Each semester, Murray State honors two students by giving them the titles of Outstanding Senior Man and Woman.

This semester, the title have been given to Kristen Tinch and Thomas Werfel.

Tinch, an education major from Lewisburg, Ky., said she is humbled and excited to have received the honor of Outstanding Senior Woman and is thankful for all the opportunities she has been granted through Murray State.

“I’ve had so many opportunities given to me during my time in college, which have helped me grow as a person,” Tinch said. “The Office of Undergraduate Research is just one example of a program that has been supportive of me and helped me in my future.”

She said study abroad is a major reason for her growth during college.

Tinch has been active on campus through various organizations and student groups during her time at Murray State. She said she is thankful for her friends, family and educators who have helped her at Murray State.

She is a member of the Honors Program and has done undergraduate research with the College of Education. She has also been a member of Racer Band for five years and served as a copy editor for The Murray State News.

As for her future plans, Tinch said she has accepted a position as a high school Spanish teacher in Bowling Green, Ky., at Bowling Green High School.

She said her main goal in her teaching career will be to increase global literacy among students and said she plans to attend graduate school in the future.

Outstanding Senior Man of the year, Thomas Werfel, physics major from Waverly, Tenn., said his past four years at Murray State have helped shape him into the person he is today.

“My time at Murray State has been an incredibly enriching experience,” Werfel said. “I found my future career here, and I was only able to do so because of the opportunities which were offered to me.”

He said he has a great deal of respect for his fellow classmates that he is graduating with and is humbled to be chosen as Outstanding Senior Man at Murray State.

Werfel has been involved with numerous on-campus activities during his undergraduate career.

He is currently a senator for the Student Government Association and a member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, where he previously served as chapter president.

He is also a member of the Honors Program and currently serves as a student research assistant in the engineering and physics lab.

Werfel said he plans on attending Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., in the fall to pursue his career in biomedical engineering.

He said his ultimate plan for the future is to go on to do medical research.

The selection for Outstanding Senior Man and Woman for the spring semester is chosen by the Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. The Residential College Association helps with the fall semester selection.

Don Robertson, vice president of Student Affairs, said both individuals selected show great contribution in leadership, academics and service.

He said both students are prime examples of what Murray State strives for with its students; strong leadership and good grades.

“There were many people that could have been selected,” Robertson said. “These two really are the best and represent their class well. It’s a big honor.”

Werfel and Tinch are scheduled to graduate May 11 and both will give speeches at the commencement ceremony, which begins at 10 a.m. at the CFSB Center.

Story by Rebecca Walter, Staff writer.