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Centennial Honors College

Undergraduate Research Day | Spring 2008 Honors Convocation | Remes Selected as Illinois Student Laureate | Centennial Honors College Scholar | Honors Scholar | Honors Convocation Speaker

Centennial Honors College Hosts Undergraduate Research Day

The Sixth Annual Undergraduate Research Day was held Wednesday, April 16, 2008, at the University Union. Once again, the Centennial Honors College was pleased to sponsor the event and honored to have students present their posters and make presentations.

Steve Catania, Distinguished WIU Alumnus and Second Year Graduate Student in History at Loyola University Chicago, was the keynote speaker at the Opening Session, addressing “Undergraduate Research: A Retrospective.”

Mr. Catania graduated Summa Cum Laude from Western Illinois University in 2006 where he majored in History and minored in Psychology. While at WIU, he researched siege crews during the medieval period and built and operated a 1/3 scale model of a trebuchet as well as a ballista and the partial creation of a cannon. Mr. Catania was also active in his major department as a mentor and tutor, recognized with many scholarships and awards and graduated as the WIU Centennial Honors College Scholar, WIU History Departmental Scholar, and College of Arts and Sciences Scholar. In 2007 he earned his MA at the University of Chicago with an emphasis on medieval history and museum studies.

After the official welcome by Jack Thomas, Provost and Academic Vice President; William Knox, Director, Centennial Honors College; and Catania, 114 Poster Presentations in the University Union Grand Ball Room and 39 Podium Presentations in the Fox and Capitol Rooms were made. Samples of presentation titles include “Social Snacking and Recovery from Social Ostracism,” “A Comparative Analysis of the Jesse Jackson and Barack Obama Presidential Campaigns,” “Determination of Mineral Crystalization for the Giant Dykes of Greenland,” “How Childhood Interaction with Nature Affects Adult Women's Creativity,” “Phylogenetic Analysis of Leuconostoc mesenteroides NRRL B-1355 Using 16S rRNA Gene Sequence,” and “Bisection Method of Approximating Zeros of Functions.”

It was an exciting day. In all, 189 students participated, supported by 82 faculty mentors from 26 disciplines-- the largest participation in the history of the event. Also many student, faculty, and staff visitors were in attendance.

The event was made possible by the support of the Office of the Provost, the efforts of the Undergraduate Research Day Committee, and the encouragement of the College Deans.

Click here to see pictures of the Undergraduate Research Day.

Spring 2008 Honors Convocation

The Centennial Honors College had a number of its graduates recognized for academic achievement at the Academic Honors Convocation held Friday, May 9 at Western Hall.

Remes Selected as Illinois Student Laureate

Each year, one outstanding student from those nominated by each college at the university is selected for a state-wide award. Julia Remes, a Political Science major and a student in the Centennial Honors College, was recognized for her selection as a Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate for 2008. Along with one undergraduate scholar from each of the state universities, Julia Remes joins this select group.

Centennial Honors College Scholar

Each semester, one student is selected to join those of the four colleges and School of Extended Studies for meritorious distinction. Courtney Clippert, summa cum laude, Psychology major and Sociology was recognized as the Spring 2008 Centennial Honors College Scholar.

Honors Scholars

The Centennial Honors College celebrates the academic achievements of its seventy-two 2008 Spring and Summer graduates. To signify completion of an Honors curriculum, each was awarded a gold medallion on a light blue ribbon by Provost Jack Thomas.

Click here to see a list of the Centennial Honors College graduates.

Honors Convocation Speaker

Joseph Balogh was selected to serve as Honors Convocation speaker, presenting remarks entitled “The Power of One.” Having served as a member and leader in six student organizations, being selected a member of Lambda Alpha Epsilon Law Enforcement Professional Fraternity, Golden Key, Phi Kappa Phi, and Blue Key Honor Societies, and earning a 4.0 WIU GPA, he is known for many achievements. Because of his all-around talents, he was recently awarded the prestigious William E. Brattain Award which gives “recognition to an outstanding senior who has demonstrated excellence in academic growth and achievement as well as excellence in contributions to the campus community.”

For more information about other happenings at the Centennial Honors College, click here.

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