Graduate Commencement Ceremony Sunday 2 August 2020
MISSION STATEMENT Aurora University is an inclusive community dedicated to the transformative power of learning. As a teaching-centered institution, we encourage undergraduate and graduate students to discover what it takes to build meaningful and examined lives. Our singular goal is to empower our students to achieve lasting personal and professional success.
STATEMENT OF CORE VALUES Aurora University draws upon the rich legacies of Aurora College and George Williams College to welcome learners to our campuses in Illinois and Wisconsin. Here all become members of an inclusive educational community dedicated to the development of mind, body, and spirit. Today, as in the past, we prize the twin virtues of character and scholarship and affirm our commitment to the values of integrity, citizenship, continuous learning, and excellence. We will adhere to the highest standards of integrity in every aspect of institutional practice and operation. Through this proven dedication to honesty, respect, fairness, and ethical conduct, we will lead by example and inspire our students to do the same. We will exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in an educational community, founded upon the principles of mutual respect and open discourse. We will live within our means and manage our resources wisely while creating an environment that fosters teamwork and promotes service to others. We will work and live as an organization devoted to continuous learning. We recognize that the university exists in a diverse and changing world and know that we will succeed in helping students achieve their full potential only if we realize our own. We seek a growth process that is never-ending. We will pursue excellence by embracing quality as a way of community life. Accordingly, we will set high expectations for ourselves, our students, and our university and will work together to attain them. The university’s core values are the foundation upon which our aspirations rest. They undergird our belief in the transformative power of learning. As members of the Aurora University community, we enter into a voluntary compact with one another to live, learn, and work in ways consistent with these ideals.
Aurora University Graduate Commencement Ceremony Sunday 2 August 2020
Prelude Pomp and Circumstance. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Sir Edward Elgar The Alma Mater: Aurora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ross K. Tilton, Class of 1917 Aurora University Chorale; Joyce Lawson, piano Conducted by Lisa Fredenburgh, DMA, The Roger Parolini Endowed Professor of Music Words are printed on the last page of the program.
Welcome Rebecca L. Sherrick, PhD, President
Invocation Mark Woolfington ’93, DMin, University Chaplain
Greetings Hilary Brennan ’83, Chair, Board of Trustees
Reflections Rebecca L. Sherrick, PhD, President
Conferral of Degrees Frank Buscher, PhD, Vice President for Academic Affairs Rebecca L. Sherrick, PhD, President The Degrees of Master of Arts in Educational Leadership, Master of Arts in Educational Technology, Master of Arts in Homeland Security, Master of Arts in Mathematics Education, Master of Arts in Reading Instruction, Master of Arts in Special Education, Master of Business Administration, Master of Public Administration, Master of Science in Accountancy, Master of Science in Applied Behavior Analysis, Master of Science in Mathematics, Master of Social Work, Doctor of Education, Doctor of Social Work
President’s Charge to the Graduates
Benediction Mark Woolfington ’93, DMin, University Chaplain
Postlude How Can I Keep From Singing?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Robert Wadsworth Lowry arr. Bradley Ellingboe Aurora University Chorale; Joyce Lawson, piano Conducted by Lisa Fredenburgh, DMA, The Roger Parolini Endowed Professor of Music
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP
Rebecca Schumacher Linda Serafini
MASTER OF ARTS IN MATHEMATICS EDUCATION
Carmen Abraham
Elizabeth Simonic
Crystal Fronimos
Maria-Elena Agrela
Amber Socaciu
Mary Glinke
Samantha Boldt
Sumayya Staab
Scott J. Guidos
Nathaniel Campbell
Richard E. Stiles Jr.
