Benedictine College recently honored former Maryville resident Elizabeth (Heitman) Shackelford with its 2012 Young Alumni Award.

Shackelford, daughter of Richard and Delores (Dee) Heitman, Maryville, graduated from the Roman Catholic liberal arts college in 1999 with degrees in biology and psychology. She earlier attended St. Gregory's School in Maryville and Mount St. Scholastica Academy in Atchison.

The award, presented during the Senior Champagne Brunch on May 11, honors Benedictine alumni 35 years of age or younger who have distinguished themselves in their community and profession, and who "support the values promoted at Benedictine College."

"Elizabeth Shackelford is an outstanding representative of all that Benedictine College stands for," said President Stephen D. Minnis. "Strong faith, a commitment to others, and expertise in her field ... she is the embodiment of community, faith and scholarship."

After graduation, Heitman Shackelford moved to Arkansas, where she married Doug Shackelford, also a Benedictine alumnus, and worked as a recruiter for the Arkansas School for Math and Science. She later taught middle school while earning a master's degree in education from Henderson State University in Arkadelphia, Ark. in 2004.

After completing a certification program in Catholic school administration at the University of Dallas, she began teaching fifth grade at St. John the Baptist School in Hot Springs, Ark., where she later served as principal.

This fall Shackelford will begin work at Christ the King Catholic School in Little Rock, Ark.
Shackelford's civic interests in Hot Springs have included the Boy Scouts of America, United Way, Knights of Columbus, Jackson House Crisis Center and Mercy Associates.