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Brandon Kutmas, Academic Honors Convocation Speaker and Centennial Honors College Scholar
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Franck Olivier Ndjakou Njeunje, College of Arts and Sciences Scholar
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Kevin Ross, College of Business and Technology Scholar
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Jennifer Green, College of Education and Human Services Scholar
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Katelyn Kratz, College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar
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Eva Herriman Fisher, School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach
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Fall College, Departmental, Honors Scholars

December 13, 2011

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MACOMB, IL – Six students participating in Western Illinois University's 2011 Fall Commencement Ceremonies Dec.16-17 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.

The 5:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 16 Academic Honors Convocation in Western Hall will honor College Scholars, Departmental Scholars and Honors Scholars who have earned academic distinction throughout their Western 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.

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

Academic Honors Convocation Speaker and Centennial Honors College Scholar

Brandon Kutmas (Macomb, IL), psychology, is the Academic Honors Convocation speaker, the Centennial Honors College Scholar, and he will graduate with academic distinction (Cum Laude). The speech to his graduating colleagues is titled, "Hang on to Your Hats." He says, "We learned to be creative and flexible while we fulfilled our role as students. When we graduate, we will be tempted to disregard this ‘hat' that we wore and move on with our lives. We should resist this temptation and instead embrace the student role and apply its virtues to all that we do. Creativity and flexibility sustained us as students and will continue to do so as we balance the many more roles awaiting us in the future."

This fall, Kutmas received a certificate of academic excellence from the psychology department and was inducted into Phi Kappa Phi academic honor society. He has also served Western's Psi Chi student organization as historian and webmaster, and he has worked as a Hotline team leader. Kutmas is an acting detachment commander and section sergeant with the 724th Transportation Company (Bartonville, IL), U.S. Army Reserve. He received the Army Achievement Medal (2007) and the Army Commendation Medal (2009). Kutmas will attend graduate school next fall, working toward a Ph.D. in clinical psychology with an emphasis in trauma studies. He said he would like to teach at a university or work at a VA clinic counseling soldiers and their families.

College of Arts and Sciences Scholars

Franck Olivier Ndjakou Njeunje (Yaounde, Cameroon) is the College of Arts and Science Scholar, the Mathematics Departmental Scholar, an Honors Scholar and he will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude. Njeunje's campus activities have included serving as a student leader for Campus Students for Christ, president of the Math Club, African Students Association vice president and treasurer, and a member of the Mathematical Association of America (MAA), the International Friendship Club and the Computer Sciences Association. He is also a private math tutor on campus as well as a technical assistant for the College of Arts and Sciences. Njeunje has helped with local blood drives, volunteered at local senior and nursing homes and has participated with Relay for Life and Adopt a Highway. He plans on achieving a Ph.D in mathematics and would like to eventually start a business.

College of Business and Technology

Kevin Ross (Cochrane, Alberta, Canada) is the College of Business and Technology Scholar, the Management Departmental Scholar and will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude. He competed with the Leathernecks intercollegiate soccer team, where as a freshman he started all matches as a defender. That year the defense broke the school record for fewest goals (14) in a season. He was named to the All-Summit League All-Newcomer team and to the Summit League Fall Academic All-League team. He was also a member of Western's collegiate chapter of Beta Gamma Sigma, the highest honor a business student can achieve in a business program accredited by the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business. He was rewarded with the Excellence in Business and Technology Award in Spring 2009. Ross' personal goals are to travel the world and obtain a career in international management, and to eventually enter the legal field.

College of Education and Human Services

Jennifer Green (Palatine, IL) is the College of Education and Human Services Scholar, the Special Education Departmental Scholar and will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude. Each summer since 2006 she has worked as a one-on-one aide for severely disabled students and as a teacher's aide in a self-contained classroom. Green, a member of the Leathernecks intercollegiate soccer team, has been honored for her physical skills and for her academics. Her awards include the Summit League Defensive Player of the Year (2010); the Lowes Senior CLASS Award, which celebrates the loyalty of seniors that honor a four-year commitment to their university, and placed Green among the top 30 national semi-finalists (2010); Summit League Academic All-League Team (2008, 2009, 2010); Summit League Commissioner's List of Academic Excellence (2010-2011); CoSIDA/ESPN Academic All-District Second Team (2010); and WIU's Student-Athlete Provost Award winner. (2008, 2009, 2010). Green's volunteer activities include Rocky's Reach program of interacting with elementary school children in the community, helping plan the Shamus Relays and serving as a youth church leader.

College of Fine Arts and Communication

Katelyn R. Kratz (Channahon, IL) is the College of Fine Arts and Communications Scholar, the B.A. Music Departmental Scholar with a degree in Music Therapy, an Honors Scholar and will graduate with highest academic honors (Summa Cum Laude). She has been active in numerous student music groups, including Music and Miracles, the student music therapy group; University Singers, Madrigal Singers and Concert Choir. Kratz is also a member of the Illinois Association of Music therapy and the National Association of Teachers of Singing. This fall she completed her music therapy internship at Advocate Hope Children's Hospital (Oak Lawn, IL). She will take her board certification exam after graduation and plans to work with children or older adults. Kratz said she also wants to complete post-graduate work in music therapy in the next 10 years and contribute to the field through research.

