Missouri State students from Springfield, Nixa and Buffalo among six Citizen Scholars

At Missouri State’s Board of Governors meeting Thursday, six students — including three from this part of Missouri, were honored as Citizen Scholars.

The award, created in 2007, honors students with high academic success who also exemplify the university’s public affairs mission.

Each fall, faculty and staff submit nominations. This year’s honorees include future leaders in education, health care, human resources, agriculture and public history.

This year’s honorees include:

Tyler Crane

The senior from Buffalo, Missouri, is majoring in elementary education.

She currently serves as president of Bears Teach Elementary, Kappa Delta Pi and works part time producing The Bears Den YouTube channel. The channel gives prospective students an inside look at what life looks like at MSU.

After she graduates, she plans to teach at an elementary school in southwest Missouri.

Heather Day

The senior from Colony, Texas, is working toward a degree in nursing.

At the West Plains campus, she has served on the Student Government Association (SGA) as the chief of staff, vice president and historian. She also served as the vice president of Alpha Delta Nu and the president of the Student Nurses Association.

After she graduates, she plans to pursue a Master of Science in Nursing Education at Missouri State.

Susan Hardy

The junior from Nixa is majoring in history with a double minor in classics and anthropology.

She serves in the SGA as the director of academic affairs and the director of student affairs. She also serves as the president of the history honor society Phi Alpha Theta, and is a member of the Anthropology Club, History Club, the Honors College and Phi Kappa Phi honor society. She also works as a university ambassador.

Post-graduation, Hardy plans to further her studies in the United Kingdom and earn a master’s degree in ancient history with an emphasis in religious studies. Following completion, she hopes to work in public history, assisting in curation and exhibition design for museums abroad.

Triona Leach

The senior from Oakville, Missouri, is majoring in human resources.

She has served as the president of the Residence Hall Association since fall 2022. In partnership with the Foster Recreation Center, Leach has pushed for the reintroduction of the Green Bike Program. This program is set to launch in spring 2024 and will provide accessible transportation while promoting eco-conscious practices.

Once she graduates, she plans to work in HR, preferably in the public sector.

More: Former racer Danica Patrick will visit Missouri State in 2024 to support Bears WIN program

Sara McCord

The graduate student from California, Missouri, is currently studying to obtain her master’s in agriculture. She has served on the Graduate Student Senate, the Graduate Program Committee and the DARR Diversity and Inclusion Committee.

After graduation, she plans to pursue a career allowing her to share her passion for international development while educating others and advocating for the agriculture industry.

Erik Netzer

The senior from Springfield is majoring in civil engineering. During his time at Missouri State, he has served on the SGA, and helped with middle school STEM activities, Science Olympiad and more.

Once he graduates, he plans to work at the Missouri Department of Transportation as a construction inspector for the Springfield area and become a civil servant within the local community through volunteering and community engagement.