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Twenty students win $32,000 Medallion Scholarships

Aug. 14, 2005

KALAMAZOO--Twenty incoming freshmen have won coveted Medallion Scholarships to begin their studies at Western Michigan University this fall.

Medallion Scholarships are among the highest honors WMU can bestow to an incoming freshman. Valued at $32,000 over four years, they constitute one of the largest merit-based awards in American higher education.

Each Medallion bears the name of its donor or the person for whom the prize was established. Recipients were selected based on a daylong competition held at WMU in February that included an interview with faculty members and informational sessions for participants and their parents.

The 2005 recipients were announced in July, after competing in the 21st annual Medallion Scholarship Program Competition with more than 700 seniors from 345 high schools in 14 states. To be invited to compete, students had to apply to WMU by Dec. 31 and have an American College Test score of at least 25 and a high school grade point average of at least 3.80 (4.00 scale).

This year's Medallion Scholars have an average ACT score of 30 and when honors courses are weighted by WMU, a collective GPA of 4.22. They will begin their studies at WMU in the fall and are scheduled to graduate during the 2008-09 academic year.

Participating in the 2005 competition were 170 students who scored 30 or higher on the ACT and 367 students with 4.00 or higher high school GPAs. Participants who did not win a Medallion Scholarship were awarded a WMU Academic Scholarship worth $4,800.

2005 Medallion Scholarship recipients

Ryan Andrews of Kalamazoo, Mich., received the William and Fiona Denny Sr. Medallion and plans to major in music performance and jazz studies. He graduated from Kalamazoo Central High School and is the son of Thomas and Laurel Andrews.

Benjamin Beck of South Haven, Mich., received the Carroll Haas Sr. Medallion and plans to major in music performance. He graduated from South Haven High School and is the son of Craig and Pamela Beck.

Roxanne Brooks of Champion, Mich., received the Harold and Beulah McKee Endowed Medallion and plans to major in University Curriculum. She graduated from Westwood High School and is the daughter of Rocky and Debbi Brooks.

James Conner of Grand Blanc, Mich., received the Diether and Carol Haenicke Endowed Medallion and plans to major in political science. He graduated from Grand Blanc High School and is the son of James and Diane Conner.

Stephen Denuyl of Clinton, Mich., received the John and Ramona Bernhard Endowed Medallion and plans to major in biochemistry. He graduated from Clinton High School and is the son of Scott Denuyl of Jasper, Ind., and Bridget Kelley of Clinton.

Brian Doorlag of Plainwell, Mich., received the David and Karen Custer Medallion and plans to major in mechanical engineering. He graduated from Heritage High School and is the son of Larry and Jan Doorlag.

Patricia Fahey of Palos Park, Ill., received the Barb Rider and Fred Sammons Medallion and plans to major in occupational therapy. She graduated from Carl Sandburg High School and is the daughter of Patrick and Rosanne Fahey.

Daniel Ferency of Midland, Mich., received the Roy and Beulah Kendall Endowed Medallion and plans to major in University Curriculum. He graduated from Meridian High School and is the son of James and Susan Ferency.

Daniel Frandsen of Portage, Mich., received the Dennis and Barbara Isaacs Medallion and plans to major in computer science. He graduated from Portage Northern High School and is the son of Bruce and Tamera Frandsen.

Janelle Garchow of Belmont, Mich., received the Alec Gores Medallion and plans to major in public relations. She graduated from Rockford High School and is the daughter of Peter and Sherry Garchow.

Ramajan Grose of Midland, Mich., received the Merze Tate Endowed Medallion and plans to major in engineering. He graduated from Midland High School and is the son of Stephen Grose of Onondaga, Mich., and Elizabeth Torkelson of Midland.

Kathleen Johnson of Skandia, Mich., received the Robert Gustafson Medallion and plans to major in aviation flight science. She graduated from Superior Central High School and is the daughter of Wayne and Judy Johnson.

Brittany Miller of Livonia, Mich., received the John and Ramona Bernhard Endowed Medallion and plans to major in public history. She graduated from Winston Churchill High School and is the daughter of Keith and Beverly Miller.

Drew Morrison of Lowell, Mich., received the Mary Alice Badgely Medallion and plans to major in psychology. He graduated from Lowell Senior High School and is the son of Vaughn and Marjorie Morrison.

Kyle Nappo of Otsego, Mich., received the Gesmundo Family Medallion and plans to major in biomedical sciences. He graduated from Otsego High School and is the son of John and Paula Nappo of Otsego.

Staci Salo of Marquette, Mich., received the Thomas and Laurie Cole Medallion and plans to major in University Curriculum. She graduated from Marquette High School and is the daughter of Daniel and the late Patricia Salo.

Justin Stoynoff of Canton, Mich., received the Wayne K. Nester Medallion and plans to major in biomedical sciences. He graduated from Plymouth-Salem High School.

Nicolas Tenney of Troy, Mich., received the Gretchen Bullard Medallion and plans to major in electrical engineering. He graduated from Athens High School and is the son of Allen and Bonita Tenney of Troy.

Christine Vienna of North Olmstead, Ohio, received the Carmel Provencal Medallion and plans to complete the pre-dentistry curriculum as well as major in chemistry and music performance. She graduated from North Olmstead High School and is the daughter of Robert and Colleen Vienna.

Marc Wegener of Haslett, Mich., received the Robert and Eleanor DeVries Medallion and plans to major in music. He graduated from Haslett High School and is the son of Carl and Beverly Wegener.

Media contact: Jeanne Baron, (269) 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu

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