University News

Professor and Chair of History Virginia Boynton presents Sarah L. Farha (Quincy, IL) her diploma cover. Farha, who was named the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Scholar and the History Departmental Scholar, graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in History (teacher education) and with highest academic honors, Summa Cum Laude.
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Ray Diaz, Engineering Technology chair, congratulates Adam Cale, as he hands Adam his diploma cover.
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Royce Lee and Jessica Smith, after the marriage proposal.
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Edward A. Bridge Jr. (Pettus, TX) Academic Honors Convocation Speaker, Centennial Honors College Scholar, Information Systems Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar and Western's Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate.
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Sarah L. Farha (Quincy, IL), College of Arts and Sciences Scholar, History Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, Summa Cum Laude graduate.
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Daniel Blitek, Jr. (Woodstock, IL), College of Business and Technology Scholar, Construction Management Departmental Scholar, Cum Laude graduate.
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Michelle Detrick (Macomb, IL), College of Education and Human Services Scholar, Summa Cum Laude graduate.
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Ashley Gerkin (Washington, IL), College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar, Communication Departmental Scholar, Magna Cum Laude graduate.
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Karen McCollough (Farmington, IL), Bachelor of Arts in General Studies (BGS) Scholar
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Geography Professor Chris Sutton congratulates Dela Awadzi from Ghana on receiving his Master of Arts hood and degree in geography.
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2010 Fall Scholars; Commencement Review

December 19, 2010

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MACOMB/MOLINE - IL – Nearly 600 candidates for 2010 Fall graduation at Western Illinois University participated in Commencement ceremonies Dec. 17 in Western Hall on the WIU-Macomb campus.

A total of 478 undergraduate and 117 graduate degree candidates walked through the ceremonies. Approximately 80 of the undergraduates were wearing medallions, signifying their achievement of academic distinction throughout their WIU career.

One graduate, Royce Lee (Macomb), a business management major, received permission to pop "The Question" to his fiancée in the line-up area before the morning ceremony. A surprised Jessica Smith said yes to Royce, but a date has not been set. (see photo of the couple)

At the Dec. 17 Academic Honors Convocation, 125 awards were presented to students who were individually recognized for having earned academic distinction throughout their Western Illinois career. Honors awarded included college, departmental and honors scholars, in addition to Cum Laude (with honors), Magna Cum Laude (with high honors) and Summa Cum Laude (with highest honors) academic distinction.

Six students received the highest recognition from their colleges for their overall academic excellence by being named a Cecile A. Christison Sterrett College Scholar, and one student was selected as the Academic Honors Convocation Speaker.

Students received a medallion for each honor, which they wore at Commencement ceremonies. College Scholars also received a cash award from the WIU Foundation. Departmental scholars are the outstanding degree candidates in an academic major as determined by the faculty in the major department. An Honors Scholar is a student in the Centennial Honors College who has completed a set of honors requirements in the general education curriculum, a major, or both, and has achieved a grade point average of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale equals an "A."

In addition, WIU's recipient of the prestigious Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate Award, which is presented annually to an outstanding senior from each of Illinois' four-year degree-granting institutions to honor them for overall academic excellence and extracurricular activities, was recognized at Commencement.

Academic Honors Convocation Speaker/Centennial Honors College Scholar
Edward A. Bridge II graduates as the Centennial Honors College Scholar, the Information Systems Departmental Scholar, an Honors Scholar and as Western's Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate. He earns his Bachelor of Business in Information Systems with a minor in computer science. His speech to his classmates at the Academic Honors Convocation was, "Forks in the Road."

In 2009-2010, Bridge served as president of the following organizations and academic honor societies: the College of Business and Technology Student Organization Council, the Management Information Systems Association, Mortar Board, Golden Key and Blue Key. He has been an active volunteer in local and national charitable and service drives. A U.S. Air Force veteran (2003-2007), Bridge received the Squadron, Group and Wing Airman of the Year awards at Lackland Air Force Base (TX) for 2004. Edward is the son of Edward and Tery Bridge of Pettus, TX.

College of Arts and Sciences
Sarah L. Farha (Quincy, IL), the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) Scholar, the History Departmental Scholar and an Honors Scholar, graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in History (teacher education) and with highest academic honors, Summa Cum Laude. She has a special interest in women's and religious history, especially in connection to British history. A member of the Centennial Honors College, Farha received two Undergraduate Research Grants and two CAS Norman and Carmelita Teeter Undergraduate Research Award in the Humanities, the highest award that the college grants to an undergraduate researcher. She served as a First Year Experience (FYE) peer mentor for several history classes at Western.

Farha, who was a student teacher in Fall 2010, was a voting member of the University Teacher Education Committee (UTEC). She has also been an active member of Western's chapter of Phi Alpha Theta, history's national honor society. Her Phi Alpha Theta presentation at the Spring 2010 regional conference won one of the conference paper awards.

