University News

Katie Reiss (Arlington Heights, IL) Academic Honors Convocation Speaker
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Jeremiah Simmons (Hamilton, IL) College of Arts and Sciences Scholar
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Chris Barrett (Chandlerville, IL) College of Business and Technology Scholar
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Tara DeWitt (Galesburg, IL) College of Education and Human Services Scholar)
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Farah Zolghadr (Springfield, IL) College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar
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Ashley Davis (Trenton, IL) Illinois Centennial Honors College Scholar
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WIU College Scholars, Convocation Speaker Spring 2007

May 9, 2007

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MACOMB, IL - - Seven students participating in Western Illinois University's Spring 2007 Commencement Weekend Ceremonies May 11-12 in Macomb and May 13 at The MARK of the Quad Cities in Moline have received the highest recognition from their college faculty for their overall academic excellence by being named a Cecile A. Christison Sterrett College Scholar and the Academic Honors Convocation Speaker.

The 2 p.m. Friday, May 11 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 received a $150 cash award from the WIU Foundation.

Academic Convocation Speaker
Katie Reiss (Arlington Heights, IL), a biology major/zoology option and chemistry minor, is the Academic Convocation Speaker. Reiss, will graduate as an Honors Scholar and with high academic honors (Magna Cum Laude).

Her speech to her classmates, "Have You Seen the Coral in the Cornfields?", is about "how Western Illinois is similar to a coral reef in the way people interact and work together," said Reiss, who has served two years as a student representative on the University Honors Council.

She is a member of Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key and Tri Beta (biology) honor societies and a two-year member of WAVE (Western's All Volunteer Effort). Reiss also volunteers at Shedd Aquarium (Chicago), assisting at the Neptune holiday party, assisting with animal seeds, habitat cleaning and entering shark feeding data. She has been employed at Shedd during summer and winter breaks giving educational presentations to the public about the aquarium's animals.

Reiss, who has been conducting research for two years with biology Associate Professor Matt Bonnan, was among 10 students selected to participate in the Summer 2006 Mote Marine Laboratory (Sarasota, FL) Research Experiences for Undergraduates Program.

"I learned how to catch, handle and tag sharks; conducted research; and I met the lab's founder and my hero Dr. Eugenie Clark," Reiss said. "This was the best experience of my life."

Reiss has also received two grants from WIU's College of Arts and Sciences and one grant from the Honors Council of the Illinois Region for her Honors research about the changes in the tail shape and size in spiny dogfish sharks. She measured sharks from Western Illinois' comparative anatomy collections, the Field Museum in Chicago and the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C. She has been accepted to make an oral presentation of her research at the 87th annual meeting of the American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists in St. Louis, scheduled for July 11-16.

"I love the biology department here and that the University promotes research," Reiss said. "Western's strong academic foundation gave me the tools I needed to move on to graduate school. The professors here are one-of-a-kind."

Reiss has accepted a teaching assistantship at the College of Charleston (SC), where she will pursue her master's degree in marine biology and conduct research at the Grice Marine Laboratory. She plans to continue her education, earning a doctorate degree to either become a fulltime researcher or a professor.

Katie, a 2003 graduate of Prospect High School, is the daughter of Joe and Nancy Reiss of Arlington Heights.

College of Arts and Sciences Scholar
Jeremiah Simmons (Hamilton, IL), a mathematics major, is the College of Arts and Sciences Scholar, the Mathematics Departmental Scholar and will graduate with highest academic honors. (Summa Cum Laude).

Simmons, who minored in computer sciences, received Western's Illinois Centennial Honors College Outstanding New Freshman Scholarship; worked the last two years as a grading assistant for mathematics department Chair Iraj Kalantari; and served as president of Western's running club.

"I am very satisfied with my decision to come to Western," Simmons said. "I enjoy the smaller class sizes and the relationships that can be formed with the professors. I have been very impressed with the mathematics department."

After graduating, he said he "plans on taking a year off of school to enter the AmeriCorps to travel and volunteer for different needs that this country has. After that year is completed, I plan on going to graduate school to pursue a Ph.D. in mathematics.

"My ultimate goal is to become a professor a four-year university," Simmons said. "I feel that Western has done an excellent job of preparing me for graduate school, and the time that I had here will help me to continue to be successful at the next level."

Jeremiah is a 2004 graduate of Crystal Lake High School, which he attended his junior and senior years when his family relocated to the far northwest Chicago suburb. The family returned to Hamilton later that year.

