Every year Southeast Missouri State University honors students that make a difference on campus with Man and Woman of the Year titles. This year's 10 nominees have a wide range of responsibilities on campus, from Student Government Association positions to working within our community through Big Brothers Big Sisters.
"Men and Women of the year are intended to be the role model [for Southeast]. They're involved and are very well-rounded individuals of our institution," director of Campus Life and Event Services Michele Irby said.
There are several qualifications that allow a student to be in the running for Man and Woman of the Year, including having had at least 60 credit hours, a 3.0 GPA and being a member of at least two clubs or organizations on campus or two athletic teams. For the nominees this year, the last requirement is not a problem at all.
Each year every organization on campus is given the chance to nominate a person they feel embodies what the Man and Woman of the Year should be here at Southeast. After being evaluated by a panel of judges on the applications alone the nominees are then interviewed and from there the top 10 are chosen. This year's nominees' names are followed by the organizations that nominated them.
The nominees for this year's Man of the Year are Benny Dorris from Lambda Chi Alpha, Andrew Lerch from Sigma Phi Epsilon, Student Government Association treasurer Nick Maddock, Craig Robinson from Alpha Phi Alpha and Austin Wendt from Sigma Nu.
Each male nominee this year is a member of a campus fraternity along with several other organizations and clubs. Senior Benny Dorris is from West Frankfort, Ill., and is majoring in public relations with a minor in creative writing.
"I'm just honored that people think I have all the characteristics [for Man of the Year]," Dorris said. "Representing Southeast is such an honor and either way, I'll be happy with the outcome."
Andrew Lerch from Riverton, Ill., is majoring in health management with an option in exercise science.
"I think the reason I was chosen was because overall the chapter [Sigma Phi Epsilon] thought I had worked really hard all year, and I'd make a good nomination to represent them," Lerch said.
Nick Maddock from O'Fallon, Mo., actually has three majors -- finance, economics and management with an emphasis in entrepreneurial studies.
"I think I was chosen because I hold a lot of positions. Within these positions I've made a lot of positive changes," Maddock said.
Senior Craig Robinson of Hayti, Mo., is majoring in middle school education with a concentration in social studies and science.
"I was chosen for my involvement on campus including student government, Student Activities Council and Big Brothers Big Sisters," Robinson said.
Senior Austin Wendt of Lee's Summit, Mo., is majoring in political science with a minor in criminal justice.
"I think I was nominated for my leadership and community involvement," Wendt said.
The nominees for this year's Woman of the Year are Lacey Balsmann from Delta Delta Delta, Ashley Harris from Alpha Chi Omega, Jill Irvin from Alpha Delta Pi, Mollie Laramore from Gamma Sigma Sigma and Jamie Norrenberns from the Assist with Autism program.
Each Woman of the Year nominee currently is holding positions within an on-campus organization and is a member of a sorority at Southeast.
Senior Lacey Balsmann is from Cape Girardeau and is majoring in biomedical science with a minor in chemistry.
"It's just the biggest honor to receive as a Southeast student," Balsmann said. "It represents all my hard work over the past four years."
Ashley Harris is from Paducah, Ky., and is majoring in public relations with a minor in hospitality management.
"I think my chapter supports me a lot, and they saw that I do a lot, and they wanted to support me," Harris said.
Jill Irvin is from Leopold, Mo., and is majoring in public relations with a minor in political science.
Mollie Laramore is from Chester, Ill., and is majoring in biomedical science with a minor in chemistry. Jamie Norrenberns of Mascoutah, Ill., is majoring in communication disorders with a minor in autism studies.
"I think I was nominated because I put a lot of time and effort through that organization," Norrenberns said.
For former director of alumni and development Jane Stacy, the history behind Man and Woman of the Year was vital and helped to make it what it is today.
"When I started in '73 we were in the process as a university community of saying, 'Let's not vote for the prettiest girl or most handsome guy. Let's vote for the people that contribute all over campus.' That was the theory behind it," Stacy said.
The process of voting is done online via the student portal, and each student is allowed one vote for a man and one for woman. The winners will be announced during Southeast's homecoming football game against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday. To watch videos of each nominee introducing who they are and what they've done to help contribute to Southeast visit the Facebook page Southeast Missouri State Homecoming.
