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Western Illinois University Centennial Honors College Scholar Steven T. Olson
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College of Arts and Sciences Scholar MaryBeth Lillian Hornbaker
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College of Business and Technology Scholar Patricia Barrett
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College of Education and Human Services Scholar Kayleigh Nicole Marcotte
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College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar Micah Russel Stewart
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School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach Julie R. Allen
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Fall 2015 College, Departmental, Honors Scholars

December 8, 2015

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MACOMB, IL – Six students participating in Western Illinois University's 2015 Fall Commencement Ceremonies Friday-Saturday Dec.18-19 in Macomb have received the highest recognition from their colleges for their overall academic excellence by being named a College Scholar.

The 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 Academic Honors Convocation in Western Hall will honor College Scholars, Departmental Scholars and Honors Scholars who have earned academic distinction throughout their Western Illinois University careers. Students each receive a medallion for each honor, which they wear at Commencement Ceremonies.

Faculty in each of Western Illinois University's four academic colleges; the School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach; and the Centennial Honors College select a graduating senior as each college's outstanding student. Students graduating as College Scholars have satisfied the criteria of excellence established by their individual academic college's faculty members. A Departmental Scholar is an outstanding degree candidate 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 and has achieved a grade point average of at least 3.4 on a 4.0 scale.

Approximately 10 percent of graduating seniors achieve academic distinction, which is designed as Summa Cum Laude, highest academic distinction, with a minimum grade point average of 3.90; Magna Cum Laude, high academic distinction, with a GPA of 3.75-3.89; and Cum Laude, academic distinction, with a GPA between 3.60-3.74.

Convocation Speaker

Brock Daniel Merritt (Eureka, IL), will graduate with a B.A. in law enforcement and justice administration (LEJA), is the LEJA Departmental Scholar, is an Honors Scholar and will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude. He will deliver his address, "Keep Your Eyes Skyward," at the Dec. 18 Academic Honors Convocation ceremony in Western Hall.

Centennial Honors College Scholar

Steven T. Olson (Moline, IL) will graduate with a B.M. in music education. He is also an Honors Scholar and will graduate with the highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude. While at Western, Olson was selected as one of two undergraduate music education students in Illinois to attend the Illinois Music Education Association (ILMEA) Emerging Leaders Conference. He was also selected, through an audition, as a student conductor for the WIU Concert Band and was a three-time tenor saxophone finalist in the WIU Orchestra's concerto competition. Olson also served as the president for the National Association for Music for the WIU chapter and was a section leader for the Marching Leathernecks. Olson plans to pursue a career as a middle or high school teacher of instrumental music.

College of Arts and Sciences Scholar

MaryBeth Lillian Hornbaker (Bushnell, IL) will graduate with a B.A. in English. She is also the English Departmental Scholar and will graduate with the highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude. While at Western, Hornbaker was involved organizations, such as the National Council of Teachers of English, Sigma Tau Delta and The Boiler Room Reading Series. She has presented at WIU's Dealing with Differences Institute. She has also been involved in Western's Swing Dance Club, as well as the WIU Dance Marathon event/fundraiser, which raises money and awareness for Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Hornbaker has volunteered for international relief work (for Blessing the Children International) in Ethiopia (Africa) and performed volunteer construction work for the Service Over Self cause in Memphis (TN). Hornbaker plans to find a teaching job in central Illinois and eventually, will pursue her master's degree in English. Her long-term career dream is to possibly pursue her Ph.D. and teach literature at the college/university level.

College of Business and Technology Scholar

Patricia Barrett (Hampton, IL) will graduate with a B.B. in accountancy. She is also the Accountancy Departmental Scholar. During her time at Western, Barrett has been an active member of Western's Society of Accountancy and served as the organization's secretary in Spring 2015. She was also active in the Beta Alpha Psi (the international honor organization for financial information students and professionals), and in 2015, served as the organization's vice president. Barrett has accepted an offer to work for a Davenport (IA)-based certified public accounting (CPA) firm, and she hopes to finish the CPA exam in 2016.

College of Education and Human Services Scholar

Kayleigh Nicole Marcotte (Springfield, IL) will graduate with B.S.Ed. in elementary education. She is also the Elementary Education Departmental Scholar, an Honors Scholar and will graduate with the highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude. While at WIU, Marcotte has been involved in the Student Education Association, Kappa Delta Pi (international honor society for those in the education field) and Phi Eta Sigma National Honor Society. She also served as a volunteer on the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Newman Center Service Team (Macomb). Marcotte will pursue a career in teaching and has plans to pursue her master's degree in education.

