Leiss among outstanding recent graduates at ESU
By The Emporia Gazette (Contact)
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Emporian Jodie Kimball Leiss is one of three recipients of the 2009 Outstanding Recent Graduate awards from Emporia State University.
Others are Megan Chalfant Burgess of Topeka and Mark Schmelzle of Valley Center.
They will be honored by the ESU Alumni Association at the Alumni Celebration Dinner on Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, during Homecoming Weekend.
Leiss is an instructor at ESU in the department of health, physical education and recreation. She has taught at Village elementary school, served on the student intervention team there, and was a PTA and PTO member at several elementary schools. She is coordinator for Kansas Kids Fitness Day.
She is president of the Kansas Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance Association and has been selected for their young professional award. She was awarded a grant for equipment at Village through the GeoFitness Company. She is also the vice president of the health section for the Central District of the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.
“The Outstanding Recent Graduate class of 2009 represents a small but elite sample of the finest young men and women to complete their studies within the last 10 years,” said Peter Brodie, alumni relations director. “We are very excited to honor achievements in their careers, service to their communities and dedication to their alma mater with these awards.”
Burgess is an inventory specialist at Hills Pet Nutrition corporate headquarters and previously was a market analyst for Payless Shoe Source.
She has been involved running political campaigns and has assisted ESU students with securing internships. At ESU, she was involved in the American Democracy Project and organized students for some of the significant ADP events.
Mark F. Schmelzle is a certified public accountant with Allen, Gibbs & Houlik accounting firm. He was promoted to manager in 2005 and to senior manager in 2008.
The award recipients are selected annually by the university’s undergraduate colleges and schools. To read more about the award and see past recipients online go to www.emporia.edu/saf/awards/outgrad.html.
The celebration dinner is open to the public. For more information, call 341-5440 or e-mail alumni@emporia.edu.