High-achieving students honored at awards luncheon
June 24, 2002
KALAMAZOO -- More than 80 Western Michigan University students and alumni were recognized for their academic accomplishments, leadership activities and personal and professional development during the 2002 Platinum Awards luncheon held this spring at WMU.
The annual celebration is sponsored by the Division of Multicultural Affairs. It recognizes and encourages multicultural students who participate in DMA programs and is the unit's focal event of the year. In 2001, some 200 families, friends and members of the University community attended the Platinum Awards luncheon.
Singled out for special honors this year were nine students and alumni as well as several faculty and staff members. In addition, about 70 students (see list below) received Excellence in Academic Achievement awards for attaining a 3.0 or higher grade point average.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of WMU Pfizer Cultural Diversity Scholarships. To be eligible for the award, students must be juniors who are majoring in the biomedical sciences, biology or business. They also must have a 3.0 or better grade point average and demonstrate an interest in pharmaceutical sales. Recipients are given a $2,000 scholarship, have the opportunity to "shadow" a pharmaceutical sales representative and, when applicable, are considered for employment with the Pfizer Corp.
The winners of the Pfizer scholarship and the other students who were singled out for special honors were:
DesDemonia Coleman, a junior from Battle Creek, Mich., majoring in biomedical sciences, received a WMU Pfizer Pharmaceutical Scholarship. A registered nurse, Coleman plans to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales and/or medicine.
Thomas Durkee, an April graduate from Battle Creek, Mich., who majored in human resources management and in general health studies, received the Ogimaawiwin Award in recognition of outstanding academic progress and significant contributions to WMU's Native American community.
Tania Dwyer, a December 2000 graduate from Kalamazoo who majored in criminal justice, received special recognition for her service and commitment to the DMA's Mentor/Mentee Program.
Kristina Marie Eiseler, an April graduate from St. Johns, Mich., who majored in elementary education, received the Kimon Bournazos Award for having the highest grade point average for a graduating senior in WMU's Martin Luther King Jr. Program.
Patricia Heath, an April graduate from Matteson, Ill., who majored in media studies, received the Martin Luther King Jr. Program Award for maintaining high academic standards while being an active community service volunteer.
Brandi Puckett, a junior from Detroit who majored in marketing, received a WMU Pfizer Pharmaceutical Scholarship. Sergeant at Arms for Phi Sigma Pi National Honor Society, Puckett plans to pursue a career in marketing, specifically in sales and promotions.
Michael Reese, a junior from Battle Creek, Mich., majoring in sales and business marketing and in computer information systems, received a WMU Pfizer Pharmaceutical Scholarship. A full-time firefighter with the City of Battle Creek, Reese plans to pursue a career in pharmaceutical sales.
Angela Maria Rodriguez, an April graduate from Bay City, Mich., who majored in secondary education, received the Liderazgo Award for demonstrating leadership that has served as a source of strength and support to the Latino community.
Bernice Vargas, a senior from Paw Paw, Mich., majoring in biomedical sciences, received the Liderazgo Award for demonstrating leadership that has served as a source of strength and support to the Latino community.
Members of WMU's National Society of Black Engineers chapter received the award for Professional Organization of the Year.
Among the non-students honored at the Platinum Awards luncheon was Dr. Mark Orbe, WMU associate professor of communication, who was named the Mentor/Mentee Program's Outstanding Mentor. This DMA program welcomes students to the WMU community and pairs them with a mentor or friend during their freshman year.
In addition, Dr. Linda Delene, vice provost for academic planning and assessment, received the DMA Recognition Award while three other higher education professionals were named International Mentoring Association Visionaries.
Honored as visionaries by the association, which is housed at WMU, were: Danny Sledge, president of the International Mentoring Association and dean of students and special assistant to the president for diversity initiatives at Kalamazoo College; Griselda Daniel, assistant to the dean and director of graduate diversity programs in WMU's Graduate College; and Dr. Elizabeth Lockett, compliance investigation specialist in WMU's Office of Institutional Equity.
The awards presentation also included recognition of seven individuals in the University's degree-granting colleges. They were cited by the DMA's academic liaison program for having provided the biggest contributions to the growth and development of multicultural students in their respective colleges.
This collaborative program shares the responsibility for student learning by placing DMA staff members in each college at regularly scheduled times to assist multicultural students with general concerns as well as to provide information about the various academic majors and student organizations that are available at WMU.
Cited were: College of Arts and Sciences, Dr. Lawrence T. Potter Jr., assistant professor of Africana Studies; College of Aviation, Tony Dennis, director of recruitment; College of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Dr. Edmund Tsang, associate dean of the college; College of Education, Dr. M. Arthur Garmon, associate professor of teaching, learning and leadership; Gwendolyn Whitfield, academic career specialist, Haworth College of Business; Dr. Von H. Washington, director of multicultural theatre, College of Fine Arts; and Dr. Earlie M. Washington, director of the School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services.
Media contact: Jeanne Baron, 269 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu
Excellence in Academic Achievement award recipients
Tamara N. Allison of Detroit is a freshman majoring in education.
Alixandria Amparano of Kalamazoo is a sophomore majoring in education.
Lydia E. Anderson of Pontiac, Mich., is a freshman majoring in education.
Tiauna N. Archibald of Benton Harbor, Mich., is a freshman majoring in business.
Amy Ayers of Charlotte, Mich., is a senior majoring in liberal arts.
Tracy D. Baker of Markham, Ill., is a freshman majoring in liberal arts.
