Alumni Awards

Kenneth R. Burton of Katy, Texas, Class of 1965, is a distinguished U.S. Army Reserve veteran, legal professional and humanitarian whose career has impressively spanned military service, corporate law and global mission work.

After graduating with a degree in biology from Westminster, where he was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, Burton served as an operations officer for the 31st Hospital Center in Philadelphia. In that capacity, he oversaw medical units across 14 states. Burton was later appointed as a mobilization designee by the U.S. Army Department of Defense, with worldwide medical operations under his jurisdiction at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas. There, he prepared for immediate deployment in the event of a national emergency.

In the legal and corporate sphere, Burton made a lasting impact by creating the first Political Action Committee (PAC) for corporations, a precedent-setting initiative upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court that reshaped the landscape of American politics. His expertise in energy law further solidified his professional legacy. Beyond his legal career, Burton has devoted significant time and personal resources to global humanitarian efforts. His missions have provided medical aid, polio vaccinations and access to clean drinking water in remote villages worldwide.

Wendy A. Humphrey of Lubbock, Texas, Class of 1995, is the Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, Director of Assessment and Brock Professor of Law at Texas Tech University School of Law in Lubbock, Texas.

Deeply committed to legal education and the profession itself, Humphrey is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Faculty Distinguished Leadership Award, the President’s Excellence in Diversity & Equity Award and the Chancellor’s Council Distinguished Teaching Award — the highest teaching accolade in the Texas Tech system. Humphrey’s scholarship focuses on women's decision-making rights as well as gender equity and assessment, with her work appearing in leading law journals such as the Cardozo Law Review and the William & Mary Journal of Women and the Law.

Throughout the course of her career, Humphrey has served in numerous leadership roles, including as chair of the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) section on Associate Deans for Academic Affairs & Research and chair of the AALS section on Legal Writing, Reasoning and Research. She has also served on the State Bar of Texas Board of Directors and the Texas Board of Disciplinary Appeals. Humphrey currently serves on the statewide Law-Focused Education Inc. Board of Directors and is an active member of the Legal Writing Institute and the Association of Legal Writing Directors.

At Westminster, Humphrey majored in psychology, graduating magna cum laude before continuing her education at Texas Tech, where she earned an M.Ed. in curriculum and instruction, summa cum laude, as well as her juris doctorate.

In her free time, Humphrey stays connected to her Westminster roots through her involvement with the Kappa Alpha Theta alumnae board in Lubbock. Additionally, she and her husband, Timothy Matis, enjoy traveling, cooking and sports.

George Mahn III of Dallas, Texas, Class of 1992, is a musical artist, composer, producer and proprietor of Gentry Avenue Productions, which was established in 2000.

Following successful corporate management positions in business and information technology operations, Mahn revived a lifelong dream and debuted original repertoire to critical acclaim and radio airplay under the band name Vertical Leap. Since 2002, Mahn’s tracks have been broadcast regularly on a variety domestic and international terrestrial stations, including SiriusXM, as well as internet channels. Additionally, his genre-bending discography has underscored marquee programs, motion pictures and arts productions.

Through the years, Mahn’s many musical collaborations have segued into producing projects, garnering producer and sound engineer award nominations. He has co-produced artist showcases and live concerts, including benefits for the Dallas Police Department Honor Guard, the DFW Rescue Me canine adoption organization and Vintage Racers for Rescues canine and feline foster group. His benefit work has also included collecting coats for homeless veterans of Dallas.

Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Mahn earned a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors in English with an emphasis in literary analysis from Westminster after previously studying jazz guitar at Webster University. He has served on the Westminster College Alumni Council and has received accolades for volunteer leadership with the Missouri Gamma chapter of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity, as well as the national organization.

Mahn is a dual member of the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) as well as SoundExchange. He also actively supports the Copyright Alliance. He muses about his life adventures via his blog, Vertical Tales.

Jeffrey M. Palmer, Class of 1999, is a senior vice president, senior portfolio management director, global sports and entertainment director, institutional consultant and financial advisor with Graystone Consulting of Morgan Stanley.

With more than 25 years of experience in financial services, Palmer is noted for serving institutional clients as well as a select group of individuals, including professional investors, entrepreneurs, sports team owners and others in sports and entertainment. As a senior portfolio management director, Palmer manages various discretionary equity strategies, ranging from core equity to dividend growth equity to sustainable equity investing.

Palmer earned a B.A. in business administration with a concentration in finance from Westminster, where he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and Blue Blazers Investment Committee ― a student-run organization he credits with helping launch his career.

Currently, Palmer serves in a leadership role at his local church and chairs the Business Advisory Council at the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress. He is also a board member of Boston Scores in Boston, Massachusetts, which helps urban youth build essential life skills and character through soccer and team-based enrichment programs. In addition, Palmer is one of the founding owners of the National Women’s Soccer League team in Boston. He resides in the greater Boston area with his wife and son.

Schneider showed true devotion to her alma mater throughout her lifetime. She served on Westminster’s Board of Trustees and proceeded to chair the Board’s Student Life and Academic Affairs committees. Schneider was granted emeritus status in 2016. An active member of the Epsilon Iota chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta since pledging the women’s fraternity as a student, Schneider served in a number of capacities following her graduation from Westminster. She was a proud chapter advisor and advisory board chair as well as Facility Corporation president and secretary for the chapter.

At Westminster, Schneider majored in political science and participated in an exchange program with Durham University in Durham, England, as a Cranshaw Scholar. She then attended law school at the University of Missouri, graduating with her juris doctorate in 1988. Schneider immediately began working in the Consumer Protection Division for the Missouri Attorney General that same year. In 2002, Schneider was appointed as counsel to the Antitrust Division for the Missouri Attorney General’s office, where she participated in several major national enforcement cases. She retired in 2016 to pursue a passion for travel.

Schneider gave back to her community by being actively involved in a number of committees, associations and organizations, including in the First Presbyterian Church, Daughters of the American Revolution, Capital Region Board of Governors, Historic City of Jefferson, Jefferson City Council of the Arts, Mid-Missouri St. Andrews Society and Jefferson City Hands Together.

In addition to her husband, Raymond, Schneider is lovingly remembered by a son, Raymond III; a daughter by marriage, Katie; and two grandchildren, Avery and Aiden.