Honors Convocation Spring 2024

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HONORS CONVOCATION

Friday, April 12, 2024

Crimi Auditorium Institute for Collaboration

Academic Processional

Rondeau . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Jean-Joseph Mouret (1682–1738) (arr . Leidig)

Aurora University String Ensemble

Conducted by Andrea LaFranzo, BM, Ensemble Director

Invocation

Mark Woolfington ’93, DMin, University Chaplain

Welcome

Susana Rivera-Mills, PhD, President

Greetings

John Ammons ’83, Chair, Board of Trustees

Remarks

“Reflections on Teaching the Art of Trailblazing”

Christopher Wells, EdD, Chair and Associate Professor of Parks and Recreation Leadership

2023 Recipient of the Marcus and Mark H . Trumbo Award for Excellence in Teaching

Aurora University Students’ Association Awards

Mason Brauer ’24, President, Aurora University Students’ Association

Meritorious Faculty Award

Student Advocate Award

Senior Award

Musical Selection

Muusika

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Pärt Uusberg
.
(b
1986) PROGRAM

Circa Mea

University Chorale

. Mark Burrows (b . 1971)

Kolby Roye ’24 and Connor Sigrist ’24, Percussion

Katie Cordon ’26, Soloist

Conducted by Lisa Fredenburgh, DMA, Roger Parolini Distinguished Professor of Music

Undergraduate Awards

J . Andrew Prall, PhD, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Ethel Tapper Humanities Award

Stanley H . Perry Performing Arts Award

Eleanore and Samuel McFarlane Biology Award

Kenneth Olenik Social Science Award

Golden Apple Award

Jennifer Worzala Award for Academic Excellence in Business and Leadership

Sharon Beverly Award

Gertrude Banaszak Award

John Alexander Leadership Award

George Williams Legacy Social Work Award

Helen Finch Award

University Awards

Jen Buckley ’95, EdD, Senior Vice President for Student Success

Jim Scott Award

John McKee Citizenship Award

J . Andrew Prall, PhD, Vice President for Academic Affairs

Jen Buckley ’95, EdD, Senior Vice President for Student Success

Gold Ivy Leaf Awards

Susana Rivera-Mills, PhD, President

Lincoln Laureate Award

Spartan Award

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
.
PROGRAM

PROGRAM

Alma Mater

Aurora . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Lyrics by Ross K . Tilton, Class of 1917

Revised by Dorman Smith

Arranged by Georgia Angevine University Chorale

Conducted by Lisa Fredenburgh, DMA, Roger Parolini Distinguished Professor of Music

Aurora, Aurora, with pride in our hearts, A place of true learning, and home to the arts, With love and devotion our voices we raise, Alumni forever, we give you our praise, Alumni forever, we give you our praise.

Aurora, Aurora, we pledge you our faith, To live for your honor and love you till death, When future years echo the song of your fame, We’ll sing it: Aurora! O, long live that name. We’ll sing it: Aurora! O, long live that name.

Benediction

Mark Woolfington ’93, DMin, University Chaplain

Academic Recessional Coronation March from “The Prophet”

Giacomo Meyerbeer (1791–1864)

(arr . Fishburn)

Aurora University String Ensemble

Conducted by Andrea LaFranzo, BM, Ensemble Director

Please join the AU community for a reception in Crimi Atrium following the program.

. . . . . . . . . .

AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

Aurora University Students’ Association (AUSA) Awards Meritorious Faculty Award

This award is presented to a faculty member for his or her positive contributions to student and campus life .

Student Advocate Award

The Student Advocate Award recognizes a faculty or staff member who has gone above and beyond to advocate for students’ concerns and help empower students to advocate for themselves .

Senior Award

The AUSA presents this award to the senior who made the greatest contribution to the class during his or her time at Aurora University . Seniors nominate and select the winner .

Undergraduate Awards

Ethel Tapper Humanities Award

This award is presented to a senior majoring in one of the humanities disciplines who demonstrated outstanding academic and creative achievement during his or her academic career at Aurora University . The award is named in honor of Dr . Ethel Tapper, who taught mathematics, served as a librarian and library director, and was an English professor and English Department chair from 1937 to 1970 .