Alison Hamm
Lucy Carson
Lorena Ana Tapia
Mark Karadimos
Rachel Cialoni
Teresa Vemmer
Brianna Keeney
Joseph Conroy
Elizabeth Vergara
Courtney Ann Miller
Katherine M. Crosby
Matthew Wukitsch
Elizabeth O’Connor
Sheila Daly
Michael Yadgir
Michael Parker
Jennifer Doornbos
Brian J. Zerfas
Allison Schwerdtfeger
Marysol Sandoval
Jessica Egan
Frank Shaffer
Brock Rodney Feece
Rachel Sibley
Brittany Galow Kaitlyn Gonzalez Elizabeth Goudy
MASTER OF ARTS IN EDUCATIONAL TECHNOLOGY
April Teasley
Christy Diane Grace
Megan Anderson
Veronica Hancock
Elyse Barron
Qiana Harrell
Scott Boulter
MASTER OF ARTS IN READING INSTRUCTION
Thomas Hart
Keriann Cobb
Erica Anklam
Jesse Hawley
Rachel Dawson
Chardon Hill
Violet Gronberg
Kristin Johnston Bamford
Kenneth Holowczak
Andrew Joseph Rhea
Donielle Boukram
Shalon Leschman
Kaitlyn Tomczak
Hailey Clabough
Erin McGinnis
Elyse Yates
Laura Essex Angela Marie Fisher
Josh McNaughton Melissa J. Miller
Kathleen Krella
Nicole PieranunziBaluan
MASTER OF ARTS IN HOMELAND SECURITY
Angela Marie Nondorf
Emily Placzkowski
Kent Manion
Jason Stone
Joseph Montanari
Patricia Van Hoesen Reuter
Meghan Kulakowski Sarah Sroka Jennifer Weibler
MASTER OF ARTS IN SPECIAL EDUCATION
Katrina Bell
Lauren Hathaway
Jordan Berard
Karina Herrera
Michael Berg
Patricia Herrera
Teesha Benson
Andrew Biela
Isaiah Howard
Erin Kathleen Buddy
Maribeth Boonstra
Beesan Hryckiewicz
Jesse Coffey
Kristopher Boyce
Cristina Hurtado
Emily Frieders
Debra Brophy
Emily Janusevic
Lara Johnson
Belinda Burciaga
Georgina Jensen
Michelle Rose Keppel
Ashley Calvin
Scott Johnson
Ozlem Kurt
Maria Campos
Tori Johnson
Sara Maxwell
Samuel Casas
Nicholett Jones-Mattix
Kassie McDowell
Oscar Castaneda
Caitlyn Kaltenecker
Dee Neukirch
Iris Castellanos
Tyler Kelly
Zaida Quinones-Gonzalez
Elizabeth Castro
LaShon Kendrick
Katherine Sauerwein
Tiffany Chander
Jeffrey Kilburg
Kathleen Schiltz
Robert Chico
Edson King Jr.
Andrea Svejda
Jerome Christmas
Chase Koelber
Erin Szostak
Sydney Cihak
Benjamin Kribs
Clay Thompson
Marc Cramer
Abigail Lake
Jason VanPelt
Mareli Sarai Diaz
Lily Wei
Carly Ellis Dietrich
Lindsay Marie LangGluscic
Megan Dodia Mallory Ann Dugan
MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION
Justin Esposito
Clarissa Adams
Jenise Freemon
Cindy Allen
Ryan Fromm
Rakan Ammari
Stavroula Stacy Galanis
Malaysavanh Anoulak
Jessica Gargo
Jordan Marcus Atkins
Courtney Genovese
Maranda Barnard
Daisy Gomez
Rachel Barrett
Izac Gomez
Lance Beier
Melissa Gutierrez
Theresa Eberhardt Joshua Favorite
Christopher LaPorte Mitchell Ryan Lave Collin Lay Autumn Leaks Andres Lerma Jr. Richard Lisciandro Joshua Livingston Eivilyn E. Lopez Jaime Lopez Patrick MacDonald Rashel Marrero Amanda R. Martinez Parker Masokas
Leatile Masula
Rosana Soto
Adriana Crystal Ramirez
Carmen L. McClain
Randi Stankus
Drake Riedy
Jessika McCleskey
Ian Sweeney
Jasmine Ruby Rubio
Sheila McCusker
Rochelle LaRae Tandy
Eric Charles Smith
Yvelisse Jocelyn Mendez
Besa Tetova
Julianna Stroup
Kailey Mills
Angela Trevino
Hannah Marie Moody
Dexter Turner
Joseph David Mooney
C. Maxfield Van De Mark
Bayley A. Murphy
Rafael Velazquez
Francine Norman
Tiffany Whooper
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ACCOUNTANCY
Autumn Oley
Tyler Willer
Consuelo Aguirre
Johannah Olson
Hannah Noel Wozniak
Reilly Armstrong
Arian Osmani
Alina Gabriela Zamorano
Christopher Boes
Jerimiah Penny
Daniel Zielecki
Nicole Fitzgibbon
Krystal Petrovskis
Jessica Zulfekar
Melissa Forbeck-Kelly
Rene Portillo
Zachary Zuniga
Margarita Guerrero
Ariel Alexis Ramirez
Bozidar Ivancevic
Gerson Ramirez
Jacob Kiliszewski
Colin Rivard
MASTER OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION
Geron Rogers
Josiah Alloway
Caitlin Kwitkowski
Leatrice Rogers
Daniel Chandler
Kyle Lutz
Linda Ellen Roller
Xiclali S. Cordova
Joshua Mapalo
Kamryn Ryan
Angelica Diaz
Daniel Joseph Schmitt
Katie Ryan
Hailey Edwards
Tyler Williams
Andrew Schilli
Emily Ernat
Katharine Schneberger
Colton Fellows
Ryan Sehring
Taylor Fenske
Eric Senske
Manuela Foonde
Troy Sheppard
Eric Greenfield
Harsukhraj Sidhu
Cadence Griffiths
John Smiley
Elizabeth Niete
