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Christi Williams, College of Arts & Sciences Scholar.
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Jason DeLong, College of Business & Technology Scholar, Accountancy Departmental Scholar and a Commencement marshal.
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Cole Waddell, College of Education & Human Services Scholar, Exercise Sciences Departmental Scholar and a Commencement marshal.
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Skylar Patridge, College of Fine Arts & Communication Scholar, Art Departmental Scholar and an Honors Scholar.
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Adam Bednar, Centennial Honors College Scholar, History Departmental Scholar and a Commencement marshal.
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Margaret Marie Lynch, School of Extended Studies Scholar.
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WIU Fall 2009 College, Departmental and Honors Scholars; Convocation Speaker

December 16, 2009

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MACOMB, IL - - Seven students participating in Western Illinois University's Fall 2009 Commencement Weekend Ceremonies Dec. 18-19 in Macomb have received the highest recognition from their colleges for their overall academic excellence by being named a Cecile A. Christison Sterrett College Scholar and the Academic Honors Convocation Speaker.

The 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 18 Academic Honors Convocation in Western Hall will honor College Scholars, Departmental Scholars, Honors Scholars and graduate candidates who have earned academic distinction throughout their Western Illinois undergraduate career. Students receive a medallion for each honor, which they wear at Commencement ceremonies. In addition, College Scholars receive a $150 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 equals "A" scale.

Academic Convocation Speaker
Christine Coughlin (Mendota, IL), the Biology Departmental Scholar and an Honors Scholar, with a minor in environmental studies, is the Academic Convocation Speaker. Her address to her fellow classmates who will graduate with academic distinction is titled "Metamorphosis."

A four-year Honors student, Coughlin has been active in the Student Honors Association, the Wildlife Society, Tri-Beta Biological Honor Society and Campus Students for Christ. Her future goals include pursuing a nursing degree and a career as a neonatal practitioner, as well as a missionary.

Christine, a graduate of Mendota High School (2005), is the daughter of Bill and Mary Ellen Coughlin of Mendota.

College of Arts and Sciences Scholar
Christi D. Williams (Monmouth, IL), the College of Arts and Sciences Scholar, graduates with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in religious studies. A nontraditional student, she also coaches volleyball and girls' basketball at Monmouth-Roseville High School.

Williams has worked and volunteered with Boys and Girls Clubs and at a Montessori School; she has been an aide to a special needs teacher and mentors teenage girls; and she has volunteered at homeless shelters.

"Being a wife and mother of twins that are seven and a nine-year-old daughter, I have learned that life does not fit into the controlled boxes we create for it," Williams said. "I do dream of—and plan on—continuing my education. The first step will be to enter a master's program and then compete my Ph.D. in psychology."

College of Business and Technology Scholar
Jason T. DeLong (Belleville, IL) is the College of Business and Technology Scholar, the Accountancy Departmental Scholar and one of 16 marshals selected to lead fellow graduates during Commencement ceremonies. He will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude.

DeLong is a member of Phi Kappa Phi; Phi Eta Sigma, the first and largest honor society devoted to the achievement of first-year college students; and Beta Gamma Sigma, the national scholastic honor society in business. He served as a member of the University's Student Judicial Board, and he served an internship with the U.S. Secret Service.

In January 2009, DeLong will begin his master's work in accounting at Western Illinois. He said his future plan is to pursue a career as a U.S. Secret Service special agent.

Jason, a graduate of Althoff Catholic High School (2006), is the son of Bruce and Kathy DeLong of Belleville.

College of Education and Human Services
John "Cole" Waddell (Derby, KS) is the College of Education and Human Services Scholar, the Exercise Sciences Departmental Scholar and one of 16 Marshals selected to lead fellow graduates during Commencement ceremonies. He will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude.

Waddell has competed as a Leatherneck baseball student-athlete since Fall 2007, serving as team captain the past two seasons. He is a member of Phi Epsilon Sigma, the kinesiology honor society; the Exercise Science Student Association (ESSA); and the WIU Employee Wellness Committee. Waddell was also an instructor for Heart Smart, a 12-week lifestyle change program for women employees at Western; assisted with total cholesterol and blood pressure screenings for Employee Wellness screenings; and worked as a geriatric fitness instructor at McDonough District Hospital.

He will continue at Western, working toward a master's degree with an emphasis in sport management, while competing in his final season of eligibility in baseball.

Cole, who graduated from Derby (KS) High School and earned an Associate of Business degree at Cowley College (Arkansas City, KS) in 2007, is the son of Hugh and Deanne Waddell of Derby, KS.

College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar
Skylar Patridge (Table Grove, IL) is the College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar, the Art Departmental Scholar and an Honors Scholar. She has a minor in theatre, and she will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude.

Patridge, who is a member of the University Art League, has worked in a variety of offices throughout her undergraduate career, including the University Art Gallery. She gained a years experience as a cartoonist for the Courier, WIU's student-run newspaper; and she has served as a peer mentor to incoming Western students. She is also a member if Phi Kappa Phi.

She said her upcoming plans include working toward a master's degree in museum studies, which Western offers in the Quad Cities, and pursuing a career in a museum or gallery setting.

Skylar, a graduate of VIT High School (2005), is the daughter of Ray and Ann Patridge of Table Grove.

Centennial Honors College Scholar
Adam E. Bednar (LaGange Park, IL) is the Centennial Honors College Scholar, the History Departmental Scholar, an Honors Scholar and one of 16 Marshals selected to lead fellow graduates during Commencement ceremonies.

