Northwest named the Rawie family its 2019 Family of the Year. Left to right in the front row are Megan Rawie, Joy Crisler, Jessica Rawie, Cindy Rawie and Student Senate President Asma Hassan. In the back row are Northwest President Dr. John Jasinski, Robert Rawie, Pat Crisler, Doug Rawie, Northwest Director of Campus Dining Spencer Martin and Director of Alumni Relations and Annual Giving Bob Machovsky. (Photo by Todd Weddle/Northwest Missouri State University)

The Rawie family, of Liberty, Missouri, is Northwest Missouri State University’s 2019 Family of the Year, a recognition bestowed each fall during the University’s Family Weekend festivities.

Sponsored by Campus Dining, the Family of the Year recognition comes with a $750 scholarship and other prizes. The family was introduced during halftime of the Family Weekend football game.

The family includes Robert Rawie, a sophomore corporate recreation major and member of the Bearcat football team. Jessica Rawie, completed her bachelor’s degree in corporate recreation and wellness last year at Northwest and returned to pursue a master’s degree in applied health and sport sciences. Their sister, Megan completed a bachelor’s degree in elementary education with a math emphasis at Northwest in 2015 and earned a master’s degree in educational leadership for K-12 this year.

They are the children of Cindy Crisler Rawie, who earned her bachelor’s degree in home economics with a dietetics and food service management emphasis from Northwest in 1988 and received a Master of Business Administration in 1993, and Doug Rawie, who earned an education specialist degree from Northwest in 2009.

Additionally, the children’s uncle, Pat Crisler, earned his bachelor’s degree in geology in 1985.

“It’s something that’s really awesome for our family because of the legacy we have going (to Northwest),” Robert said of the Family of the Year recognition. “I remember since I was little, we’ve always gone to the football games. I remember in 2013, we took the trip down to Alabama (to attend the NCAA Division II national championship football game), and it’s just something that’s always been a part of our lives.”

In addition to football, where he is a two-time Scout Team Player of the Week, Robert is involved with the National Association of Leadership and Success and the Football Unity Council. Away from Northwest, he attends The Bridge in Maryville and Liberty United Methodist Church.

Jessica, was a four-year starting catcher for the Bearcat softball team and finished her career ranked among the top 10 in program history for games played, walks, home runs, runs scored, runs batted in and putouts. She also was active at Northwest with the National Association of Leadership and Success and works as graduate assistant at the Robert and Virginia Foster Fitness Center. She attends The Bridge and contributes to Special Olympics in addition to participating in other community activities.

Megan was a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority, Cardinal Key national honor society and Gamma Sigma Epsilon chemistry honor society. She worked as a desk assistant in Millikan, Roberta, Franken, and Hudson and Perrin residence halls. Outside of Northwest, she supports Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Cindy was president of the Kappa Omicron Phi home economics honor sorority and a president of Northwest’s student section of the American Home Economics Association (AHEA). She also was member of Sigma Sigma Sigma sorority, a Homecoming co-chair and a student representative of the Missouri Restaurant Association. She was a resident assistant in Roberta and Franken halls.

“It’s home away from home,” she said of Northwest. “With the alumni base, we get together for watch parties and stuff. It’s amazing in Kansas City, there’s paws everywhere as you’re driving down the road. You find an immediate friend everywhere you go.”

Pat, a retired lieutenant colonel, was a member of the jazz band as well as the Bearcat indoor track and field team that won an MIAA championship in 1982 and was inducted into the M-Club Hall of Fame in 1996. He also was a member of the Army ROTC and Phi Sigma Epsilon fraternity.

Reflecting on the educational experience he received at Northwest, Pat says he values the multiple opportunities the University provided.

“It’s a small school, but it offers a big package,” he said. “I was on a jazz scholarship, although I wasn’t a music major. I got a degree in geology. I’m in the Hall of Fame for the track team. I was in a fraternity. I even dabbled with the horsemanship and agriculture stuff. That was something that was offered where I think other places, you’re pigeon-holed and you don’t get opportunities for other things. (At Northwest) you do.”

Each year, Northwest recognizes a family who best represents the “Bearcat family” and demonstrates a strong commitment to Northwest. The Family of the Year is selected from submitted applications and announced during Family Weekend activities at the University. Recipient shall maintain a grade-point average of 3.00, be involved in at least one student organization at Northwest and a second organization through the student’s community, and demonstrate family legacy through generations of involvement with Northwest.