McKendree University Kentucky Graduates Receive Their Diplomas
Student and Faculty Awards Presented at Commencement
(RADCLIFF, Ky., June 5, 2017) - The Class of 2017 graduates of McKendree University’s
Louisville and Radcliff campuses received their diplomas and awards were presented
at commencement held on June 3 at the First Christian Church in Elizabethtown, Ky.
Lia Murphy, of Louisville, and Paul Baker, of Mount Sherman, Ky., received “Spirit
of McKendree” Awards for academic excellence, character and community mindedness at
the Louisville and Radcliff campuses, respectively.
Murphy, a compliance coordinator for the Louisville Metro Government, graduated with
a bachelor’s degree in business administration and human resource management, and
is pursuing an MBA at the Shepherdsville campus. Faculty members noted her thorough
and outstanding work, critical thinking ability and insight she brought to the classroom.
Baker, who attended the Radcliff campus, graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor
of Business Administration degree. A Sergeant First Class with the U.S. Army, he serves
as operations supervisor for the United States Army Band. Faculty members commented
on his integrity, focus, preparedness, class involvement and commitment to academic
excellence.
Outstanding Faculty of the Year Award winners at the Louisville and Radcliff campuses
were nursing instructor Bob Von Kanel, of Floyds Knobs, Ind., and Machan Niederriter,
of Radcliff. Selected by the students, the awards are given to the instructors who
most inspire and impress them. “Their passion for the subject and their presentation
of the subject matter are instrumental in creating a climate for learning,” said Christian
Blome, executive director of the Kentucky campuses.
Students praised Von Kanel’s knowledge, helpful and positive feedback, passion for
nursing, and ability to motivate and connect with them. He joined McKendree University
in 2001 as an adjunct faculty member and became a full-time instructor of nursing
in 2008. He taught previously at Ivy Tech Community College for 16 years, where he
also chaired the School of Nursing for four years. In addition to teaching, he is
the university’s Division of Nursing liaison with all community health partners, and
chairs the Curriculum Committee.
Niederriter’s students noted her patience and genuine concern for their educational
development, growth and success. She joined the Radcliff campus as an adjunct instructor
in 2014, teaching both graduate and undergraduate accounting and finance courses.
In addition to her work at McKendree University, she is an academic tutor for the
Department of Veteran Affairs.
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