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Nursing Professor Leesa Thompson was given the College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching, presented by interim dean Kyle Mayborn.
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Senior Psychology major Tracy Collins was named the CAS college scholar, presented by Associate Dean Keith Boeckelman.
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College of Arts and Sciences Holds End of the Semester Awards

May 6, 2026

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MACOMB, IL - - The Western Illinois University College of Arts and Sciences held its annual reception and awards ceremony to recognize faculty and students for their contributions during the 2025-26 school year, April 30.

At the event, Nursing Professor Leesa Thompson was honored with the Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching, and mathematics professor Dinesh Ekanayake earned the Outstanding Faculty Award for Research and Scholarly Activity.

Senior Psychology major Tracy Collins, of Carthage, was named the College Scholar, and the Student Nurses Association earned the college's Outstanding Student Organization award.

Others who were recognized include:


  • Outstanding Faculty Award for Service: Patrick McGinty (Sociology and Anthropology)

  • Outstanding Faculty Award for Teaching with Technology: Kaily Fox (Nursing)

  • Outstanding Faculty Award for Undergraduate Research: Shaozhong Zhang (Chemistry)

  • Outstanding Student Recognition Award for Humanities: senior Lina Perry (Geneva), Foreign Languages

  • Outstanding Student Recognition Award for Social Sciences: senior Kelsie Balagna (Pekin), Psychology

  • Outstanding Student Recognition Award for Natural Sciences & Mathematics: senior Sydnee Osgood (Oak Lawn), Chemistry

  • Lincoln Laureate nominee: senior Carter Myers (Plainfield), English

  • Outstanding Civil Service Employee: Cindy Arnett, Political Science and History


To learn more about the College of Arts and Science, visit wiu.edu/cas.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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