College of Business and Technology Scholar
Christopher "Chris" Barrett (Chandlerville, IL), a finance major and management minor, is the College of Business and Technology Scholar, the Finance Departmental Scholar and will graduate with highest academic honors. (Summa Cum Laude).

Barrett has served as president of Western's Rho Epsilon Real Estate Club, has been an active member of the Finance Club and the Western Investment Group. His academic honors include Phi Kappa Phi, Golden Key, Beta Gamma Sigma National Scholastic Honor Society for Business Students and Sigma Iota Epsilon National Honorary Business and Management Fraternity.

He is also a Security Forces Academy 2001 distinguished graduate and a member of the Air National Guard.

"I initially chose Western because I wanted to be able to commute easily between my monthly Air National Guard drills and school," Barrett said. "Western is also close to my hometown and offered everything that I wanted.

"I am extremely satisfied that I chose Western. There are opportunities to get involved with groups, activities and the community," he added. "I have enjoyed the small class sizes and the relationships I have been also to develop with my professors. Also, Western has been very helpful in my job search."

After graduation, Barrett will work as a commercial loan credit analyst at First Bankers Trust Company in Quincy (IL). He said he plans to return to Western in a year to attend graduate school.

Barrett's career goal is to become president of a community bank.

Chris, a 2001 graduate of A-C Central High School, is the son of Tonya Reddy of Springfield (IL) and John Barrett of Chandlerville.

College of Education and Human Services Scholar
Tara DeWitt (Galesburg, IL), an elementary education major, is the College of Education and Human Services Scholar.

Her academic honors include Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society of Education. She is also a member of the Illinois Reading Council and the Student Education Association. DeWitt's campus and community activities include serving as team captain for Western's Relay for Life for two years; and she is an active community theatre member in Galesburg, working with The Performing Arts Academy of Galesburg, Center Stage Productions and Prairie Players Civic Theatre. She also volunteers at Safe Harbor Battered Women's and Children's Center in Galesburg.

DeWitt joined the Air Force National Guard in 2002, was named Airman of the Year in 2004 and earned an excellence award in Airman Leadership School. She earned an Associate of Art degree with a certificate of communication and computer systems planning and implementation from Keesler Air Force Base (Biloxi, MS) and has an associate degree from Carl Sandburg College.

"In fall, I will be teaching at Avon (IL) Elementary School, where I have accepted a kindergarten teaching position," DeWitt said. "I was a student teacher in Avon's kindergarten this spring, and I look forward to starting my career there."

Her career goals including obtaining a master's degree and teaching a various grade levels.

"I feel that WIU has prepared me to be successful at my career goals," DeWitt said. "My coursework throughout the undergraduate program has prepared me for the hard work needed to obtain a master's degree. Also, the classes I have taken have prepared me to teach at any level. I feel prepared, through knowledge and resources, to teach lower elementary, upper elementary and middle school."

Tara, a graduate of Galesburg High School, is the daughter of Bob and Norma DeWitt of Galesburg.

College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar
Farah Zolghadr (Springfield, IL), who has a double major in music/instrumental performance in the Bachelor of Music degree program and in political science/international relations-comparative politics, is the College of Fine Arts and Communication Scholar, the Music (B.M.) Departmental Scholar, an Honors Scholar and she will graduate with highest academic honors (Summa Cum Laude).

In April, Zolghadr was announced as one of 60 college students from across the United States to be awarded a $5,000 Phi Kappa Phi (PKP) National Honor Society Graduate Fellowship for 2007-2008.

"This award is extremely humbling to me," Zolghadr said. "I am honored to be one of the students chosen for this prestigious national award. I could not have won the fellowship without the help and support of many faculty members."

One of the University's most decorated students, Zolghadr was Western's State of Illinois 2006 Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate, which recognizes outstanding seniors for overall academic excellence and extracurricular activities. She has performed with the Western Illinois University Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Trio and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble, which played in Chicago's Orchestra Hall (Spring 2006).

"Playing in Orchestra Hall was a once-in-a-lifetime experience – one that I hope to repeat when I play there as part of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra," Zolghadr said.

A four-year member of Western's Illinois Centennial Honors College, Zolghadr was named a Foundation Honors Scholar, the Robert L. Byrd Scholar, and also received the Bodine Outstanding Political Science Freshman Scholarship, the Walter H. Eller Music Scholarship and a talent grant.

The 2003 Bank One Student of the Year served as president of the Beta Omicron Chapter of Mu Phi Epsilon and Golden Key International Honor Scoiety, vice president of the Student Honors Association and the Associated Students of Political Science (ASPS); and is a member of Phi Kappa Phi and Mortar Board. She also served as a peer mentor for Keith Boeckelman's "American Government and Politics" (Political Science 122) class in Fall 2005.

