June 13, 2000
KALAMAZOO -- Forty-five Western Michigan University seniors (listed below) were named a 2000 Presidential Scholar. The award is WMU's highest honor presented to a senior.
Students are nominated for the award by faculty members. They are selected on the basis of their general academic excellence, academic and/or artistic excellence in their major and intellectual and/or artistic promise.
The scholars were presented with certificates by WMU President Elson S. Floyd at the 20th annual Presidential Scholars Convocation this spring. The event, intended to celebrate the excellence of WMU students, is sponsored by the Faculty Senate and the Office of the President. It included a reception, dinner and program.
Christopher M. Bassett of 1415 Summit St., Owosso, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Art. No one-dimensional artist, Bassett is pursuing a degree in graphic design, but also has studied photography and new media, including video, digital imaging, and Internet and installation art. He has participated in a number of group exhibitions on campus, with his most recent being a graduation presentation of his work that also served as his honors thesis project for the Lee Honors College. After graduating in June, Bassett plans to continue studying photography or new genres, such as performance art, digital imaging, and video and installation art. Ultimately, he plans to return to school to pursue a master of fine arts degree. For the past two semesters, he has worked as an intern at the WMU Design Center and last summer studied at the Studio Art Centers International school in Florence, Italy. Bassett is the son of Michael and Pamela Bassett.
John C. Begeny of 711 E. Sunnybrook, Royal Oak, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Psychology. While at WMU, he participated in a number of research projects and had three articles published in scholarly journals. A teaching assistant in his department for two years, he received three academic achievement scholarships and an Introductory Physics Award for obtaining the highest grade-percentage of 300 students. He was a member of the Association for Behavior Analysis as well as the Phi Beta Kappa and Phi Kappa Phi national honor societies. Begeny also was one of the founders of the WMU chapter of Psi Chi, the national honor society for psychology students. He worked as a tutor and counselor for the Salvation Army Day Camp for Children and volunteered his time as a Little League baseball coach. An April graduate, he is the son of John and Jan Begeny.
Brian K. Boardman of 263 Littlestation Road, Holland, Mich.,was named the Presidential Scholar in Aviation. He also was named an outstanding student by the Michigan Association of Governing Boards of State Universities. Boardman served an internship with United Airlines, where he was assigned to work in Emergency Procedures Instruction. As a member of WMU's nationally recognized precision flight team, he placed among the top 15 collegiate pilots in the nation. He received a scholarship from Aerodynamics Inc. to train at FlightSafety International and the dean's award for Academic Excellence from the College of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Boardman also participated in WMU's Sunseeker solar car project working as a strategy team leader for the biennial cross-country race. An April graduate, he spends his volunteer time working with the homeless and organizing community events and received the Holland Mayor's Recognition Award for community service.
Aaron P. Boesenecker of 3574 Walnut Park Drive, Hamilton, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Political Science. A member of the Lee Honors College, he spent spent 11 months studying at the Karls-Eberhard-Universität in Tübingen, Germany. He also worked as an intern in the Kalamazoo City Manager's office. He earned the Michigan Academy of Science, Arts and Letter's Ronald O. Kapp Award for the most outstanding paper presented at the academy's 1999 meeting. That paper will be published in the journal Michigan Academician. In addition, he received a "Best Delegate" honorable mention from the National Council of U.S.-Arab Relations at the 1999 National Model Arab League Conference in Washington, D.C. Boesenecker also was the commodore of WMU's sailing team, which was the only club-level, non-varsity sailing program to be ranked nationally in 1998. A December graduate, he is the son of Paul and Beth Boesenecker.
