Five graduates recognized for academics, leadership, displaying Baker’s values

Five Baker University graduates—Ruby Boswell, Lee Marshall, Jeff Moore, Ngyuen Nicholson, and Kaycee Tanner—were named Outstanding Seniors at the May 18 Commencement Ceremony at the George F. Collins Jr. Sports and Convention Center. This award recognizes graduates who achieve excellent academics, exhibit leadership, and display Baker’s mission and values.

The Outstanding Seniors received a cash award made possible by the Outstanding Senior Endowed Fund, established through a gift from the Class of 2021.

RUBY BOSWELL

Ruby Boswell of Colorado Springs, Colorado, majored in history and sociology and minored in museum studies. She served as chapter president of Alpha Chi Omega, a BK program peer leader for the Baker Experience educational program, and a University Admissions Ambassador.

“Baker University has played a crucial role in my professional and personal development, and to this institution I am eternally grateful,” Boswell said.

Boswell says her term as chapter president taught her about leadership, cooperation, and the value of a unified community. During this time the chapter was nationally recognized one of the most successful chapters in the country. “This effort was done all because of my love of Alpha Chi Omega and the Baker community and my desire to give back to an organization that has profoundly changed me,” Boswell said.

For two years Boswell served as an intern in the Kansas United Methodist Church Archives, gaining valuable experience that helped solidify her decision to pursue a career in library science. Of her experience working on the collections of churches in Kansas that have closed, she said “I feel so connected to the churches that I have processed and want their stories to be shared, not just read, rearranged, and put back on a shelf. I care about the work, and I want to use my positive communication skills as well as my passion for history and telling stories to make a difference in the archival field.”

Next fall Boswell will begin a master’s in library and information science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champagne, the next step toward a career as a librarian and archivist.

Of the legacy she hopes to leave at Baker, Boswell said “When you support others in their

goals, you fill up yourself along the way. We are not meant to go through life, or college, alone, and Baker University is a place where this virtually cannot happen.”

LEE MARSHALL

Lee Marshall, from Kansas City, Kansas, majored in communication studies and minored in sports administration and leadership studies. He served as vice president of Mungano, captain of the football team, intramural coordinator, Speech Center tutor, University Admissions Assistant, and resident hall assistant.

“I came to this university one way, and I will be leaving this university as a better man. I am more confident in my talents, able to communicate effectively, and enter a room with my head held high,” Marshall said.

Marshall’s experiences in Mungano, as a residence assistant, and a study abroad trip to Spain, solidified his belief in the value of diversity and different perspectives. “I embrace diversity of community, thought, and expression in all the different organizations that I am in,” he said. “In every organization that I am a part of, no one looks the same. There are so many shapes, sizes, ideas, and personalities. During my time here, I’ve learned that differences are what make people unique and different pieces of my Baker puzzle.”

A pivotal experience for Marshall was attending the Big 12 Conference on Black Student Government at Iowa State. “This was a time for students of color associated with multicultural organizations to come together to see what other universities are doing as well as fellowshipping and planning for the future,” he said.

Marshall plans to enter the workforce in a position that broadens his experiences and networks, while living a life of meaning.

“A legacy that I want to leave at Baker is for Black males that choose to attend this great university to know that they can take up space anywhere they step foot in,” Marshall said. “I want them to be confident in their growth and understand that a smile and a handshake go a long way.”

JEFF MOORE

Jeff Moore of Topeka, Kansas, majored in accounting and business and minored in data analytics and economics. He was a member of the football team, volunteered with Baker Serves, and served as an assistant hall director, Student Senate president, and University Admissions Assistant.

“Baker has given me the platform to grow as a person, student, and athlete,” Moore said. “Throughout my time at Baker, I did my best to involve myself in as many possible activities to use my time intentionally and purposefully.”

His role in Residence Life allowed him to create relationships with people he otherwise might not have met. And his term as Student Senate president helped him understand that in a position of power unpopular decisions will made and not everyone will view you fondly.

