By Jeff Murphy,
April 22, 2021
WARRENSBURG, MO 鈥 Zachary Racy, Riverside, Missouri, and Olivia Waddell, Olathe, Kansas,
have been named recipients of Charno Awards, the highest honor presented to University
of Central Missouri graduating seniors, and will be honored during spring commencement
exercises May 7-9.
The Charno Award is presented annually to the top male and female citizens at UCM.
The honor is named after George Charno, Sr., a Kansas City attorney who established
the award in 1940 to recognize the two outstanding members of the senior class. Selection
is based on a combination of criteria, which include: leadership, scholarship, character,
involvement in campus organizations and extracurricular activities, service to the
university, and involvement in one鈥檚 academic department. Announced during the spring
2021 semester, this year鈥檚 recipients are Zachary Racy and Olivia Waddell.
Racy, called 鈥淶ac鈥 by his friends at the university is graduating summa cum laude
with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, where he gained experience
in many areas that have a direct impact on students. He was the student representative
on the university鈥檚 Board of Governors, a position he assumed after his work with
the Student Government Association. Since 2019, he has donated his time to opportunities
that include serving as a senator, floor leader and member of SGA鈥檚 University Issues
Committee. He has volunteered as public relations chair for the Honors College Student
Association, and served as vice president of finance and records for the Intrafraternity
Council. Racy also was president of the Service Team in the Integrated Business Experience
Program, which offers real-life experience to students in developing and marketing
products.
While assisting outside groups such as Big Brothers Big Sisters, Racy鈥檚 campus involvement
includes serving as a member the Mule Nation Student Chapter, alumni ambassador, and
member of Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity. He has been active in Student Experience and
Engagement activities such as serving as an Impact Student Leadership Retreat keynote
speaker and Mule Team leader, and participating as a student speaker for the Week
of Welcome Kickoff events. He worked as a student employee in the Office of the President
and at the Pertle Springs golf course.
Waddell is graduating summa cum laude after earning a Bachelor of Social Work and
a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies. Her experience at UCM allowed her to
develop leadership skills through opportunities such as vice president of membership
and alumnae relations chair with Delta Zeta sorority, and as a former president of
Rho Lambda and vice president of accountability for the Panhellenic Executive Council.
This is in addition to involvement with the Conversation Partner Program through the
UCM English Language Institute and Center for Global Education, and membership with
the Global Ambassadors.
Waddell has served as student ambassador and freshman orientation leader for UCM鈥檚
Admissions Office and engaged in community service during annual homecoming celebrations
and Greek Week, while also joining with her sorority sisters to assist organizations
and programs such as Ronald McDonald House, Art Bra KC, and the Cinderella Dress Exchange.
She worked on a service trip with survivors of sex trafficking in the Philippines,
was a volunteer for Integrity Homecare and Hospice doing bereavement and wellness
visits, and assisted with Warrensburg Project Community Connect, which aids local
families in need. In addition to serving as a community advisor and an office assistant
for University Housing, she was the recipient of grants that enabled her to do research
related to the Middle East, and in 2018 she participated in a Study Abroad Trip to
Jordan and Israel.
Both students were recognized in an awards ceremony that took place on campus April
21. They were also recognized April 22 by the Board of Governors.