WIU Department News

Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures chair interviews set for February 14th ...

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

Candidates for the Western Illinois University Department of Foreign Languages & Literatures chair position will be on the WIU Macomb campus for interviews February 14th and February 28th.

Dr. Gary Schmidt, associate professor of German at the University of West Georgia, will interview Tuesday, February 14th. An open session for faculty, staff, and students will be held from 2:00-3:00pm in Morgan Hall 453 on the WIU-Macomb campus.

Dr. Mark Lauersdorf, associate professor of Languages and Linguistics at the University of Kentucky, will interview Tuesday, February 28th. An open session for faculty, staff, and students will be held from 3:00-4:00 in Morgan Hall 207A on the WIU-Macomb campus.

Questions regarding this search should be directed to Dr. Catherine Moore, Professor of French and chair of the search committee (Email: CR-Moore1@wiu.edu; Phone: (309) 298-1559.

Posted By: Joshua Joseph on behalf of Dr. Russ Morgan
Phone: (309) 298-1828

Vinod: 2012 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer

Thu, 02 Feb 2012 00:00:00 +0000

MACOMB, IL – Thottumkara K. "TK" Vinod, a Western Illinois University chemistry professor, will speak about the practice of green chemistry becoming mainstream in chemical industries, highlight this new field of chemistry conducted in his WIU laboratory and other sustainable chemical topics as Western's 2012 Distinguished Faculty Lecturer.

Vinod will present, "Green Chemistry: Retooling of Chemistry and Making it More Sustainable," at 7 p.m. Monday, March 19 in the College of Fine Arts and Communication Recital Hall on the WIU-Macomb campus and at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 9 at the WIU-Quad Cities 60th Street Campus, Room 102.

“Green chemistry has the ultimate goal of carrying out chemical activities, including design and manufacturing of chemical products and disposal of chemical wastes, while leaving minimal adverse impact on our environment. This is a simple view, yet the prevailing global view, of how the field of chemistry should be perceived and practiced,” said Vinod.

According to Vinod, scientific discoveries and technological advances made since the beginning of the 20th century by chemists, including lifesaving antibiotics, modern medicines, fertilizers, pesticides and advanced materials, have significantly enhanced our quality of life. Still, chemistry has "the misfortune of being perceived as a 'toxic' science," Vinod said, adding that the major chemical disasters of the last few decades have not helped in improving the ill-deserved and tarnished image of the discipline.

Vinod cited a few examples for the unfortunate label of the discipline and the prevailing chemophobia, including the poisonous gas leak in densely-populated Bhopal, India, in 1984, which killed nearly 3,000 people the night of the disastrous leak and around 10,000 related deaths in the following years; the environmental disaster at Love Canal in the 1970s, a neighborhood in Niagara Falls (NY) contaminated from a chemical waste dump from decades before; and the long-term health effects of environmental pollutants such as PCB and dioxin.

"Though the disastrous accidents that occurred at many industrial sites during the last several decades are primarily and fittingly responsible for this unfortunate label, human neglect and greed are the primary culprits," Vinod added.

In his lecture, Vinod will share the basic principles of green chemistry, a relatively new sub-discipline. It was his first eco-friendly green chemistry research in 2000, aimed at teaching his then-eighth-grade son, Arun Thottumkara, "a significant amount of chemistry and laboratory techniques," as well as help Arun regain his confidence from being overlooked at a regional science fair, that became the basis of Vinod's primary research in his WIU laboratory. His first green chemistry project, "Synthesis of User-Friendly Hypervalent Iodine Reagents and Their Use as Effective Oxidizing Agents," was funded by National Science Foundation (NSF) (2004-2007, $192,000) and resulted in a U. S. patent for Vinod and Arun. His son has since graduated from Harvard and is pursuing his Ph.D. at Stanford. Vinod's research in green chemistry continues to be funded by national funding agencies and currently has a four-year NSF grant for $ 210,000 and a three-year $75,000 grant from Petroleum Research Funds administered by the American Chemical Society funding his ongoing research.