Stanley H. Perry Performing Arts Award

This award is presented to a senior who has made a significant contribution to the performing arts during his or her academic career at Aurora University . The award is named after 1917 alumnus Dr . Stanley H . Perry, who served as dean of the college, professor of history, and professor of humanities from 1930 to 1965 . Dr . Perry’s deep love for the stage and the details of Shakespearean theater helped him to produce some of the most memorable plays and experiences for both actor and audience .

AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

Eleanore and Samuel McFarlane Biology Award

This award is based on the graduating student’s scholarship, spirit of cooperation in, and contribution to the natural sciences program and demonstration of the ideals of Aurora University . The award commemorates the lives of Eleanore and Samuel H . McFarlane, who together served Aurora College for a span of 40 years as diligent scholars, enthusiastic teachers, and dedicated scientists .

Kenneth Olenik Social Science Award

This award is presented to an outstanding senior majoring in one of the social science disciplines who has positively influenced the campus community through scholarship and supportive leadership in academics, campus programs, and community service . The award is named in honor of Dr . Olenik, who taught sociology and social science for more than 30 years at Aurora University prior to his retirement in 1996 .

Golden Apple Award

The Golden Apple Award is presented to an outstanding senior in education who has demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, campus leadership, superior interpersonal relationships, and a caring attitude .

Jennifer Worzala Award for Academic Excellence in Business and Leadership

This award is presented to an outstanding senior accounting or business major who has demonstrated academic excellence, campus leadership, and character in pursuit of his or her undergraduate degree . The award is named in memory of Aurora University student Jennifer Worzala .

Sharon Beverly Award

This award is presented in cooperation with the Delta Phi Alpha Sorority to a senior nursing major who most exemplifies spirit, determination, and leadership . Beverly was a nursing major who persisted toward her degree despite the hardship of a full leg amputation due to bone cancer . Tragically, Beverly died before achieving her academic goal but left everyone with the lingering spirit of who she was and what she achieved .

Gertrude Banaszak Award

This award is given to a registered nurse student who is completing the baccalaureate degree . Banaszak was the director of the Copley Memorial Hospital School of Nursing, the forerunner to Aurora University’s School of Nursing . This award recognizes commitment to the nursing profession and excellence in the pursuit of higher education .

John Alexander Leadership Award

In 1976, John Alexander was awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree by Aurora College in recognition of his selfless work to better his community, care for his family, and promote the college’s mission . The John Alexander Leadership Award is presented to a senior nursing student who exemplifies the characteristics for which Alexander is remembered .

AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

George Williams Legacy Social Work Award

The social work faculty recognizes an outstanding graduating senior for his or her commitment to the social work profession, academic excellence, personal growth, and group/interpersonal skills .

Helen Finch Award

Helen Finch taught recreation at Aurora University and also served as director of the program . She is best remembered for her creativity, enthusiasm, laughter, playfulness, and love of life . Recipients of the Helen Finch Award are undergraduate students who best exemplify these qualities .

University Awards

Jim Scott Award

This award is presented on an annual basis to an athletic team that best demonstrates the characteristics that Jim Scott, former head football coach (1985 to 2005), subscribed to during his coaching tenure at Aurora University . Teams are nominated by their head coach based on team success, scholarship, sportsmanship, and service .

John McKee Citizenship Award

A longtime Aurora University Board of Trustees member, John F . McKee established this award in 2009 . This award was created to affirm the university’s commitment to the values of integrity, citizenship, continuous learning, and excellence . The award reflects McKee’s lifetime commitment to “service before self,” a principle that has guided his work as a trustee at Aurora University for over 40 years and his involvement and service throughout the Aurora community .

AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

AWARD DESCRIPTIONS

Lincoln Laureate Award

Each year, an outstanding senior from each of the four-year degreegranting institutions of higher learning in Illinois is awarded the Student Lincoln Academy Medallion and thereby becomes a Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois . Student laureates are honored for their overall excellence in curricular and extracurricular activities .