Trey Snyder
Erika Ogwel
Patricia Soto
Karla Olivia Ortiz
Taka Ray
Maximillian Kirkwood Agnieszka Kuzma
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN APPLIED BEHAVIOR ANALYSIS
MASTER OF SOCIAL WORK
Alexis Butler
Clarissa Adams
Ronea Cabrera
Daniella Aguilar
Thresa Caccavale
Lauryn Amerio
Taelor Alexander
Aylin Cadena
Cory Andor
Sophie Allgire
Pamela Caine
Amber Joy Boyd
Katerine Alvarez
Megan Calabrese
Jennifer Dana
Julie Babyar
Melissa Arlene Carroll
Valeria Gass
Samantha L. Barry
Elizabeth Castro
Morgan Christine Geiser
Laura Bauer
Alexandria Celozzi
Haydn Joiner
Alicia Baxter
Tiffany Chander
Erica Kirinovic
Courtney Bazydlo
Hannah Chapman
Anja Kremer
Lance Beier
Louis Chisanga
Karina Lazarit
Brittni Ella Bell
Heather Chizzo
Amanda Lombardo
Katrina Bell
Maria Cristina Ciavarella
Ashley Malito
Yesica Bibian
Annette Cisneros
Servando Miranda
Nereida Bolivar
Jazzminn Cleary
Derek Prejna
Kathleen Bolling
Megan Coan
Arlett Ramos
Kyle Bonato
Alli Cochrum
Courtney Sanocki
Lissete Bonilla
Jessica Collins
Kayla Snedecor
Maribeth Boonstra
Christin Colon
Suzannah Allena Wenzel
Tessa Botka
Leigh Condon
Samantha Widdows
Courtney Bouche
Angelica Connolly
Saskia Wise
William Tiva Bounthong
Araceli Corral
Hannah Yandel
Lidia Brander
Asia Craig
LaCretia Brazzleton
Sarah Creasor
Quo-Shayla Brewer
Rebecca Cummings
Shannon BrooksRodgers
Tom Cyriac
Tyler Ringer Brown
Teresa D’Aversa
Chloe Rose Brunner
Robert Davis
Danielle Bryan
Michaela Dean
Emily Bunescu
Maryssa Renee DeNardo
Mindy Marie Burkhamer
Staci Detwiler
MASTER OF SCIENCE IN MATHEMATICS Maureen Toth
Jennell Lynn Bustamante
Melanie Marie Dabrowski
Christina Grace Dewar
Yadira Garcia
Jessica Jorgensen
Ana Diaz
Angela Gasbarre
Katherine Kalina
Carly Ellis Dietrich
Stephanie Gofron
Zachary Karr
Megan Dixon
Yoanny Gonzalez-Trejo
Kayla Katarzynski
Lisa Anne Dole
Brook Griffith
Kelli Keinath
Erin Dombrowski
Delaney Guinan
Brianna Grace Kelly
Christopher Dominguez
Alesia Haley
April C. Kelow
Alicia Donegan
Julianna Harmon
Maria Dongo
Colleen Harris
Damian Michael Kieltyka
Mac Dralle
Aleshia Hawkins
Anna Borteley Duamroh
Kya Hays
Shannon Dudzienski
Samantha Heiden
Meghan Duffy
Ashley Hernandez
Cynthia Dunevant
Sandybel Hernandez
Erin Dunne
Amarilis Herrera
Sara Egan
Kaitlyn Lena Herrera
Daniela Elizondo
Michelle Herrera
Megan Erhart
Brittany Hetzel
Lizbeth Garcia Escutia
Kathryn Higgins
Debra Farnsworth
Candace Hill
Nelida Bahena Figueroa
Markesha Hill
Elizabeth Fisher
Onetha Hill
Caitlin Fletcher
Rosalia Hornig
Heather Michelle Fletcher
Shae Hunt
Melissa Stephanie Fletes
Rachel Ibrahim
Charis Foust
Jennifer Inserro
Wilyna Frankel
Yasmeen Ivory
Dana Marie Fritche
Shatoya Marie Jackson
Morgan Galvin
Kadijah James
Stephanie Gancarski
Georgina Jensen
Brittany Garcia
Keith Johnson
Daisy Garcia
Zoe Elizabeth Johnson
Jocelynn Valencia Garcia
Mercedes JohnsonIshmon
Rocio Garcia
Tanya M. Kirkwood Nicole Kirsner Rachel Francine Kistler Lilliana Klay Kristin M. Kleinmeyer Elizabeth Koenig Chardyce Kott Benjamin Kribs Meriah Kruit Kristina Kuksuk Rachel Lally Hannah Lanasa Erin Marie Landshaft Lindsay Marie LangGluscic Brittany Langton Cheris Larson Erin Lawinger Christina Elizabeth Lipe Rhyann Locke Edna Lopez Jancy Lundberg Maria Majewska Lauren Marasco Sidney Marchio Janira Marie Marquez
Raquel Martin
Rebekah Munch
Jeanette Quevedo-Pfister
Angelica A. Martinez
Deyanira Munoz
Frida Ramirez
Rebecca Mascal
Sequitta Murphy
Lizeth Ramirez
Anna Masella
Matthew R. Murray
Deanna Reed
Lauren Mason
Tasheika Nash
Adriana Resendiz
Kylie Maton
Cynthia Negrete
Kim Elizze Reyes
Kaitlyn McCormack
Audrey Nelson
Cara McCoy
Brittany Nelson
Tia Alberta-Rainbow Richards
Danielle McDuffy
Victoria Nett
Christopher McFarland
Ashley R. Newell
Kristen McIntyre
Dalila Nzinga Ngubani
Leanna McMeekan
Anna Nokes
Kimberly McMillian
Janelle Norden
Brittany McWaine
Iliana G. Ochoa
Jacquelyn Merki-Butler
Kristen Oldin
Hannah Miller
Johannah Olson
Lauren Mills
Kayla Orr
Emily Milord
Emily Kate Osterberg
Chloe Milot
Iesha Nicole Owens
Mallory Elaine Misener
Raissa Paladino
Erica Mitchell
Elisabeth Palmerin
Aine Mittler
