Abby Prather-Turner, a senior at William Woods University (WWU) and native of Lenexa, Kansas, was recently honored with a prestigious service and activity award from the University as part of its year-end Co-Curricular Awards. At the end of each academic year, WWU recognizes a select group of graduating seniors who have achieved excellence in academic, co-curricular and service projects during their time at the University.
Prather-Turner, who graduated this spring with a degree in Business Administration with a Marketing/Advertising concentration plus minors in Spanish and Sports Management, received the Cockrell Award from the University. During her time at WWU, Prather-Turner has been involved in a variety of activities and organizations while earning distinguished honors.
The Cockrell Award is presented to the graduating senior who has participated in a variety of campus activities, serving as an officer or chair and who has held membership in honorary groups. The student must exemplify outstanding campus citizenship, contribute to society, exhibit loyalty to the University and its policies and have a genuine regard for others in personal relationships.
Prather-Turner’s leadership experience includes serving as President of the WWU Association of Student-Athletes from 2020-present; holding the Vice Chair position for the American Midwest Conference Association of Student-Athletes during 2020-2021, and serving as team captain for the Owls women’s soccer team from 2019-2021. She has also been a member of the Alpha Mu Gamma Language Honor Society from 2020-present, and Vice-President of Marketing for the ODK Leadership Society from 2021-present, and member of the Alpha Chi Honor Society. Prather-Turner also worked as an intern in the WWU Strategic Communications Office for 2019-2020, writing news articles and social media posts, and also served as a University Ambassador, leading campus tours and engaging with prospective students and their families.
Academically, Prather-Turner was on the Dean’s List for six of her semesters at WWU, and was named the NAIA-Daktronics Scholar-Athlete in both 2020 and 2021. She was also the William Woods representative for the Dr. LeRoy Walker Champion of Character designation, and was named to the American Midwest Conference All-Academic team in 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
