Gerald “Shag” Grossnickle (’38), Ben Pitney (’55), Shane Cavanah (’64, ’67), John Bailey (’86) and Bob Roberts (’87) were all inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame in December 2012.

Gene Bartow (’52) was inducted into the Mid-America Intercollegiate Athletics Association Hall of Fame in June 2013. Bartow, who passed away in January 2012, gained notoriety as he coached six universities in 34 seasons and won 674 games while making 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament.

Marthlu Bledsoe (’61) and her Peace Corps group, Philippines II, were honored with the 2012 Peace Award from the Small Book Publishers for their book, “Answering Kennedy’s Challenge.”

Richard Daut (’78, ’81) was named the Nevada (Mo.) R-5 2013 Teacher of the Year.

Mary (Rhodes) Russell (’80) was elected as Chief Justice of the Missouri Supreme Court by her colleagues and began serving a two-year term July 1, 2013. Russell was also named the 2013 Truman Alumna of the Year and was honored during Homecoming festivities in October.

Larry Lunsford (’81, ’83) began a two-year term as Rotary International director July 1, 2013. He will serve on the administration committee of the RI Board. He will also serve as a member of the audit committee, the liaison director to the communications committee, and on two joint board/trustee committees.

Denise Howard (’82) received the Dixon Ticonderoga Award for Exceptional Merit at the 2013 CPSA International Exhibition for her artwork entitled “Tree of Character.” The award is one of the most prominent in the annual show and comes with a $1,000 cash prize.

Lisa Janis (’92) was named National Childcare Teacher of the Year by the Terri Lynne Lokoff Child Care Foundation for her project “Using Music and Movement to Show Our True Colors.” Janis is an early childhood educator in the Lindbergh School District.

Alan Kramer (’92) was named the assistant dean of students at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Ga. He began his duties July 1, 2013.

Jennifer (Mueller) Naddeo (’95, ’96) was appointed to the Education of Children with Disabilities Advisory Council by Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn in October.

Kerry (Lipman) Hayes (’96, ’97) received the Ft. Zumwalt East Educator of the Year Award.

Tyson Ketchum (’96) was named to the Kansas City Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar” list of outstanding Kansas City lawyers chosen by their peers. He has been included on the list every year since 2008. Ketchum is a member of the litigation practice group for Armstrong Teasdale. He is licensed to practice law in state and federal courts in Missouri and Kansas as well as in the 8th Circuit Court of Appeals.

Molly Hastings (’97) received the 2013 Lon O. Hocker Award from the Missouri Bar. The awards are made annually by the Missouri Bar Foundation to young lawyers who have demonstrated unusual proficiency in the art of trial advocacy. Three lawyers are selected each year, one each from St. Louis, Kansas City and outstate Missouri. Hastings is a public defender in Kansas City. In September, she was featured on ABC’s “20/20” for her defense work in a Jackson County murder case.

Erin (Winfrey) Stark (’99) served as a Mom Tester on “Good Morning America.” She and two other mothers tested products and offered their reviews. Her segment can be seen at gma.yahoo.com/video/gma-mom-testers-review-spring-080000070.html.

Ken Hussey (’01) was included on Jefferson City Magazine’s “Ones to Watch” list for 2013. Hussey is the community relations director of the Jefferson City Area YMCA and the state director for the Missouri YMCA Youth in Government Program.

Dominic Armstrong (’02), a tenor, made his New York Philharmonic debut Nov. 22 when he was invited to take over a lead role at the Lincoln Center. Performing on short notice, the New York Times noted Armstrong “sang the demanding solo role with assurance, stamina and subtlety.”

Nikki Walton (formerly Alicia Lee) (’05) was featured on the Sept. 12, 2013, episode of “The Dr. Oz Show.” Her segment can be seen at doctoroz.com/episode/mirror-mirror.

Jessica Mayo (’06) was recognized as one of the “Up & Coming Lawyers” by Missouri Lawyers Weekly. In 2012, Mayo co-founded the Migrant and Immigrant Community Action (MICA) Project, a community organization committed to working with low-income immigrants to overcome barriers to justice. She currently serves as co-director of the organization, working with clients from immigrant communities throughout St. Louis, southern Illinois and southeastern Missouri.

Amy (Schweizer) Guthrie (’07, ’09) received the Governor’s Award for Excellence in Teaching. The award, presented by the Missouri Community College Association, is given to the top community college teachers in the state. Guthrie teaches at North Central Missouri College.

Sara Kurovski (’07) was elected mayor of Pleasant Hill, Iowa, in November. She is the youngest mayor in the city’s history and the first woman to be elected to the position.

Danna Kelly Herrick (’09), a former member of the cross country team, finished 21st in the women’s division of the ING New York City Marathon, Nov. 3. She ran the course in 2:44.19.

Emily Davis (’12) began a two-year Brethren Volunteer Service assignment in November. She will work with Midwives in Haiti in Hince, Haiti. Midwives for Haiti offers education and training in prenatal care and skilled birth assistance to Haitian nurses.

Ashley Elder (’12) was selected as a “PR Champion” by the Council of Public Relations Firms (CPRF). The group of champions are recognized as young stars within their firms and have demonstrated an early track record of success. “PR Champions” must be nominated by a respective firm, and if selected, asked to answer questions about working in the public relations industry. Elder, who works for The Vandiver Group out of St. Louis, is one of only two featured champions from Missouri.