In Spring 2006, she was named the College Division Winner of the inaugural St. Louis Flute Society Young Artist Scholarship Competition, which was adjudicated by Mark Sparks, principal flutist of the St. Louis Symphony; and she won Western's annual Student Conductor's Competition. In Summer 2006, Zolghadr attended the ARIA International Summer Music Academy for advanced music students. She has also participated in the 2004 Oberlin Flute Institute; the Summer 2005 "Anatomy of Sound" masterclass at the University of Michigan; and the Walfrid Kujala's orchestral audition masterclass at Northwestern University.

Zolghadr presented "Persian Classical Music as a Reflection of Iranian Society" as part of the 2005 Undergraduate Research Day.

"My dad emigrated here from Iran, and it's a fascinating region of the world," Zolghadr said. "As far as political science and the arts, the arts represent the front line in personal freedom. Book burning, censorship or the inability of the Middle East to perform Western music – it's such as good barometer for the times of a nation."

She will go on to graduate school in flute performance, and she hopes to play in a regional orchestra.

"Eventually, I would like to return to school for a doctoral program, perhaps teaching at a university level or playing professionally in an orchestra," Zolghadr said. "There are many options open to me right now, and I will take advantage of any that come my way.

Zolghadr performs with the Springfield (IL) Municipal Band during summer and serves as an assistant coach for a youth soccer team.

Farah, the 2003 salutatorian of Springfield Southeast High School, is the daughter of Abbas and Julie Zolghadr of Springfield.

Illinois Centennial Honors College Scholar
Ashley Davis (Trenton, IL), a chemistry major with minors in physics and mathematics, is the Centennial Honors College Scholar, the Chemistry Departmental Scholar, an Honors Scholar and will graduate with highest academic honors (Summa Cum Laude).

Her particular interest is in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), which is directly related to the more commonly known MRI, she said.

"While this technology is complex, I have applied what I have learned to complete my Honors thesis in physical chemistry, which centers on improving current MRI contrast agents in an attempt to characterize an agent which will improve image contrast and overall specificity," Davis said. "An example would be a contrast agent that will be attracted to a certain type of cancer."

She received a National Science Foundation (NSF) sponsored Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program internship at Southern Illinois University Carbondale in Summer 2006 where she collaborated with Assistant Professor Boyd Goodson's research group. The collaboration continued throughout Fall 2006 and Spring 2007. Davis received two Western Illinois grants to present her research at Western's Spring 2007 Undergraduate Research Day and at the Experimental NMR Conference, April 22-27, in Florida, with the SIUC research group.

Davis, a four-year WIU Foundation Honors Scholarship recipient, served as a resident assistant in Bayliss Hall; was treasurer of Western's National Residence Hall Honorary; co-chaired the Relay for Life luminaria subcommittee; and assisted with the Big Pink Volleyball campaign for breast cancer, mud volleyball to assist Macomb firefighters and Christmas Stockings for Soldiers in Iraq program.

"I plan to go on to graduate school for a Ph.D. in chemistry, specializing in physical chemistry and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy research," she said. "After I obtain my Ph.D., I will complete a post-doctoral position at a national laboratory. My career goals and research interests involve the use of MNR/MRI technology for biomedical applications, including contrast agent application and improving current medical technology."

Ashley, a 2003 graduate of Wesclin Senior Community High School, is the daughter of Tom and Sandy Davis of Trenton.

School of Extended Studies Scholar
Deborah Henriksen (Huntsville, TX), a secretary in the agricultural and industrial sciences department at Sam Houston State University, is the School of Extended Studies Scholar. She will earn the Board of Trustees Bachelor of Arts (BOT/BA) degree. Western's unique BOT/BA program is designed to provide adult students with an opportunity to earn a regionally accredited undergraduate degree in a manner compatible with their educational needs and lifestyles.

Henriksen and her husband, Richard, an associate professor of educational leadership and counseling at Sam Houston State, lived in Illinois from June 2002 through September 2006. She has an Associate of Science degree in business administration from Thomas Nelson Junior College (Hampton, VA), and she took a class a Black Hawk College to fulfill a job requirement.

"I decided if I was going to take classes I should take courses to complete a bachelor's degree, and enrolled at WIU," Henriksen said. "The BOT/BA program was a good niche for me because I received my associate's degree in 1979, I didn't have to take any more 100-200 level courses, and I could tailor my coursework to achieve a minor in business management, yet still have the flexibility to add courses in other areas that I was interested in.

