With years of dedication, leadership, and academic success, Sterling College seniors Evie Gill of St. George, Kan., and Dawson Urwiller of Hutchinson, Kan., were named the 2025 Outstanding Female and Male Graduates, awarded in conjunction with the Professor Fran Jabara Leadership Award.

The awards honor two students who reflect the ideals of the Sterling College graduate through outstanding academic achievement, campus involvement, leadership, and a vibrant Christian faith. Recipients must hold a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher and are selected by faculty and staff.

Gill, a Health Science: Pre-Physical Therapy major, was deeply involved in academics, athletics, and student leadership. She was praised by faculty for her “humble leadership, tireless work ethic, and compassion for others.” Head Women’s Basketball Coach K.C. Bassett described her as “a steady, servant-hearted leader whose intelligence and loyalty elevate everyone around her.”

Urwiller, a Theology and Ministry major, was recognized for excellence in the classroom and spiritual leadership. Dr. Timothy Gabrielson, professor of biblical studies, described him as “diligent, faithful, and intellectually sharp—a gifted communicator and a compassionate Christian leader.

The Professor Fran Jabara Leadership Award was established in 2002 by Professor Fran Jabara, former Dean of the Wichita State University College of Business Administration, and recognizes graduating seniors from four-year, private Kansas colleges who display exemplary leadership skills.

Sterling College is a Christ-centered, four-year college located in Sterling, Kansas, with a mission to develop creative and thoughtful leaders who understand a maturing Christian faith. For more information, visit www.sterling.edu.