By Mike Greife,
October 7, 2015
WARRENSBURG, MO – The family of University of Central Missouri junior Keyontae Richardson,
a social work major from St. Louis, was named UCM Family of the Year as part of UCM’s
annual Family Weekend Oct. 3-4.
Richardson and her family were recognized during halftime of the Saturday, Oct. 4
football game between the UCM Mules and the Missouri Southern State University Lions.
Present were her mother, Pranes Bates; her aunt and uncle, Albert and Nakeydra Bates;
her brothers, Jacobie Banks, James Banks, K’ron Richardson and Kevin Richardson; her
cousins Sharae Bates and Tanishia Bates, and niece Kaomi Richardson.
The formal presentation of the honor was made following the Family Weekend Talent
Show Saturday evening in Hendricks Hall.
In the essay Richardson wrote nominating her family for the honor, she credited the
support she receives from her immediate and extended families with allowing her to
succeed and become the person she has grown to be.
The Family of the Year selected and introduced annually during the UCM Family Weekend
celebration. Students may nominate their families, submitting an essay with their
nomination. This is the 15th year for the honor, sponsored by the UCM United Student
Housing Association.