Spartan Award

Voted on by the faculty, this award is presented to a graduating senior who has a cumulative GPA of 3 .50 or above and has made an outstanding contribution to university life in at least two of the following categories: leadership role(s) in a recognized student organization that demonstrates the rights and responsibilities of citizenship in an educational setting; leadership role(s) in a recognized athletic field that serves others in continuous learning and improvement; and service to the community indicative of respect, fairness, and ethical conduct during his or her four years at Aurora University .

GOLD IVY LEAF RECIPIENTS

The Gold Ivy Leaf is awarded to seniors who have a minimum of 90 semester hours for a letter grade at Aurora University and a cumulative grade point average of 3 .75 or above .

Summa Cum Laude (3.90–4.0)

Alejandro Amezola

Francis Balquin

Jan Benedict Baptista

Mason Brauer

Leann Brent

Derrick Budz

Erin Campbell

Isabella Carrera

Danielle Cobbett

Maria Fernanda Contreras

Brianna Dinnsen

Breeland Donnelly

Mihailo Dubak

Brooke Dziewiatkowski

Madison Eads

Kayla Eggers

Steven Evangelista

Julianna Feyereisen

Kylie Fischbach

Emma Fisher

Tia Glube

Lillian Goode

Kade Gutierrez

Melissa Gutierrez

Jonah Hart

Magdalena Campos Hernandez

Melanie Hernandez

Jocelyn Holland

Lucas Ingram

Emily Janecek

Kate Jensen

Kayla Karlinski

Haley Knauf

Katlin Koth

Thomas Luedke

Aurora Manzanero

Josue Maya

Madison McCalley

Radu Mogos

Madison Mosier

Emily Munoz

Megan Newton

Sarah Nguyen

Ariana Nunez

Amy Oleynik

Maya Joan Ong

Jimena Padilla

Kaitlin Person

Tamara Sarmiento

Ada Scheidler

Andrew Schrader

Connor Sigrist

Emily Skiba

Connor Smith

Ashley Squires

Lara Stremplewski

Montserrat Tenorio

Nathaniel Turco

Madeline Van Cleave

Alexandra VanDerAa

Aliyah Vergara

Jessica Warda

Shaely Whiting

Samantha Zielinski

GOLD IVY LEAF RECIPIENTS

Magna Cum Laude (3.75–3.89)

Trey Ambrose

Samuel Antkowiak

Giselle Ayala

Lorelei Babich

Lemar Barbosa

Maria Nina Besario

Heather Blankenship

Angelica Borromeo

Jacob Branscom

Thea Gwyneth Canos

Cagney Cappelli

Jasmin Carbajal-Cruz

Mariana Sifuentes Carrillo

Narayan Chuwan

Raquel Corral

Caitlin Cron

Breanna Dehaan

Eliot Dojutrek

Jasmine Dwyer

Arely Esquivel

Madison Gasper

Samantha Gergits

Sydney Granholm

Morgan Gray

Jordan Gullo

Avary Henry

Haley Hofmeister

Samantha Hurley

Steven Kalish

Kotryna Kessler

Kaitlyn Kolar

Deztiny Lake

Shelby Linn

Dulce Olivar Lopez

Juan Lopez-Soto

Jacob Loveland

Preston McCulley

Isabella McManus

Juliana Miguel

Christopher Morales

Caitlin Morris

Amanda Norman

Amy Patel

Jacob Perez

Jacqueline Perez

Joshua Referente

Edith Rivera

Adriana Rizo

Lisset Romero

Jack Rudin

Phillip Salisbury

Cindy Sanchez

Daniella Sanchez

Nayelli Sanchez

Tyler Schneeweis

Brooks Schoon

Gwendolen Schretter

Jack Seefeldt

Jordan Seyfried

Abigail Sobczak

Drew Stralka

Gabriel Taylor

Phillip Torres

Jennifer Trejo

Katlyn Tugman

Milena Varlamova

Danyrine White

Grace Zimmerman

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