Stephen M. Brotebeck of 11355 Kingsley Road, Grand Blanc, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Music Theatre Performance. Brotebeck has concentrated on acting, dancing and music, but also has grown as a choreographer and director. Having graduated in April, Brotebeck is pursuing a career as a musical theatre performer and director/choreographer. He has choreographed four productions for the Department of Theatre and has directed and choreographed numerous productions at the Kalamazoo Civic Theatre and three local high schools. He has been assistant to the director of music theatre for three years and in that position created the WMU Theatre Auditions, in which professional summer stock theatres audition students from WMU and other Midwest Schools. During the summers, he has served as a resident assistant for the Joffrey Midwest Ballet Workshop in Flint and has performed and choreographed at Timber Lake Playhouse in Mt. Carrol, Ill., and Tibbits Opera House in Coldwater. He received the WMU Excellence Scholarship through the Medallion Scholarship Program, the Laura V. Shaw Scholarship, the Hearron/Sommerfeld Scholarship and the Albert M. Serra Scholarship.
Lisa Marie Cali of 8138 West O'Connor Drive, River Grove, Ill., was named a Presidential Scholar in Accountancy. Three corporate accounting internships prepared Cali for the business world, specifically for her future career with BDO Seidman LLP of Chicago, where she will begin working full-time in October. While in the Windy City, she plans to pursue her MBA and doctorate at DePaul University. A recipient of numerous scholarships, Cali was an active community volunteer, working with such organizations as the Voluntary Income Tax Assistance program, the YWCA and the Festival of Trees. An April graduate, she was a member of the Institute of Management Accountants, and the Beta Gamma Sigma, Golden Key and Mortar Board national honor societies. Cali is the daughter of Kathleen Pizzitola.
Dylan J. Clark of 2860 Trailwood Drive, Rochester Hills, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Anthropology. A member of the Lee Honors College, Clark spent seven months studying in Queretaro, Mexico, and received a Spanish Study Abroad Award. He was a qualifier in the National Forensics Association and active as vice president and assistant coach for WMU's forensics team. A member of the Golden Key National Honor Society, he worked as a tutor at the University's Academic Skills Center. An April graduate, he is the son of Jeff Clark of 9640 W. 11th St. in Overland Park, Kan., and Sherry Watson of 11101 Sunny Slope Drive in Kansas City, Mo.
Deborah A. Covell, Haslett, Mich., a nursing supervisor for a home health care agency, is a health studies major who will earn her bachelor's degree in June. After that, she plans to continue developing her computer, management and leadership skills. She has been active in volunteer work, sharing her medical skills during six mission trips to Central America since 1995. She also is a community volunteer, serving in a variety of roles with church groups and as an active committee member of the Michigan Home Health Care Association.
Heather E. Doorlag of 2880 S. Lakeshore Drive, Lake Leelanau, Mich.,was named a Presidential Scholar in Occupational Therapy. Doorlag is interested in two fields geriatrics and metal health and will gain fieldwork experience in the rural health realm this fall. She then plans to complete two internships in the Traverse City, Mich., area, plus do her honors thesis in her minor, French. After graduating in June 2001, she plans to pursue a master's degree in occupational therapy or French and will continue learning and working with diverse populations and cultures. In fall 1998, she studied abroad in Toulouse, France, with the School for International Training of Brattleboro, VT. She traveled to Tokyo this spring. She is a member of the Lee Honors College, Alpha Lambda Delta, the Honors Student Association and the Golden Key National Honor Society. She is the daughter of Robert and Darlene Doorlag.
Todd J. Dorgan of 2710 Rolling Hill, Portage, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Health, Physical Education and Recreation. Dorgan, who served as a teaching intern recently at Kellogg Elementary School and Paw Paw Middle School, plans to teach for a living, but not right away. Having graduated in April, he hopes to pursue a graduate degree in sports administration at the University of Texas at Austin. A member of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Dorgan acted as its sports chairman, was Sigma Challenge coordinator and director of athletics for the Interfraternity Council. For the past three years, he has been a member of the WMU football staff and until last year acted as head student manager. He also is a member of the Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi national honor societies. He is the son of Mike and Linda Dorgan.