College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar

Micah Russel Stewart (Algonquin, IL) will graduate with a B.A. in broadcasting. He is also the Broadcasting Departmental Scholar, an Honors Scholar and will graduate with the highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude. During his time at Western, Stewart worked as an automation engineer and music librarian for Tri State Public Radio and worked for Tri States Audio Information Services as a student worker. He also worked as a video producer for InTouch Practice Communications. He is a recipient of the E.C. "Tug" Haddock Memorial Scholarship (2014-15) and received the Martin Dupuis/Mukti Fund Leadership Award in Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender (GLBT) Communities (2013-14). Stewart plans to continue to work as a video producer InTouch Practice Communications.

School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach

Julie R. Allen (Moline, IL) will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in General Studies. While a student at Western, Allen volunteered for the WQPT Quad Cities PBS "Imagination Station," a free, family event held in Moline (IL) at WIU-QC. She is a member of the National Association of Early Learning Leaders and an All Our Kids network. Allen has been working in the field of early childhood since earning her associate degree in 1982. She has served as the director of various child-care centers for more than 26 years. Allen plans to remain working in the early childhood field upon her graduation.

Departmental and Honors Scholars, Academic Distinction

By Illinois counties and out of state:

Adams County
Quincy (62301) — Elizabeth E. Dix, biological sciences, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Danielle Eckels, elementary education, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

Cook County
Berwyn (60402) — Sonya Ward, theatre, Theatre Departmental Scholar
Burbank (60459) — Ruben D. Puha, music, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Chicago (60628) — Kevin Thomas, African American studies, African American Studies Departmental Scholar
Chicago (60634) — Jacqueline Richardson, forensic chemistry, Honors Scholar
Chicago (60643) — Laurkee Kate Wiggins, psychology, Psychology Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar
Chicago (60646) — Andrew Biela, supply chain management, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Des Plaines (60018) — Adrianna Czerlonko, forensic chemistry, Forensic Chemistry Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Hoffman Estates (60192) — Kelsey Carlson, music, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Oak Lawn (60453) — Sarah Molloy, elementary education, Honors Scholar
Palatine (60067) — Stacey A. Hnytka, Physical Education Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Tinley Park (60487) — Ashley Rose Kilcoyne, special education, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

DuPage County
Carol Stream (60188) — Jill Melissa Morano, physical education, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Lombard (60148) — Savanna Elizabeth Borri, elementary education, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

Ford County
Paxton (60957) — Hannah Rose Blum, music (Bachelor's of Music), Music Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

Fulton County
Canton (61520) — Andrea G. Hauk, biological sciences, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Gregory A. Mathis, agriculture, Agriculture Departmental Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Lewistown (61542) — Christopher E. Ford, history, History Departmental Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Vermont (61484) — Ashley Vance, anthropology, Anthropology Departmental Scholar

Grundy County
Coal City (60416) — Jade Romero, bilingual/bicultural education, Bilingual/Bicultural Education Departmental Scholar

Hancock County
Carthage (62321) — Shani Belshaw, journalism, Journalism Departmental Scholar
Plymouth (62367) — Lora Adcock, Bachelor of Arts in General Studies, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

Henderson County
Lomax (61454) — Dustin James Dirth, computer science, Computer Science Departmental Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

Henry County
Annawan (61234) — Ethan J. VandeVoorde, management, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Atkinson (61235) — Lindsey Leanne Beighle, recreation, park and tourism administration (RPTA), will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Kewanee (61443) — Paul Schaecher, fire protection services, Fire Protection Services Departmental Scholar
Teri Warner, elementary education, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

Kane County
Aurora (60506) — Francesca Evischi, special education, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

Kendall County
Millington (60537) — David Templeton Hellyer III, music, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

Knox County
Galesburg (61401) — Whitney Loring Kimbrough, social work, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude
Brooke L. Schafer, special education, Special Education Departmental Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude
Jacob Andrew Winters, mathematics, Mathematics Departmental Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

Lake County
Volo (60073) — Brian P. Hart, Bachelor of Arts in General Studies (BGS), will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

Lee County
Dixon (61021) — Logan Thomas Griffin, art, Bachelor of Fine Arts Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

Madison County
Troy (62294) — Lindsey Posmanick, women's studies, Honors Scholar

McDonough County
Bushnell (61422) — MaryBeth Lillian Hornbaker, English, College of Arts and Sciences Scholar, English Departmental Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude
Industry (61440) — Dayna J. Heaton, accounting, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude
Denise Stoltz, nursing, Nursing Departmental Scholar
Macomb (61455) — Kimberly Sue Ackers, Honors Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Christine Bailey, forensic chemistry, Honors Scholar
Krista Bowers-Sharpe, foreign languages and cultures, Foreign Languages and Literatures Departmental Scholar
Jenna Clayton, psychology, Honors Scholar
Cheri L. Dunn, physical education, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Reagan Hamm, computer science, Honors Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Camille Marie Isley, fashion merchandising, Family & Consumer Sciences Departmental Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Derik Lee, network technologies, Network Technologies Departmental Scholar
Haley Pfafman, exercise science, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Loryn Rericha, management, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Kathryn Anne Shrode, media and instructional technology, Instructional Design & Technology Departmental Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Tiffany Lynn Wetzel, social work, Social Work Departmental Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Sciota (61475) — Haley Renee Calvert, supply chain management, Honors Scholar

