MBU honors 2020’s Alumni Award Recipients
This week, Missouri Baptist University’s Alumni Association honored outstanding alumni who have made a significant impact in the community and society on Tuesday, Nov. 10.
These awards are a reflection of the commitment of MBU alumni make in their communities and careers.
Vocational Excellence Award
Greg Lawrence, ‘03
Greg Lawrence is currently the director of technology for the Wentzville School District and previously served as a former district instructional technology coach and a middle school computer and vocal music educator.
The International Society for Technology in Education awarded Lawrence with the Making IT Happen award in 2012. He is a Google Cloud Certified Administrator, Google for Education Certified Innovator, and a co-leader for GEG (Google Educator Group) Eastern Missouri.
Greg graduated from MBU in 2003 with a degree in music education and later earned a Masters in Informational Technology from the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Service to the University Award
Davide Walter Diehl, ‘09
David Walter Diehl recently retired as the chief operating officer of Aurora University in Aurora, Illinois. He previousle served Aurora University as Vice President for Technology, Associate Vice President for Enrollment, Director of Graduate Business Programs and Associate Professor of Accountancy.
David spent more 20 years in the business world before entering higher education. He is a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Management Accountant.
David holds bachelor and master’s degrees in accountancy from Loyola University, a Master of Arts in Teaching from Missouri Baptist University in 2009 and an educational specialist degree in information science and learning technology from the University of Missouri.
Missouri Baptist University has greatly benefitted from Diehl’s thoughtful giving and standout service to the University over the past several years. He established the Clara Diehl and Jean Bradfield endowed scholarships. Both scholarships will help students in need of financial assistance in perpetuity.
Diehl and his family also supported the creation of the Diehl Family Ideation lab located in the Jung Kellogg Learning Center
Outstanding Young Alumnus Award
Emmalee Kinealy, ‘06
Kinealy works for Under Armour, Inc., and supports Under Armour’s Chief Operating Officer, Senior Vice President of Global Product Supply and the Vice President of Footwear Development.
Kinealy received a BS in Sport Management in 2006 and a master’s degree in business in 2010 from MBU.
Kinealy previously worked for the St. Louis Cardinals for four years and then a recruiting and event staffing agency that supported local sporting teams such as the Gateway Grizzles and the University of Missouri-Columbia.
Distinguished Alumnus Award
Travis L. Brown ‘73
Brown is a retired Director of Athletics, principal, teacher and coach in the St. Louis Public School District and currently serves as an adjunct instructor at Missouri Baptist University. He served on the Missouri Baptist University Board of Trustees from 2002-2006 and graduated from Missouri Baptist College in 1973 with bachelor of arts in history,
While at MBU, he played on the basketball team for all four years, served as captain or co-captain for three years and hewas inducted into the Missouri Baptist University Hall of Fame in 1989.
Brown has received numerous academic and professional awards including: the Brain Injury Association of Missouri Service Excellence Public Awareness Award; featured in the New York Times Newspaper April 22,2007 National Report; the St. Louis Argus “Distinguished Citizens” Award; the 100 Black Men of St. Louis Trail Blazer Award; the St. Louis American Salute to Excellence in Education Award; the Annie Malone Making a Difference Award; Who’s Who in Black St. Louis, the Better Family Life Excellence in Education Award; the Missouri State High School Activities Association Distinguished Service Award; the Missouri State High School Activities Association highest honor, the Irwin A. Keller Award for men and women throughout the state who have made lifelong contributions to high school activities; Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges at the University of Missouri- St. Louis and a member of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.
Mission in Action Award
Kaitlin Mills ‘20
Mills earned a bachelor of arts in human services and minors in psychology and sociology in 2020 and is currently pursuing a master’s in social work from MBU. She currently works as a Crisis Intervention Specialist at Provident Behavioral Health.
Mills earned a multiple awards in women’s lacrosse, while serving as a resident assistant at North Hall and South Village. Shew was also the secretary and event coordinator of the Association of Black Collegians and participated in MBU mission trips to Guatemala and Ghana, Africa.