Katherine M. Enslen of 222 E. Superior, Wayland, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Speech Pathology and Audiology. Enslen's deep interest in communication disorders took root at Lansing Community College and its sign language interpreter training program. She worked as an interpreter for Kalamazoo Public Schools for five years before enrolling in WMU'S Speech Pathology and Audiology program. Before she graduated in April, Enslen completed a teaching internship at Northeastern Elementary in Kalamazoo. She hopes to attend graduate school and eventually work in the public schools as a speech-language therapist. In addition to hearing impairment, she is interested in language development and has done research on specific language impairment in school-aged children. She has worked closely with two children, one with Down Syndrome, during her clinical practicum at the Charles Van Riper Language, Speech and Hearing Clinic and has worked with an adult aphasia group. She is a member of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association and has volunteered for numerous service projects.
Sharie L. Falan of 422 S. Main St., Lawton, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Nursing. Falan is a registered nurse who works as a nursing service clinical supervisor with Visiting Nurses and Hospice Services of Kalamazoo. She returned to the Bronson School of Nursing at WMU as a non-traditional student, working toward her baccalaureate degree while juggling a full-time job and family responsibilities. In the process, she has acquired a new area of specialization: nursing informatics, which uses computer technology to support nursing practice, administration, education and research. Having graduated in April, she plans to enroll in a graduate nursing program and become a faculty member at a nursing school to help train the next generation of nurses. Falan developed a proposal to study fall prevention in the older population and identify nursing interventions that could lead to improved quality of life for older patients. She is a Perg Scholarship recipient and a member of the Golden Key and Phi Kappa Phi national honors societies.
Miriam J. Garcia of 6688 Lowell Road, St. Johns, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Sociology. Garcia served an internship working in the substance abuse division of the Kalamazoo County Office of Community Corrections and also was a teaching assistant for the Department of Psychology. She was a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Kappa Phi and Golden Key national honor societies and the criminal justice honor society. An April graduate, she is the daughter of Ernest and Toni Garcia.
Gina M. Garza of 1220 Woodland Drive, Wayland, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Mathematics and Statistics. She also was named an outstanding student by the Michigan Association of Governing Boards of State Universities. A Medallion Scholar who graduated summa cum laude in April in secondary education and mathematics, Garza was an undergraduate teaching assistant for her department. She received a College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award to conduct research that was later published in the international Pi Mu Epsilon Journal. She received scholarships from the Michigan Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the College of Education and the Department of Mathematics and Statistics. She served as president of the Student Education Association and the Science and Mathematics Teachers Association and was a member of two honors organizations, Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi. Garza also coached the junior varsity tennis team at Wayland Union High School and volunteered as a Special Olympics bowling coach. A member of the Lee Honors College, she is the daughter of Manuel and Marsha Garza.
Diana Gendhar of 3511 Market St., Kalamazoo, was named a Presidential Scholar in Business Information Systems. A December graduate who worked full time throughout her college years, Gendhar recently began her career as an associate e-commerce analyst at the Whirlpool Corp. She is currently learning the programming language of Perl and the UNIX operating system. Within the year, she will tackle another four languages and programs. Gendhar intends to pursue her master's degree in computer information systems and to continue her career at Whirlpool. As a student, she received the Al Pugo Scholarship award, was inducted into the Golden Key National Honor Society, and served as an active member in the student chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals. She is the daughter of Anthony and Ruby Gendhar.
Anne K. Godwin of 4349 Persimmon, Saginaw, Mich., has been named a Presidential Scholar in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering. In April, Godwin completed work toward a dual degree in mechanical engineering and French, with minors in mathematics and physics. For the past two years, she has worked as a research assistant in the Tribology Laboratory, focusing on issues surrounding friction and wear. A member of the Lee Honors College, Godwin's senior honors thesis focused on the design of a fluid traction testing machine for that facility. Godwin has served as vice president for the Society of Women Engineers and as a team member on the Sunseeker solar race car project, competing in an intercollegiate cross-country race. She is a member of Tau Beta Pi engineering honorary, Pi Tau Sigma mechanical engineering honorary, the Society of Mechanical Engineers, the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers, and Pi Delta Phi, a French honors fraternity. She plans to attend graduate school in the fall and plans on a research career. Godwin is the daughter of J.M. and Laura Godwin.