"I was able to finish sooner than if I had pursued a degree in business, but had the benefit of being able to take the business courses I wanted," she added. "It was also beneficial because we moved, but I was still able to complete my degree through Western because of the flexibility of the BOT/BA program."

As a Western student, Henriksen was initiated into Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society and Alpha Sigma Lambda National Honor Society for Nontraditional Adult Students. She also was a member of the United Township High School Band Boosters, served in the pit crew for the UT Marching Band and volunteered at VIVA Quad Cities activities.

Henriksen and her husband have been researching grape growing in Texas and have planted their first test crop. The parents of Malia Henriksen (Plano, TX) and Richelle Henriksen (East Moline, IL) plan to open a boutique winery and gift shop in the Huntsville area in the future.

Departmental and Honors Scholars
Departmental Scholars are the outstanding degree candidates in an academic major as determined by the faculty in the department. Honors Scholars are students in the Western's Honors College who complete honors curricula in their major department or college and achieve a grade point average of at least 3.40 for both honors and cumulative course work.

Departmental Scholars and Honors Scholars are, listed by county and city:

ILLINOIS
ADAMS COUNTY
Fowler – Brandon Payne, Instructional Design and Technology Departmental Scholar
Liberty – Tana Meyer, Communication Sciences and Disorders, Honors Scholar
Mendon – Aaron Bush, Agriculture Departmental Scholar; Matt Garmer, Management, Honors Scholar
Quincy – Zachary Guthrie, Economics Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar; Daniel Tieken, Theatre Departmental Scholar

BROWN COUNTY
Mt. Sterling – Jennifer Kallenbach, English Departmental Scholar; Ann Davis, Communication, Sciences and Disorders, Honors Scholar

COOK COUNTY
Arlington Heights – Patrick Hogan, Political Science, Honors Scholar

Chicago
60619 – Kera Kelly, African American Studies Departmental Scholar
60645 – Daniel Wesolowski-Mantilla, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar

Evanston – Eritabeta Bennett, Psychology, Honors Scholar
Oak Park – Jessica Dawson, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration, Honors Scholar
Orland Park – Jessica Drake, Communication Sciences and Disorders Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar
Rolling Meadows – Courtney Flannigan, Community Health Departmental Scholar
Tinley Park – Krystina Gomez, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar
Wheeling – Efren Pelayo Jr., Law Enforcement and Justice Administration Departmental Scholar

DeKALB COUNTY
Somonauk – Lindsey Heiden, Art (Bachelor of Fine Arts) Departmental Scholar

DuPAGE COUNTY
Darien – Sheila Heatherly, Music (Bachelor of Arts) Departmental Scholar
Downers Grove – Abigail Lauer, Computer Sciences, Honors Scholar
Lisle – Stephanie Kandlik, Psychology, Honors Scholar
Naperville – Laurie Sander, Recreation, Park and Tourism Administration Departmental Scholar; Kathleen Becker, Elementary Education, Honors Scholar; Lindsay Pettoruto, Biology, Honors Scholar; Tim Schanz, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar; Amy Smith, Psychology, Honors Scholar
Wheaton – Kenneth George, Art, Honors Scholar
Woodridge – Serena Mappa, Family and Consumer Sciences – Fashion Merchandising, Honors Scholar

FULTON COUNTY
Canton – Jennifer Sutherland, Biology, Honors Scholar
Cuba – Alyssa Hall, Sociology, Honors Scholar
Lewistown – Meagan Greenfield, Social Work Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar
Marietta – James Melvin, Agriculture, Honors Scholar

HANCOCK COUNTY
Carthage – Megan Smiddy – Family and Consumer Sciences (Dietetics) Departmental Scholar
La Harpe – Heather Harkey, Communication Departmental Scholar

HENDERSON COUNTY
Raritan – Audrey Cook, Psychology, Honors Scholar

HENRY COUNTY
Kewanee – Paul Rowe, Computer Science Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar

JO DAVIESS COUNTY
Elizabeth – Angie Strack, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar
Hanover – Margaret Gray, Spanish Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar
Warren – Amanda Battaglia, agriculture, Honors Scholar

KANE COUNTY
Aurora – Heath Cowan, Construction Management Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar; Crystal Dvorak, Health Services Management Departmental Scholar
Batavia – Jacob Johnston, Finance, Honors Scholar
Elburn – Aaron Galloway, Economics (B.A.) Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar
St. Charles – Jason Warren, Geology Departmental Scholar