McHenry County
Algonquin (60102) — Micah Russel Stewart, broadcasting, College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar, Honors Scholar, Broadcasting Departmental Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude
Crystal Lake (60014) — Steven D. McMan, Bachelor of Arts in General Studies, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Johnsburg (60051) — Kara Ditusa, recreation, park and tourism administration, Honors Scholar
McHenry (60050) — Scott T. Eaton, law enforcement and justice administration, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

Mercer County
Sherrard (61281) — Miranda Sue Mendoza, recreation, park and tourism administration, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

Peoria County
Dunlap (61525) — Corie Ellen Bruketa, agriculture, Honors Scholar
Edelstein (61526) — Dustin Mark Fritzenmeier, law enforcement and justice administration, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Peoria (61615) — David Brown, musical theatre, Musical Theatre Departmental Scholar

Rock Island County
Hampton (61256) — Patricia Barrett, accounting, College of Business and Technology Scholar, Accountancy Departmental Scholar
Moline (61265) — Julie R. Allen, Bachelor of Arts in General Studies, School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach Scholar
Amber F. Lipton, accounting, Honors Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Steven T. Olson, music, Centennial Honors College Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude
Rebecca Ann Rumler, elementary education, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Prophete Saint Fleur, management, Management Departmental Scholar
Christi D. Stacy, recreation, park and tourism administration, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Myka Lynn Walljasper, elementary education, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Thomas Michael Dudley, supply chain management, Supply Chain Management Departmental Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Rock Island (61201) — Mariah Rea Chapdelaine, music, Honors Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Leah-Kaye E. Dunn, elementary education, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Jonathan Hart, engineering, Engineering Departmental Scholar
Drew L. Morrison, biological sciences, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Charissa Kay Sanders, accounting, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude
Brandi Michelle Welsh, elementary education, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Abby Jean Wilson, supply chain management, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

Sangamon County
Springfield (62702) — Brittany Helen Love Havener, biological sciences, Honors Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Kayleigh Nicole Marcotte, elementary education, College of Education and Human Services Scholar, Elementary Education Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

St. Clair County
Swansea (62226) — Austin R. Von Alst, accounting, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

Warren County
Berwick (61417) — Katerina Marie Hergesheimer, sociology, Honors Scholar

Whiteside County
Erie (61250) — Bradley Anderson, engineering technology, Engineering Technology Departmental Scholar
Aleshia Johannsen, biological sciences, Honors Scholar

Will County
Frankfort (60423) — Eric Reece Haaksma, biological sciences, Biological Sciences Departmental Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Joliet (60432) — Shaquita McKinney, sociology, Sociology Departmental Scholar
New Lenox (60451) — Ashley Oler, political science, Political Science Departmental Scholar
Plainfield (60544) — Kristin Marie Conrad, elementary education, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

Winnebago County
Loves Park (61111) — Kyle Puetz, information systems, Information Systems Departmental Scholar
Machesney Park (61115) — Colyn D. Belknap, law enforcement and justice administration, Honors Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Rockford (61114) — Emily Baldwin, family and consumer sciences, Honors Scholar
Rachel Nelson, communication, Communication Departmental Scholar

Woodford County
Eureka (61530) — Brock Daniel Merritt, law enforcement and justice administration, Convocation Speaker, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Pontiac (61764) — Seth Joshua Brown, music, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

Out of State

Arizona
Oro Valley (85741) — Elias V. Roth, music, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

Iowa
Blue Grass (52726) — Rachel Ineichen, liberal arts and sciences, Liberal Arts and Sciences Degree Program Departmental Scholar
Charlotte (52731) — Leo John Marlowe, accounting, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude
Davenport (52809) — Tamikka Elliott, human resource management, Human Resource Mangement Departmental Scholar
Eldridge (52748) — Ashley Nicole Kindelsperger, recreation, park and tourism administration, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude
Fort Madison (52627) — Andrew David Orton, elementary education, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude
Winfield (52659) — Kara Marie Rodgers, art, Honors Scholar, Art Departmental Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

Michigan
Benton Harbor (49022) — Elizabeth Flesher, recreation, park and tourism administration, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration Departmental Scholar

Missouri
Macon (63552) — Samuel W. McDowell, music, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

Nebraska
Lavista (68128) — Elizabeth Dunn, art, Honors Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

Wisconsin
Brookfield (53045) — Gina Susan Scaffidi, exercise science, Exercise Science Departmental Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

*A student's status as an "Honors Scholar" is determined with the most up-to-date information available at the time of release; students must complete Honors College requirements and achieve a required grade point average to qualify as Honors Scholars.

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