School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach

Eva Herriman Fisher (Macomb, IL) is the School of Distance Learning, International Studies and Outreach Scholar. A fulltime employee in WIU's University Advising and Academic Services Center, Fisher is a member of the Golden Key International Honour Society and an emergency coordinator for Memorial Hall. Off campus, she is president, board member and life member of the McDonough County Genealogical Society, is superintendent of Sunday schools at her church and is a volunteer for Project H.O.P.E. She said she would like to continue on her academic career at Western and earn a master's degree in history.

Departmental Scholars and Honors


By Illinois counties, out of state and other nations:

CHAMPAIGN COUNTY
Pesotum - Adrianna Nicole Bennett, Music (B.M.) Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

COOK
Chicago - Michelle Alejandra Limon (7500 block of S. Saint Louis Ave. 60652), Musical Theatre Departmental Scholar

Crestwood - Jennifer L. Turn, Special Education, Honors Scholar

Elmwood Park - Kristyn Ann Lepek, Art, Honors Scholar

ELk Grove Village - Jessica L. Ortega, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration Departmental Scholar

Hoffman Estates - Jason Anthony Garcia, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Departmental Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

Palatine – Gabriele Aneliese Frahm - Instructional Design and Technology Departmental Scholar

Posen – Nicholas William James Francis Jackson, Construction Management Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate will highest academic honors, Summa Cum Laude

Rosemont – Evelin Brigida Siguenza, Bilingual/Bicultural Education Departmental Scholar

Schiller Park - Anthony Pratts, Family And Consumer Science Departmental Scholar (Hotel and Restaurant Management), will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

DuPAGE COUNTY
Downers Grove – Matthew C. Medhat, Economics (B.B.) Departmental Scholar

FULTON COUNTY
Farmington 61531 - Cassandra Daley Horn, Theatre, Honors Scholar

HANCOCK COUNTY
Augusta – Josie Elizabeth Holst, Graphic Communication Departmental Scholar
La Harpe - Tyler Huston Sharpe, Art (B.A.) Departmental Scholar Art;

IROQUOIS COUNTY
Watseka – Brendan Dane Elliott, Engineering Technology Departmental Scholar

KANE COUNTY
Geneva - Matthew Glenn Sunderman, Psychology Departmental Scholar

KENDALL COUNTY
Oswego - Paul Albert Strater, Broadcasting Departmental Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

KNOX COUNTY
East Galesburg 61430 - Gerald R. Scott III, Construction Management, Honors Scholar
Galesburg - Kaitlyn Elizabeth Sullivan, History Department Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

McDONOUGH COUNTY
Blandinsville - Maddie Jean Link, Sociology Departmental Scholar;
Macomb – Blake Richard Combs, Accountancy Departmental Scholar;
Myers Eric Hendrickson, Supply Chain Management Departmental Scholar, will graduate will high honors, Magna Cum Laude;
Ashley Lynn Kutmas, Human Resource Management Departmental Scholar;
Brandon Alan Kutmas; Psychology, Honors Scholar;
Shufang Liu, Mathematics, Honors Scholar;
Thomas Lovejoy, Spanish Departmental Scholar

McHENRY COUNTY
Cary – David J. Oswald, Finance (B.B.) Departmental Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude

McLEAN COUNTY
Normal - Robert John Flinn, Political Science Departmental Scholar

MENARD COUNTY
Greenview - Nicholas J. Apke, English Departmental Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Litchfield 62056 - Claire Louise Gursh, Elementary Education, Honors Scholar


PEORIA COUNTY
Brimfield - Hayley Kathryn Moore, Elementary Education Departmental Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude
Peoria - Crystal Lynn Loyd, Emergency Management Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar
David T. Melie, Marketing, Honors Scholar


ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
Cordova – Lance Michael Coers, Agriculture Departmental Scholar
Milan – Mark Alan Lofgren, Physical Education Departmental Scholar, will graduate with academic distinction, Cum Laude;
William L. W. Steele, Communication Departmental Scholar

STEPHENSON COUNTY
Pearl City – Ryan Coy Vance, Computer Science Departmental Science Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

VERMILION COUNTY
Danville - Lacey V. Buford-Lillard, African American Studies, Departmental Scholar

WHITESIDE COUNTY
Sterling - Christopher R. DeJonge, Journalism Departmental Scholar

WINNEBAGO COUNTY
Rockton 61072 - Eden Malone, Mathematics, Honors Scholar

Roscoe 61073 - Jessica Fabiano, Elementary Education, Honors Scholar

WILL COUNTY
Romeoville 60446 – AmberPearl L. Cruz, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar


OUT OF STATE
IOWA
Bettendorf - Kathalene Willis, Anthropology Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar

Clinton - Shelby Lyn Lueders, Biology Department Scholar, will graduate will highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

Davenport - Tina Dominicus, Liberal Arts and Sciences Departmental Scholar

Eldridge – Jason William Otten, Marketing Department Scholar

Fort Madison - Serena Jaclyn Stevens, Art (B.F.A.) Departmental Scholar Art

MISSOURI
Hannibal - Brittany Jean James, Agriculture, Honors Scholar

NEVADA
Reno -Lori Katherine McLean, Theatre Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar

OHIO
Springfield - Ashlee M. Miller, Communication Sciences and Disorders Departmental Scholar, will graduate with high academic distinction, Magna Cum Laude

WISCONSIN
Racine 53402 - Laura Ann Baker Lins, Kinesiology, Honors Scholar and WIU's 2011-2012 Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate

OTHER COUNTRIES
CAMEROON
Yauonde - Franck Olivier Ndjakou Njeunje, Mathematics Departmental Scholar, Honors Scholar, will graduate with highest academic distinction, Summa Cum Laude

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