She completed a volunteer internship at the Quincy (IL) Historical Society and in Adams County in Summer 2009, which included giving tours of the John Wood Mansion and helping to design a display in the Parsonage Museum. Sarah is the daughter of Michael and Jeanne Farha of Quincy.

College of Business and Technology Scholar
Daniel Blitek, Jr. (Woodstock, IL), is the College of Business and Technology Scholar and the Construction Management Departmental Scholar. He graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Construction Management with academic honors, Cum Laude.

Blitek has been an active member of the Western Illinois Construction Management Association, serving as president and treasurer. He has worked at Western's Horn Field Campus, making paths and bridges handicap accessible; and he has been a volunteer with Rebuilding Together, a non-profit whose workers help to repair low-income housing. He has also worked as a project management intern at two construction companies.

Blitek said he is interested in both construction management and business management, and he also enjoys architectural design. One day he hopes to develop his own company. He is the son of Daniel and Therese Blitek of Woodstock.

College of Education and Human Services
Michelle Detrick (Macomb, IL), the College of Education and Human Services Scholar, graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Education in bilingual and bicultural education, with a second major in Spanish. She also graduates with highest academic honors, Summa Cum Laude. She was student teaching this fall in a second grade dual language classroom in suburban Chicago.

Detrick served as social chair and fundraising chair of the Association of Bilingual/Bicultural Education Students, president of the WIU chapter of Students Helping Honduras; and secretary (2007-2009) and president (2009-2010) of Tradicion Hispana Dance Troupe.

Following graduation, Detrick would like to teach in a kindergarten or first grade bilingual classroom in the U.S. or abroad. For the past five years she has spent most of her vacations volunteering in Latin American counties, and has seen the need for trained educators, she said. Michelle is the daughter of Rick and Jan Detrick of Macomb.

College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar
Ashley Gerkin (Washington, IL), is the College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar and the Communication Departmental Scholar. She graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and with high academic honors, Magna Cum Laude. She earned minors in marketing and psychology, and in interested in the advertising and promotional concepts of retail.

Gerkin was a three-year resident assistant on campus and a four-year worker with the student-run newspaper, the Western Courier, as an advertising representative and advertising manager. She is a member of Phi Sigma Sigma and has been active in many worthy events including Kicks for Kidneys and a Rock-a-Thon fundraiser, both to raise money and awareness for kidney disease.

She worked as an intern and an advanced intern for Target the past two summers; and she has been offered a full-time job with Target as an executive team leader, beginning January 2011. Ashley is the daughter of James and Rosalie Gerkin of Washington.

Bachelor of Arts in General Studies
Karen McCollough (Farmington, IL), is the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies (BGS) Scholar, within Western's School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach. Formerly call the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts (BOT/BA) degree program the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies degree program extends flexible online academic educational opportunities at a distance.

McCollough had spent 20 years in the workforce and many years a community volunteer before enrolling at Western. She said she is considering pursuing a path in social services.

She is a member of Alpha Sigma Lambda, Nu Alpha chapter, the national honor society for nontraditional students; and Phi Kappa Phi at Western; and Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society for two-year colleges. She has been a member of her local Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Board for five years, and she has volunteered as a room parent and elementary classroom helper for several years. She has also been a capital committee volunteer member on the push to construct a new local library.

McCollough's working background includes insurance (life and financial planning), and a purchasing analyst for Caterpillar Inc.

"I feel the education I received at WIU has expanded my knowledge greatly, and that I will be an even more valuable employee," McCollough said. "The flexibility of the online general studies program exposed me to various facets of the business world rather than one specialized area."

Departmental and Honors Scholars are listed below, by Illinois county and city, then by other states and nations. Academic distinction is also noted: Cum Laude, with honors; Magna Cum Lauda, with high honors; and Summa Cum Laude, with highest honors.

COOK COUNTY
Apsip – Colleen Dennehy, Elementary Education, Honors Scholar, Cum Laude
Chicago (60620) – David D. McKinney, 8500 block of S. Parnell Ave., Interdisciplinary Studies Departmental Scholar
Des Plaines – Stephanie Nicioli, Chemistry, Honors Scholar
Schaumburg – Samantha A. Trimarco, Kinesiology Departmental Scholar, Cum Laude

DeWITT COUNTY
Farmer City – Siarah D. Flanagan, Instructional Technology and Design Departmental Scholar