Since 1997, Vinod has secured 18 funded proposals, which include the three grants mentioned previously, and a fourth NSF grant for $188,584 for "Acquisition of a High Field NMR Spectrometer for Undergraduate Instruction at WIU," which was funded in 1998.

During summers 2009 and 2010, Vinod was also part of a five-professor WIU chemistry team, led by Professor Rose McConnell, that conducted a research project funded by a $196,833 grant from the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes for Health; and a supplemental grant of $122,781 from funds provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), developing inhibitors to slow the activity of cathepsins, which are protease enzymes that promote metastases in tumors. This grant activity led and funded through a proposal written and submitted by McConnell was designed to provide summer research experiences for high school students and for high school science educators.

The ongoing green chemistry research has provided multiple opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students to get trained in the art of chemical research in Vinod's laboratory.

"Helping these students learn the ropes of chemical research, master new techniques, present their results at meetings and eventually helping them enter reputed graduate programs or gain employment with top notch pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical companies is a rewarding experience for me," Vinod added.

Vinod has mentored nearly 30 graduate students. His first graduate student at WIU is now a faculty member at Universidad Autonoma de Querataro in Mexico; 10 are research scientists with companies such as Johnson and Johnson, Bristol Myers Squib, Pfizer, ADM and L'oreal; one is with the Illinois State Police Forensic Division; and nine are Ph.D. candidates at different stages of their tenure.

He has authored dozens of publications in peer-reviewed journals, often with students as co-authors, and he has made more than 100 presentations at professional meetings and invited lectures.

Vinod has served extensively at the departmental, college and University levels in various roles including working as a current member of the departmental graduate committee, executive committee and curriculum committee; chair of the departmental personnel committee (four times); a member of the college personnel committee (four times); and the College of Arts and Sciences curriculum committee chair.

He earned his bachelor's (1977) and master's (1979) degrees from the University of Calicut, India, and his Ph.D. (1986) from the University of Victoria, Canada. Vinod joined the WIU faculty in 1997. Previously, he was a research associate (1992-1994) and instructor (1994-1997) at the University of Oregon, a research associate at Michigan Molecular Institute (1991-1992) and a research associate at Michigan State University (1986-1990).

Western Illinois first presented an annual lecturer award in 1969 to honor an outstanding faculty member whose professional development in research or creative activity, teaching and service to the University represent the highest standards of the academic community. In 1998, the award was renamed the Distinguished Faculty Lecturer.

Posted By: WIU, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606

Morgan Named Associate Dean in WIU College of Arts and Sciences

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

MACOMB, IL – Russ Morgan, professor of psychology and interim associate dean in the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) at Western Illinois University, was named associate dean for undergraduate and graduate curriculum and student affairs for the CAS, effective Jan. 1. He had served in an interim role since July 15, 2010.

"Dr. Morgan brings a wealth of experience to the dean's office. His wide-ranging background, his commitment to collaboration and academic excellence and his familiarity with college and University processes will serve arts and sciences well," said CAS Dean Sue Martinelli-Fernandez. "We are most happy to have him as an important member of our team."

Morgan came to Western in 1997 following a three-year postdoctoral appointment at Cornell University. At WIU, Morgan chaired the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, served as the University Professionals of Illinois (UPI) grievance officer and served as the experimental psychology graduate program coordinator. He chaired or served on more than 20 master's theses committees, and he has an extensive list of publications and awarded grants to his credit.

He is a member of the International Behavioral Neuroscience Society, Midwestern Psychological Association (MPA), Neurobehavioral Teratology Society (NBTS) and the Society for Neuroscience (SfN).

"I consider it an honor and a privilege to serve as an associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences," Morgan said. "I believe that the College of Arts and Sciences strives to develop well-rounded, productive members of society by offering a diverse curriculum, opportunities for scholarship and research and encouraging in our students a sense of belongingness and responsibility to the community."

