariela Silva Lazono, of Lee’s Summit, Missouri; and Brooklyn Moores, of Lake Lotawana,
Missouri, placed as a top 30 team, surpassing hundreds of other university teams in
a rigorous contest that highlights the best in digital marketing prowess. The students
competed as part of Professor of Marketing Scott Smith’s Consumer Behavior course. The UCM team developed a digital marketing
strategy for Frozen Garden, a frozen smoothie e-commerce company looking to expand
its market in the United States.
The National Digital Marketing Competition provides a platform for students to apply theoretical knowledge in real-world scenarios,
challenging them to devise and implement effective digital marketing campaigns. The
UCM team’s approach skillfully combined analytical acumen with creative digital marketing
strategy. After registering for the event, student teams were required to create a
digital marketing strategy for the client and produce a brief video summary of the
campaign, which was judged by industry professionals. Purdue University Northwest’s
College of Business hosted the competition.
UCM Health Staff Present at Conference
Two staff members and an emeriti faculty member presented at the 2026 Meeting of the Minds (MOM) conference in St. Louis.
The MOM, an annual health, safety and well-being conference designed to help campus
professionals address the critical health behaviors of college and university students,
also serves as the Central College Health Association (CCHA) annual meeting, drawing
participants from 10 states.
Amy Kiger, Ph.D., director of Campus Community Health, and emeriti faculty member Janice Putnam, Ph.D., R.N., presented "From Prevention
to Pedagogy: Launching a Credit-Bearing Course in Resource-Constrained Times.” Even
in periods of fiscal constraint, prevention work continues to matter. While funding
cycles may shift, relationships, creativity and strategic partnerships remain powerful
tools for sustaining campus initiatives. The session explored a pilot collaboration
between a health promotion office and an academic department designed to translate
prevention work into a credit-bearing course launching in Fall 2026.
Crissy Hall-Sims, DNP, FNP, clinical director of the University Health Center (first photo), presented "Early Detection = a Healthy Campus: Tuberculosis Screening
in the Higher Education Setting.” She shared that the health center has increased
students' access to education about Latent TB Infection (LTBI) and available treatments,
while also removing barriers to accepting treatment. These changes led to a substantial
increase in students' acceptance of LTBI treatment, which impacts public health overall.
Kiger (second photo) also presented the research poster, "Facilitators and Barriers
to Belonging Among Indian Women Pursuing U.S. Master’s Degrees.” Drawing from a broader
doctoral case study, belonging emerged as a key protective factor influencing both
safety and well-being. Findings underscore the importance of designing campus systems
and practices that consider international graduate students as a population unique
from domestic graduate or international undergraduate students, with specific acculturation
needs.
UCM Students, Faculty Attend Alum’s Performance on Broadway Tour
On April 21, Theatre and Dance students, faculty and emeriti traveled to Lawrence, Kansas, to see the National Broadway Tour of “Kinky Boots” at the Lied Center of Kansas.
The night was particularly special as Theatre and Dance alum, Omari Collins, '19,
performed as the show’s lead in the role of Lola. The group met Collins at the stage
door following the performance for a meet-and-greet and to congratulate him on his
accomplishments in a wonderful full-circle moment.
Sigma Kappa Raises Funds With Aces for Alzheimer’s Event
Sigma Kappa Sorority hosted the third annual Aces for Alzheimer’s volleyball tournament on April 8 at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center.
Eight teams competed in a single-elimination bracket, with divisions for men’s and
women’s teams. Sigma Kappa members planned the event, served as referees and scorekeepers,
and cheered on each team. Delta Chi Fraternity won the men’s bracket and Alpha Omicron
Pi women’s fraternity won the women’s bracket.
The event raised $560 for the Alzheimer’s Association.
Finance Major Receives Student Employee Award
The Elliott Student Union recognized Finance major Noah Coleman as this year’s Above & Beyond Award recipient. The award is given annually at the Elliott Student Union Student Recognition Party to a student employee who consistently exceeds expectations, demonstrates initiative and shows an exceptional level of dedication in their role.
Coleman has distinguished himself through his strong work ethic and commitment to
excellence in his role as a building attendant in the union. He routinely goes beyond
his assigned responsibilities, stepping in wherever needed and ensuring that operations
run smoothly. His proactive approach and willingness to take initiative embody the
spirit of the Above & Beyond Award.
Coleman, right, is pictured with Union Facility Operations Manager Christi Cummings.
Recent UCM Rankings
UCM is where students find exceptional value, achieve real success and make a tangible impact. Publications consistently recognize UCM among the Midwest's top public universities for academic quality, affordability, social mobility and online innovation. UCM also earns specialized recognitions that showcase distinctive strengths within individual programs and services.
Here are just a few examples of recognition the University of Central Missouri has earned recently:
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OnlineMasters.com: #1 Best Online Master's in K-12 Education Degree Programs, #3 Best Online Master's in Communications Degree Programs, #4 Best Online Master's in Library Science Programs, #5 Best Online Master's in Coaching Degree Programs, #15 Best Online Master's in Sports Medicine Degree Programs, #36 Most Affordable Online Master’s Degree Programs, #38 Best Online Master's in Online Teaching Degree Programs, #46 Best Online Master's in Curriculum and Instruction Degree Programs
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AIDegreePrograms.org: Best Affordable Online AI Master's for 2026