DuPAGE COUNTY
Naperville – Michael Musto, Music Departmental Scholar (Bachelor of Music);
Daniel P. McFarro, Spanish Departmental Scholar, Cum Laude;
Eric J. Anerino, English (B.A.) Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, Cum Laude
Bridget A. Smith, Elementary Education, Honors Scholar, Cum Laude
Westmont – Frederick K. Hayden Jr., Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Departmental Scholar, Magna Cum Laude
Winfield – Shannon E. Fleming, Biological Sciences, Honors Scholar

FULTON COUNTY
Avon – Christopher Zimmerman, Philosophy Departmental Scholar;
Maitri Desai, Biology, Honors Scholar
Canton – Nicole J. DeRenzy – Special Education Departmental Scholar
Lewistown – Sherry J. Lafary, Graphic Communication (B.S.) Departmental Scholar, Cum Laude
London Mills – Joyce A. Nuesken, Family and Consumer Sciences Departmental Scholar (B.S.), Magna Cum Laude
Vermont – Zachary Gossage, Biological Sciences, Honors Scholar, Cum Laude

HANCOCK COUNTY
Nauvoo – Franklin T. Rahman, Chemistry Departmental Scholar

KENDALL COUNTY
Yorkville – Belinda Perez, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar, Cum Laude

KNOX COUNTY
Galesburg – Emilia E. Smith, Agriculture, Honors College, Magna Cum Laude
St. Augustine – Cody L. Shaw, Economics (B.B.) Departmental Scholar, Summa Cum Laude

LAKE COUNTY
Gurnee – Michael S. Tucker II, Meteorology Departmental Scholar, Cum Laude
Highland Park – Chanel T. Greenleaf, Supply Chain Management Departmental Scholar, Cum Laude
Lake Barrington – Ryan M. Cernivec, Marketing Departmental Scholar

MACON COUNTY
Macon – Kate Meyer, Human Resource Management, Honors Scholar, Summa Cum Laude

MADISON COUNTY
Troy – Stephanie Baumer, Broadcasting Production, Honors Scholar

McLEAN COUNTY
Heyworth – Ashley Struck, Finance (B.B.) Departmental Scholar, Magna Cum Laude

McDONOUGH COUNTY
Blandinsville – Amy E. Randall, Emergency Management (B.S.) Departmental Scholar, Summa Cum Laude

Bushnell – Benjamin Frank Slater, Human Resource Management Departmental Scholar, Magna Cum Laude;
Jacob J. Malda, Management Departmental Scholar;
Dustin MacDermott, Physics Departmental Scholar;
Jennifer J. Howard, Art (B.A.) Departmental Scholar;
Justin D. Dragos, Computer Science Departmental Scholar, Summa Cum Laude

Colchester – Stacia R. McKeever, Art (B.F.A.) Departmental Scholar

Macomb – Vernon T. Van Vleet, Mathematics Departmental Scholar;
Emily Marie Harris, Theatre Departmental Scholar;
Mitchell A. Worley, Broadcasting Departmental Scholar, Cum Laude

MADISON COUNTY
Brieanna L. Korba, Biological Sciences Departmental Scholar, Summa Cum Laude

MORGAN COUNTY
Jacksonville – Christopher L. Piper, Agriculture Departmental Scholar, Summa Cum Laude

OGLE COUNTY
Polo – Tammy Pittsley, Manufacturing Engineering Technology Departmental Scholar

PEORIA COUNTY
Peoria – Alisha C. Alexander, African American Studies Departmental Scholar;
Rachel E. Harvey, Elementary Education (B.S.Ed.)

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
Milan – Amanda L. Greer, Music Departmental Scholar (Bachelor of Arts)
Moline – Micaela L. Martinez – Liberal Arts and Sciences Departmental Scholar

SCHUYLER COUNTY
Rushville – Sara E. Downs, Communication Sciences and Disorders Departmental Scholar, Summa Cum Laude

TAZEWELL COUNTY
Green Valley – Kristin I. Olson, Political Science Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar

WHITESIDE COUNTY
Rockton – Norbert Bugdal, Economics (B.A.) Departmental Scholar

Sterling – Mary L. Shore, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration Departmental Scholar

WINNEBAGO COUNTY
Rockford – Nicole A. Breitbach, Psychology Departmental Scholar, Magna Cum Laude


OTHER STATES

IOWA
CLINTON COUNTY
Camanche – Grace M. Costello, Accountancy Departmental Scholar, Summa Cum Laude

SCOTT COUNTY
Pleasant Valley – Julie Ann Watkins, Journalism Departmental Scholar


OTHER NATIONS
JAPAN
Kagoshima – Junko Minami, Sociology Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar, Summa Cum Laude

SAUDI ARABIA
Al Baha – Tami A. Alghamdi, Honors Scholar




(EDITOR'S NOTE: The official Fall 2010 graduation list will be release after the Registrar's Office verifies degree completion and confers degrees, which is scheduled for Jan. 11.)

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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