MITCHELL — Kindra Clark and Wyatt Voelker, seniors at Dakota Wesleyan University, were named the 2021 Ms. Wesleyan and Scotchman, the university’s highest honors, during the Honors Convocation Friday night.
The titles of Scotchman and Ms. Wesleyan are given to honor a senior male and female student based on campus leadership and service, community leadership and service, academics and character. The honor of Ms. Wesleyan began in 1929 and the honor of Scotchman in 1939. The title for the Scotchman was borrowed from the university’s song, “The Scotchman.”
To qualify for candidacy, students must have a minimum GPA of 3.25 and be ranked at senior status. Those eligible submit a resume of activities and awards and a Student Senate-appointed panel chooses the top male and female candidates. The top candidates are interviewed by a committee of students, staff and faculty who choose the winners.
Clark, originally from Garretson, is a secondary English education major. Her roster of clubs and organizations included soccer, student ambassadors, Future Teachers Organization, softball, Tiger Activities Group, Big Friend Little Friend, Christian Corps, Women’s Delight Group and Student Ministry Council. She received the Matthew D. Smith medal for education and the Badger Clark medal for literature. She is an Education Learning Through Service scholar; has earned Honors in Scholarship and is a Scholar-Athlete. Her parents are Doug and Tana Clark.
Voelker is from Newcastle, Wyo. He is a wildlife biology major whose involvement was in Conservation Club, Student Ministry Council, golf and the McGovern Engagement Group. Voelker is a Wildlife Management Distinguished Scholar; recipient of a Hughes Grant-in-Aid Award; a Scholar-Athlete; an NAIA-Daktronics Scholar-Athlete; a member of Sigma Zeta and has earned Honors in Scholarship. He is the son of Ryan and Donna Voelker.
The following students were also named as candidates for Ms. Wesleyan: Logan Amundson, Watertown; Abigail Hanson, Alexandria; Emily McDonald, Crooks; Grace Rule, Sioux Falls; and Lacey Wipf, Freeman. The following students were Scotchman candidates: Devin Bedke, Kearney, Neb.; Joshua Garry, Sioux Falls; Edgar Meza, Spearfish; Caden Milmine, Buffalo, Wyo.; and Layne Stafford, Arlington, Neb.
