2024 Outstanding Students

Alexia Droege

Allied Health & Sciences Division

Alexia Droege has been chosen to receive the Outstanding Student Award for the Allied Health and Sciences Division. She is graduating with her Associate of Science in Nursing.

She is the daughter of Ann Droege and Doug Droege. Alexia graduated from Bismarck High School in 2021.

She says that one of the best things about MAC was that there were so many opportunities to be involved on campus and in the community. Alexia volunteered as a student representative for the Allied Health Community Advisory Board, where she presented her experiences in the nursing program to community health leaders. The Student Nurse Organization has benefited from her organizational skills as Treasurer this year; prior to that, she served on the Student Nurse Association social committee.  

Her instructors describe her as an ever-positive and enthusiastic student with excellent communication skills. In addition to being academically successful, they have been able to count on her to assist with classroom activities eagerly.

Alexia found the supportive faculty and staff to be a high point of her experience at MAC, saying, “Here at Mineral Area College, no matter what career you are pursuing, every person is here to help you succeed.”

Following graduation, her immediate goal is to pass the NCLEX in order to obtain her RN license. She then plans to begin her career as a nurse while attending Central Methodist University to earn her bachelor’s degree in nursing. Alexia’s hope is to eventually work with children in a pediatrics, NICU, or labor and delivery position.

Claire Bennett

Arts and Communications Division

Claire Bennett has earned the Arts and Communications Division Outstanding Student Award. She is graduating with her Associate of Arts in Art.

She is the daughter of Robert Bennett and Melissa and Daniel Nash. Claire graduated from North County High School in 2022.

While at MAC, Claire has maintained an excellent GPA and has been a stand-out student in her studio art and art history courses. She’s often the first to arrive in the studio each morning and has shown the discipline to continue her work outside of the classroom to develop and refine her skills. She has earned multiple awards in the MAC Art Show, and her articulate, empathetic, and precise comments have been a mainstay during in-class critiques.

She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society and is a recipient of an art scholarship. Claire has been very active in the Art Club, where she could be counted on for anything from baking for fundraisers to studio maintenance. She has also volunteered for the Mineral Area Council on the Arts and Mineral Area Fine Arts Academy activities.

Claire plans to continue her studies at the University of Missouri-St. Louis and will pursue a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education. Her ultimate goal is to become an art teacher in the hope of giving back to the community and future generations.

Katelyn Chomko

Athletics

Katelyn Chomko has received the Outstanding Student Award for Athletics.

She is the daughter of Scott and Kristin Chomko and is a 2022 graduate of Tomball Memorial High School in Houston, Texas.

Katelyn was a two-year starting guard on the women’s basketball team and helped lead the Lady Cardinals to a history-making 2023-24 season with 26 wins, ten weeks in the NJCAA Top 25 Poll, and an undefeated regular season at home. In her freshman season, she helped her team make the Region 16 championship by knocking off nationally-ranked Three Rivers.

This season, Katelyn averaged 15 points and 4 rebounds per game and was a 34% 3-point shooter. During her MAC career, she scored 790 points, had 200 assists, and helped the team earn 48 wins.

Katelyn was a third-team NJCAA All-American in 2024 for her on-court performance and earned first-team All-Region and All-Conference honors in 2023 and 2024. This spring, she was chosen to attend the Women’s Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame 3-on-3 Weekend in Knoxville, Tennessee, an invite-only event with participants exclusively selected from the Top 25 teams. 

Katelyn also excels academically, being named first-team All-American both years and earning a 4.0 GPA. She is a member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

“Katelyn works hard both on and off the court,” said Coach Briley Palmer. “In two seasons, no matter what, I knew I couldn’t have her on the bench very long.  She brought competitiveness to our teams and a focused mindset that others followed. I will miss her and what she brought to our team culture. I am so thankful to have coached her as a Lady Cardinal!”

After graduation, Katelyn plans to continue playing basketball at the next level. She will major in biology and wants to pursue a career in the medical field.

Chantl Bosman

Business, Math, Technology, and Industry Division

Chantl Bosman has been named Outstanding Student for the Business, Math, Technology, and Industry Division. She is graduating with an Advanced Multi-Process Welding Certificate.

She is the mother of Abigail, Amelia, and Anna Marie, and the daughter of Hermanus and Deanna Bosman. Chantl was born in South Africa and moved to the United States in 1998. She’s lived in several states during that time but is pleased to have settled in Missouri. She earned her GED in 2011.

As a single mother working in home health for over a decade, Chantl decided to pursue higher education to provide a better life for her children. Her search brought her to the welding program at MAC, where her attention to detail and relentless motivation to improve has helped her excel in the shop. She maintained a 4.0 GPA in the program, and her instructor says that her readiness to work and eagerness to obtain knowledge will make her an asset to the industry post-graduation.

Chantl loved the hands-on learning experience in the welding program and said that her “knowledgeable and excellent” instructor Mr. Ellett, and “wonderful classmates” were a highlight of her time at MAC.