Catherine M. Hanka of 3755 Ivy, Grand Rapids, Mich.,
was named a Presidential Scholar
in History. While at WMU, she won a scholarship to study for a
semester at Harvard University. She has been active in the Kent
Philharmonic and GRCC Orchestra, and had the lead role in a non-fiction
drama titled "The Day the Sun Danced." She served as
a teaching intern at Grand Rapids' Forest Hills Northern High
School, where she started a Social Studies Olympian team and assisted
the stage crew with drama productions. An April graduate, she
is the daughter of Eugene and Linda Hanka.
Lisa M. Hassevoort of 1701 104th Ave., Zeeland, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Finance and Commercial Law. As the first college graduate in her family, Hassevoort hoped to set an example for her younger siblings when she received her diploma in April. A recipient of a full-tuition Herman Miller Academic Scholarship, she completed three corporate internships-two with Herman Miller Inc. and one with John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance Co. Her duties as an intern included analyzing and preparing corporate budgets and capital spending models as well as designing and implementing a product configuration and pricing model. She is the daughter of Jerry and Nancy Hassevoort.
Kimberly N. Heffel of 5411 Wallbridge, Midland, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Marketing. Advertising and sales promotions are special interests for Heffel, and she is looking forward to combining her marketing knowledge with her Spanish language skills. As a member of the Lee Honors College, she studied student perceptions of the Bernhard Center for her honors thesis, presenting management with ideas for improving the student hub. A December graduate, Heffel is a member of the Beta Gamma Sigma, Mortar Board and Phi Kappa Phi national honor societies. She received numerous scholarships during her college career, including the WMU Board of Trustees Scholarship, the Haworth College of Business Academic Achievement Scholarship and the Mathilde Steckelberg Scholarship Award in Spanish. A former high school member of Students Against Driving Drunk, she has continued her work with an affiliate organization at the state level through its Emeritus Association. She is the daughter of James and Nancy Heffel.
William K. Henagan of 2417 Taylor Drive, Adrian, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Paper and Printing Science and Engineering. In April, Henagan, a Medallion Scholar and stand-out athlete, graduated with a bachelor's degree in paper engineering and began his career in the paper industry. After completing three summer internships with Michigan paper companies, he accepted a position as a management trainee at Rock-Tenn Co. in Otsego, Mich. He also plans to pursue an MBA at WMU. A member of the Lee Honors College, he recently completed his senior thesis on a project aimed at exploring chlorine-free pulp bleaching processes that could alleviate environmental problems. Henagan is a four-year track athlete and a member of the 1996 Mid-American Conference championship team. He also is a three-year member of the Bronco football squad. He was named to the GTE Academic All-District team in football and, as a track athlete, was named to the First Team Academic All-Conference team. Active in team volunteer activities, he also won the Robert Boughner Scholar Athlete Award in 1998 and the Arthur Ashe Scholar Athlete Award in 1997. He is a member of the Ts'ai Lun student paper engineers organization, the Tau Beta Pi engineering honorary and the Golden Key National Honor Society. Henagan is the son of Deanne A. Henagan.
Alycia M. Iwan of 1946 S. Valleyview Drive, St. Joseph,
Mich., was named a
Presidential Scholar in Communication. A member of the Lee Honors
College, she was active in that college's Student Association
and served as its vice president. She also was a member of the
University's 2000 Ethics Bowl team, which placed fifth nationally.
