Mizzou Alumni Association celebrates anniversary, presents awards and scholarships

Submitted photo
The scholarship and award winners at the Callaway County Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association's 27th anniversary. From left to right: Madeleine Cerneka, Bahir Sherzad, Aidan Haglund, Heath Brandt, Katie Robnett, Kate Geppert and Kenny Fort.
Submitted photo The scholarship and award winners at the Callaway County Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association's 27th anniversary. From left to right: Madeleine Cerneka, Bahir Sherzad, Aidan Haglund, Heath Brandt, Katie Robnett, Kate Geppert and Kenny Fort.

The Callaway County Chapter of the Mizzou Alumni Association presented several awards and scholarships to Callawegians Thursday at its 27th anniversary celebration.

Kate Geppert received the Outstanding Alumnus Award at the celebration.

High school teachers Katie Robnett of North Callaway School District and Kenny Fort of South Callaway School District received education awards.

Five scholarships were presented to area students.

Bahir Sherzad received a $1,000 Capstone scholarship, which is renewable for four years.

Aidan Haglund received a $1,000 scholarship named in the memory of Mike Boulware, a past chapter president.

Madeleine Cerneka received a local alumni scholarship for $1,000.

Sherzad, Haglund and Cerneka are Fulton High School seniors.

Melanie Holsman -- a graduate of FHS -- received the $2,000 Pinet Memorial Scholarship. Holsman will be a senior biochemistry major at MU.

Heath Brandt -- a New Bloomfield High School graduate -- received the $2,000 Forward Callaway Scholarship. Brandt will be a MU senior studying agricultural education.

The Mizzou scholarships presented to the students continue a tradition that began in 1997, a release states. Since then, approximately 65 area students have received the scholarship.

The 27th anniversary event took place at Serenity Valley Winery.

The featured speaker of the event was David Arnold, executive director of NextGen Precision Health and professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at the University of Missouri.

Chapter officers for 2023-24 are Michele Atkinson, president; Kate Geppert, vice president; Madison Books, secretary; and Bruce Robertson, treasurer.

For more information about the local alumni chapter, contact Atkinson at [email protected] or visit the chapter's Facebook page, Mizzou Alumni - Callaway County.


High school teachers Katie Robnett of North Callaway School District and Kenny Fort of South Callaway School District received education awards.