University News
National Veterans Honor Society Induction
May 2, 2016
MACOMB, IL - Nineteen student veterans and service members enrolled at Western Illinois University were recently inducted into Western's chapter of SALUTE, the national veterans honor society for the 2015-16 year.
According to Kathy Meyers, assistant director of the WIU Veterans Resource Center (VRC), Western is a charter member and is considered one of the pioneers of the national honor society team.
SALUTE recognizes veterans, active duty personnel, National Guard members and reservists who have been honorably discharged, or who are currently serving under honorable conditions. One of the primary goals of SALUTE is to recognize members who have shown courage, strength, leadership, excellence and perseverance in their military endeavors and who are now showing that same commitment to their academic careers.
"We are pleased to honor this select group of dedicated veterans and service members. They are so willing to give of themselves," Meyers said. "Many of these men and women have achieved academic honors while serving their country, reaching out to others, assuming leadership roles in their campus and local communities and juggling additional family and work responsibilities."
SALUTE provides a four-tier system designed to encourage student veterans to strive to improve academic performance so they may advance to higher tier levels in the honor society. For undergraduate WIU students, the cumulative grade point average must fall within these guidelines: Delta tier (3.00-3.24); Charlie tier (3.25-3.49); Bravo tier (3.50-3.74); and Alpha tier (3.75-4.0). A graduate student with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 may be eligible as a SALUTE Gold member.
Each member selected for recognition through SALUTE was presented with a military-style challenge coin and a membership certificate from the national organization, as well as a certificate of achievement from Western.
The 2015-16 class of inductees, listed by hometown, include:
ILLINOIS
ALBANY: Susan A. Griffis, U.S. Army, graduate student, accountancy
BUSHNELL: Paul R. Perchalski, U.S. Marine Corps, graduate student, instructional design and technology
CAMBRIDGE: Michelle Y. Harrell, U.S. Army, senior, human resource management
CANTON: Gregory Mathis, U.S. Marine Corps, senior, agriculture
CHATHAM: Jerry E. Keppler, U.S. Navy, senior, law enforcement and justice administration
EOLA: Annaliese D. Coyne, Army National Guard, sophomore, law enforcement and justice administration
GENESEO: Nathaniel A. Johnson, Army National Guard, junior, law enforcement and justice administration
NAPERVILLE: Destiny Prater, Army National Guard, sophomore, law enforcement and justice administration
OSWEGO: Brandon W. Mabrey, Army National Guard, sophomore, law enforcement and justice administration
PORT BYRON: Jackie M. Groves, U.S. Navy, senior, biology
QUINCY: Blake A. Bradley, U.S. Navy, senior, law enforcement and justice administration
ROCK FALLS: Edgar R. Rodriguez, U.S. Army, junior, emergency management
ROCK ISLAND: Andrey S. Mojica, Army National Guard, graduate student, law enforcement and justice administration
SOUTH ELGIN: John D. Avelar, U. S. Marine Corps, junior, law enforcement and justice administration
SPRINGFIELD: Jessie R. Nelson, U.S. Navy, senior, political science
IOWA
DONNELLSON: Nicholas J. Fedler, Army National Guard, senior, law enforcement and justice administration
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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