He received his Ph.D. (1994) and master's of arts (1992) degrees in experimental psychology from Kent State University. Morgan’s bachelor's of arts (1990) degree in psychology is from Miami University of Ohio.

The associate dean for curriculum and student affairs administers all aspects of graduate and undergraduate student studies and secondary teacher education issues within the college; manages the CAS undergraduate and graduate curriculum; serves as the primary liaison with faculty governance bodies within the college; coordinates CAS academic advising; and manages assessment of student learning.  

Posted By: WIU, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606

English Honor Society Wins International Award

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

MACOMB, IL -- Sigma Tau Delta, the international English Honor Society, has named Western Illinois University's Phi Delta chapter one of three Outstanding Chapters worldwide for the 2010-2011 academic year.

"The award comes after a concerted effort to rejuvenate the organization," said Timothy Helwig, WIU English professor and chapter adviser.

Comprised of nine members just a year before, the WIU chapter's number has more than tripled to include 34 students, who are focused on fostering critical thought in the literary discipline and their community.

In addition to participating in food drives, book drives and other community events, the chapter has attracted annual fall speakers to Western to address both the larger student body and the community, including Cincinnati-based freelance writer Judi Ketteler, and Stephen Reichert, founding editor of the national poetry journal "Smartish Pace."

Sigma Tau Delta focuses on scholarly discussion and engagement with literary texts and practices, and has chapters throughout the country.

"With more than 800 chapters worldwide and 26 chapters in Illinois alone, the competition pool is anything but small, and our students officers have done a tremendous job revitalizing the honor society for the department, the college and the University," said Helwig.

The student members of Sigma Tau Delta have gone on to significant individual successes as well, presenting papers at various universities and securing competitive teaching assistantships in graduate school programs, in addition to composing many of their own creative works.

Chapter President Megan Grove will accept the award at the annual conference in February. For more information about Sigma Tau Delta, contact Timothy Helwig at TW-Helwig@wiu.edu.

Posted By: Kevin Rach, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606

Thirteen WIU students named to 2012 Who’s Who Among American Universities and Colleges

Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

MACOMB, IL – Thirteen Western Illinois University students have been honored with placement on the Who’s Who Among Students In American Universities.

The award has been open to students since 1943, and has “furthered the aims of higher education by rewarding and recognizing individual academic excellence, leadership and service on a national level.” Selection to the list is based on each student’s scholarship, participation and leadership in academic and extracurricular activities and services to the community and the University.

To qualify, students must be full-time juniors, seniors or graduate students with a grade point average of at least 3.0.

WIU students named to the Who’s Who for the 2011-2012 school year include:

ILLINOIS
COOK COUNTY
Chicago (60640) – Victoria Boateng, junior, communication
Schaumburg (60193) – Jenna Verity, senior, political science
Broadview (60155) - Rayvon K. Shelton II, senior, journalism

DUPAGE COUNTY
Roselle (60172) – Joseph M. Parker, senior, law enforcement and justice administration
Villa Park (60181) – Rodofo Perez, senior, law enforcement and justice administration

GRUNDY COUNTY
Minooka (60447) – Kyle Joerger, senior, law enforcement and justice administration

KNOX COUNTY
Galesburg (61401) – Oghenero Omu, graduate student, manufacturing engineering systems

LASALLE COUNTY
Peru (61354) – Kelsey Michelini, junior, athletic training

MCDONOUGH COUNTY
Macomb (61455) Jennifer Byers, graduate student, communication; Topher Tackman, senior, religious studies

PEORIA COUNTY
Edwards (61528) – Joshua Holzinger, senior, law enforcement and justice administration

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
East Moline (61244) – Zachary Ryan Andrew, senior, biology, medical studies
Milan (61264) – William Steele, senior, communication

Posted By: WIU, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606

WIU to host Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Celebration Jan. 19

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 00:00:00 +0000

MACOMB – Western Illinois University will host its 26th annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. celebration Thursday, Jan. 19, in the University Union Lamoine Room.

