The Outstanding Senior Man and Woman at Murray State University were announced during the Senior Breakfast. Megan Black and Reed Clapp were selected for the honor. Megan, the daughter of Randall and Kim Black of Murray, will receive the bachelor of arts degree in English education. A member of Clark College, she is an Honors Diploma recipient and will graduate summa cum laude with a 4.0 grade point average. Her honors include being selected as a Presidential Scholar, membership on the MSU Dean’s List for four years, recognition by Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities, and designation as the Outstanding English Major for two years. Black is a member of Omicron Delta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi Scholastic honor societies, Gamma Sigma Alpha Greek honor society and Sigma Alpha Iota business fraternity. She has held leadership positions and been active in the Honors Program, the residential colleges system and Sigma Sigma Sigma social sorority. She has been a presenter of scholarly research twice at the Kentucky Honors Roundtable. As part of the university’s Study Abroad program, she studied in England and Spain. Black has been involved in numerous community and service endeavors as well as campus activities including serving as a camp counselor for Minority Scholars Institute, campus theater and volunteering as a Spanish tutor. Her career goal is to become a professor and teach at the postsecondary level.
Reed, son of Benny Clapp and Marita Clapp of Fancy Farm, will receive the bachelor of science in elementary education with an emphasis in humanities and fine arts. He is a member of Elizabeth College and will graduate summa cum laude with a 3.94 grade point average.

A four-year Dean’s List student, he was selected for Who’s Who Among Students in American Colleges and Universities. Clapp has been involved in many honors organizations and has held leadership positions in Alpha Lambda Delta, Order of Omega and Omicron Delta Kappa. Additionally, he has been active and held offices in the Student Government Association and Sigma Phi Epsilon social fraternity. Clapp received the Rising Racer and Top 10 Student Leaders awards given out by the office of Student Affairs, was named to the 2006 and 2007 Homecoming Courts and was chosen as Outstanding Greek Man of the Year.

He has served the university as a student ambassador and served the community as a camp counselor at the Mayfield Graves County YMCA Summer Camp. Clapp was also an instructional assistant at Murray Elementary School’s Kids’ Company. After graduation, Clapp hopes to pursue a career in teaching and school administration.

Black and Clapp will give the valedictions at Saturday’s May 2009 Commencement ceremony. The event begins at 10 a.m. and is held in the Regional Special Events Center. For more information on Commencement, go online at www.murraystate.edu/provost/maycom.html