81st Annual Achievement Day

Katie Lawson has served Liberty Public Schools and North Kansas City Schools for 25 years as a teacher and administrator. Currently, Katie serves as Executive Director of Special Programs for North Kansas City Schools. In this role, Lawson helped facilitate the opening of NKC Schools’ Early Education Center which was named the 2022 Program of the Year by the Future Builders Foundation. She also facilitated the recent opening of the district’s innovative Future Ready Lab, as well as the new Adult Education Center that serves more than 500 adult learners.

Lawson was the 2014 Missouri Association of Elementary School Principals’ Assistant Principal of the Year for the Northwest Region, among other administrator and educator honors throughout her career. She holds a master’s degree in educational leadership, an Educational Doctorate in Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis from University of Missouri – Columbia, holds several training certifications and has written articles for industry publications such as School Business Affairs, American School and University and Building Design and Construction. Lawson is also a proud member of the High Performance, High Potential Institute in NKC Schools.

She has been an active community servant through organizations such as Mid-America Regional Council, Northland Early Education Council, Liberty United Methodist Church, Resurrection Liberty, Boy Scouts and Jewell committees and initiatives. At Jewell she was named Outstanding Education Major two times, was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta, a four-year letterwinner and basketball team captain, a two-year member and letterwinner of the volleyball team, and received Academic All-American honors.

Mandy Levings joined FleishmanHillard upon her Jewell graduation and is now Senior Vice President and Senior Partner. At the global public relations and marketing agency, Levings specializes in developing programs for retail and lifestyle clients, including product launch, brand and product issues management, brand reinvention and experiential activations.

She has led large-scale programs for brands across a wide range of industry sectors, such as PepsiCo, Hallmark, Sleep Number, Russell Stover, Helzberg Diamonds, Beauty Brands, Major League Baseball, The National World War I Museum, Bayer, JE Dunn and Dow AgroSciences. Her extensive experience in influencer strategy and celebrity integration has led to programs with Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Bryan, Eric Stonestreet, Gabrielle Union, Jennifer Garner, Gwen Stefani, Jewel and Taye Diggs, among others.

Levings is a three-time recipient of the FleishmanHillard “Bend the World” Award for creativity, Ingram’s Magazine 40 Under 40 honoree and recipient of the John D. Graham Leadership Award and the Elizabeth T. Solberg Leadership Award. Her community service includes leadership roles with Variety Children’s Charity, Liberty Education Foundation, Brain Injury Association of Greater Kansas City and Jewell’s President’s Advisory Council.

At Jewell, Levings earned a B.A. in Communication with an emphasis in public relations. She was a member of the Jewell Dance Team, an executive officer in Delta Zeta sorority and participated in the work study program.

Darren Prenger is a results-oriented business executive with more than 20 years’ experience producing optimal outcomes in the industries of technology and talent services. He has demonstrated superior performance in his career through a personal philosophy of servant leadership, consultative problem solving, critical thinking and value fulfillment in fast paced, hyper-competitive markets.

Prenger worked in information technology at Sprint, H&R Block and Cerner Corporation early in his career. In 2005, he joined ECCO Select, a Kansas City-based firm that provides clients information technology, talent and process solutions. Following several leadership roles, Prenger was named president and COO in 2022 with responsibility for day-to-day operations, financial health and key growth initiatives. ECCO Select has been regionally and nationally recognized for its growth, services, innovation and entrepreneurial excellence.

At Jewell, he earned bachelor’s degrees in computer information systems and business administration, was a member of the Cardinal football team, an officer for Kappa Alpha Order fraternity and has served the College in numerous ways since graduation. He holds an Executive MBA from Rockhurst University, is a Crucial Conversations Certified Trainer and a graduate of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce Centurions Leadership Program. Prenger also has been recognized as the Nonprofit Connect Emerging Philanthropist of the Year, a Kansas City Business Journal NextGen Leader and an Ingram’s Magazine 40 Under 40 honoree.

Anthony Shop is the Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Social Driver, a marketing and communications firm that uses people-centered digital strategies to help leading brands reimagine the way they communicate and engage. Anthony and his husband built Social Driver into a team of more than 50 employees, which has been recognized as Webflow Agency of the Year, U.S. Department of Commerce Marketing and Communications Agency of the Year, NGLCC LGBT-Owned Business of the Year and one of the most charitable companies in Washington, D.C., by Washingtonian Magazine.

