The St. Pat’s Board at Missouri University of Science and Technology has announced that Andrew Careaga will serve as parade marshal for the 2025 St. Pat’s Parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 15, in downtown Rolla.

The Board also announced the 2025 Honorary Knights of St. Patrick. This year’s Honorary Knights are Dr. Kelvin Erickson, Lister Florence, Dr. Edna Grover-Bisker, Dorie Paine, Neomia Robinson, Sue Simmons, Michael C. Tucker and Victoria Verkamp.

The eight Honorary Knights will be honored during a coronation ceremony at 9 p.m. Friday, March 14, at Leach Theatre in Castleman Hall, located at 403 W. 10th St. in Rolla. They will also participate in the St. Pat’s Parade.

Biographical details on this year’s honorees are provided below.

Parade Marshal Andrew Careaga

Andrew Careaga worked in public relations, communications and marketing at Missouri S&T for nearly 33 years. He retired in January 2024 from his dual role as chief marketing and communications officer (CMCO) and chief of staff. He joined Missouri S&T in January 1991 as a senior communications specialist and became the university’s first CMCO in 2014. He was named an Honorary Knight of St. Patrick in 2003.

Careaga coordinated a campuswide branding initiative during the university’s name change from the University of Missouri-Rolla to Missouri University of Science and Technology, which took effect Jan. 1, 2008. He also chaired the university’s 150th anniversary planning committee leading up to and during the sesquicentennial year, from February 2020 through November 2021.

Careaga holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and an associate degree in general education from Moberly Area Community College in Moberly, Missouri.

Careaga and his wife, Dyann, will celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary in the fall.

2025 Honorary Knights

Honorary Knight Kelvin Erickson

Dr. Kelvin Erickson is a Curators’ Distinguished Teaching Professor of electrical and computer engineering at Missouri S&T. He also serves as the undergraduate coordinator for electrical engineering.

Erickson earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from S&T in 1978 and 1979, respectively, and a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Iowa State University in 1983. He has authored or co-authored several textbooks, including Plantwide Process Control and four editions of Programmable Logic Controllers: An Emphasis on Design and Application.

Erickson and his wife, Fran, have two children, Esther and David.

Honorary Knight Lister Florence

Lister Florence is a detail unit supervisor and information technology specialist at the United States Geological Survey in Rolla. He earned bachelor’s degrees in civil engineering and computer science in 1995 and 2007, respectively, and a master’s degree in information science and technology in 2006, all from Missouri S&T.

Florence has served on Missouri S&T’s Board of Trustees and received the Distinguished Young Alumni Award, and has served as an advisor to Missouri S&T’s Epsilon Psi chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. He has also served as a Rolla city council representative for Ward 3, and as mayor pro tempore for Rolla from 2022-2024.

Florence and his wife, Tuesday, have two children, Ebony and Caleb.

Honorary Knight Edna Grover-Bisker

Dr. Edna Grover-Bisker is the assistant vice chancellor for student life and dean of students at Missouri S&T. She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Central Missouri in 1995, a master’s degree in public administration and doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis from the University of Missouri in 1999 and 2011, respectively.

Prior to her current position, Grover-Bisker served as the director of Career Opportunities and Employer Relations (COER) at Missouri S&T. The COER office was ranked in the top 20 career centers in the nation by the Princeton Review during her tenure. In her current role, she oversees services and learning opportunities to promote personal and professional development and student success.

Grover-Bisker has two children, Tyanna and Wade.

Honorary Knight Dorie Paine

Dorie Paine has served as director of residential life at Missouri S&T since 2014. She earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Manchester College, a master’s degree in college student personnel services from Miami University, and an Ed.D. in higher education administration from the University of South Florida.

At Missouri S&T, Paine has provided leadership for the opening of the University Commons in 2016 and redesigned the opening day process for residence halls. She also worked to bring new living learning communities to the residence halls, helping new students connect through shared interests and experiences.

Paine has one child, Sadie.

Honorary Knight Neomia Robinson

Neomia Robinson is the owner of Uptown Bridal & Boutique in Rolla. A graduate of Rolla High School, she has outfitted the St. Pat’s Board and Court for coronation and other official events for almost 20 years.

Before owning the bridal shop, she worked for the Missouri Department of Natural Resources, where she received the Governor’s Award for Productivity and Quality.

Robinson and her husband, Timothy, have two children, Camille and Sommer, and four grandchildren, Cashton, Livi, Owen and Oxley.

Honorary Knight Sue Simmons

Sue Simmons retired from Anheuser-Busch in 2016 as a senior resident engineer, and currently serves as a member of the Kummer Missouri S&T Foundation Board of Directors. She earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Missouri S&T in 1984, and a master’s degree in business administration from Washington University in 1995.

Simmons is a member of the Academy of Chemical and Biochemical Engineers and served for many years on the department’s Industrial Advisory Council. She also served on the Career Opportunities and Employer Relations Advisory Council and on the Corporate Development Council. Simmons has been a member of the Board of Trustees since 2016 and is a past president of the board. Simmons was inducted into Missouri S&T’s Women’s Hall of Fame in 2005.

Honorary Knight Michael C. Tucker

Michael C. Tucker is the vice president at Hutcheson Ford Sales in St. James, Missouri, and a third-generation car dealer. He earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Missouri S&T in 1990. After graduating from S&T, he returned to St. James to work for the family dealership. Tucker was nominated for the Time Dealer of the Year in 2023. He is a friend and supporter of the St. Pat’s Board.

Tucker and his wife, Joy, have four children, Brandon, Rodney, Michael A. and Trae.

Honorary Knight Victoria Verkamp

Victoria Verkamp is the vice chancellor for university advancement at Missouri S&T. Verkamp joined Missouri S&T in 2014 as a senior development officer and was promoted to executive director of development in 2015 and assistant vice chancellor of University Advancement in 2017.

Before joining the university, Verkamp led fundraising efforts at Kappa Alpha Theta Foundation in Indianapolis. She holds bachelor’s degrees in journalism and Spanish, and a master’s degree in public affairs,  all from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She is a certified fundraising executive.

Verkamp and her husband, Ben, have one child, Vivienne.

About Missouri University of Science and Technology

Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) is a STEM-focused research university of over 7,000 students located in Rolla, Missouri. Part of the four-campus University of Missouri System, Missouri S&T offers over 100 degrees in 40 areas of study and is among the nation’s top public universities for salary impact, according to the Wall Street Journal. For more information about Missouri S&T, visit www.mst.edu.