Celebration of Excellence highlights academic achievement
Illinois College recognized academic achievement during the eighth annual Celebration of Excellence on Friday, April 27. The daylong celebration allowed students and faculty to take part in activities that commend academic excellence, a hallmark of the college since its founding in 1829.
The Honors Convocation, the ceremonial portion of the day’s activities, was held in Rammelkamp Chapel. Dr. Catharine O’Connell, provost and dean of the college, offered remarks on the subject of excellence, after which five major awards for academic excellence, service and teaching were awarded to Illinois College students and faculty. The student marshals for the 2018-2019 academic year were named, graduates slated for induction into Phi Beta Kappa were recognized, and the Julian Monson Sturtevant Campus Leadership Award winners were announced. The Harry Joy Dunbaugh Distinguished Professor Award and the Don P. Filson Faculty Award for Vision for the Future were also presented.
Bryan Arnold, assistant professor of biology, was presented the Harry Joy Dunbaugh Distinguished Professor Award during the convocation. This prize is considered the greatest honor bestowed upon an Illinois College faculty member. A student committee, with oversight from the dean of the college, selects the recipient each academic year.
Ronald Hoagland ’19 and Ann Pham ’19 were chosen as student marshals for the next academic year. Marshals are chosen based on demonstrated academic excellence and campus leadership will and will lead academic processionals held on campus throughout the year. This designation is considered one of the highest honors a member of the incoming senior class can receive.
Phi Beta Kappa is the nation’s oldest and most distinguished honor society. One of only 11 colleges in the state to offer membership into this distinguished society, the Illinois College Epsilon chapter was founded by Charles Rammelkamp in 1931. Those inducted into Phi Beta Kappa were Rachel Buente ’18, Christian Flores ’18, Taylor Herald ’18, Sierra Higginson ’18, Ronald Hoagland ’19, Sean Kisch ’18, Andrew Lewis ’18, Thomas Lewis ’18, Allison McNamara ’18, Michael Niederbrach ’18, Ashley Sholmire ’18, Oak Wattanasirakul ’18 and Brandon Young ’19.
The Julian M. Sturtevant Campus Leadership and Service Award calls attention to a select group of students who demonstrate active campus service and leadership throughout their college careers. Those honored were Christian Flores ’18, Jessica Frausto ’18, Grace Graunke ’18, Connor Haas ’18, Sean Kisch ’18, Allison McNamara ’18, Jonathan Miller ’18, Melissa Solorio ’18 and Jerome Thomas ’18.
The Don P. Filson Faculty Award for Vision for the Future was awarded to Emily Adams, assistant professor of French and T.J. Devine, instructor of economics. This honor is awarded to the faculty members who see beyond the scope of the status quo to further develop or implement a vision which can move the college forward. This faculty award was established by 1970 Illinois College graduate Darlene Nelson in memory of Dr. Filson’s vision which was for Illinois College to have a computer science department.
The Celebration of Excellence featured more than 80 students presenting recent research efforts during presentations and poster sessions in various locations on campus. Presentation and poster subjects covered a wide range of the liberal arts curriculum.