University News
WIU Veterans and Service Members Inducted into SALUTE
May 5, 2014
MACOMB - The Western Illinois University chapter of SALUTE, a national veterans honor society, inducted 27 veterans and service members during the 2013-14 academic year.
Western is a charter member, and considered one of the pioneers of the national honor society team. SALUTE recognizes veterans, active duty service members, National Guard members and reservists who have been honorably discharged, or who are currently serving. One of the primary goals of SALUTE is to recognize members who have shown courage, strength, leadership, excellence and perseverance in their military endeavors, and who are now showing that same commitment to their academic careers.
SALUTE Veterans Honor Society provides a four-tier system designed to encourage student veterans to strive to improve academic performance so they may advance to higher tier levels in the honor society. For undergraduate WIU students, the cumulative grade point average must fall within these guidelines: Delta tier 3.00-3.24; Charlie tier 3.25-3.49; Bravo tier 3.50-3.74 and Alpha tier 3.75-4.0. A graduate student with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.5 may be eligible as a SALUTE Gold member.
Since inducting its first class in 2011, the Western chapter has inducted more than 100 members, representing the fourth largest SALUTE chapter in the nation. The class of 2013-14 represents the sixth largest group to be inducted this year.
"More than 65 percent of the student veteran population has earned a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or above," said Veterans Resource Assistant Director Kathy Myers. "The number of WIU veterans and service members who achieve excellence in their academics while serving our country and communities demonstrates the caliber of student veterans enrolled at Western. We celebrate the spirit, fortitude, diversity and benevolence our student veterans and service members bring to the Western Illinois University community."
Each member selected for recognition through SALUTE was presented with a military style challenge coin and a membership certificate from Western Illinois University and the national organization.
This year's recipients include:
ILLINOIS
BLOOMINGTON: Barbra Oldenburg, U.S. Air Force, senior, general studies
CANTON: Amber Collins, U.S. Army, senior, exercise science
CRYSTAL LAKE: Steven McMan, U.S. Marine Corps, junior, law enforcement and justice administration
DIXON: Danny Royer, U.S. Navy, junior, law enforcement and justice administration
FREEPORT: Jacob Folgate, U.S. Army, senior, law enforcement and justice administration
FULTON: Aaron Foltz, Army National Guard, senior, chemistry
GALESBURG: Brad Folger, U.S. Marine Corps, senior, political science
HAMILTON: Joey Diekmann, U.S. Army, senior, anthropology
KEWANEE: Paul Schaecher, U.S. Air Force, senior, general studies
MACOMB: Jonathan Szalonek, U.S. Army, senior, law enforcement and justice administration
MOLINE: Angela Marshall, U.S. Army, sophomore, law enforcement and justice administration; Devin McNeil, U.S. Marine Corps, senior, general studies; Tim Perez, U.S. Army, senior, supply chain management; Dennis Robertson, U.S. Army, graduate student, educational and interdisciplinary studies
NILES: Robert Hauptmann, U.S. Army/U.S. Navy, senior, law enforcement and justice administration
OAK FOREST: James Felgenhauer, U.S. Army, senior, construction management
PALOS HILLS: Eric Pendleton, U.S. Marine Corps, senior, nursing
ROMEOVILLE: Jorge Robles, U.S. Marine Corps, junior, law enforcement and justice administration
PLYMOUTH: Kenneth Christine, U.S. Army, junior, instructional design and technology
SILVIS: Lucas Britt, U.S. Marine Corps, senior, engineering technology
SPRINGFIELD: Michael Winterbauer, Air National Guard, senior, law enforcement and justice administration
TAYLORVILLE: Dylan M. Bilyeu, Army National Guard, senior, psychology
TIMEWELL: Christopher Bradley, U.S. Air Force, senior, computer science
TRIVOLI: Kevin Eastman, Army National Guard, sophomore, law enforcement and justice administration
IOWA
BUFFALO: Kristi Francis, U.S. Air Force, senior, supply chain management
LE CLAIRE: David Farr, U.S. Navy, senior, supply chain management
MT. PLEASANT: Ski Schroeder, U.S. Army, senior, general studies
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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