Other organizations she was involved with include the forensics
team, Phi Theta Kappa, the Miller Auditorium Usher Corps, Intervarsity
Christian Fellowship, the Girl Scouts of America and the Golden
Key National Honor Society. An April graduate, she is the daughter
of Neil and Melissa Iwan.
Rachel R. Johnson of 305 Nadeau Road, Monroe, Mich.,
was named a Presidential
Scholar in Economics. A member of the Lee Honors College, she
served a tax accounting internship with Fisher Spiegel Kunkle
and Gerber P.C. and was the recipient of the 1999 Wall Street
Journal Achievement Award. She was a member of the Beta Alpha
Psi honor accounting fraternity as well as the Golden Key, Beta
Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi national honor societies. An April
graduate, she is employed in audit and business advisory services
for Arthur Andersen LLP in Detroit. She is the daughter of David
and Rhonda Johnson.
Joseph B. Jung of 1547 Seventh St. N.W., Grand Rapids, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Theatre. Jung often is asked what he does to study acting. His answer, simply, is "Everything." Jung believes that acting requires being an expert on life. Since graduating in April, Jung has been auditioning for various graduate programs to further his acting education and hopes to one day teach, direct and perform for a living. He is the recipient of two Theatre Guild Scholarships, a University Theatre Award and the Diether Haenicke British Isles Scholarship, which took him to the Gaiety School of Acting, Ireland's most recognized acting school. After four weeks there, he spent two weeks touring in London and attended the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. His previous studies abroad included a two-week course in Shakespeare at England's Solihull College. He has performed in more than a dozen productions from Shakespeare to Chekhov, Ionesco and Shaffer and has participated in workshops by a variety of world renowned theatre artists. He also has studied music and the visual arts. He is the son of Philip and Joan Jung.
Amanda T. Jurinen of 1654 Sand Point Road, Munising, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Geography. Jurinen, who majored in tourism and travel and French, studied at the Centre De La Linguistique Appliquee and served an internship with the Maquette Architecture Patrimoine Environnement in France. A member of the Lee Honors College, she was named the 1998 Outstanding Academic Senior in the tourism and travel program and was the recipient of the Albert and Janet Jackman Memorial Award. She is a member of Golden Key National Honor Society, Pi Delta Phi national French honor society and Gamma Theta Upsilon, an international geographic honor society. While at WMU, Jurinen was active as an international orientation leader, a resident advisor, a disc jockey on WIDR-FM, a tutor at Kalamazoo's Lincoln International Magnet School, and a cast member in WMU's theatre group, "Great Sexpectations." An April graduate, she is the daughter of Walter and Leona Jurinen.
Melissa D. Kochenderfer of 9217 North Lake Road, Fostoria, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Family and Consumer Sciences. Children, family relationships and counseling are Kochenderfer's key interests. Having graduated in April, she plans to earn a master's degree in either counseling or social work, but first hopes to work as a case manager or counselor with both children and adults. Recently, she served internships with Head Start and Big Brothers-Big Sisters and volunteered as a peer counselor at the Pregnancy Care Center. She also has been involved with InterVarsity Christian Fellowship and is vice president of Veritas de Vita, a Christian pro-life student organization. She is a member of the Golden Key and Alpha Lambda Delta national honor societies and received the Chrystal Grady Home Economics Scholarship and Michigan Competitive Scholarship. She is the daughter of Eric and Connie Kochenderfer.
Carol A. Kolar of 454 Tullis Lane, Battle Creek, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Educational Studies. A mother of two teenagers, Kolar returned to college three years ago to study special education. While juggling her responsibilities as a non-traditional student, homemaker and mother, she developed a passion for learning and working with children with disabilities. Having graduated in April, Kolar is anxious to join the teaching ranks. She is the recipient of the Lofton and Georgiann Burge Education Scholarship, the Katherine Pratt Burrell Education Scholarship and a grant from Kalamazoo's Women's Education Coalition.
