The Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Division of Student Affairs announced Larrian Menifee of Galveston and Kallie Menard of Arlington have been selected as the 2021 Mr. and Miss Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ.
The Mr. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ title was established in honor of the late Stan McKewen, a 1934 Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ graduate. The Miss Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ title was established in honor of Arnodean Covin, who was named Miss Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ in 1940, 1941 and 1942.
Menifee, who received the Stan McKewen Mr. Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Award, graduated from the university in May with a bachelor's degree in music education. He is the son of Mona Benson.
Menifee served in many leadership roles on campus, including Orientation student coordinator, Jack Camp student director, Jack Walker campus tour guide and Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµS 1101 teaching assistant. He also served as the special events coordinator and president of the Student Activities Association, a member of the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ men's choir, and he was named the 2019 Homecoming King.
He is the founder of the Lumberjack Men's Volleyball Club and a member of Sigma Lambda Beta International Fraternity. Menifee completed student teaching in League City and is teaching choir full time at Ball High School.
"Larrian is the type of leader everyone wants on their team," said Rhylie Gachot, assistant director of Orientation and Transition Programs at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ. "He is high energy, inclusive of others, a hard worker, and his personality lights up the room."
Menard, who received the Arnodean Covin Miss Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Award, is a senior family and consumer sciences major. A 2018 graduate of James Martin High School, she is the daughter of Kirk and Teresa Menard '86.
Menard is the lead Jack Walker and an Orientation leader. She serves as the vice president for Omicron Delta Kappa, a national leadership honor society, and she was recently named National Circle Leader Member of the Year. In 2018, she was selected as Miss Greek. Menard is an executive member of Chi Omega Sorority, which benefits the Make-a-Wish Foundation. She is a member of the Family Consumer Sciences Organization and a Jack Camp counselor.
When she's not in class as a student, Menard works as an Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµS 1101 teaching assistant and is a substitute teacher for the Nacogdoches Independent School District. She plans to remain at Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ after graduation and pursue a master's degree in student affairs.
"Kallie embodies everything a Miss Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ should be," said Dr. Hollie Smith, executive director of student affairs. "She is involved in numerous student organizations, serving as an officer in most of them. She loves Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ and bleeds purple. Kallie strives for personal excellence in everything she does. She has an infectious personality and does not meet a stranger."
The Mr. and Miss Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ titles are annually presented by the Ä¢¹½ÊÓÆµ Division of Student Affairs to exemplary students who well represent the university. Recipients are selected based on their scholarship, participation and leadership in academic and co-curricular activities, and service and loyalty to the university. Selections are made by a committee of faculty, staff community leaders and alumni.
Axe ’Em, Jacks!