OBU Recognizes Outstanding Seniors During Awards Chapel April 23

April 25, 2025

OBU held its annual Awards Chapel on April 23 in the Recreation and Wellness Center on the OBU campus in Shawnee. The University recognized outstanding seniors within its schools and divisions and also presented its four highest student awards.

The University presented the Rosalee Mills Appleby Award to Zoee Weaver. The Rosalee Mills Appleby Award is the highest award given for a senior woman at OBU and is given to a student who demonstrates the qualities of leadership, scholarship, concern for others and Christian commitment. The award is named for its donor, Rosalee Mills Appleby, who was a member of the class of 1920. She served for many years as a missionary, writer and teacher in Brazil. This award was established in 1936 as OBU’s first award and has been given annually since that time.

The University presented the W.P. Blake Award to Jake Saunders. The W.P. Blake Award is the highest award given for a senior man at OBU and is given to a student who demonstrates the qualities of leadership, scholarship, concern for others and Christian commitment. The award is named for the chairman of OBU’s first board of trustees, who was an Oklahoma Baptist pioneer from Okmulgee. It was established in 2011 to recognize an outstanding man in the graduating class who embodies Blake’s written desire that OBU “perpetuate the heritage of Christian citizenship.”

The Evans T. Moseley Leadership Award was presented to Erin Dyer. The award is given to a rising senior who demonstrates the greatest leadership potential. It was established by the senior class of OBU in 1966 to honor the man who served as interim president of the University during that year.

The John Wesley Raley Scholar Award was presented to Caleb Campbell. The scholarship is awarded annually to a rising senior with a grade point average of at least 3.0 who plans to continue at OBU. Additional criteria which guide the selection committee’s nomination to the university president include leadership, moral courage, self-determination and communication skills. The John Wesley Raley Scholar receives a scholarship from funds provided by the Fay Taylor Pierson Trust, part of which was designated to establish a memorial to Dr. John Wesley Raley, who served as OBU president from 1934 to 1961 and as OBU chancellor from 1961 to 1965.

Outstanding senior awards were presented to Sarah Black from the Paul Dickinson School of Business, Annika Tomtschik from the Division of Mathematics, Jonah Mahen from the Division of Science, Sophia Strange from the School of Nursing, Gracey Washa from the Henry F. McCabe School of Education, Candace Griffith from the Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences, Hannah Trent from the Division of Language and Literature and Juan “Miguel” Caballero from the Prison Divinity Program.

Also receiving outstanding senior awards from the Division of Exercise Science, Sports and Recreation were Caleigh Rippy in Exercise Science and Sheridan Swift in Sports and Recreation; from the Herschel H. Hobbs School of Theology and Ministry were Pike Butler in biblical and theological studies, Isaac Liston in Christian and cross-cultural ministry, and Carl Wilkerson in philosophy; and from the Warren M. Angell School of Visual and Performing Arts were Jenna Watson in the Division of Art and Design, Ruby Dilts in the Division of Communication Arts, and Cailey Morris and Ryleigh Andrews in the Division of Music.