Following graduation, she has already secured her first job as a welder. As Chantl begins her career, she intends to continue learning as much as she can through hands-on experience and dedicated work to further herself within the field. In addition to welding, she’ll also be pursuing her dream of owning a self-sustained family farm.

Tabor Mayes

Human Services Divison

Tabor Mayes is the recipient of the Outstanding Student Award for the Human Services Division.

He is the son of Dan and Trisha Mayes, and Michele and Larry Snodderly. Tabor is a 2022 graduate of Southern Boone County High School in Ashland, Mo.

He has excelled in his history courses at MAC, consistently earning scores at the top of the class. Insightful, smart, reliable, trustworthy, kind, thoughtful, helpful, and prepared are just some of the words instructor Rodney Wilson used to describe Tabor.

“Tabor is, without doubt, the best student I have had the privilege of teaching at this school and among the leading students during my 34-year career in education,” said Wilson.

Tabor expressed his enjoyment in the classes, saying, “I have enjoyed learning under Mr. Wilson here at MAC. History has always been my favorite subject, and he has helped me over the last two years to continue to enjoy it.”

Beyond the classroom, his consistent hard work and dependability have been noticed in his part-time job off campus and as a pole vaulter on the MAC track and field team, where he is relied upon as a leader for fellow athletes.

He was also a Resident Advisor at College Park. Tabor says that balancing work, school, and sports has helped him develop strong time management skills and helped him commit to working hard.

Tabor plans to transfer to a university where he will major in business and minor in either broadcasting or sports management.

Hallie Sutton

Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Division

Hallie Sutton is the recipient of the Outstanding Student Award for the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Division.

She is the daughter of Brandon Sutton and Andrea Cecil. Hallie graduated from Fredericktown High School in 2021.

Hallie is graduating with an Associate of Applied Science in Criminal Justice--Law Enforcement. Just this week, she also graduated from the Mineral Area College Law Enforcement Academy, a 1000-hour academy that prepares students mentally, physically, ethically, and proficiently to perform police duties and obtain a Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) license.

Her instructors describe her as a focused and hard-working student. While she was in criminal justice classes, she expressed an interest in law enforcement as a profession. Hallie then arranged and successfully completed an internship at the Fredericktown Police Department, where she did an outstanding job. That experience led her to take the initiative to enroll in the Mineral Area College Law Enforcement Academy (MACLEA).  As a MACLEA student-recruit, she excelled, earning one of the highest GPAs in her class.

In addition to her criminal justice and law enforcement coursework, she was a member of the Gay-Straight Alliance. She said one of the best things about MAC was the “great teachers that care about their students.”

Hallie plans to pursue a career in law enforcement. She’d like to work on the road and is considering furthering her education to become a K9 officer.

Elise Clements

Leadership and Campus Service

Elise Clements has been chosen as an Outstanding Student in Leadership and Campus Service. She is graduating with an Associate of Arts in Art.

She is the daughter of Judy Clements and Russ Clements. Elise is a 2020 graduate of Denton High School in Denton, Texas.

Elise is an art scholarship recipient and has excelled as a leader in the Art Department, inside and outside of the classroom. A dedicated and reliable student, she’s a great example for her peers, who have relied on her to offer support, lead critiques, and model expectations. She helped promote the departme­nt at the annual college fair and shined as a presenter at the first-ever Fine Arts Day. She’s also been very active in Art Club, serving as Vice-President this year with myriad responsibilities ranging from meeting and activity planning, event development and execution, fundraising, club management, and service, including volunteering for MAC, Mineral Area Fine Arts Academy, and Mineral Area Council on the Arts events.

Elise has also been active in MAC Singers and Student Government during her time at MAC, but she says the art department has been the best part of her experience here. “With Ms. Warner’s help and advising, I’ve truly found my passion for art, and I finally feel like I know what I want to do with my future career.”

She plans to continue her education at Lindenwood University where she will pursue a Bachelor of Arts in Art History. Elise then hopes to work in art education or a museum.

Seth Wright

Leadership and Campus Service

Seth Wright has been chosen as an Outstanding Student in Leadership and Campus Service. He is graduating with an Associate of Arts in Computer Science.

He is the son of Alisia Wright and Tim Wright. Seth is a 2022 graduate of Potosi High School.

During his time at MAC, Seth has made his mark as a reliable volunteer and hard worker in many different capacities. He served as a VEX State Robotics Competition judge and was always willing to step up when the Robotics Club needed help. He also helped run the technology at MAC Trivia Night, volunteered at the Mardi Gras celebration in the Library, and has been a dependable work-study student in the maintenance department.

Seth joined Upward Bound as a high school student and has continued to support the program by volunteering now that he’s a MAC student. He appreciates Upward Bound and the support he received from the UB staff, saying, “I would not be where I am today without them pushing me to my greatest ability.”

In turn, the staff expressed that Seth has proven himself to be a motivated student of excellent character throughout their many years of knowing him.

He is also a member of the MAC Esports team and the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society.

After graduation, Seth plans to pursue a career in Information Technology.