Reneé Kuhn of 5145 Morningside, Portage, Mich.,
was named a Presidential
Scholar in Comparative Religion. A non-traditional student, Kuhn
also works as a business manager for Mid-America Psychological
Services P.C., a practice which she and her husband started. She
will graduate in December and is married to Greg Kuhn and has
two daughters, Kristina and Heather.
James A. Kurtz of 6629 Winnock Drive, Indianapolis,
Ind., was named a Presidential
Scholar in Physics. Kurtz, who served two internships as a computer
programmer, received a Department of Physics scholarship as well
as honors from the Department of Computer Science. He also performed
as a drummer for school concerts and church worship services and
assisted his father in running a business. A December graduate,
he is the son of Steve Kurtz of Kalamazoo, Mich.
Andrew A. Laucher of 12599 Pine Ridge Lane, Charlevoix,
Mich., was named a
Presidential Scholar in Biological Sciences. A member of the Lee
Honors College, Laucher served an internship with the Southwest
Michigan Land Conservancy. The recipient of a CREST Fellowship
from his department, he spent four months studying monarch butterfly
habitats with a faculty mentor. Laucher received an Undergraduate
Research and Creative Activities Award, a University Scholars
award in the Medallion Scholarship competition, and a scholarship
from the Polish National Alliance. He was a founding member of
the Kalamazoo Community Gardens Initiative, which turns vacant
lots into neighborhood gardens, and the program coordinator for
the Kalamazoo River Watershed Council. A December graduate, he
is the son of Sandra S. Laucher and the late Jackson B. Laucher.
Jessica C. Lynam of 2109 Gibbs Road, Traverse City,
Mich., was named a Presidential
Scholar in Foreign Languages and Literatures. A Medallion Scholarship
recipient, she consistently made the Dean's List and was a member
of the Phi Beta Kappa and the Golden Key national honor societies.
She put her knowledge of Spanish to use as a court interpreter
and tutor as well as in her work at the Kalamazoo Public Library.
An April graduate, she is the daughter of Robert and Susan Foster.
Catherine M. Manturuk of 6524 Houghten, Troy, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Dance. Manturuk has earned recognition both as a performer and choreographer. She has been selected by five renowned choreographers to perform in their works and has represented WMU at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Germany, Phoenix, Washington, D.C., and Buffalo, N.Y.; at three Great Lakes Regional American College Dance Festivals; at The Kitchen in New York; and as a member of WMU's Children Repertory Dance Theatre. Her choreography has been selected for student-produced Orchesis concerts and Fall Concerts of Dance. Having graduated in April, Manturuk is working to become an artistic director of her own company, combining her interests in dance science, performance and teaching. She is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society and has been awarded the National Dance Association Outstanding Dance Major Scholarship and numerous other awards.
Katrina E. Myall of 3493 Burkhart Road, Jackson, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Teaching, Learning and Leadership. For as long as she can remember, Myall has wanted to be a teacher and carry on a family tradition that started with her father and his mother before him. Before she graduated in April, she served a teaching internship at Loy Norrix High School in Kalamazoo, where she also was a track coach. Her Lee Honors College thesis examined current social studies teachers' views about their subject and its influence on student learning. Myall had wanted to teach social studies in high school, but now is considering a doctorate in curriculum studies and teaching at the college level. She has been a member of Student Ambassadors since 1996, often speaking to at-risk students about the importance of education. She also has served as an orientation student leader and, as a member and vice president of the Student Education Association, has volunteered in and around Kalamazoo. She is active in Mortar Board National Honor Society and the Student Alumni Association. She is the daughter of Fred and Barbara Myall.
