Join us in celebrating at the
CCAA Award Luncheon!
Saturday, April 6, 12:00 p.m. CST
The awards celebration will be livestreamed and available for viewing at a later date.
CCAA Award Recipients
Friend of the College
Caroline joined P.E.O., Chapter BX, on her 21st birthday in 1978, and is currently an active member of Chapter BX, Yakima. In 2015, Caroline attended P.E.O. Visit Day at Cottey and a fire was ignited in her to support the college financially and by actively recruiting students.
She volunteered that year to serve on the Washington State Cottey Committee. As chairman of the committee, she helped establish a Cottey travel fund, and several students have visited and chose to attend Cottey. Caroline has participated in local college fairs, representing Cottey for the last 8 years, except for the missing Covid years. She loves all that Cottey has to offer and loves getting involved with the students.
Outstanding Young Alumna
Malikah Fard-Allah is an educator and design thinking practitioner, originally from Phoenix, AZ, now based in Kansas City, MO. With a lifelong passion for travel, Malikah seized opportunities to broaden her horizons by studying abroad in Brazil after high school and later at Cottey College. It was during her time at Cottey that she began acquiring a diverse set of skills, which she now utilizes in her multifaceted roles.
Not only is Malikah a committed teacher, but she also actively engages with her community, bringing her international experiences and perspectives to enrich the lives of those around her. Her time studying in Seoul, South Korea, further expanded her worldview and deepened her commitment to education and cross-cultural understanding. With her background in design thinking and her dedication to education, Malikah Fard-Allah continues to make a positive impact as an educator and community leader.
Honorary Alumna
Kimberly is an entrepreneur at heart. She has started and operated several businesses including dress making and tailor services, and family communication tools and systems. Upon meeting her husband, Michael Crenshaw, Kimberly stepped away from the consulting world to change her focus to her true love, creative design. Kimberly launched an online boutique catering to all things Daisies, Ducks and Stars. She designs personalized creations at her boutique, Daisies, Ducks and Doodles – Creative Handiworks and Inspired Designs. Kimberly also enjoys music, having been taught to sing and harmonize at a young age. She graduated college with a degree in Sacred Music, Choral Conducting and Vocal Performance. She was a minister of music for numerous churches for 24 years, specializing in musicals and cantatas for adults, youth, and children’s music programs. Kimberly also completed her master’s certificate in Project Management from the University of Texas at Dallas.
In the Fall of 2021, Kimberly was invited to be the Director of the Dallas Area P.E.O. Chorus. The P.E.O. Chorus is an amazing group that volunteers to spread the word about P.E.O. and bring the message of the sisterhood with them wherever they perform. Kimberly has been a P.E.O. since 1980 and has held officer positions on the local, area council and state levels.
Alumna Service
Kathleen attended high school in Concordia, Kansas, before attending Cottey College. When she graduated, she transferred to Kansas State University where she got her education degree and went on to become an elementary school teacher. She credits Cottey College with giving her confidence and leadership.
In her spare time Kathleen loves line dancing, helping with children at church, singing in her church choir, and spending time with her 5 children and 10 grandchildren. Kathleen’s advice to Cottey students today is to have courage in yourself.
Distinguished Alumna
Jen was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana. She followed her “wonderful, wild, and wildly influential” sister Susan (class of 1959) to Cottey in the fall of 1962. At Cottey, Jen continued to grow in her genuine love of learning and became more adventurous in experiencing and embracing the unknown.
After Cottey, Jen attended the University of Tulsa and graduated with her BA in philosophy and religion. Jen joined the Navy for a short time and went back to school to get her BSN at Nicholls State University, followed by her Master in Nursing from Louisiana State University. After earning a post-master’s certificate as a pediatric nurse practitioner, Jen worked at a pediatric clinic serving the indigent population from 1993 until she retired in 2012. Jen has three children, one INCREDIBLE GRANDSON, sings in her church choir and enjoys life to its fullest. She and her husband Mike still live in Louisiana.