JP (Joshua) Rutledge, a professional/technical writing major, graduates this spring with an impressive list of accolades from his years at Missouri Southern.
Whether it be in the classroom, in internships, or on the cross-country team, he has excelled in every pursuit.
His proudest moment as a Lion was at the 2021 NCAA Division II Cross Country Championships, where he took home a hard-fought title. “I will forever be proud of myself for becoming an All-American.” Looking back on all the hard work over the course of the season and the heat exhaustion he experienced when crossing the finish line, “…standing on the Nationals podium as a redshirt freshman, holding that sixth-place trophy above my head, made the pain worth it.”
Known as a “helpful classroom citizen and curious thinker”, with a 4.0 GPA, JP graduates as the Outstanding Graduate in English and the Outstanding Graduate in Professional/Technical Writing. Among his academic accomplishments, he has had creative work published in Bordertown, studied abroad in London, and was recently nominated to represent the Sigma Tau Delta International Society at their national conference in Denver this year.
Reflecting on his time at MSSU and upcoming life changes, he will remember his friends, teammates, and professors very fondly.
“I am thankful for the people around me who guided and encouraged me. When I doubted myself, they believed in me.”
JP has recently been selected among stiff competition for a technical writing internship with Eagle-Picher. He also looks ahead to graduate school at the Colorado School of Mines, where he will be studying economics, engineering, and technical writing.
“While I am excited for this next chapter of life, I am sad thinking about the people I will leave behind.”
