University of St. Francis recognizes student achievement
The University of St. Francis recognized student achievement at the 22nd Annual Academic Honors and Awards Convocation, May 4.
The Honors and Awards Convocation celebrates academic excellence across the university by recognizing the achievements of faculty and students.
Seniors scheduled to graduate by May 2006 are eligible to be nominated for membership in Who’s Who Among Students in Universities and Colleges. The criteria used in selection were academic and extracurricular activities, citizenship and service to the university, volunteer activities in the community, and potential for future achievement. Nominations were received from members of the University Community. The selections were made by a committee of administrators, faculty and students.
The following students were nominated: Melissa Dennis of New Lenox; Adam Pierce of Naperville; Holly Kramerich of Joliet; Jennifer Schade of Aurora; Michelle Molloy of Braidwood; Carrie Stoner of Yorkville: Kathryn Nelson of Momence; and Julie Torres of Joliet.
The Dean’s Scholar Awards are made to students who have completed at least 30 hours at the University of St. Francis and have maintained a grade point average of 3.9 or above. The following were named dean’s scholars: Amanda M. Baldacci of New Lenox; Stacey Block of Rockford: Laura Bozue of Joliet; Jane Cartwright of Wilmington; Melissa Cleaver of Elwood; Marie Torres Cooper of Tinley Park: Morgan Drdak of Minooka; Laura Emanuelson of Ottawa: Robert Froom of Crest Hill: Sinead Godfrey of Chicago; Jeannine Janicki of Downers Grove; Kathleen Jocewicz of Willowbrook; Joy Johnson of Joliet; Amber Krumreich of New Lenox; Christine Madsen of Orland Park; Matthew McArthur of Frankfort; Sopheap Lor Mitchell of Morris; Kathryn Nowicki of Evergreen Park; Karen O’Leary of New Lenox; Andrea Prola of Joliet; Kimberly Schroeder of Frankfort; Suzzanne Staley of Joliet: Julie Torres of Joliet: and Carol Wesolowski of Lemont.
Meritorious Service Awards were presented to graduating seniors who contributed their time and talents in making the University or the community a better place. The following received Meritorious Service Awards:
- College of Business - Trevor Lynn of Joliet and Jamie Mattocks of Lockport.
- College of Education - Stacy Hogan of Plainfield.
- College of Professional Studies - Brenda John of Homestead, Fla.; Pandita McKellop of Miami, Fla. and Valerie Paluszak of New Lenox.
- Computer Science Department - Carl Ziech of Joliet.
- Visual Arts Department - Roger Carlson of Joliet.
- History and Political Science Department - Ann Lavazza of Channahon.
- Margaret A. Brophy Award - Amanda Rymsza of Joliet.
- Mass Communication Department - Jennifer Yucus of Ohio, Ill.
- Natural Science Department - Julie Torres of Joliet.
- Psychology Department - Cindy Milton of Morris.
- Recreation Administration - Linda McCluskey of Crest Hill.
- Social Work - Sopheap Lor Mitchell of Morris.
- Student Development Leadership - Jeanne Rachel of Joliet.
- Student Government Leadership - Trevor Lynn of Joliet.
- WCSF/FM - Eric Mack of Joliet.
- USF/TV - Stephen Feledy of Chicago, Autumn Lynumn of Dolton and Lindsay Mufich of Joliet.
Other awards were presented as follows:
- The Chubb & Son Insurance Student Achievement Award, presented to the student who possesses the highest grade point average of graduating seniors in the College of Business, was given to Carol Wesolowski of Lemont.
- The Joan Nahas Ramuta Computer Science Award, presented to a senior in recognition of academic excellence, exemplary character standards, outstanding service to the department and serving as a role model to peers, was given to Adam Guthke of Joliet.
- The Sister Beatrice Schiller English Award, presented to the outstanding graduating senior student in the English program, was given to Melissa Cleaver of Elwood.
- The Amy Lynn D’Amico Outstanding Student Teacher Award, named in honor of the memory of Amy Lynn D’Amico and presented to the student teacher who demonstrates Amy’s spirit, leadership, caring, and commitment to education, was given to Rick Laib of Joliet.
- The Frank P. Weberg Award, presented to the outstanding graduating senior whose major field of study was history or government, was given to Kristen Kubinski of Ottawa.
- The C. Vann Woodward Award, presented to a senior history major whose academic work demonstrates careful, quality scholarship and whose activities or example show great promise of leadership in the future, was given to Michelle Molloy of Braidwood.
- The Sister Claudia Zeller Excellence in Mathematical Achievement Award, presented to the graduating mathematics senior with the highest grade point average in University of St. Francis mathematics courses among those with grade point averages 3.5 or higher, was given to Matthew McArthur of Frankfort.
- The Sister M. Priscilla Sapp Award, presented to the nursing student who has earned a 3.75 grade point average and holds the highest average while maintaining full-time or part-time employment as a registered nurse, was given to Cynthia Moller of St. Charles.
- The Elizabeth McGuire Masek Award, presented to the student with the highest cumulative grade point average in a nursing major, was given to Karen Airney of Morris.
- The James P. McCabe Scholarship, awarded to a junior or senior pursuing a degree in Social Work and demonstrating academic commitment and financial need, was given to Kelly Brennan of Oak Forest.
- The Christine Poole Ponquinette Scholarship, awarded to a junior or senior pursuing a degree in social work or psychology and demonstrating academic excellence and financial need, was given to Mary Ann Andrade of Chicago.
- The Sister Mary Vincent Kirk Award, given to the graduating senior who has distinguished him or herself academically within the biology major, was made to Julie A. Torres of Joliet.
- The Fine Arts Presidential Purchase Award, presented to the special selected student(s) who produced artwork for the university’s permanent collection, was given to Roger Carlson, Katherine Jannusch and Laura Simington, all of Joliet.
- The Jason Chonacki Scholarship, presented to two students with a grade point average higher than 2.5 who have been outstanding in service, as selected by the director of Campus Ministry and the men’s soccer coach, was given to Heidi Dinelli of South Wilmington and Douglass Diak of Glen Carbon.
- The Scholar Athlete Award, presented to the senior student-athlete who has earned the highest grade point average of his/her graduating class, was given to Julie A.Torres of Joliet.
Innovative Scholarship, given by the USF Alumni Association to support students who enhance their academic experience in unique and creative ways, were awarded to Laura Bozue of Joliet, Angela DeCraene of New Lenox, Heidi Dinelli of South Wilmington, Casey Fraher of Odell, Margaret Klass of St. Louis, Mo., Sopheap Mitchell of Morris, Christina Myers of Metamora, Elizabeth Noel of Powell, Ohio and Eric Ruiz of Evergreen Park.
The Jane Engleton Snyder Scholarship, available to juniors and seniors in elementary education, social work, psychology and recreation administration, was given to Michael Clay of Chicago, Marie Torres Cooper of Tinley Park, Kristen M. Fischer of Mokena, Eric Forystek of Palos Park, Leann Hill of Morris, Kelly Otto of Joliet, Patricia Panagiotopoulos of Joliet, Susan Schwab of Bolingbrook and Troy Talkington of Morris.
The University of St. Francis, in Joliet, serves 4,100 students nationwide. USF offers 60 areas of undergraduate study in arts and sciences, business, education, nursing and allied health and social work. Three degree-completion programs are offered along with 13 graduate programs.