Racer Report: June 30-July 4
By Â×ƬÎŢÂë·áÂúÎçŇą Public Relations | Jul 3, 2025
MURRAY, Ky. – The latest Murray State University Racer Report includes student, faculty, staff and alumni accomplishments, announcements, upcoming campus events and more for the week of June 30-July 4.
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Murray State University Assistant Professor of Economics Dr. Ayesha Jamal was recently featured in a WalletHub article about United Services Automobile Association (USAA) insurance. Read the article here:
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Murray State’s chapter of Kappa Delta Sorority recently received the following awards at their annual convention:
-Continuous Open Bidding Award
-Chapter Advisory Board received an Award of Excellence
-Western Kentucky Alumnae Chapter received an Award of Excellence
-Western Kentucky Alumnae Chapter received honorable mention for Alumnae Chapter Support (in-town)
Congratulations to Kappa Delta!
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Murray State’s Alpha Sigma Alpha Beta Nu Chapter recently received the Dr. S. June Smith Service & Giving Award and has been recognized as a Four Star Chapter for the 2024-2025 academic year by the Alpha Sigma Alpha Organization, which is based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Congratulations to Alpha Sigma Alpha!
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Murray State’s chapter of Sigma Sigma Sigma recently received the following awards at their 47th National Convention:
-Jane E. Kinderman Standard of Efficiency Award
-Member Development Award
-Tri Sigma Foundation Award
-Fraternity/Sorority Advisor of the Year Award (Kim Newbern)
Congratulations to Sigma Sigma Sigma!
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Murray State alumna Gracie Conway, who graduated in May with her bachelor’s degree in pre-veterinary medicine, recently won the title of Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival Pageant Queen in Pineville, Kentucky.
Conway said she had never participated in pageants before competing in the 2024 Ms. Murray State University Scholarship Pageant, hosted by the Student Government Association.
“I was nominated by Alpha Gamma Delta and was just excited to have the opportunity to represent that group of women and be a part of one of Murray State’s longest traditions,” Conway said.
Conway won the 2024 Ms. Murray State University Pageant, and as part of her duties as pageant queen, competed in the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival Pageant in Pineville.
“As someone who has never done pageants, I never expected the outcome,” Conway said. “Going into the four-day long festival/pageant, I truly wasn’t sure what to expect. I had never heard of the tradition before and was just grateful for the opportunity to meet new people and see the traditions of Pineville, Kentucky. After four days, nine outfit changes, and numerous conversations, I got a glimpse of this meaningful tradition and the hearts of the people in Pineville. The Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival is a rare experience that I will look forward to attending each summer. I am forever thankful Murray State allowed me to partake in this tradition because Pineville, Kentucky, will always hold a special place in my heart.”
Conway will be a first-year graduate student at Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine this fall.
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Two Murray State students, Gavin Clark and Gracey Holmes, are gaining valuable hands-on experience this summer by interning at LI Smith & Associates (LIS) in Paris, Tennessee, Clark as a surveying intern and Holmes as a civil engineering intern.
A native of Paducah, Kentucky, Clark is a rising sophomore at Murray State University, where he is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in construction management and architecture and maintaining a perfect 4.0 GPA. He brings hands-on experience in carpentry and landscaping, along with proficiency in industry-standard software such as AutoCAD and Revit.
Clark is a graduate of Marshall County High School and has earned numerous academic and athletic honors, including multiple scholarships and All-State academic awards. His strong work ethic, technical skills and eagerness to learn will make him a valuable asset to LIS’s construction and surveying projects this summer.
The LIS internship program is designed to provide students with real-world experience, mentorship and professional development opportunities. Clark will work alongside experienced professionals on active projects, gaining insight into the surveying and construction industries while contributing meaningfully to the firm’s mission.
A resident of Springville, Tennessee, Holmes is currently a senior at Murray State University, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in architecture design.
Holmes brings a strong combination of academic training and hands-on experience to her role at LIS. Her coursework includes architecture rendering, sustainable design, real estate principles, organizational leadership and surveying—skills that align closely with the firm’s civil engineering and design projects. She is proficient in AutoCAD, Revit and SketchUp and has demonstrated her design capabilities through detailed architectural projects and final presentations at Murray State.
Her technical skills, creative mindset and commitment to excellence make her a valuable addition to the LIS team. Through this internship, she will gain real-world experience in civil engineering while contributing to meaningful projects that serve the community.