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Pictured in the front row, from left, are John Avelar, Annaliese Coyne and Jackie Groves. In the back row, from left, are Nicholas Fedler, Jerry Keppler, Edgar Rodriguez, Gregory Bates and Mark Weger.
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National Veterans Honor Society Induction

May 2, 2016

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MACOMB, IL - Nineteen student veterans and service members enrolled at Western Illinois University were recently inducted into Western's chapter of SALUTE, the national veterans honor society for the 2015-16 year.

According to Kathy Meyers, assistant director of the WIU Veterans Resource Center (VRC), Western is a charter member and is considered one of the pioneers of the national honor society team.

SALUTE recognizes veterans, active duty personnel, National Guard members and reservists who have been honorably discharged, or who are currently serving under honorable conditions. 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.

"We are pleased to honor this select group of dedicated veterans and service members. They are so willing to give of themselves," Meyers said. "Many of these men and women have achieved academic honors while serving their country, reaching out to others, assuming leadership roles in their campus and local communities and juggling additional family and work responsibilities."

SALUTE 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.

Each member selected for recognition through SALUTE was presented with a military-style challenge coin and a membership certificate from the national organization, as well as a certificate of achievement from Western.

The 2015-16 class of inductees, listed by hometown, include:

ILLINOIS

ALBANY: Susan A. Griffis, U.S. Army, graduate student, accountancy

BUSHNELL: Paul R. Perchalski, U.S. Marine Corps, graduate student, instructional design and technology

CAMBRIDGE: Michelle Y. Harrell, U.S. Army, senior, human resource management

CANTON: Gregory Mathis, U.S. Marine Corps, senior, agriculture

CHATHAM: Jerry E. Keppler, U.S. Navy, senior, law enforcement and justice administration

EOLA: Annaliese D. Coyne, Army National Guard, sophomore, law enforcement and justice administration

GENESEO: Nathaniel A. Johnson, Army National Guard, junior, law enforcement and justice administration

NAPERVILLE: Destiny Prater, Army National Guard, sophomore, law enforcement and justice administration

OSWEGO: Brandon W. Mabrey, Army National Guard, sophomore, law enforcement and justice administration

PORT BYRON: Jackie M. Groves, U.S. Navy, senior, biology

QUINCY: Blake A. Bradley, U.S. Navy, senior, law enforcement and justice administration

ROCK FALLS: Edgar R. Rodriguez, U.S. Army, junior, emergency management

ROCK ISLAND: Andrey S. Mojica, Army National Guard, graduate student, law enforcement and justice administration

SOUTH ELGIN: John D. Avelar, U. S. Marine Corps, junior, law enforcement and justice administration

SPRINGFIELD: Jessie R. Nelson, U.S. Navy, senior, political science

IOWA

DONNELLSON: Nicholas J. Fedler, Army National Guard, senior, law enforcement and justice administration


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