Dear Honors Students:

This will be the last E-Letter of the semester.  I hope you all have a great summer, and best wishes to those who are graduating.  Don’t hesitate to email the Honors College and let us know what you’re up to.  We like to hear about the exciting things our graduates do. Here are your announcements for finals week:

Honors Convocation Ceremony Friday:  The Academic Honors Convocation Ceremony for spring and summer graduates will be held next Friday, May 15 at 2pm in Western Hall. Medallions will be awarded for those graduating Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and Summa Cum Laude, for Departmental Scholars, Honors Scholars (yay!! way to go!) and College Scholars. Honors student Sarah Walker will be singing the National Anthem, and honors student Jamie Hunzinger will be the student speaker. The ceremony is open to the public, so if you know someone receiving an academic honor, feel free to attend. 

Honors College Closed Friday Afternoon:  The entire Honors College staff will be at Western Hall on Friday afternoon for the Honors Convocation Ceremony.  If you have urgent honors business next week, plan to do it before noon on Friday.

Five College Scholars are Honors Scholars:  Five of the six College Scholars who will be recognized at next Friday’s Honors Convocation Ceremony, are also graduating as Honors Scholars. Carla Webb is the College Scholar for the College of Arts and Sciences, Diana Wagenbach is the College Scholar for the College of Business and Technology, Mason Blacker is the College Scholar for the College of Education and Human Services, A.J. Busard is the College Scholar for the College of Fine Arts and Communication, and Mallorie Clark is the College Scholar for the Centennial Honors College.  Congratulations to you all!

Internships Available at NCERC:  The National Corn to Ethanol Research Center (NCERC) which is located at SIU Edwardsville, offers year long internships which pay $25,000.  Interns gain valuable experience in many aspects of corn-to-fuels production. NCERC looks for interns who have completed a bachelors degree in a variety of majors, but the internships seem especially appropriate for Chemistry, Physics, and Engineering Technology majors.  For more information, go to www.ethanolresearch.com, or contact Chris Merrett in the Illinois Institute of Rural Affairs (298-2281 or CD-Merrett@wiu.edu).

Honors Student Receives Diversity Award:  Honors student Laura Glowacki will be recognized next Thursday, May 14 for receiving an “Excellence in Diversity” Award.  Laura’s specific award is called the “Excellence in Education Student Award” and is for her participation in the University’s Web Accessibility Committee, and for helping to educate the WIU community about issues related to web accessibility.  President Goldfarb will present the award.  Congratulations Laura!

Honors College Says Farewell to Rita Creger Today:  As many of you know, Rita Creger is the coordinator of the Interdisciplinary Studies Program and she is retiring at the end of this month.  Rita joined the Honors College staff in 2004 when the Interdisciplinary Studies Program was moved here from the University Advising and Academic Support Center.  We have loved having Rita with us, and we will miss here a lot when she moves to Rockford at the end of May.  Rita’s husband Don (in Engineering Technology) is also retiring, and there will be a party honoring both of them this afternoon from 1-3 pm in Knoblauch 239.  We in the Honors College have declared that today is “Rita Creger Day” to celebrate her many contributions to WIU.

Native American Film Series Ends Tonight:  The fifth and final installment of the Native American Film series will be shown tonight at 6pm in Simpkins 27.  The film this week will be  “Skins.”  Food and drink will be provided.

Honors College Trivia: The last Iowa trivia question was: Which grocery store chain with a store in Macomb, has its headquarters in West Des Moines?  John Landes, Bailey Holland, and my Uncle Leon all correctly responded that it is Hy Vee (where there’s a helpful smile in every aisle).   The last Honors trivia question was: How many people at Undergraduate Research Day were dressed in period costume?  Abby Lagemann knew that two of her fellow History majors, Adam Bednar and Chris Cooper, were dressed in early 19th century attire for their poster presentation on antebellum American Dueling.  I won’t give you any official trivia questions this week because you would have to wait three months for the answer.  However, here is an interesting Iowa question that you can answer for yourself by going to see the new “Star Trek” movie.  According to the Des Moines Register, Captain Kirk is from Riverside, Iowa, and there are rumored to be scenes of his Iowa childhood in the new movie.  I had never heard this before, so I’m curious if it’s true.  I guess I can go to the Cinema I&II to find out.

Movies Movies Movies:  The International Film Series has ended for the semester.  If you need a study break, you can see either “Wolverine” or “Star Trek” at the Cinema I&II.  For showtimes, call 833-2122.  When you come back next fall, there should be a new multiplex with six screens on East Jackson. 

Have a great summer!
--
Molly Homer
Academic Honors Advisor
Centennial Honors College
(309) 298-2228