Andrew E. Nixon of 11624 Wilbur Highway, Eaton Rapids,
Mich., was named a
Presidential Scholar in Environmental Studies. Nixon was the recipient
of a Medallion Scholarship, as well as three undergraduate research
grants and a National Wildlife Federation fellowship. He served
as a teaching assistant for a junior-level philosophy course and
had an essay titled "Nietzsche and Environmental Ethics"
published in WMU's Proceedings of the Heraclitean Society. A 1999
Presidential Scholar in Philosophy, he also received a scholarship
to attend Zero Population Growth's "Capitol Hill Days"
activist camp in Washington, D.C. An April graduate, he is the
son of Mark Nixon and Barbara Semons of Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
Kristina L. Oleszkiewicz of 7027 Cromwell, Jenison, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Integrated Supply Management. A Medallion Scholarship winner, Oleszkiewicz spoke each year to prospective students vying for the same honor, introducing them to the campus and to the Integrated Supply Management Program. She was a member of the Lee Honors College, belonged to the Educational Society for Resource Management and served on the executive board for her department's mentoring program. Oleszkiewicz was an active volunteer for the American Red Cross, and in addition to the Medallion award, was honored with a number of other scholarships. An April graduate, she's headed for Davenport, Iowa, to work full time as a tactical supply management specialist at John Deere Davenport Works, where she completed two co-op internships as a student. She plans to pursue her master's degree at Northwestern University. She is the daughter of Robert and Doreen Oleszkiewicz.
Michelle L. Pantaleo of 24307 Fairway Hills, Novi, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Social Work. Children always have been the main focus of Pantaleo's life and she plans to work with youngsters in her career. She graduates in June with a double major in social work and sociology and has been accepted to the master of social work program at the University of Michigan for the fall. She currently is lead respite worker for Family and Children Services in Kalamazoo while also completing her fieldwork placement at Children's Protective Services at the Family Independence Agency in Kalamazoo. She served as co-president for two years of Eta Eta Sigma, a student social work group. She is a Medallion Scholar, a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta and Golden Key national honor societies and is enrolled in the Lee Honors College. She has been a volunteer at a local soup kitchen and as a mentor for area elementary students. She is the daughter of Nancy and Rick Pantaleo.
Billie S. Patrick of 2924 Baron Court, Grandville, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Management. A double major in management and Spanish, Patrick is pursuing a career in human resources following her April graduation. She interned for Litehouse Inc. as a recruiter for production personnel and at Triple S Plastics Inc. as an assistant to the corporate trainer. Study abroad in Alcala de Henares, Spain, in 1998 helped her to hone her Spanish language skills. As a student, Patrick was honored with the El Premio Octavio Paz award for her Spanish language achievement as well as the Jeff Robideau Meritorious Scholarship. She was a member of Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi national honor societies and she served as president of the Society for Excellence in Human Resources. She is the daughter of Bill and Sue Patrick.
Jonathan C. Reid of 2829 Hilltop, Kalamazoo, was named a Presidential Scholar in Philosophy. Twice a runner-up in the Portz Scholarship competition, he received three College of Arts and Sciences Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Awards to explore existential philosophy. He spent six weeks attending Cambridge University in England as part of Cambridge's International Summer School and he presented his work at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research in Rochester, New York. His paper, "Ecce Hominis" will appear in a forthcoming issue of the Proceedings of the Heraclitean Society, WMU's philosophy journal. A member of the Lee Honors College, Reid also is committed to running and came in first place in his age category in the 1998 Detroit Marathon. He served as an assistant coach for distance runners at Hackett Catholic High School. The son of Ronald E. and Carol A. Reid, he will graduate in April 2001.
Eric M. Ruckert of 26868 Londick Road, Burr Oak, Mich.,
was named a Presidential
Scholar in Geosciences. A December graduate, Ruckert was named
the Outstanding Senior in Earth Science and taught laboratory
sections of a basic earth science class. He also served as vice
president of SGE National Honor Society. The son of Darrell and
Cindy Ruckert, he has a wife, Kristen, and a son, Connor. He works
as a research scientist at American Hydrogeology Corp., where
he investigates and prepares reports of environmental site assessments.
