Category Archives: Students

Grider Named Scholar of the Year

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Ronald Grider, an Illinois Wesleyan University senior from Peoria, Ill., has been named a 2012 Collegiate Scholar of the Year by the Illinois Heartland Section of the American Chemical Society (ACS).

Recipients of the prestigious award are determined by their grade point average and contribution to research in the field. Grider will be honored at the annual ACS banquet in Peoria on April 10 and will receive a certificate and $200 award.

Grider has been a member of the ACS Scholar’s Program for the past three years, as well as participated in numerous research projects. On campus, he conducted a research project with Chair and Associate Professor of Chemistry Rebecca Roesner on synthesizing a macrocyclic “host” molecule for a polyoxometalate “guest.” Most recently, Grider worked in the research lab of Chair and Associate Professor of Biology David Bollivar in determining the biosynthetic pathway of bacteriochlorophyll.

Students Awarded for Intercultural Leadership

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Danish Institute for Study Abroad (DIS) recently announced recipients of the Intercultural Leadership Award (ILA). The awardees include junior art and biology double major Marlena Szewczyk of Columbia, Mo. and Chris Cicinelli of Elmhurst, Ill., who graduated in December of 2011 with a bachelor’s degree in biology. Both studied in Copenhagen, Denmark during the fall of 2011.

The ILA is awarded to students who have received the most out of their study abroad experience and immersed themselves in the Danish culture. Recipients are chosen by way of a point system, based on courses taken that reflect global and local trends, living with Danes, involvement in cultural immersion activities during the semester and a personal essay reflecting on their experience.

“Showing that you have taken an active role in your own experience and have taken steps toward understanding the global landscape illustrates to graduate schools and future employers that you are an asset and will be an engaging and competent student or employee,” said Anders Uhrskov, director of DIS.

Artists Explore Motivation and Mystery of Inspiration

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Many consider inspiration to be the phenomenon that both motivates the artist and serves as the greatest intrigue of their work. Artist Ginia A. Davis explains, “The soul of art is inspiration.”

At Illinois Wesleyan University, two professors and two students were posed the question, “What inspires you?” The answers from School of Art Director Miles Bair, Professor of Art Kevin Strandberg, as well as art students Leeya Jackson class of ‘13 and Riley Blindt class of ‘13, revealed surprising similarities.

Bair has painted for more than 40 years and teaches painting, art foundations and art theory and criticism. “There have been multiple inspirations in my development as a painter,” said Bair. “During the past 15 to 20 years my artwork has focused on landscapes and nature.”

For Bair, the woods are a great source of inspiration. “Any time I run out of ideas in the studio I head for places like Wisconsin, the Appalachian mountains, anywhere that’s green.” He then takes photographs of these places to capture a mood to communicate in his work.

Bair prefers to make artwork based upon what he has seen and added to with his imagination, rather than painting exact replicas of his photographs. “My winter paintings are created entirely from imagination. I just imagine what places would look like with snow and work from there.”

Students Receive Study Abroad Scholarships

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The Institute for International Education (IIE) recently announced the recipients of the Benjamin A. Gilman study abroad scholarships. Among the recipients are four students from Illinois Wesleyan University.

Sophomore nursing majors Amanda Magallon of Round Lake Beach, Ill. and Cassie Mellen of Murris, Ill. received scholarships for study in Spain on the IWU Spain Program. Junior psychology and business administration major Max Polisky of Deerfield, Ill. received a scholarship for study in Morocco at Al Akhwayan University on the IWU-AUI Exchange program. Junior biology major Emily Wechter of Park Ridge, Ill. received a scholarship for study in Thailand at Mahidol University with AsiaLearn.

According to Director of the International Office Stacey Shimizu, these are the most awardees Illinois Wesleyan has had in one semester. Noting that international experience is both rewarding and a substantial financial investment, The Gilman Scholarship program aims to support undergraduate students in their study abroad endeavors and encourages them to choose non-traditional study abroad destinations, especially those outside of Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

Students Collaborate in Circulo de Lectores

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – This semester, Professor of Hispanic Studies Carmela Ferradans and Byron S. Tucci Professor of Hispanic Studies Carolyn Nadeau will join to create a reading circle, or circulo de lectores, for students enrolled in two 300-level Spanish courses, Grammar and Composition and Introduction to Literature, as well as those in the Illinois Wesleyan Barcelona program. The goal of the activity is to have students collaborate outside of class, reading and discussing in Spanish the selected novel, Los mares del sur by Manuel Vazquez Montalban.

First published in 1979, the detective novel is set in Barcelona during the tumultuous years of the Spanish transition to democracy in the late ’70s. “The protagonist is also, and foremost, a gourmet, so the plot is intertwined with culinary commentaries and some of the best Catalan recipes I know,” said Ferradans. In relation to the novel’s culinary thread, the circulo de lectores will close with a literary dinner on Thursday, March 29 at World Gourmet in Bloomington, where students will sample rice recipes from the book, including paella, a traditional Spanish dish. Alumna Rachel Slough, class of 2007, will be the keynote speaker for the event. Slough, who received a bachelor of arts degree in Hispanic Studies and English Literature, wrote a research honors thesis on the novel.