Valerie Pazos
Kara Kyle Molik
Abigail Pe
Joseph David Mooney
Sarah Peltier
Sarah Moore
Joyce Perez
Claudia Morales
Karissa Perkins
Gabrielle Josie Moreno
Katherine Peterson
Alannah Morgan
Alison Petykowski
Stephanie Mostacci
Dillon Pfau
Nicole Ann Muellerschoen
Andrew Phillips
Mikayla Carol Rose Schmidt
Robert Mugera
Lexi Piccatto
Katharine Schneberger
Joanna Podosek
Christina Schneider
Caroline Pollock
Heather Schultz
Nicole Pope
Ryan Christopher Schultz
Katherine Mullen Jennifer Mullis
Molly Riemersma Daisy Rios Lizbeth Rios Elizabeth Anne Robbins Deandre L. Robinson Sr. Lauren Robinson Andrea Rodriguez Ingrid Shiomara Rodriguez Megan Rogers Amy Rogowski Jasmin Alexandra Rojo Itzel Roman Courtney Hoeft Rozek Molly Rueff Grace Ryan Jazmin Salazar Kelly Marie Salvo Madeline Sandgren Samantha Santo Amber Leigh Schiffman
Nicole Sarah Scott
Catherine Stieg
Torey Walker
Amanda Seals
Christine Stryjewski
Grace Elizabeth Weber
Ryan Sehring
Susan Strysik
Amber Weiss
Alma Rosa Serna
Oletha Styles
Charles Wells
Barbara Shaw
Tomas Michael Sulek
Sarah Lynn Wetherell
Rosa Sida
Madaline Svencner
Jessica Whitesell
Jenna Sierra
Stephanie Tasicas
Molly Elizabeth Wilk
Kaitlin Silagyi
Mary Taylor
Alexis Wilks
Jade Alexus Siler
Amy Thompson
Bryann Williams
Amrit Kaur Singh
Morgan Ann Tobias
Corriel Williams
Brittany Sivels
Misty Trawick
Diana Williams
Ashlin Skariya
Deidra K. Trout
Nazree Diane Williams
Victoria Skrebunas
Mary Trujillo
Roxanne Rae Willis
Allison Slagle
Amy Underwood
Laura Wills
Alexandra Victoria Smith
Richard Upchurch
Halle R. Winkler
Emily Smith
Allison Valerio
Shakyra Winston
Jaquelyn Smith
Emily Vankuren
Kim Wirth
Mary Alice Snydersmith
Jennifer Venegas
Stephanie L. Wisniewski
Nicole Soloff
Haley Versluys
Kimberly Wolf
Lucy Sosa
Briana Vintika
Dralisa Young
Maggie Sowa
Joey Wagner
Jana M. Bollmann Young
Michaela Spillare
Amanda Marie WagnerTesmond
Jennifer Zolo
Nicole Waldecker
Zachary Zuniga
Emily Spillios Alexis Stella
Haleigh Zorn
DOCTOR OF EDUCATION Scott Orville Adreon Leadership in Educational Administration “From Resistance to Acceptance: Successfully Implementing Restorative Practices in a Suburban High School” Eric D. Dohrmann Leadership in Educational Administration “A Quantitative Analysis of the Impact of Traditional Discipline and Restorative Justice Practices on High School Student Social Behavioral Growth” Alyson R. Gaspar Leadership in Adult and Higher Education “An Assessment of the Self-Perception of Academic Competencies of Community College Students” Jeffrey Herb Leadership in Educational Administration “The Art of Building Digital Capacities: Listening to In-Service Practitioners Struggling to Become Connected Educators” Eric Koranda Leadership in Educational Administration “Perceptions of Public Secondary School Principals Related to Employee Management and Human Resource Organizational Systems” Leslie Ann Kressin Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction “Teacher Freedom and Student Ownership in the Classroom: Integrating High-Value Technology in the Elementary Mathematics Classroom” Pedro Pérez-Llorente Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction “Purposeful Academic Language Switch (PALS): A Strategic Option to Bridging Translanguage and Academic Language”
Roxana Sanders Leadership in Educational Administration “Qualitative Analysis of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion-Related Content on Websites of High School Districts in Illinois” David A. Taylor Leadership in Adult and Higher Education “Effects of Instruction, College Major, and Personal Epistemology on the Acceptance of the Theory of Evolution by Community College Students” Katherine Villasin Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction “An Exploration of Play in the Kindergarten Classroom: A Teacher’s Perspective, A Teacher’s Practice” Victor Wight Leadership in Educational Administration “Student and Teacher Perceptions of School Climate in PBIS-Implementing Middle Schools” Tracy Zalud Leadership in Curriculum and Instruction “Reconceptualizing the Classroom: An Exploration of the Student and Educator Experience of Flexible Seating in the Elementary School Classroom Through the Lens of Self-Determination Theory” Craig Aaron Zieleniewski Leadership in Educational Administration “A Comparison of Parent and Teacher Perceptions of the Relative Importance of Skills Affecting Kindergarten Readiness”