Joseph A. Seestadt of 11100 Linden Road, Fenton, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Industrial and Manufacturing Engineering. Seestadt, a scholar-athlete, has spent his college career balancing the demands of his studies, professional development activities and volunteer service with those of his position as a four-year member of WMU's varsity baseball team. He will graduate in December with a major in industrial engineering and a minor in integrated supply management. For the past year, he has been in a co-op position with Kalamazoo's Stryker Corp., working in the areas of statistical process control, quality control, supply chain management and computer programming. He is president of the Institute of Industrial Engineers and secretary of Alpha Pi Mu engineering fraternity. In addition, he was named to the Mid-American Conference's Academic All-MAC team. He also has served as a volunteer at various school and community agencies. Seestadt plans to continue his education by working toward a master's degree. Eventually, he would like to own a consulting or manufacturing business. He is the son of Bernadette and Ron Brown.
Tricia H. Shapland of 2604 Graceridge Place, Saginaw, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Construction Engineering, Materials Engineering and Industrial Design. Shapland will graduate in June with a bachelor's degree in industrial design. A member of the University's student chapter of the Industrial Design Society of America, she plans to earn a master's degree in business and become an entrepreneur. Tricia is currently completing her senior project, working with another student and the Tenex Corp. to design a ready-to-assemble work station intended for students or young professionals. She is the daughter of Margaret and Larry Shapland
Lisa A. St. Peter of 1614 Suffolk Avenue, Portage, Mich.,
was named a Presidential
Scholar in Chemistry. St. Peter studied biochemistry and genetics
and her research included work on the genetics of sugar beets.
The recipient of a 1999 Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry
from her department, she consistently made the Dean's List. An
April graduate, she is the daughter of Clarence and Karen Snyder
of 7678 Chippewa Street.
Robert J. Vance III of 9350 Brucedale Drive, Clarkston, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Music. Vance completed his teaching internship at Grand Haven High School. A member of the Lee Honors College and the Gold Company vocal jazz ensembles, Vance graduated in April with a dual degree in choral/general music education and vocal performance. Vance created a handbook for choral directors on how to teach students to sing vocal jazz for his honors thesis project. He also studied for six weeks abroad as part of the American Institute of Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. A recipient of the Guido and Elizabeth Binda Medallion Scholarship and the Theodore Presser Memorial Scholarship, Vance was honored by Pi Kappa Lambda as the top academic student in his class as a freshman and sophomore, and he became a member as a junior. He also is a four-year member of the University Chorale and has sung in GCII and Westersingers. He is the son of Robert and Nancy Vance II.
Anthony W. Vermaas of 966 Rushmore, Jenison, Mich.,
was named a Presidential
Scholar in English. A member of the Lee Honors College, Vermaas
received an Undergraduate Research and Creative Activities Award
and a WMU Excellence Scholarship. An April graduate, he is the
son of Bill and Joyce Vermaas.
Jason E. West of 3370 Pinch, Potterville, Mich., was
named a Presidential Scholar in
Computer Science. A transfer student from Calvin College, he has
spent the past two years working as a student and a programmer.
West will graduate in August and move to Lansing to begin his
career as an associate programmer at Auto-Owners Insurance. He
is the son of Erik and Linda West and the husband of Rochelle
Getz West.
Kimberly G. Wynne of 6170 Baywood Drive, Portage, Mich., was named a Presidential Scholar in Electrical and Computer Engineering. Shapland has been using her love of programming to help two faculty members develop an interactive learning environment for younger students. She also has put her skills to work as an intern for Pharmacia Corp., working on that firm's UNIX administration team to develop a pilot program for a new security package. Wynne, who already has earned a bachelor's degree in psychology and a master's degree in applied behavior analysis, will graduate from her current degree program in December. She is a member of the Golden Key National Honor Society. Wynne is the daughter of Harold and Judith Gage.
Media contact: Cheryl Roland, 616 387-8400, cheryl.roland@wmich.edu
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