The celebration, “A Salute to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.: Remembering the Past…Shaping the Future,” begins at 7 p.m. and is hosted by WIU’s Gwendolyn Brooks Cultural Center (GBCC).

The featured speaker for this year’s event is WIU alumnus Rowena Mason of Chicago. Mason, a retired teacher from Chicago’s public school system, is the current president of the MJM Speakers Circle and is a member of Toastmaster International and a charter member of Cultural Connections.

The balance of the speaking schedule includes WIU President Jack Thomas; Macomb Mayor Mike Inman; Ann Comerford, director of the University Union; Rayvon Shelton, Black Student Association (BSA) senator; and Tucker Copi, Student Government Association president.

The event will also include performances by the GBCC Dance Troupe and Heritage Ensemble and by Khyel Roberson, WIU freshman theatre major. BSA President Jasmon Harper will serve as mistress of ceremonies.

For more information, contact the GBCC at (309) 298-2220.

Western Illinois University Break Schedule

Thu, 15 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

MACOMB, IL – Western Illinois University's Macomb and Quad Cities campuses will observe winter break with holiday and administrative closure Friday, Dec. 23-Monday, Jan. 2.

Spring semester classes begin Tuesday, Jan. 17. Residence halls reopen at 10 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 15 on the WIU-Macomb campus. The University is not in session Monday, Jan. 16 in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

The Leslie F. Malpass Library has winter break hours listed for the WIU-Macomb and WIU-Quad Cities libraries at wiu.edu/libraries/info/hours.

Go West city routes 14-19 will operate regular schedules Saturday, Dec. 17 and Monday-Saturday, Dec. 19-24 and Dec. 26-31. Busses will not run on Sundays Dec. 18 and 25 as well as Sundays Jan. 1 and 8. These city routes will continue regular schedule in the new year, operating Monday-Saturday, Jan. 2-7 and Jan. 9-14. Go West schedules are online at www.wiu.edu/student_services/go_west/routes/system.php.

The WIU-Macomb University Union break schedule is as follows:
Sunday, Dec. 18: Closed.

Monday, Dec. 19-Thursday, Dec. 22: Open hours are 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. for the building, offices, Bookstore and Student Assistant and Parent Service Center; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. for the Union Service Center; 8 a.m.-2 p.m. for Burger King.

Friday, Dec. 23-Monday, Jan. 2: Closed.

Tuesday, Jan. 3-Friday, Jan. 6: Open hours are 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. for the building, offices, Bookstore and Student Assistant and Parent Service Center; 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. for the Union Service Center;
8 a.m.-2 p.m. for Burger King.

Saturday, Jan. 7: Open hours are 8 a.m.-11 p.m. for the building.

Sunday, Jan. 8: Closed.

Monday, Jan. 9-Wednesday, Jan. 11: Open hours are 7 a.m.-5 p.m. for the building; 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. for the offices, Bookstore and Student Assistance and Parent Service Center; 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. for the Union Service Center and Burger King.

Thursday, Jan. 12-Friday, Jan. 13: Open hours are 7 a.m.-7 p.m. for the building; 8 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. for the offices, Bookstore and Student Assistance and Parent Service Center; 8 a.m.- 4 p.m. for the Union Service Center and Burger King.

Saturday, Jan. 14: Open hours are 7 a.m.-9 p.m. for the building; 7a.m.-7 p.m. for Burger King; 8 a.m.-8 p.m. for the Union Service Center; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for the Bookstore; all other areas closed.

Sunday, Jan. 15: Open hours are 8 a.m.-10 p.m. for the building; 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. for the Union Service Center; 10 a.m.-8 p.m. for the Bookstore; all other areas closed.

Monday, Jan. 16 (Martin Luther King Day): Open hours are 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. for the building; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. for the Bookstore; 10 a.m.-3 p.m. for Burger King; 12-4 p.m. for the Student Assistance and Parent Service Center; all other areas closed.

