Students of the Month

September
When Sarah Pritchard was in the sixth grade, she got a “B” in science. She cried. “I struggled through it and had never gotten a ‘B’ before or since,” she said. “It was very sad. Grades have always been important to me. I hold high standards for myself, and not just academically.” Pritchard, a sophomore communications major from Augusta, is the September Student of the Month. It’s no surprise that the daughter of Don and Julie Pritchard was selected, given her academic success and level of campus involvement in just two semesters.

Pritchard is a Student Ambassador, is a member of Campus Christian Fellowship and Phi Theta Kappa, participates in intramural sports, and is active in her church, Christ Lutheran of Augusta. And this year, she is moving from center field to right field on the Lady Tiger softball team. She also was a finalist for Queen Alalah LXXII in late October. Last year, although she didn’t receive a Student of the Month award from Cowley, she was selected as the Outstanding Student of Arkansas City. She was chosen from a group of 70 Cowley, Arkansas City High School and Arkansas City Middle School students who were nominated for the award.

Being selected as Cowley’s Student of the Month is special to Pritchard. “I’m very excited about it,” she said. “It’s a huge honor. I think a Student of the Month is a person who shows leadership skills around campus, who does well academically, and is overall friendly to everyone on campus.” She has built a reputation on campus that mirrors her personality. She also is known for her prowess at playing Tetris and Dr. Mario. “I got a Super Nintendo for my 18th birthday and I play that all the time,” Pritchard said. She’s also a devoted Harry Potter fan. Pritchard, 19, said she’s changed a lot since her senior year of high school. “It didn’t hit me until I went home this summer and I could see how I had matured and how one year at Cowley really made me grow up and look at things in a different light,” she said.

One of her fondest memories thus far is making friends, lots of friends. “I’ve enjoyed meeting so many new people,” Pritchard said. “I’ve enjoyed coming to a diverse environment and learning things about people from different countries and building life-long friendships.” Pritchard said she planned to transfer to Kansas State University next fall and pursue a degree in public relations. “I have a lot of friends in Manhattan,” she said.

October
Influenced by an older sister, Rachel Warren plans to put her skills in math and science to good use. She wants to become a doctor. The sophomore pre-medicine major is the college’s October Student of the Month. “I was shocked to get the award, but I was very happy because ever since last year, that was one of the things I thought I’d like to do,” said Warren, who was reared on a farm near Geuda Springs and graduated from Arkansas City High School in 2002. “It’s a real honor to be chosen.” Warren is the fourth of Tom and JoLynn Warren’s six children. Rachel, 19, has older sisters Lori 25 and Whitney 24, an older brother Andy 21, and younger brothers Aaron 18 and Mason 9. Her grandparents are Frank and Margie Reichle and Jim Warren, all of Arkansas City, and Illene Warren of Tulsa. Great-grandparents are Joe and Pauline Warren of Maple City and Hubert Groover of Livingston, Texas.

Warren is a two-year recipient of a Natural Science Department Scholarship. She is a member of the Math & Science Club, Mu Alpha Theta, Phi Theta Kappa, tutors in The Underground, and is a Student Ambassador, all the while carrying a 4.0 grade-point average. She volunteers for projects at her church, First Baptist of Arkansas City, and works part-time at Dillons in Ark City. Warren said those honored as Students of the Month were “someone who not only excels in their academics, but they’re also seen around campus. They’re someone other people can look up to.” Warren strives to be a role model, much like her sister Lori, who is a radiation therapist. “I watched what she did, and I’ve always looked up to her,” Warren said. “I want to do something in the cancer field. I saw how friendly and supportive those people were, even though the patients were going through so much pain. Plus, I like math and science.”

Next fall, Warren plans to be at the University of Kansas working on a bachelor’s degree in bio-chemistry. She then hopes to transfer to a medical school. “I would really like to go to med school in California,” Warren said. “The program I’ll go into is very specialized. KU doesn’t even have it in their medical school.” The program is radiation oncology. Warren is looking into the University of Southern California’s medical school. When Warren isn’t working or studying, she uses what spare time she has to shop, work out at the Ben Cleveland Wellness Center, scrapbook with Creative Memories, and make bracelets.

Fall 2003