Jaqueline A. Caldwell of Harrison Twp., Mich., is a freshman majoring in education.
Crystal Carr-Griffiths of Holland, Mich., is a freshman majoring in social work.
Oralia Carisalez of Lawton, Mich., is a freshman majoring in health and human services.
Nikia Carroll of Auburn Hills, Mich., is a senior majoring in business administration.
Howard Carter of Detroit is a sophomore majoring in elementary education.
Marlene Chatmon of Flushing, Mich., is a freshman majoring in education.
Angel Janet Clark of Benton Harbor, Mich., is a freshman who has yet to declare a major.
Christopher Cline of Milford, Mich., is a freshman majoring in education.
Kristen L. Davis of Farmington, Mich., is a freshman majoring in liberal arts.
Tanisha S. Davis of Grand Rapids, Mich., is a sophomore majoring in biomedical sciences.
Ronald D. Dillard of Detroit is a senior majoring in secondary education.
Olubunmi Edegbai of Kalamazoo is a junior majoring in business administration.
Lora M. Faraon of St. Clair Shores, Mich., is a junior majoring in mechanical engineering.
Eric T. Flores of Munster, Ind., is a freshman majoring in education.
William C. Griffin Jr., of Pontiac, Mich., is a senior majoring in criminal justice.
Rachelle L. Gordon of Hazel Crest, Ill., is a freshman majoring in business.
Enjoli N. Hampton of Champaign, Ill., is a senior majoring in secondary education.
Elizabeth Hanley of Lansing, Mich., is a freshman majoring in liberal arts.
Tunisia L. Hardison of Wayne, Mich., is a senior majoring in theatre.
Marnique Harris of Battle Creek, Mich., is a junior majoring in aviation.
Samuel Harris of Flushing, Mich., is a senior majoring in liberal arts.
Stephanie Hernandez of South Haven, Mich., is a freshman majoring in education.
Nicolas Martinez of Lawton, Mich., is a freshman majoring in aviation.
Jared Hess-Mays of Onstead, Mich., is a freshman majoring in engineering.
Allen J. Meyer of Harrison Twp., Mich., is a freshman majoring in education.
Erin Myers of Climax, Mich., is a senior majoring in liberal arts.
Phillip Newkirt II of Detroit is a junior majoring in business administration.
Mandana Nordbrock of Gobles, Mich., is a senior majoring in liberal arts.
Kathryn E. Ortiz of Ada, Mich., is a freshman majoring in education.
Maureen L. Osborne of Delton, Mich., is a sophomore majoring in fine arts.
Jennifer Picard of Muskegon, Mich., is a freshman majoring in liberal arts.
Mara A. Putelis of Kalamazoo is a senior majoring in elementary education.
Ashley L. Racette of Schoolcraft, Mich., is a freshman majoring in business.
Scheherezade Redmond of Macomb, Mich., is a freshman who has yet to declare a major.
Keyen D. Reed of Detroit is a senior majoring in liberal arts.
Alejandro Reyes of San Bayamon, Puerto Rico, is a freshman majoring in engineering.
Miguel Reyes of Kalamazoo is a sophomore who has yet to declare a major.
Bisceglia S. Ridley of Chesterfield, Mich., is a freshman majoring in engineering.
Salvador Sanchez of Muskegon, Mich., is a freshman majoring in business.
Nick A. Saputo of Harrison Twp., Mich., is a freshman majoring in secondary education.
Ethel Serunjogi of Berrien Springs, Mich., is a sophomore majoring in nursing.
Meghan Sifuentes of Charlotte, Mich., is a sophomore majoring in liberal arts.
James Smedley of Detroit is a freshman majoring in engineering.
Rachel A. Smith of Mason, Mich., is a senior majoring in psychology.
Roberta Sprague of Homewood, Ill., is a freshman majoring in English as well as textile and apparel studies.
Katharine L. Strimple of Flushing, Mich., is a senior majoring in secondary education.
Keyonna M. Summers of Detroit is a freshman who has yet to declare a major.
Chrysta Sweeney of Detroit is a senior majoring in business.
Elnora R. Talbert of Grand Rapids, Mich., is a freshman majoring in biomedical sciences.
Candice M. Taylor of Southfield, Mich., is a freshman majoring in liberal arts.
Koblarp Thaitun of Kalamazoo is a junior majoring in engineering.
Dora Theodoropoulos of Kalamazoo is a freshman majoring in business.
Kerri Urban of Brighton, Mich., is a freshman majoring in elementary education.
Tiffany Vauters of Muskegon, Mich., is a freshman majoring in liberal arts.
Laura Villanueva of Bloomingdale, Mich., is a freshman majoring in liberal arts.
Hilda Vivas of San Bayamon, Puerto Rico, is a freshman majoring in engineering.
VanThanh Vo of Holland, Mich., is a sophomore who has yet to declare a major.
Tonyeaka Warren of Kalamazoo is a freshman majoring in accountancy.
Renee D. Washington of Lansing, Mich., is a senior majoring in nursing.
Susan Weyand of Rosco, Ill., is a senior majoring in nursing.
Chiquita Whitfield of Markham, Ill., is a freshman majoring in liberal arts.
Dominique Wilson of Saint Peters, Mo., is a freshman majoring in management.
Grant Wilson III of Grand Rapids, Mich., is a senior majoring in education.
Gary Winchester of Middleville, Mich., is a freshman majoring in accountancy.
Kenny Wong of Sterling Heights, Mich., is a junior majoring in general business.