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The Norman L. and Eileen A. Krong Award recipient Ryan Heavner, right, is pictured with Western Illinois University Educational Leadership (EDL) Assistant Professor Lora Wolff.
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The Arnold W. Salisbury Educational Leadership Award recipient Chad Willis, right, is pictured with WIU EDL Professor Sandra Watkins.
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The Robert F. Hall Dissertation Award recipient Robert Grossi, right, is pictured with EDL Associate Professor Bridget Sheng.
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The Ranger Scholarship recipients, Michaela Rychener, left, and Ann Marie Tessier, center, are pictured with WIU EDL Associate Professor Stuart Yager.
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Educational Leadership Department's Student, Alumni Awards

May 23, 2014

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL – Five individuals were recently recognized by the Western Illinois University Department of Educational Leadership (EDL) during the department's EDL Awards ceremony.

According to EDL Professor Dean Halverson, the department's faculty members select students each spring to receive the Krong, Salisbury and Hall awards. Recipients of these awards are chosen through a process of faculty nomination and selection. Two individuals were also awarded the John D. and Mary Denise Ranger Scholarship. The awards and this year's winners are listed below.

Norman L. and Eileen A. Krong Award—High Scholastic Achievement and Promise

2014 Recipient: Ryan Heavner, Principal, Greenview Community Unit School District (CUSD) #200

Heavner (Petersburg, IL) is the principal of Greenview Schools, a rural K-12 district in central Illinois, located 15 miles north of Springfield. Heavner graduated from Western in 2013 with a master's in degree in educational leadership and continues his studies in EDL at WIU.

Heavner taught history, speech and government, and in 2012 was selected by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to be honored at the "Those Who Excel" program.

The Krong award was established in March 1987 by Norman L. and Eileen Krong to annually honor an outstanding master's degree graduate in educational administration. This award is given in recognition of high scholastic achievement in the master's degree program and promise for continuing educational leadership.

Arnold "Arnie" W. Salisbury Educational Leadership Award—Exemplary Leadership Skills

2014 Recipient: Chad R. Willis, Superintendent, Abingdon-Avon CUSD #276

Willis (Avon, IL) is the superintendent of schools for Abingdon-Avon CUSD #276, a newly consolidated district as of 2013. Willis served 18 years as a middle-senior high school principal at Fulton County CUSD #3 (Cuba, IL) and as a teacher and coach at R.O.W.V.A. CUSD #208 (Oneida, IL) and at Warren CUSD #205 (Warren, IL). Willis received his educational specialist degree (Ed.S.) in 2013 and his master's degree in educational leadership in 2007 from Western.

The Salisbury award was established in honor of Arnold W. Salisbury upon his retirement from Western in 1980. From 1968-80, Salisbury taught in the educational administration, supervision and curriculum department, and he also served as chair from 1969-80. This award is given annually to a student who has earned the Ed.S. in educational leadership and has displayed exemplary leadership skills in his or her professional career.

Robert F. Hall Dissertation Award—Excellence in Dissertation Research

Recipient: Robert Grossi

Grossi (Steger, IL) serves as a treasurer and financial advisor to school districts throughout the State of Illinois. Grossi earned his doctorate degree in education (Ed.D.) from Western in 2013. Grossi has worked closely with the ISBE on various committees and boards and was awarded the "Monarch Award" in 2011 from the Illinois Association of School Business Officials, which is the highest honor given by the association and recognizes excellence in service.

The Hall award was established in 2008 in honor of Robert F. Hall upon his retirement from Western. Hall taught in the educational leadership department from 1986-2008 and also served as department chair from 2004-08. This award is given annually to a student who has completed the Ed.D. in educational leadership and is in recognition of excellence in dissertation research.

John D. and Mary Denise Ranger Scholarship

Recipient: Ann Marie Tessier
Tessier (Davenport, IA) has taught pre-kindergarten through college level classes. She is currently teaching K-5 ESL (English as a second language) at Buchanan Elementary in Davenport (IA) and is the ESL support/coach for the Davenport school district. Tessier also teaches at St. Ambrose University and is currently working on her educational leadership master's degree at Western.

Recipient: Michaela Rychener
Rychener (Galesburg, IL) teaches kindergarten in the Galesburg (IL) District #205. She has previously taught pre-kindergarten and first grade and is currently working on her educational leadership master's degree at Western.

John D. and Mary Denise Ranger established the $1,000 scholarship for a graduate student in Western's EDL master's degree program. Ranger Scholarship criteria require recipients to have: completed 15 hours in the program by December 31; earned at least a 3.0 grade point average (on a 4.0 scale) in graduate work; demonstrated community and university activities and other accomplishments and awards; and completed an application with an essay rubric describing his or her philosophy on education, as well as his/her plans after graduation.

For more information, contact Halverson at (309) 762-9481, ext. 62285, or via email at DL-Halverson@wiu.edu. Learn more about the educational leadership department at www.wiu.edu/coehs/edl/.

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