by Jeanne Baron
Of the 46 students recognized as Western Michigan University’s top seniors for 2012 during the 32nd annual Presidential Scholars Convocation, 20 are seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences and two were personally recognized for meeting the challenge from President John M. Dunn to earn good grades for a year.
Two Western Michigan University students met a challenge to get top grades for a year and as a result, were treated to a March 28 lunch with WMU President John M. Dunn. From left are Dr. Timothy Green, Trista Kelly, Dr. Dunn, Raymond Enbody, Randy Ott and Dr. Charlotte Giscombe.
Raymond Enbody from Crystal, Mich., and Trista Kelly from Lawrence, Mich., won the challenge, which was put to students participating in the TRIO Student Success Program, and were treated to a luncheon with President Dunn and others from the program.
Kelly is a senior majoring in special education: cognitive impairment and learning disabilities who will be graduating this month. Enbody is a sophomore majoring in criminal justice who expects to graduate in April 2014.
Student Success Program participants were challenged in 2010 to obtain a cumulative 4.0 grade point average for a minimum of one academic year. Enbody and Kelly are the first to meet the challenge and win lunch with the president in recognition of their accomplishment.
Dr. Charlotte Giscombe, director of the Student Success Program, says the program provides services to 210 students each academic year. Services include priority registration, scholarships, job and leadership opportunities, tutoring, mentoring and academic advising.
Presidential Scholars Named
Each year, faculty members from across the University select the most outstanding senior in their various academic schools, departments and programs to represent their units as a WMU Presidential Scholar.
The designation is the highest academic honor that WMU can bestow on its undergraduates. Selection is based on the students’ general academic excellence, academic and/or artistic excellence in their majors, and intellectual and/or artistic promise.
The 2012 Presidential Scholars Convocation, which was by invitation only, included a program featuring a keynote address by Dr. John M. Dunn, president of WMU. Also making remarks were Dr. Peter W. Krawutschke, president of the WMU Faculty Senate, and Erin Kaplan, president of the Western Student Association.
A decorated military veteran also is among 2012′s top seniors—anthropology major Bryan L. Bommersbach who earned the Air Force Achievement Medal for his efforts during the conflict in Kosovo in 1999.
The Presidential Scholars Convocation is sponsored by WMU’s Faculty Senate and Office of the President.
2012 Presidential Scholars
- Anthropology–Bryan L. Bommersbach of Kalamazoo.
- Biological Sciences–Leah M. Grawburg of Mt. Pleasant, Mich.
- Chemistry–Kim Lien T. Huynh of Kalamazoo.
- Communication–Erin R. Gignac of Menominee, Mich.
- Comparative Religion–Laura C Wagner-Kreider of Kalamazoo.
- Economics–Nolan R. Sinkler of Grand Haven, Mich.
- English–Christopher J. Hart of Lamoni, Iowa.
- Environmental Studies–Susie E. Drust of Sturgis, Mich.
- Foreign Languages–Danielle M. Rayman of Portage, Mich.
- Gender and Women’s Studies–Sebastiene E. Bonifield of Kalamazoo.
- Geography–Andrew C. Johnson of Brookfield, Ill.
- Geosciences–Davina A. Wyman of Portage, Mich.
- History–Tara M. Bell of Galesburg, Mich.
- Mathematics–Christen E. McCool of Anacortes, Wash.
- Philosophy–Alexander J. Lanning of Canton, Mich.
- Physics–Garrett E. Marsh of Kalamazoo.
- Political Science–Lauren B. Hearit of Portage, Mich.
- Psychology–Garrett D. Warrilow of Ortonville, Mich.
- Sociology–Jessica N. Pence of Dowagiac, Mich.
- Spanish–Rachael L. Myers of Jackson, Mich.
For more information, contact Janice Anderson, faculty senate administrator, at faculty-senate@wmich.edu or (269) 387-3310, or Elena Gaudio, convocation committee member and executive secretary to WMU’s President, at elena.gaudio@wmich.edu or (269) 387-2351.