DOCTOR OF SOCIAL WORK Kimberly A. Alderson “The Relationship Between Burnout and Self-Care in the Social Work Profession” Lisa M. Carswell “A Qualitative Study of the Lived Experiences of Obese African American Women” Cindy Ann Cook “The Impact of Physician Empathy from a Parent’s Perspective” Beth Marie Hawkins “The Effectiveness of a Client Centered Approach Training Program for Substance Use Professionals” Kasey Elizabeth Huff “The Relationship of Grit, Locus of Control, and Age in Participants with a Substance Use Disorder or Dual Diagnosis” Tiffany M. Nelson “Through the Lens of Individual Psychology: A Study of How an Educator’s Perception of Their Early Childhood Experiences Impact Their Practice of Teaching Undergraduate and Graduate Level Social Work Students” Maria Del Carmen Sinkule “What Influences School Social Workers into the Field? Adverse Childhood Experiences, Adult Attachment, and Empathy in School Social Workers”
ACADEMIC CUSTOMS AND TRADITIONS The Presidential Chain The presidential chain prominently features gold ivy leaves. Early in the 20th century, John W. Beach, professor of Greek and Latin, suggested that ivy leaves growing on the outside of Eckhart Hall could be awarded to students showing exceptional academic achievement each semester. In 1932, Aurora College created the Gold Ivy Leaf Award. The tradition continues today as the university recognizes its most outstanding students each spring at the Honors Convocation. Three medallions tell the story of Aurora University. One features the Aurora College seal and another the George Williams College seal. There are striking similarities to the two emblems. One features a torch and the other a lamp of learning, powerful testimony to our understanding that education is a source of illumination and truth — the transformative power of learning. The two college seals find their final expression in the new Aurora University emblem encircled with the signature AU blue. In higher education, presidential chains and medallions indicate that the wearer is the highest office holder at institutional ceremonies. The Academic Ceremonial Mace The university mace was designed to represent the founding schools of Aurora University — Aurora College and George Williams College. The mace, originally a weapon used in the Middle Ages, has over the centuries become a symbol of order and authority. The design of the center head of the mace links Aurora College and George Williams College to Aurora University. The center head also includes the university seal. The mace is carried by a university official in the processions that begin and end academic exercises, such as Convocation and Commencement, and immediately precedes the president. When it is not being used in university ceremonies, the mace is displayed in the president’s office. Regalia At Aurora University, academic regalia is worn on ceremonial occasions, in a manner consistent with a tradition that finds its origins in the Middle Ages. As early as 1321, university degree holders wore costumes designed to reflect their particular status and roles. In addition to signaling differences in rank, the garments also served functional purposes. For example, the long gown provided necessary warmth in the drafty buildings of the time. Since each institution of higher learning
