University of Missouri-Rolla junior Jeremiah King was recently honored for his student leadership with a $10,000 stipend. The award recognizes the student who best personifies the strengths of UMR students. It will go toward King’s 2005-2006 student fees.

UMR Chancellor Gary Thomas presents Jeremiah King with $10,000 stipend.

The stipend, funded by a donation from an anonymous UMR graduate, was presented by UMR Chancellor Gary Thomas during the dedication of UMR’s Havener Center in April.

King, a junior in civil engineering from St. Charles, Mo., was surprised to hear his name read and shocked to be presented with such a generous gift.

"Chancellor Thomas wanted me to say a few words, and for the first time in my life I couldn’t," King says. "I was extremely surprised and I really did not know what to say."

"The alumnus (who donated funds for the stipend) wanted the award to go to someone who typified the best of UMR’s student body," Thomas says. "I chose Jeremiah because he had shown leadership in two student activities and that leadership was affirmed by the vote of his peers in both."

King served as St. Pat during UMR’s 2004 St. Pat’s celebration and in spring 2005, he was elected student body president. According to Thomas, King is the first student to be chosen for both positions.

"I met Jeremiah when he was part of the Chancellor’s Leadership Academy," Thomas explains. "He has great people skills. These skills were demonstrated in his student body presidential race. It was a tight race and all of the candidates were very good but Jeremiah won."

King was honored by the recognition and grateful for the financial support.

"I really want to thank the alumnus for the stipend," King says. "I also want to thank Chancellor Thomas for choosing me. It is a great honor."