First Renaissance Student Award granted at Missouri S&T

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On June 8, 2015

Possible_Self-Portrait_of_Leonardo_da_VinciKailea Tilden, a 2015 graduate of Missouri University of Science and Technology, has earned the university’s first Renaissance Student Award. The award, which includes a $1,000 prize, was presented by the school’s arts, languages, and philosophy department.

The award is named after the term “Renaissance person,” which was originally coined to describe the great philosophers of the Renaissance and Enlightenment eras who were experts in numerous areas that varied drastically in terms of fields. The most common example of a Renaissance person is Leonardo da Vinci, who was a painter, sculptor, musician, mathematician, inventor and writer.

Tilden, who earned a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences in May, combines her major with her love of dance and the arts. She plans to become physical therapist specializing in dance therapy. Tilden was president of the Dance and Ballet Club as a student and frequently worked on choreography, costuming, set design, lighting, fundraising, narration, graphic art advertisements and music editing for shows, in addition to dancing in a lead role.

“Kailea best displayed the qualities the deciding committee was looking for out of all the submitted candidates,” explains Luce Myers, lecturer of art at Missouri S&T.

“It would be difficult to identify peers of Kailea,” wrote on nominator. “Her inexhaustible energy, dedication to her students and consistently-achieved high standards in her coursework distinguish Kailea as a Renaissance Student.”

The Renaissance Award was developed through Missouri S&T’s arts, languages, and philosophy department after Myers was impressed by a student of hers in 2012 who majored in petroleum engineering and was a student athlete and a pianist. Since then, Myers has worked to form this award.

The awards committee also commended three other finalists who were in contention for the award:

— Katlyn Meier of Roach, Missouri, who earned a bachelor of science degree in biological sciences in 2015, was a student athlete who set multiple school records, took numerous art courses and minored in studio art, and has had research published in peer-reviewed journals.

— Raheel Hassan of St. Louis, an MBA student at Missouri S&T and 2014 biological sciences graduate, is developing an educational game for the iPad for emergency waiting room patients to improve patient satisfaction as part of his MBA thesis. As an undergraduate, he was Intramural Athlete of the Year, a Miner Challenge team leader and president of the Industrial Design Society.

— Andrew Wilkening of Glen Carbon, Illinois, who earned a bachelor of science degree in computer science in 2015, minored in physics and mathematics. He is currently employed by Google. While a student, Wilkening served as Drum Major of the Miner Marching Band and was on Student Council.

Missouri S&T seniors who plan to graduate in 2016 may apply for next year’s award beginning Tuesday, March 1, 2016. For more information, visit alp.mst.edu/renaissanceaward.

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On June 8, 2015. Posted in Department of Arts, Languages and Philosophy, People

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