Emporia State University

« Back to Recent News

Emporia State Honors Academic Excellence with 2025 Shepherd Scholars Awards

Emporia, KS (04/10/2025) — On Thursday, April 4, 12 outstanding students were honored with the prestigious Shepherd Scholarship during the Shepherd Scholars Recognition Ceremony and Reception, held in Butcher-Boertman Hall at the Sauder Alumni Center on the Emporia State University campus.

Among the 12 recipients are eight Kansans, including three Emporians, and three international students.

Since 1995, high-achieving students at Emporia State University have benefitted from Hershel and Augusta Shepherd's remarkable philanthropic spirit. To date, more than 300 upperclassmen have received support through the Shepherd University Scholars program.

"The Shepherd University Scholars Program was one born out of generosity and commitment by Hershel and Augusta Shepherd," said Jan Trelc, director of donor relations at the ESU Foundation. "It is inspiring to see their legacy carried forward through their children. The Shepherd family's investment in education is truly transformative and makes a lasting impact on the lives of our students and the future of our society. Emporia State is deeply grateful for their partnership."

Augusta (BSB 44-Business Administration) and Hershel Shepherd began the program through a shared desire to reward students' exemplary dedication to their academic work. After their parents' passing, Augusta and Hershel's children - Jim Shepherd, Joyce French and her late husband Craig, and Judy Hawkins and her husband David - have continued to contribute generously to the Shepherd Scholars Fund.

As one of the university's premier scholarship programs, the Shepherd University Scholarship carries stringent eligibility requirements: students must be juniors who have completed at least 60 credit hours of coursework, carry a cumulative grade-point average of at least 3.0 and have at least two semesters' worth of coursework remaining before graduation. Recipients are selected by a committee of ESU's Roe R. Cross Distinguished Faculty, which reviews all applications and reference letters.

The 2025-26 Shepherd Scholars

  • Destiny Lynn Kay of Emporia, an art and biology major.
  • Elizabeth Willhite of Emporia, a health and human performance major.
  • Azwad B. Arif of Dhaka, Bangladesh, a computer science major.
  • Isabel Ayala of Independence, Kansas, a mathematics major.
  • Nicole R. Blocker of Chapman, Kansas, a psychology major.
  • Presley Johnson of Emporia, a communication and biology major.
  • Sasha Joy* of Topeka, Kansas, an English major.
  • Airyn Laird of Woodward, Oklahoma, a biology major.
  • Claire Russell of Wichita, Kansas, a health and human performance major.
  • Maria Paula Sancez Aguirre of Villavicencia, Colombia, a business administration major.
  • Katelyn Schmalz of Winchester, Kansas, a biology major.
  • Nadia Valdez Saravia of La Paz, Bolivia, a biology major.

* Roe R. Cross Distinguished Professors Award recipient.

About Emporia State University

Emporia State University offers a range of academic programs through its institute and seven schools: Applied Health Sciences, Business & Technology, Humanities & Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary Studies, Library and Information Management & Library and Archives, Science & Mathematics and Visual and Performing Arts, along with The Teachers College.

As the sole public university in Kansas to be recognized as a College of Distinction for eight consecutive years, ESU stands out for its innovative education practices. It ensures accessible education by offering in-state tuition rates to full-time undergraduate students from all lower-48 United States. Additionally, full-time undergraduates benefit from flat-rate tuition - students enrolled in 12 or more credit hours with at least one credit hour on campus pay a flat rate.

For more information on how to build your future at Emporia State University, please visit www.emporia.edu.

Media Attachments

The 12 recipients of Shepherd Scholarships for 2025 pose with the children of Hershel and Augusta Shepherd, who created the program in 1995. They are, front row from second left, Jim Shepherd, Joyce French, Judy Hawkins and David Hawkins.

Copyright © 2026 Merit Pages, Inc. • All Rights Reserved. • Terms of Service • Privacy Policy • Opt Out