KNOX COUNTY
Galesburg – Blake Butkovich, Broadcasting Departmental Scholar; Felix Erude, Manufacturing and Engineering Technology Departmental Scholar

LaSALLE COUNTY
Streator – Lacey Strack, Biology, Honors Scholar

LOGAN COUNTY
Chestnut – Marcy Wilham, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar

MACOUPIN COUNTY
Gillespie – Ashleigh Semplowski, Psychology, Honors Scholar

MADISON COUNTY
Collinsville – Jacquelyn Bean, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar

McDONOUGH COUNTY
Adair – Jessica Staton, Supply Chain Management Departmental Scholar
Blandinsville – Kathryn Sternbergh, Art (Bachelor of Art) Departmental Scholar
Macomb – Melissa Wayland, Interdisciplinary Studies Departmental Scholar; Brandon Colley, Computer Sciences, Honors Scholar; Noelle Ebert, English, Honors Scholar

McHENRY COUNTY
Algonquin – Kate Herrick, French Departmental Scholar
Crystal Lake – Taryn Hendershot, Philosophy Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar; Amanda Zulas, Psychology, Honors Scholar
Fox River Grove – Brittany Fritz, Management Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar
Lake in the Hills – Rebecca Cranston, Elementary Education Departmental Scholar

McLEAN COUNTY
Bloomington – Amanda Lewis, Computer Sciences, Honors Scholar

MENARD COUNTY
Petersburg – Sarah Hemberger, Psychology, Honors Scholar

MERCER COUNTY
Sherrard – Erin Bedford, Psychology, Honors Scholar

OGLE COUNTY
Oregon – Rebecca Martin, Philosophy, Honors Scholar
Rochelle – Keith Pelletier, Physics Departmental Scholar

PEORIA COUNTY
Bartonville – Christine Florey, Human Resource Management Departmental Scholar
Chillicothe – Matthew Beckner, Physics, Honors Scholar

ROCK ISLAND COUNTY
Andalusia – Tamara Newell, Elementary Education, Honors Scholar
East Moline – Jason Koebbe, Accountancy Departmental Scholar
Milan – Michael Wright, Biology Departmental Scholar
Moline – Rebecca Kasinger, Information Management Departmental Scholar; Michael Carton, Elementary Education, Honors Scholar
Rock Island – Nicole Harris, Journalism Departmental Scholar

ST. CLAIR COUNTY
O'Fallon – William Sweger III, History Departmental Scholar

SANGAMON COUNTY
Chatham – Jennifer Douglas, Elementary Education, Honors Scholar
Springfield – Elizabeth Krug, Family and Consumer Sciences – Hotel/Restaurant Management, Honors Scholar

TAZEWELL COUNTY
Pekin – Beth Ewing, Kinesiology Departmental Scholar

WARREN COUNTY
Alexis – Chelsea Terwilliger, Graphic Communication Departmental Scholar; Angelica Arteaga, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar
Monmouth – Anthony Ricco, Political Science Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar

WILL COUNTY
Channahon – Melissa Mazias, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar
Homer Glen – Samantha Dubina, Musical Theatre (Bachelor of Fine Arts) Departmental Scholar; Samantha Margentina, Psychology, Honors Scholar
Joliet – Mark Hlavacik, History, Honors Scholar
Peotone – Candace Henshaw, Special Education Departmental Scholar
Plainfield – Christine DeWitt, Biology, Honors Scholar

WINNEBAGO COUNTY
Pecatonica – Ryan Westphal, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar
Rockford – Jason Berger, Economics, Honors Scholar

Other States
INDIANA
Lafayette – Evan Lindemer, Marketing Departmental Scholar
Shelbyville - Mayra Poncio, Bilingual/Bicultural Education Departmental Scholar

IOWA
Danville – Justin Boecker, Sociology Departmental Scholar
Keota – Sharon Heisdorffer, Social Work, Honors Scholar

MARYLAND
Columbia – Ashley Liby, Elementary Education, Honors Scholar

MICHIGAN
Ypsilanti – Nicholas Schnack, Law Enforcement and Justice Administration, Honors Scholar

MISSOURI
Florissant – Jaime Moler, Biology, Honors Scholar
St. Louis – Lisa Suellentrop, Psychology Departmental Scholar and Honors Scholar

Other Countries
GERMANY
Kusel, Rheinland-Pfalz – Antje Catherine Thauer, Meteorology, Honors Scholar

JAPAN
Kuroishi – Takemasa Miyagi, Meteorology Departmental Scholar
Shiga – Yuki Hayata, Graphic Communication, Honors Scholar



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