Contorno ’12 Named Lincoln Laureate

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.— Senior Lauren Contorno has been selected as Illinois Wesleyan University’s recipient of the 2011 Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate Award. The award recognizes outstanding academic achievement and extracurricular activities among college seniors

Contorno and 50 fellow student laureates were honored in a ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 5 at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site in Springfield, Ill. Accompanied to the event by Associate Provost for Academic Planning and Standards Frank Boyd, Contorno received a Student Laureate Medallion, an honorarium check and certificate of achievement.

A native of Elburn, Ill., Contorno is a political science major at IWU and in the spring of 2011, she studied in a general studies program at The Umbra Institute in Perugia, Italy. This past summer, she was a Catastrophe Services Intern at State Farm Insurance Company in Bloomington where she researched and wrote an extensive report detailing the correlation between climate change and severe storm trends and its possible effects on the insurance industry. Contorno, among other responsibilities, also wrote an all-department summary outlining State Farm’s catastrophe response plan.

Students Find Ways to Be a Best Buddy

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – For the average college student, the many demands faced throughout the year – papers, presentations, exams – are more than enough. While each student finds his or her own way to deal with these stresses, some students have found enriching experiences through organizations such as Best Buddies International.

Promoting social inclusion and leadership opportunities through one-on-one friendships, as well as job opportunities for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), Best Buddies International is a not-for-profit organization found in all 50 states and 50 countries worldwide. Positively impacting nearly 700,000 individuals with and without disabilities, the organization was established in 1989 by Anthony Kennedy Shriver. What began with one chapter has now blossomed into a worldwide organization of 1,500 chapters, varying from middle schools, to high schools, to universities and communities through adult programs.

At Illinois Wesleyan, the chapter is comprised of students of all years and majors, and people with IDD, or buddies, from the community. Each buddy is paired with a college student; this year there are 14 matches and 19 associate members, who are not paired with buddies but still attend meetings and events. Recently, the group met in Buck Memorial Library for a Halloween party, which included trick-or-treating around the campus. Later in the year, they will attend a football game together and fundraise, as well. Outside of planned events, the group members and their buddies talk weekly and get together in order to create life-long friendships.

Student’s Play to Premiere in Bloomington

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – “Soda,” a play written by Illinois Wesleyan senior theatre major Kamaya Thompson, will premiere as part of New Route Theatre’s One Shot Deal series on Wednesday, Oct. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Herb Eaton Studio and Gallery (411 North Center St., Bloomington).

The show addresses the injustices that still exist in educational institutions and judicial systems, according to Thompson, and is written in poetry rather than traditional dialogue. She chose to write in this style as the rhythm of poetry helps her better collect her thoughts on the paper. “I wish I could hold conversations in poetry every day, because I might make more sense,” said Thompson, who is also an English minor.

Seeborg, Becker Awarded Margaret Wakeley Scholarship

On Sept. 8, Melissa Seeborg ’13 and Jazmyn Becker ’12 received the Margaret Wakeley scholarship from the Professional Women of McLean County. The scholarship is open to students of junior or senior standing at Illinois Wesleyan University, Illinois State University or Lincoln College. The $1500 award is named after the first president of the Women’s Division of the McLean County Chamber of Commerce, Margaret Wakeley, and is intended to honor students of academic excellence who are seeking college degrees. Applicants are evaluated on academic standing and participation in leadership activities, among other criteria.

Seeborg, a native of Bloomington is an economics major with a minor in political science. “I am very honored to be recognized by such admirable women. The members of the organization are all skilled, confident and caring. It is a blessing to have this organization along with its members in our community,” said Seeborg.

Working this summer as an intern at the Action Research Center (ARC), Seeborg was given the opportunity to explore areas of community involvement and leadership. After graduation, she would like to attend law school and work in a field where she can directly connect with people and impact their lives in a positive way.

Becker, a native of Bloomington, Minn. is a double major in business administration with an emphasis in marketing and interdisciplinary educational studies in public policy. “I was so grateful to receive this scholarship, especially because it is from such a wonderful organization,” she said. “The Professional Women of McLean County are a group of highly aspiring women who balance career, children, not-for-profit work and much more. I was so happy that women of this caliber felt I deserved this scholarship.”

Students Plan Homecoming Activities to Show School Spirit

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Illinois Wesleyan University students have created student-oriented activities to celebrate 2011 Homecoming: Lights, Camera, Action. This year, students will search for the school mascot, Tommy the Titan, vote for Homecoming court, and dress-up as celebrities – to show their IWU school spirit.

Many events will be ongoing, such as “Where on Campus is Tommy the Titan.” Throughout the duration of Homecoming week, students will search for clues on where to find Tommy and are encouraged to take photos of the mascot and post them to Facebook or Twitter. Featured events will also include the “Celebrity Jeopardy” and the 60th Annual Titan Games, during which students compete against each other in various relay races.

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