The Overachiever

Senior Stephanie Sorisho named Student Laureate of the Lincoln Academy of Illinois.

To call Stephanie Sorisho an overachiever is an understatement. The senior molecular biology and biotechnology major is an accomplished cellist, a teaching assistant, president of the Tri-Beta Biology Honors Society, and a writing advisor.

This fall, Sorisho received well-deserved recognition for all of her hard work. She was awarded the Abraham Lincoln Civic Engagement Award, presented each fall to one college senior per four-year institution who shows leadership and service in pursuit of the betterment of humanity, along with academic excellence.

When she isn’t helping professors like Dr. Sunshine Silver construct a lab that involves comparing meat proteins to vegan alternatives, the Lincolnwood native plays first-chair cello in North Park’s Orchestra. Sorisho has also given cello lessons to students at the nearby nonprofit Assyrian Cultural Foundation.

She cites Dr. Silver, Dr. Drew Rholl C’04, and Dr. Timothy Lin as her most influential professors.

Two North Parkers Receive Fulbright Awards, One Named Semifinalist

Chase Friel to study in Finland, while Joel Beyar will teach in Jordan.

North Parkers Chase Friel C’23 and Joel Beyar C’22 have been named recipients of the prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program award.

Friel, a double-major in biblical and theological studies and politics and government, will use her Fulbright grant to pursue a Master’s Degree in Inequalities, Interventions, and New Welfare State at the University of Turku in Finland. During the two-year program, she will receive a full-tuition scholarship and additional funds to pursue studies and research on social policy and intervention design.

Joel Beyar, who received a Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice with a minor in Arabic Studies, will use his Fulbright award to work in the Middle Eastern country of Jordan as an English teaching assistant at a local school. He will also receive funding to continue studying the Arabic language.

In addition, Theodore Hallam C’22, was named a Fulbright semifinalist and will receive a smaller award to work as an English teaching assistant in Lithuania.

“Genuinely, I have gained so much knowledge, experience, friends, and memories through my time at North Park University,” Sorisho said. “My college experience may have been stressful at times, during a pandemic and being a pre-medical student. Yet I would not trade the experience I have had my past four years for any other university.”

Celebrating Champions of North Park’s Intercultural Distinctive Awards were presented to students, faculty, and staff who advocate for campus diversity.

In a vibrant spring ceremony, North Park’s Office of Diversity and Intercultural Life (ODIL) honored students, faculty, and staff for their ongoing commitment to promoting interculturalism on campus.

Director of ODIL Sharee Myricks and Vice President of Student Engagement Francisco Gaytán presented the top prize, the Honors Convocation Diversity Award, to Oluwatofunmi “Tofunmi” Akinlade, for her commitment to North Park’s intercultural identity and her record of academic excellence. Akinlade served as a member of

North Parkers recognized

North Park’s Lighthouse Scholar Program; a resident assistant; an intern in the Office of International Affairs; a representative for the Student Government Association and Threshold Orientation; and as a Compass mentor.

The ODIL Director’s Award was presented to North Park’s football coaching staff, led by Kyle Rooker, who Myricks praised for their “passionate work to increase the retention and graduation rates of BIPOC male students on the football team.”

ODIL’s Assistant Director Bree Yoo-Sun McLuen presented the Assistant Director’s Award to Naomi Vasciannie C’22, an employee of the office who is a first-generation, Jamaican American transfer student and recent grad with a degree in business administration.

“Naomi, you are a brilliant young woman, and as a woman of color in business, I’m incredibly inspired by you,” said Yoo-Sun McLuen. The Champion of Diversity Award, given to a faculty or staff member, was presented to Dr. Rebecca Ryan, interim dean of the School of Music, Art, and Theatre, who has helped implement both diversity and land acknowledgement statements that are widely used at the university.

Associate Professor in Art Maya Durham Rayner C’05 was selected for the Outstanding Intercultural Alumni Award. Durham Rayner partnered with the Black Student Union to host the Black Joy art exhibit to celebrate Black History Month in 2022.

At the end of the ceremony, Myricks presented several seniors with special graduation stoles, showcasing North Park’s commitment to interculturality and representing North Park’s many diversity clubs.