Eight students have been honored as finalists for the distinguished Mr. and Ms. York University awards. The winners will be announced during the all-school banquet on Monday, April 14, 2025. This annual award is presented to students nominated by faculty and staff for exemplifying the following qualities:
- They embody a commitment to the mission, purpose, and core values of York University.
- They are recognized by students, faculty, and staff as servant leaders who make positive contributions in all they do.
- They are well-rounded individuals who pursue spiritual integrity and academic excellence while making contributions to the campus and community, forming healthy personal relationships, and living godly lives.
Mr. YU Candidates:
Bryson Adams
Awards & Honors: Homecoming Court Sophomore Representative, Homecoming Court King Candidate, Student Activities Board (SAB) Chairperson, Esports Overwatch Team Captain, Resident Director of McCloud Hall
Activities: Esports, Student Government Association, Student Activities Board, Koinia, Kingsmen, SALT
After graduation, Bryson will continue as the Resident Director for McCloud Hall and
begin his master’s as a graduate student for the YU Esports team.
While at YU, Bryson is grateful for the ways YU has transformed him mentally and spiritually
and he’s confident in growing his faith as he moves forward in life. “Freshmen year,
I had doubts about God and I did not plan on growing a relationship with Him,” shared
Bryson. “Today, I have a major focus on how I will grow my relationship with God over
my lifetime. Taking the time to spend with God has made me feel his permanent presence
in my life and I am excited to see what more this spiritual health strengthening will
do with me and God in the future.”
“Strengthening my spiritual health has also made a difference in my mental health. I have been transformed mentally because I have more confidence and motivation. I feel like I have a strong mental health system that helps keep me motivated and confident in myself and in God through love for others and love for myself.”
Andrew Bennett Jr.
Awards & Honors: Homecoming Court King Candidate
Activities: Campus Ministries, Men’s Basketball
After graduation, Andrew will “return to the Northeast and begin working to spread the gospel with those in the inner city and beyond.”
Reflecting on his time at YU, Andrew says, “My life has definitely transformed for the better, I have grown both spiritually and physically over my time away at YU, developing a healthier outlook on life and my relationship with God. I have learned the importance of community in the kingdom of God. I have matured in my walk with the Lord thanks to faculty and friends.”
Ross Fraser
Awards & Honors: Deans List, University Singers Bass and Tenor Section Leader, selected to play bass guitar for several private performances, Songfest Host
Activities: University Singers, Celebration Singers, Songfest, Sig Tau
After graduation, Ross will continue performing music and pursue a career in recording and producing music.
Ross reflects, “YU has made me realize that no matter where you are or what you do, you are able to be yourself and still be loving to those around you. One way that York University has changed my life is the connections I’ve made with new friends, professors, and just overall great people.”
Archford Manduvi
Awards & Honors: Homecoming King 2024, Dean’s List
Activities: Men's Soccer
After graduation, Archie hopes to be a coach or a preacher. Archie is grateful for his time at YU and says, “My spiritual journey has been changed since arriving at York, I’ve met people that have changed me and the community has been helping me physically and spiritually and I’m so grateful to be a student of York.”
Ms. YU Candidates:
Britney Schroer
Hometown: Cottonwood Falls, Kansas
Major: Business Administration & Accounting
Awards & Honors: Alpha Chi Member, Dean’s List, Captain of Women's Basketball Team
Activities: Women's Basketball, Ignite Excellence, SALT
After graduation, Britney plans to return to York University to be on the women's basketball coaching staff and pursue my degrees in the community. Britney shares, “York University has transformed my life by being a vessel for God to show His path for me. The community here has changed me for the better by boldly following Christ and allowing me to grow in an environment full of support and encouragement. Through my time here at York, I have been challenged to push myself and remain confident in my abilities. The support for students to not only pursue their degree and sport but to first find their identity in Christ is such a special part of the culture I experienced here at YU that changed me for the better. My time at YU has been so sweet!”
Kenna Tarnowski
Awards & Honors: Scholar-Athlete Award (2022-2024), Homecoming Queen (2024), Deans List, Volleyball Captain (2023-2024), Vice President of University Singers, Student Government Association President, Certificate of Global Citizenship
Activities: Volleyball, Student Government Association, University Singers, Celebration Singers, Student Activities Board, Study Abroad, Theta Psi
After graduation, Kenna plans to join an organization where she can do prison reform work. She wants to create opportunities for incarcerated individuals to know Jesus and gain the resources to get them out of prison and stay out of prison. Kenna says, “While this is a dream of mine, I am open to where the Spirit will lead me and I am excited for what my future holds no matter what that may look like!”
She also shares, “It is hard to put into words how my life has been transformed because there are so many different areas of my life that have been changed for good while attending York University. Once a nervous freshman, who was scared she would never make any friends this far away from home, can now look back on the last four years and be proud of the relationships I have built with my peers and professors. I am a better Christian and have built a foundation for my faith that I am proud of because of my time here. I have also gained so many opportunities both in my personal and professional life that will help launch me into the next season of life. My life has been completely transformed in the last four years because of my time at York University and I couldn't be happier with the things God has led me to through my decision to come to school here.”
Macey Truitt
Awards & Honors: Dean's List, Homecoming Court Sophomore Representative, Homecoming Court Queen Candidate, Theta Psi President 2022-2025, Resident Assistant, Chi Rho Officer
Activities: Chi Rho, Theta Psi, Golf Team, Cheer Team
After student teaching in the fall and graduating this December, Macey plans on staying in York for a couple more years while earning her master's in administration and working as a graduate assistant in the admissions office and an enrollment counselor! After that, she plans to teach.
Macey reflects on her time at YU saying, “In my time at York, I have changed in every aspect of my life, I have grown spiritually, personally, academically, and professionally. This place and these people have given me the opportunity to really dive deep into a community that I really care about. I learned to love classes and really gain knowledge, I learned how to serve people and I really got to figure out the ways that God can use me. My entire life is changed because of York and I truly feel transformed in ways that I never could have imagined.”
Elizabeth Zaiger
Awards & Honors: Deans List, University Singers President & Secretary, Best New Female Singer Award - University Singers (2022), Outstanding Female Singer Award - University Singers (2024, 2025), Songfest Hostess (2022, 2023), 2nd place in the KCAC Conference - Hammer Throw (2024), 1st place in the KCAC Conference - Weight Throw (2025), Homecoming Court Junior Representative, Homecoming Court Queen Candidate
Activities: Track and Field, University Singers, Celebration Singers, Songfest, Campus Ministries, Student Government, Theta Psi
After graduation, Elizabeth will be working on staff at the Heartlands Church in Lincoln and in the fall she plans to attend graduate school to receive her certification as a marriage and family therapist. She also plans “to continue to make music and sing as long as I have breath!”
Elizabeth says, “York University has been my home for the past four years. This campus is full of sweet souls who embody Jesus so well. My time at York has been special because of those who inhabit the dorms, classrooms, gyms, offices, rehearsal rooms and all the places in between. I have been graced with relationships that will last a lifetime and beyond.”
“In reflection, my life has been transformed most radically through hardship and struggle. Some of my most vulnerable seasons have led to my greatest dependency on my Savior, and that is where true growth happens. Only through Christ can I boast and also through the mentors who have taught me to be content right where I am. I will always look back on my time at York University and smile with gratitude because God has been so good to me here.”