Justin and Emma Cobb Are First Married Couple to Receive Charno Awards

Emma Cobb, left, and Justin Cobb received the highest honor bestowed upon citizens of the senior class at the University of Central Missouri, the Charno Award, making them the first married couple to both receive this recognition in the spring award ceremony.

WARRENSBURG, MO – For the first time in history,  the presentation of the most prestigious honor given to students at the University of Central Missouri has been presented to a married couple. Justin and Emma Cobb both received Charno Awards during a ceremony April 14 in the Elliott Student Union.

Announced each spring semester, Charno Awards are presented to the top male and female citizens of UCM. The honor is named after George Charno, Sr., a Kansas City attorney who established the award in 1940 to recognize the two outstanding members of the senior class. Selection is based on a combination of criteria, which include: leadership, scholarship, character, involvement in campus organizations and extracurricular activities, service to the university, and involvement in one’s academic department. In addition to their selection for this award being publicly announced in a ceremony that also introduced all individuals who received Who’s Who at UCM recognition, both award recipients will be honored during Spring 2022 Commencement exercises May 6-7 in the Multipurpose Building.

Seeking a career that will impact the lives of young people, Emma Cobb is graduating from UCM summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Early Childhood and Elementary Education. She is a former resident of St. Thomas, Missouri.

Emma’s outstanding record of leadership, service and involvement at UCM includes serving as president for two years for two different organizations simultaneously, Ladies Inspiring Versatility and Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society. She has served as treasurer for the student chapter of the Missouri State Teachers Association and as the education block representative for Early Childhood Young Professionals, in addition to membership in Gamma Phi Beta, Students for Political Action, and MO Volunteers. Her desire to help others also led to her selection as a participant for the Global Vision Scholarship Service Trip.

Emma’s UCM experience also has been enhanced through her involvement in activities that include intramural sports, participation in the Hearts Around Campus positivity campaign, Homecoming service activities, fundraising for the Campus Cupboard, assisting with the Warrensburg Main Street cleanup project, letter writing and pumpkin carving with the Warrensburg Veterans Home, and helping with the Pertle Springs Trail cleanup project.

A student from Taos, Missouri, Justin Cobb will graduate this spring with A Bachelor of Arts degree and a long list of accomplishments that have helped make him an inspiration to other students. He is carrying a double major in Political Science and International Studies, and double minors in Military Science and Global Security, while achieving a cumulative 4.0 grade point average.

During his tenure at UCM, Justin has served on the Academic Review Board, as the permanent representative for Model United Nations, and spent two years serving as the student coordinator for the American Democracy Project. His leadership positions include service as president for both the Student Government Association and Students for Political Action, in addition to serving as battalion commander for the Fighting Mules (ROTC) Battalion, and captain of the ROTC Ranger Challenge Team.

Justin also served as a UCM Global Ambassador, member of the Muleskinner Publication Board, and chair of the Homecoming Pep Rally Committee for three years, in addition to membership on the Unity Week Committee.

Many other activities in which he was involved at UCM include the Global Vision Scholarship Service trip, Veterans Day marches, Together We Stand rally, SGA University Issues Committee, Pertle Springs Trail cleanup, and coordinating the Mock Speakeasy and Living Library events for the American Democracy Project.