University News
WIU Phi Kappa Phi Chapter Holds Annual Induction Ceremony
April 8, 2021
MACOMB, IL -- Western Illinois University's chapter of the Phi Kappa Phi National Honor Society held its 49th annual induction ceremony in a virtual format Thursday, April 8, adding another 50 WIU students to its membership.
Admission to Phi Kappa Phi is by invitation only, and invitations are extended to the top 7.5 percent of juniors, the top 10 percent of seniors and the top 10 percent of graduate students.
The ceremony also recognized scholarship and undergraduate research award winners.
The winner of this year's chapter fellowship, and a $250 prize, is Paula A. Ramirez, of Roselle, IL, who graduated at the end of the Fall 2020 semester with bachelor's degrees in psychology and in music, with highest academic distinction, summa cum laude. She was also the Psychology Departmental Scholar and the Music Departmental Scholar, as well as a Centennial Honors Scholar.
Ramirez served as a student vice president with Phi Kappa Phi and spearheaded the chapter's annual book drive, which brought in thousands of books and resulted in the national award of a Free Little Library, which was placed outside an on-campus daycare center.
By winning the chapter fellowship, Ramirez is now eligible for one of the $8,500 fellowships offered each year by the national chapter office. WIU students have been awarded national fellowships for the past four years in a row.
Three undergraduate research awards were presented this year, totaling $1,000. A total of 10 academic research papers were submitted for consideration.
This year's winners, and their paper titles, include:
• First place ($500), the Lowell Grabill Undergraduate Research Award, is presented to Janae Imeri, a senior music major, from Streamwood, IL. Imeri worked under the guidance of Music Professor Jennifer Jones and her paper was titled, "Understanding the Experience of Discussing Race and Racism during Clinical Supervision for Black Music Therapy Students"
• Second place ($300), is awarded to Anna Lucken, a senior anthropology major, from Vandalia, IL. Lucken worked under the guidance of Liberal Arts and Sciences Professor Sarah Haynes and her paper was titled, "Religions Without God(s): The Emergence of Religion from Atheism."
• Third place ($200), is awarded to Marcus Sweeten, a senior history major, from Roodhouse, IL. Sweeten worked under the guidance of History Professor Timothy Roberts and his paper was titled, "Springfield had no Shame: White Prejudice, Black Growth, and the Springfield Race Riot of 1908."
WIU faculty members inducted into Phi Kappa Phi include WIU Associate Provost and Director of Graduate Studies Mark Mossman and WIU Institute for Environmental Studies Director Roger Viadero.
This year's student inductees, by hometown, include:
Illinois
Algonquin: Audrey Gniech, a senior theatre major
Arlington Heights: Joshua R. Figus, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major
Antioch: Piper Foote, a junior accountancy major
Aurora: Lauren Antoniolli, a senior music major
Batavia: Ryan Homer, a senior biology major
Bloomington: Brooke Hermanowicz, a senior anthropology major; Melissa B. Williams, a senior general studies major
Chicago: Sarah Kincaid, a senior anthropology major; Nofisat Eletu, a Fall 2020 graduate with a master's degree in history
Colona: Ashley S. Cirricione, an instructional design and technology graduate student
Decatur: Jody D. Hall, a graduate student in higher education leaderships
Dunlap: Madison Caye Henson, a senior Spanish education major
East Moline: Samantha T. Lack, a graduate student in museum studies
Flora: Cari Wilson, a junior biology major
Galesburg: Sarah M. Bainter, a curriculum and instruction graduate student
Heyworth: Kendra J. Slama DeRosa, a graduate student in law enforcement and justice administration
Macomb: Solomon Romanov Hamm, a senior marketing major; Laura Hoske, a senior liberal arts and sciences major; Toni L. Baxter, an instructional design and technology graduate student; Marine Patricia Foray, a quantitative economics graduate student; Jonathan Njeunje, a graduate student in computer science; Kate Van Sloten, a Fall 2020 graduate with a master's degree in recreation, park and tourism administration
McHenry: Kaehler Rayn Russell, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major
Milan: Caleb Joel Engebrecht, a senior mechanical engineering major
Moline: Claudia Lopez, a senior elementary education major; Yvan Ortiz Ojeda, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major; Melanie S. Adams, an educational leadership graduate student; Mandodja M.S. Gpagni, a graduate student in applied statistics and decision analytics
Monmouth: Teresa L. Bynum, a senior general studies major
North Aurora: Jessica Marie Orsini, a graduate student in law enforcement and justice administration
Palatine: Rhiannon D. Ballard, a junior anthropology major; Riley B. Grady, a senior psychology major
Petersburg: Blythe W. Richards, a senior biology major
Rockford: Kathryn Ostdick, a graduate student in curriculum and instruction
Shabbona: Jennifer Elise Barker, a senior general studies major
Silvis: Mei Lin Zheng, a junior biology major; Emily N. Witherspoon, a senior elementary education major; Ja'net L. Burdette, an instructional design and technology graduate student
Springfield: James M. Robinson, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major; John Freveletti, a graduate student in history
Waukegan: Vasken Haroian, a senior law enforcement and justice administration major
Wonder Lake: Brandon Richard Kmetz, a graduate student in in public safety administration
Quincy: Maille Grace Francis, a junior health services management major; Mercedes Renee Wittenbrink, a senior art education major
Iowa
Bettendorf: Courtney Flickinger, a law enforcement and justice administration graduate student
Davenport: Shannon L. Strombeck, a graduate student in counselor education
Decorah: Ann M. Smith, a graduate student in educational leadership
Keokuk: A'Kaysion Soper, a senior social work major
Maryland
Silver Spring: Crissola M. Kennedy, a graduate student in the master of business administration (MBA) program
Texas
Flugerville: Heather D. Leonard, a senior anthropology major
For more information on Phi Kappa Phi, visit phikappaphi.org.
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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