College Credits: Aurora Student Gets Hired Before Graduating College

AURORA, IL — We're keeping track of all the major higher education accomplishments of students in the area. Send your submissions to emily.rosca@patch.com.

Quinn Peterson inducted into Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

Quinn Peterson of Aurora, Illinois, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Peterson was initiated at Coe College.

Peterson is among approximately 25,000 students, faculty, professional staff and alumni to be initiated into Phi Kappa Phi each year. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

— Merit Pages News

University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences announces fall 2022 dean's list

More than 1,825 undergraduate students qualified for the Fall 2022 University of Kentucky College of Arts & Sciences Dean's List. Students on the Dean's List earned 12 or more credit hours as letter grades with a minimum 3.60 GPA for the semester. The complete UK list can be found here. Among the recipients are:

• Sandy Nino of Aurora, IL (60505)
• Abigail Malartsik of Aurora, IL (60502)
• Abigail Kinnavy of Aurora, IL (60503)

— Merit Pages News

Aurora student gets hired before graduating college

Andrew Weiss, a senior pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Music from Bob Jones University, was hired before graduation as an Audio Producer at Crossway in Wheaton, Illinois. Weiss is a resident of Aurora.

— Merit Pages News

Jonathan Hall presented on Ripon College's Catalyst Day

Ripon College held its Spring 2023 Catalyst Day April 19. Held each fall and spring, Catalyst Day is designed to showcase Ripon College's Catalyst curriculum and celebrate the achievements of the students who are completing the junior-level collaborative capstone. Throughout the day, attendees had the opportunity to watch teams of students present problem-solving projects that tackle worldwide issues.

Jonathan Hall, a 2024 student from Aurora, Illinois, participated in a catalyst presentation titled "Reconnecting Ripon: Better Informing the College and the Community.”

— Merit Pages News

Aurora student inducted into honor society at Emory University

Ryan Ruhde, a native of Aurora, was recently initiated into the Emory University Circle of Omicron Delta Kappa, the National Leadership Honor Society. The Society welcomed 787 new initiates from 32 universities during March 2023.

Students initiated into the Society must be sophomores, juniors, seniors, or graduate/professional students in the top 35% of their class, demonstrate leadership experience in at least one of the five pillars, and embrace the ODK ideals. Fewer than five percent of students on campus are invited to join each year.

— Merit Pages News

Aurora students participate in research and discovery symposium

Every year, during the Student Research & Discovery Symposium, students from all majors discuss their original work, which includes performances of compositions and creative writings, art displays, research posters and oral presentations. Faculty, staff and students cycle through Stewart Memorial Library to catch up on all the research and creative work that had been completed in the academic year.

At Coe, all students have the opportunity to conduct and complete research as undergraduates. This year, 60 students presented, including:

• Jacqueline Stilson of Aurora, IL (60505)
• Quinn Peterson of Aurora, IL (60503)

— Merit Pages News

Local student presents at Midwestern Psychological Association Conference

Michelle Pacheco, a psychology major from Aurora, Ill., was one of four Augustana College students who presented research with Dr. Rupa Gordon, associate professor of psychology and neuroscience, at the Midwestern Psychological Association Conference, held in Chicago from April 20-22. Posters from 13 Augustana psychology and neuroscience students were on display at the event.

— Merit Pages News