Shop is a sought-after expert in digital communications and executive visibility. He hosts the Chief Influencer podcast in partnership with The George Washington University and chairs the National Digital Roundtable, the premier convener of digital innovators, leaders and policy shapers. He has been recognized as an OUTstanding LGBT Role Model by The Financial Times, Business Leader of the Year by the DC Chamber of Commerce and as a 40 Under 40 honoree by The Washington Business Journal. A former newspaper reporter, Shop was the first new media professional elected to the National Press Club’s Board of Governors.

At Jewell, he was Hilltop Monitor editor in chief, a Lambda Chi Alpha officer and member of numerous organizations including Student Senate, American Humanics and UNITY Association. Shop also received the Faculty Award, Harry S. Truman Scholarship and the award for the senior male most likely to succeed. He earned his MBA from The George Washington University School of Business, where he is an adjunct lecturer.

• Premier Table Seating for 8
• Company Advertising Displayed at Event
• Verbal Stage Recognition
• Recognition on 1 Designated Social Media Post
• Recognition in Event Invitation Emails and Slideshow
• Recognition in Dinner Program (print deadlines apply)

Presenting Sponsors:
Russ and Melanie Cline Family Foundation
The Ever Glades Fund
Mathes Family

• Premier Table Seating for 8
• Company Advertising Displayed at Event
• Recognition on 1 Designated Social Media Post
• Recognition in Event Invitation Emails and Slideshow
• Recognition in Dinner Program (print deadlines apply)

• Premier Table Seating for 6
• Company Advertising Displayed at Event
• Recognition on 1 Designated Social Media Post
• Recognition in Event Invitation Emails and Slideshow
• Recognition in Dinner Program (print deadlines apply)

Underwriters:
ECCO Select
John and Melanie Gill
Muriel McBrien Kauffman Family Foundation

• Premier Table Seating for 6
• Company Advertising Displayed at Event
• Recognition in Event Invitation Emails and Slideshow
• Recognition in Dinner Program (print deadlines apply)

Celebration Sponsors:
Jason and Bethany Houseworth
The University of Kansas Health System
 

• Premier Table Seating for 4
• Recognition in Event Invitation Emails and Slideshow
• Recognition in Dinner Program (print deadlines apply)

Benefactor Sponsors:
Commerce Bank
​Tyler Griffin
Husch Blackwell, LLP
KPMG LLP
Social Driver
David and Julie Warm

• Reserved Table Seating for 4
• Recognition in Event Invitation Emails and Slideshow
• Recognition in Dinner Program (print deadlines apply)

Ambassador Sponsors:
Arvest Bank
Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation
Forvis Mazars
Hallmark Distribution Center
John and Melissa Dowling
Jeff and Sarah Hon
JE Dunn Construction Company
The Miller Group
Jim and Lisa Shoemaker
Craig and Deana Zahnd
 

• Reserved Table Seating for 2
• Recognition in Dinner Program (print deadlines apply)

Scholar Sponsors:
David and Amy Anderson
Stephen Hemphill
Lynn and Carol Hogue
Dr. Deane (Potter) Johnson Corn
Greg and Marge Lund
Scott and Kristen Martin
Kristen and Amon Wooldridge

Melanie (Griffin) Cline ’78 and W. Russ Cline, Jr. ’70
Ryan Cline ’08 and Jessica (Sudduth) Cline ’09

"Our family is honored to be a part of this 81st Achievement Day Celebration for William Jewell College. In the College’s 176 years, thousands of aspiring achievers have graduated and gone out into the world to make a difference. While we are unable to recognize them all, Achievement Day is evidence that it works! This year’s honorees have distinguished themselves and Jewell with outstanding accomplishments, not only in their professions but in service to community. Our family is proud to be alumni of the Campus of Achievement."

Valet parking will be available for all guests.

Instead of business casual, think farm casual!

• Women: It’s all about the footwear! Remember we will be outside, so it’s best to go with boots, dressy flats or wedges, but steer clear of stilettos! A nice top with tailored pants or a dress would be appropriate.
• Men: A button-down shirt with chinos or jeans paired with a sport coat—you’ll fit right in.