Three Honored with 2026 UCM Education for Service Awards

From left, Keri Busker, Emma Rice and Adam Runyan are the 2026 Education for Service award recipients.

 

Three members of the University of Central Missouri (UCM) community who exemplify the university’s values have been recognized with the 2026 Education for Service awards.

Faculty recipient Adam Runyan, staff recipient Keri Busker and student recipient Emma Rice received their awards at a UCM Board of Governors meeting earlier this year.

“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. 

Keri Busker

Busker, student services assistant in the Office of Student Experience and Engagement, is recognized for her tireless commitment to fostering a community of collaboration and respect.

Busker serves as a creative catalyst for continuous improvement and never settles for the status quo. She is a strong advocate for creating and maintaining an environment where all individuals feel welcome and valued, which has helped build unity within UCM’s diverse student and faculty populations. Her nominator wrote that Busker’s “dedication to sustaining a culture of excellence, whether in scholarly activity or campus service, is both innovative and inspirational to those around her.”

At the heart of her work is a focus on student success. By prioritizing future-focused academics and leadership development, she empowers students to adapt and thrive in an ever-changing society.

Living out the UCM motto, “Education for Service,” Busker embodies the characteristics of a servant leader. Her dedication to civic engagement extends beyond the classroom into the broader community, inspiring others to serve.

Adam Runyan

Runyan, Ph.D., is an assistant professor of Psychological Science and a UCM alumnus who embodies the university’s core values. He fosters a strong sense of belonging among students by creating inclusive, collaborative classroom environments and building connections across academic levels through his leadership in the Psychology Club and Psi Chi. 

Runyan’s dedication to excellence, learning, opportunity and service is demonstrated through his innovative teaching, hands-on mentorship and unwavering support of student success. Through initiatives such as the NeuroCALL research lab, he provides transformative opportunities for undergraduate research, professional development and graduate preparation, tailoring experiences to meet individual student goals. 

One of his nominators wrote that “rather than simply presenting information, he helps students discover how to truly think like psychologists, how to question, research and apply theories to real life. Because he has this mindset, he allows space for our growth and a place for his students to embody growth over perfection.” 

His willingness to invest time, guidance and care far beyond expectations reflects a deep commitment to education as a pathway to service, leaving a lasting impact on students, the department and the broader university community.

Emma Rice

Rice, of California, Missouri, graduated in May with a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education. She has been involved in on- and off-campus experiences that allowed her to further explore her degree, including serving as an admissions student ambassador and a substitute teacher in Warrensburg. As vice president of the Early Childhood Young Professionals, she co-led an initiative to create a lending library at an area school district building, providing free educational resources to families. 

 

She strategically invested in her own professional development, including earning a specialized certificate, learning about technology integration tools and completing PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) training. Her work in a preschool Life Skills classroom was both a challenge and an opportunity to learn how to collaboratively build an inclusive classroom. Through all of these experiences, Rice is equipped to create a positive learning environment and effectively support students with diverse behavioral needs.

Her nominator wrote that Rice recognizes the importance of being a lifelong learner as an educator: “She actively seeks out opportunities to build her skills, ensuring she is prepared to support all students with the most effective, current and ethical practices available.”