To prepare for a business career after graduation, Moore completed an internship with Evergy and scored in the 95th percentile in the ETS Major Field Test Business Exam, a national exam that measures workforce preparedness. He has accepted a position as a risk analyst in Evergy’s Risk Management, Credit and Contracts Department. “[Serving] as a risk management intern has let me get my foot into the door of the corporate world and secure a job after graduation,” Moore said. “This helped me apply many of the things I had been learning in the classroom and prove that I am ready to work in the professional world.”

Moore appreciates the opportunities at Baker that nurtured his evolution from a freshman learning from upperclassmen, to a student who pushed himself academically, and finally to a senior holding leadership positions.

“I hope my legacy at Baker portrays me as multifaceted, as that is what I strived to be. Not only as an athlete on the football team, academic achiever in the classroom, or student leader in a host of organizations: I want to be remembered as a person who loved Baker to the core and illustrated what is often spoken about as a Baker Person.”

NGYUEN NICHOLSON

Nguyen Nicholson, from Kansas City, Kansas, majored in music education. She was involved in Residence Life for three years as a resident assistant and assistant hall director and served as president and vice president of membership on the Student Activities Council Executive Board.

“During my time at Baker, I have learned so much about myself and how my values of education, motivation, and excellence have propelled me through my four years here,” Nicholson said.

Nicholson credits involvement in Student Activities Council for her love for Baker and the people here. One of SAC’s most popular events is bingo. “I get to see the student body come together and enjoy events that I have had a hand in creating and cultivating for them,” said Nicholson, who is known on campus as the bingo lady.

As part of her music education curriculum, Nicholson completed extensive practicums in Baldwin City elementary, middle, and high schools, where she learned to manage student behaviors and needs and developed her teaching skills.

“I have been working on refining my musicianship and singing for many years, but at Baker I was equipped with the tools to improve by significant measures. I can apply these evaluation skills to my future career so I can teach students effectively,” she said.

Nicholson will student teach in the fall and then begin a full-time teaching position. “I want to continue my leadership skills in the classroom by setting the example of doing right for my students,” she said. “They deserve a positive role model, and Baker has given me the opportunities to cultivate these skills before I enter the classroom as a teacher.”

Nicholson says she came to Baker her freshman year feeling nervous and scared but knowing she should and could make a place for herself here. “I have found a place in the Baker community by being a part of Residence Life, the music ensembles, and Student Activities Council; these opportunities and groups have put me in the right place so that I can become a part of the educational community for my future students,” she said.

KAYCEE TANNER

Kaycee Tanner of Topeka, Kansas, majored in biochemistry and minored in psychology. She served in a variety of roles on campus including chapter president of Delta Delta Delta, chemistry teaching assistant, and captain of the women’s soccer team.

“Through academics, athletics, and leadership roles, I have embraced the university’s mission by thinking critically, communicating with empathy, and serving the community around me. From my first year on the soccer field to my final year in the research lab, I’ve grown from someone who participated to someone who led with purpose,” Tanner said.

Tanner believes that as president of Tri Delta, she prioritized listening to every voice, implemented feedback systems, and ensured that events reflected the diversity within the chapter. And as captain of the soccer team, she strove to uphold team values on the field as a leader who wasn’t afraid to make difficult decisions to preserve the integrity of the group.

Next fall Tanner will attend Kansas College of Osteopathic Medicine. Instrumental in her decision to pursue a career in medicine were the three weeks she spent shadowing physicians in a hospital in Genoa, Italy, rotating through orthopedics, neonatology, and gynecology.

“I observed patient care in a variety of settings, from surgical procedures to neonatal assessments, and witnessed how cultural and systemic differences influence health care delivery,” Tanner said. “This experience expanded my worldview, deepened my empathy, and reinforced the universality of patient-centered care. It also strengthened my commitment to becoming a well-rounded, globally aware physician.”

Tanner hopes her legacy is one of community-building, bringing people together, lifting others up, and leading in a way that leaves an organization stronger than she found it. “Baker has given me the confidence to live fully and serve generously, and I leave knowing that the impact I’ve made will continue through those I’ve had the privilege to lead, support, and learn from,” she said.