The University of Missouri-Kansas City’s 2015 mid-year commencement marked a momentous achievement for the Honors College: its first class of graduates.
The honors experience at UMKC transitioned from program to freestanding academic unit in the summer of 2015 and has since celebrated accomplishments in growth and status, the commencement of the inaugural class of Honors College graduates being among the most distinguished.
The commencement recognized seven honors students, five of which completed their studies with the designations of both University Honors and Honors Scholar, from across the spectrum.

Pictured left to right: Chelsy Scherba, Sara Platt, Juan Jose Bettancourt-Garcia, Austin Hoffman
Not pictured: Emily McMichael, Chelsea Mouse, Stella Yee
Graduates at a Glance
Click on each graduate’s name for their academic bios.
Juan Jose Bettancourt-Garcia:
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Departments of Foreign Languages & Literatures, History, and KA&S
- Dual Major: History & Spanish BA
- Latina/Latino Studies Minor
- Designations: University Honors and Honors Scholar
Austin Hoffman:
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Departments of Philosophy, Sociology, and KA&S
- Dual Major: Sociology and Philosophy BA
- Dual Minor: Classical & Ancient Studies and Anthropology
- Designations: University Honors and Honors Scholar
Emily McMichael:
- School of Biological Sciences and College of Arts & Sciences
- Departments of Biology (Instructional) and Chemistry
- Biology BS
- Chemistry Minor
- Designations: University Honors and Honors Scholar
Chelsea Mouse:
- School of Biological Sciences and College of Arts & Sciences
- Departments of Chemistry, Foreign Languages & Literature, and Biology (Instructional)
- Biology BS
- Chemistry and Spanish Minors
- Designations: University Honors
Sara Platt:
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Departments of Foreign Languages & Literature and Theatre
- Dual Degree: French BA and Theatre BA
- Designations: University Honors
Chelsy Scherba:
- College of Arts & Sciences
- Departments of Foreign Languages & Literature and English Language & Literature
- English BA
- German Minor
- Designations: University Honors and Honors Scholar
Stella Yee:
- Bloch School of Management and College of Arts & Sciences
- Departments of Business Administration and Physics & Astronomy
- Business Administration BBA
- Physics Minor
- Designations: University Honors and Honors Scholar
Written by Chelsea Wheeler, Honors College Student Assistant