was free to develop its own distinctive regalia, many different forms of academic dress are found within the European tradition. American colleges and universities opted for a greater degree of uniformity. Their representatives gathered at Columbia University in 1895 to devise common standards for academic regalia. In the United States, gowns distinguish the rank of the wearer. For instance, the bachelor’s gown is unadorned and is characterized by wide sleeves that are pointed at the hem. The gowns worn by master’s degree recipients also are unadorned, but have curiously elongated sleeves. Doctoral gowns are trimmed with velvet facings down the front. Their bell-shaped sleeves are trimmed with three velvet bars across the sleeves. Graduates of most American colleges and universities wear black gowns. However, some institutions provide for special variations. For example, doctoral recipients from Harvard University wear crimson gowns; those from Yale University wear blue; and individuals holding doctoral degrees from the University of Chicago and Northwestern University wear maroon and purple, respectively. Black mortarboards are standard to most institutions of higher learning, although some feature soft velvet tams or Elizabethan caps. Traditionally, candidates for degrees wear the tassels on their mortarboards on the right, while those upon whom degrees have been conferred wear them on the left. Recipients of doctoral degrees may wear either black or gold tassels. Hoods provide the color in an academic procession. These garments, which today serve only ceremonial purposes, are worn fastened at the front of the collar and draped over the shoulders in such a way as to display the linings, which represent the color of the university awarding the degree. The hoods also have velvet linings in colors that represent particular disciplines or fields of study. Those worn by graduates in arts and letters, for example, are trimmed in white velvet, while those worn by degree recipients in education are trimmed in light blue velvet.
AWARDS AND HONORS Military Recognition — This acknowledgement is given to undergraduate and graduate students who have honorably served, are serving, or are commissioned to serve in the United States military. Students are recognized by a red, white, and blue cord, signifying Aurora University’s appreciation for their service and dedication.
AURORA UNIVERSITY Aurora University traces its origins to the 1893 founding of a seminary in the small town of Mendota, Illinois. Though established initially to prepare graduates for ministry, the institution soon adopted a broader mission and moved to a new campus on the western edge of the nearby community of Aurora. With this change came a different name and a growing enrollment. When World War II ended, the campus population swelled again as veterans enrolled in the college’s innovative evening degree program. The 1970s and 1980s saw an expansion of curricular offerings in a number of professional fields and the awarding of advanced degrees in selected disciplines. These changes culminated in the 1985 decision to rechristen the institution Aurora University. The roots of George Williams College run deep in the YMCA movement of the 19th century. In 1884, leaders from America’s western YMCAs gathered in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, to attend a summer training program. Two years later, the camp was incorporated and the first parcel of the current Williams Bay campus was purchased. Since that time, “college camp” has been a source of inspiration, recreation, education, and renewal for thousands of guests and students. In 1992, the Aurora University and George Williams College traditions blended when the two institutions entered into the affiliation agreement that paved the way for merger eight years later. Today Aurora University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission to award degrees at the baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral levels. The institution enrolls approximately 6,000 degree-seeking students a year on its Illinois and Wisconsin campuses and through its online program. AU students participate in a wide range of on- and off-campus learning experiences. They can join more than 60 musical, literary, religious, social, and service organizations and play active roles in campus governance. In addition, the university currently fields 24 NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletic teams.