Posted By: WIU, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606

Fall College, Departmental, Honors Scholars

Tue, 13 Dec 2011 00:00:00 +0000

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 SCHOLAR
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 SCHOLARS
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

Posted By: WIU, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606

Boyton Establishes History Honors Thesis Award

Tue, 29 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University History Department Chair Virginia "Ginny" Boynton has established the Richard D. and Janet L. Boynton History Honors Thesis Award endowment in honor of her parents to recognize and reward an outstanding undergraduate honors thesis each semester.

"I wanted to attach my parents' names to something permanent and something they would be pleased to be associated with," said Boynton. "They were great and loving parents, always supportive of my educational endeavors. I regard this endowment as way to both pay tribute to my parents and reward an outstanding student in our department."

Richard Boynton and Janet Lincoln met during World War II and married in 1946. They both had completed bachelor's degrees in psychology, Richard from the University of Michigan and Janet from the University of Pittsburgh. After Richard completed his M.S. in psychology at the University of Michigan, he embarked on a career of nearly four decades as an industrial psychologist for General Motors. He and Janet raised their three children, Martha, Daniel and Virginia, as well as 21 foster babies, whom they welcomed into their home and cared for as infants.

"I was very fortunate to have such remarkable individuals for parents," said Boynton. "They were devoted to my siblings and me, nurtured us, and taught us the value of education."

The Richard D. and Janet L. Boynton History Honors Thesis Award will provide a one-time $500 award each semester to the junior or senior level history major enrolled in the Centennial Honors College, whose honors thesis is selected the most outstanding that semester.

"As I thought about what I would like to do, I realized I would like to recognize upper-level students for their perseverance and accomplishment, and nothing existed specifically for history honors students," Boyton explained. "I want to recognize the extra work these students do, and encourage them to continue on their academic paths.

"I've been contributing to history scholarships and various other areas since I came here as an assistant professor in 1995," she added. "My chair at the time, Gordon Kirk, came to my office with a payroll deduction card and told me about the departmental scholarships and how they are supported. Dr. Kirk and the other former chairs have managed the history endowments very well, and I wanted to give to an area that had yet to be addressed.

"I know how lucky I was to walk into a tenure track position here upon completion of my Ph.D.," Boynton continued. "I love my job, and I am just happy to be in a position to be able to give back."

Posted By: Julie Murphy, WIU Foundation, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606

Infectious disease researcher Joel Bozue is CAS Professor of the Day

Mon, 21 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0000

MACOMB, IL -- Joel Bozue (bazoo) ’90 has gone a long way since his early days in biology classrooms and laboratories at Western Illinois University where he received Foundation scholarships for the outstanding biology student all four years.

He is now a microbiologist and principal investigator in the bacteriology division at The United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases (USAMRID), Ft. Detrick, MD. Bozue was invited to return to his undergraduate alma mater in November as the College of Arts and Sciences Professor of the Day to speak to science students about his research with bacteria related to anthrax and to the plague. He has worked at USAMRID since 2000.

Bozue will talk about his research at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 29 in Currens Hall 202. A reception will follow in Currens 210. The event is open free to the public.

After his tenure at Western, Bozue entered the University of Iowa where he was a teaching assistant for medical mycology (1991), medical microbiology (1991-1995) and a tutor for medical microbiology in the College of Medicine’s Office of Minority Student Affairs. He earned his Ph.D. from Iowa in 1995 studying how Legionalla pneumophila, the bacterium that causes Legionnaire’s disease, can survive in the environment. From there, he did his post-doctoral work at The Ohio State University (OSU) in the Department of Pediatrics. Bozue received a National Research Award Fellowship from the National Institutes of Health at OSU in 1997 for his research studying Haemophilus ducreyi, which causes the disease chancroid.

For more information about Bozue’s talk, contact Bryce Dexter, development director, (309) 298-1828 or BM-Dexter2@wiu.edu.

Posted By: WIU, University Relations
Phone: (309) 298-1993 * Fax: (309) 298-1606