WIU Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Holds Annual Induction Ceremony

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WIU Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Holds Annual Induction Ceremony

April 8, 2021

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MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University's chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society held its 49th annual induction ceremony in a virtual format Thursday, April 8, adding another 50 WIU students to its membership.

Admission to Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation only, and invitations are extended to the top 7.5 percent of juniors, the top 10 percent of seniors and the top 10 percent of graduate students.

The ceremony also recognized scholarship and undergraduate research award winners.

The winner of this year's chapter fellowship, and a $250 prize, is Paula A. Ramirez, of Roselle, IL, who graduated at the end of the Fall 2020 semester with bachelor's degrees in psychology and in music, with highest academic distinction, summa cum laude. She was also the Psychology Departmental Scholar and the Music Departmental Scholar, as well as a Centennial Honors Scholar.

Ramirez served as a student vice president with Phi Kappa Phi and spearheaded the chapter's annual book drive, which brought in thousands of books and resulted in the national award of a Free Little Library, which was placed outside an on-campus daycare center.

By winning the chapter fellowship, Ramirez is now eligible for one of the $8,500 fellowships offered each year by the national chapter office. WIU students have been awarded national fellowships for the past four years in a row.

Three undergraduate research awards were presented this year, totaling $1,000. A total of 10 academic research papers were submitted for consideration.

This year's winners, and their paper titles, include:

• First place ($500), the Lowell Grabill Undergraduate Research Award, is presented to Janae Imeri, a senior music major, from Streamwood, IL. Imeri worked under the guidance of Music Professor Jennifer Jones and her paper was titled, "Understanding the Experience of Discussing Race and Racism during Clinical Supervision for Black Music Therapy Students"

• Second place ($300), is awarded to Anna Lucken, a senior anthropology major, from Vandalia, IL. Lucken worked under the guidance of Liberal Arts and Sciences Professor Sarah Haynes and her paper was titled, "Religions Without God(s): The Emergence of Religion from Atheism."

• Third place ($200), is awarded to Marcus Sweeten, a senior history major, from Roodhouse, IL. Sweeten worked under the guidance of History Professor Timothy Roberts and his paper was titled, "Springfield had no Shame: White Prejudice, Black Growth, and the Springfield Race Riot of 1908."

WIU faculty members inducted into Phi Kappa Phi include WIU Associate Provost and Director of Graduate Studies Mark Mossman and WIU Institute for Environmental Studies Director Roger Viadero.

This year's student inductees, by hometown, include:

Illinois
Algonquin: Audrey Gniech, a senior theatre major

Arlington Heights: Joshua R. Figus, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major

Antioch: Piper Foote, a junior accountancy major

Aurora: Lauren Antoniolli, a senior music major

Batavia: Ryan Homer, a senior biology major

Bloomington: Brooke Hermanowicz, a senior anthropology major; Melissa B. Williams, a senior general studies major

Chicago: Sarah Kincaid, a senior anthropology major; Nofisat Eletu, a Fall 2020 graduate with a master's degree in history

Colona: Ashley S. Cirricione, an instructional design and technology graduate student

Decatur: Jody D. Hall, a graduate student in higher education leaderships

Dunlap: Madison Caye Henson, a senior Spanish education major

East Moline: Samantha T. Lack, a graduate student in museum studies

Flora: Cari Wilson, a junior biology major

Galesburg: Sarah M. Bainter, a curriculum and instruction graduate student

Heyworth: Kendra J. Slama DeRosa, a graduate student in law enforcement and justice administration

Macomb: Solomon Romanov Hamm, a senior marketing major; Laura Hoske, a senior liberal arts and sciences major; Toni L. Baxter, an instructional design and technology graduate student; Marine Patricia Foray, a quantitative economics graduate student; Jonathan Njeunje, a graduate student in computer science; Kate Van Sloten, a Fall 2020 graduate with a master's degree in recreation, park and tourism administration

McHenry: Kaehler Rayn Russell, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major

Milan: Caleb Joel Engebrecht, a senior mechanical engineering major

Moline: Claudia Lopez, a senior elementary education major; Yvan Ortiz Ojeda, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major; Melanie S. Adams, an educational leadership graduate student; Mandodja M.S. Gpagni, a graduate student in applied statistics and decision analytics

Monmouth: Teresa L. Bynum, a senior general studies major

North Aurora: Jessica Marie Orsini, a graduate student in law enforcement and justice administration

Palatine: Rhiannon D. Ballard, a junior anthropology major; Riley B. Grady, a senior psychology major

Petersburg: Blythe W. Richards, a senior biology major

Rockford: Kathryn Ostdick, a graduate student in curriculum and instruction

Shabbona: Jennifer Elise Barker, a senior general studies major

Silvis: Mei Lin Zheng, a junior biology major; Emily N. Witherspoon, a senior elementary education major; Ja'net L. Burdette, an instructional design and technology graduate student

Springfield: James M. Robinson, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major; John Freveletti, a graduate student in history

Waukegan: Vasken Haroian, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major

Wonder Lake: Brandon Richard Kmetz, a graduate student in in public safety administration

Quincy: Maille Grace Francis, a junior health services management major; Mercedes Renee Wittenbrink, a senior art education major

Iowa
Bettendorf: Courtney Flickinger, a law enforcement and justice administration graduate student

Davenport: Shannon L. Strombeck, a graduate student in counselor education

Decorah: Ann M. Smith, a graduate student in educational leadership

Keokuk: A'Kaysion Soper, a senior social work major

Maryland
Silver Spring: Crissola M. Kennedy, a graduate student in the master of business administration (MBA) program

Texas
Flugerville: Heather D. Leonard, a senior anthropology major

For more information on Phi Kappa Phi, visit phikappaphi.org.