From left to right, Tiffany Wilson, ESU director of alumni; Kimiya Noor, 2025 Distinguished Senior; Rachel Shaffer, 2025 Outstanding Senior; and Dr. Taylor Kriley, ESU vice president for student success.
On Thursday, May 1, Emporia State University honored 25 seniors nominated for the Dwight and Ida C. Newberg Outstanding and Distinguished Senior awards, recognizing their excellence both inside and outside of the classroom.
Rachel Shaffer of Iola, Kansas, received the top honor, the Outstanding Senior Award and a $600 prize. She is graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theatre.
Kimiya Noor of Emporia received this year’s Distinguished Senior Award and a $400 prize. She is graduating with a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Pre-Medical Concentration, and a minor in Physics.
Noor and Shaffer were selected from this cohort of 25 exceptional students nominated by ESU faculty and staff. Nominees, who must have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and be graduating this year, submit information about their accomplishments during their time at ESU, as well as letters of recommendation. A panel of judges consisting of staff, faculty and current students review the nominees’ materials, areas of academic success, community involvement and overall honors, with the top two selected as the Outstanding and Distinguished Seniors.
The Outstanding and Distinguished Senior Awards are named in honor of Dwight (BSE 1933) and Ida Curry Newberg (LC 1932), who provided endowed funds for the awards. The fund was of particular interest to Dwight, as he received the Outstanding Senior Award in 1933. Dwight was a special agent for the FBI and served as the national program director for the United Methodist Church until 1977. Ida was a primary school teacher in Otis and Junction City.
The 2025 Newberg Scholars
- Katelyn Boles — Hesston
- JieJie Burleson — Ottawa
- Clare Emmert — Topeka
- Adrienne Greenfield — Scranton
- Alyssa Jensen — Washington
- Hannah Johnson — Emporia
- Lydia Kimble — Rose Hill
- Harrison King — Scott City
- Reece Koch — Olathe
- Vaughn Lolley — Topeka
- Gwendal Mazuay — Geneva, Switzerland
- Kimiya Noor — Emporia
- Anastasia Pesic — Springs, South Africa
- Carson Shafer — Lenexa
- Sunday Seiwert — Emporia
- Rachel Shaffer — Iola
- Kayden Smith — Topeka
- Coby Smith — Wichita
- Sofia Steigner — Emporia
- Abby Stephens — Emporia
- Nicholas Thomas — Emporia
- Lewis Trotter — Abilene
- Lexie Vega — Iola
- Camila Viorel — La Paz, Bolivia
- Benjamin Ziek — Emporia