He received two undergraduate research grants and prepared research papers on desertion in the Soviet Red Army and dueling during the early history of America. Bednar won first place in the Phi Kappa Phi Undergraduate Research Paper competition (Spring 2009). He is a member of Phi Alpha Theta national honor society in history, and has participated in conferences presenting his research. Bednar has been the editor of the Western Illinois Historical Review, a new online journal of student research; the secretary of a World War II re-enactment group; and a member of the student advisory board for Western's history department.

His next step is to substitute teach in suburban Chicago, while applying for teaching positions. Bednar said he would like to earn his master's degree in U.S. history after teaching for a few years.

A graduate of Lyons Township High School (2005), Adam is the son of Nancy Bednar of LaGrange Park.

School of Extended Studies Scholar
Margaret Marie Lynch (Rockford, IL) is the School of Extended Studies Scholar. She will earn Western's Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts degree (BOT-BA), which provides adult students with an opportunity to earn a regionally accredited undergraduate degree in a manner compatible with their educational needs and lifestyles. She was inducted into Alpha Sigma Lambda, the national honor society for nontraditional students; and she will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude.

Lynch, who is a longtime employee of an aerospace manufacturer, said: "While it took 25 years to begin actively pursuing a bachelor's degree and seven years to fulfill this goal, I do not regret for a moment the commitment and determination it took to achieve success. I would encourage others in like situations to begin pursuit of their goals as quickly as time and life permit."

Department and Honors Scholars Fall 2009
ADAMS COUNTY
Fowler (62338) – Daniel Overton, Supply Chain Management Departmental Scholar

BOONE COUNTY
Belvidere (61008) – Nicole Giamarese, Communication Sciences and Disorders Departmental Scholar
Hardin (62047) – Adam Vetter, Communication Departmental Scholar

BUREAU COUNTY
Wyanet (61379) – Whitney Moon, Human Resource Management Departmental Scholar

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Saint Joseph (61873) – Mason Blacker, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration major, Honors Scholar
Rantoul (61866) – Dylan Massey, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration major, Honors Scholar

COOK COUNTY
Chicago (60655) – Kelly McCann, 10300 block of S. Hamlin Ave., Special Education Departmental Scholar
Glenview (60025) – Yelena Budeyskaya, Bilingual/Bicultural Education major, Honors Scholar
Oak Forest (60452) – Brian Lyons, Graphic Communication major, Honors Scholar
River Grove (60171) – Kirsten Quinn, Physical Education Departmental Scholar

DEKALB COUNTY
Sandwich (60548) – Erin Killey, Music (Bachelor of Music) Departmental Scholar
Sarah Augustine, Psychology Departmental Scholar

DUPAGE COUNTY
Glen Ellyn (60137) – Nathan Munier, Political Science Departmental Scholar
Naperville (60540) – Justin Heinekamp, Music major, Honors Scholar
Naperville (60563) – Kenneth Pfister, Computer Science Departmental Scholar
Willowbrook (60527) – Rebecca Eineke, English major, Honors Scholar

FULTON COUNTY
Canton (61520) – Melinda Emmons, Elementary Education major, Honors Scholar
Lewistown (61542) – Nathan Barclay, Finance Departmental Scholar; Caleb Babcock, Graphic Communication Departmental Scholar
St. David (61563) – Kyle Motsinger, Musical Theatre Departmental Scholar

HANCOCK COUNTY
Bowen (62316) – Cierra Winters, Elementary Education Departmental Scholar
Nauvoo (62354) – Emily Ludolph, Marketing Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar

HENRY COUNTY
Geneseo (61254) – Erin Roys, Management major, Honors Scholar

JERSEY COUNTY
Jerseyville (62052) – Paul Kuebrich, Manufacturing Engineering Technology Departmental Scholar

KANE COUNTY
Elgin (60124) – Kenneth Jackson, Mathematics Departmental Scholar

KNOX COUNTY
Galesburg – Ashley Lynch, Family and Consumer Sciences Departmental Scholar

LAKE COUNTY
Wauconda (60084) – Jacob Hines, Management major, Honors Scholar

LASALLE COUNTY
Mendota (61342) – Farrell Lowers, English major, Honors Scholar

LOGAN COUNTY
Lincoln (62656) – Abigail Curry, English Departmental Scholar

MCDONOUGH COUNTY
Blandinsville (61420) – Forrest Yoder, Sociology Departmental Scholar
Macomb (61455) – Jack Crouch, Art (Bachelor of Fine Arts) Departmental Scholar; Scott Elmer, Jr., Spanish Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar; Michelle Jordan, Theatre Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar
Sciota (61475) – Justin Georges, Instructional Design and Technology Departmental Scholar

MCHENRY COUNTY
Woodstock (60098) – Lindsay Shepherd, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar

PEORIA COUNTY
Peoria (61607) – Ryan Smith, Construction Management Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
East Moline (61244) – Nicole Wildemuth, Elementary Education major, Honors Scholar
Moline (61265) – Kevin McCammon, Management Departmental Scholar
Rock Island (61201) – Tara Derham, Information Systems Departmental Scholar

SCHUYLER COUNTY
Rushville (62681) – Claudia Zabala, Bilingual/Bicultural Education Departmental Scholar

TAZWELL COUNTY
Pekin (61554) – Caleb Smith, Agriculture Departmental Scholar

WHITESIDE COUNTY
Erie (61250) – Bryan Pohlmeier, Biology major, Honors Scholar

WILL COUNTY
Bolingbrook (60440) – Stephen Swartz, Biology major, Honors Scholar
Mokena (60448) – Matthew Wick, Physics Departmental Scholar

WILLIAMSON COUNTY
Johnson City (62951) - Johanna Rosson, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration Departmental Scholar

OUT OF STATE
IOWA
Burlington (52601) – Margaret Messamer, Biology major, Honors Scholar



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