College Credits: Aurora Students Perform In 'Cabaret' Production

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.

Biola University welcomes new students from Aurora

Biola University was excited to welcome students to the Biola community as they started their journey as an Eagle this fall.

The following local residents were welcomed to the Biola community:

• Mihaela Baker of Aurora majoring in Writing for Film & Television
• Katherin Lokshin of Aurora majoring in English

— Merit Page News

Aurora student selected for Central College's Flying Pans Steel Band

Taylor Wyeth, Aurora, was selected into the Flying Pans Steel Band. Performances began Oct. 9, 2022.

— Merit Page News

Hawkeye Marching Band returns to Kinnick Stadium

More than 260 current University of Iowa students are members of the 2022 Hawkeye Marching Band, one of the "top ten college marching bands in the nation," according to CNN Headline News and one of the Big Ten Conference's marching bands whose halftime show is "worth the watch," according to Sports Illustrated.

The 2022 Hawkeye Marching Band - affectionately known as "Band 142" by its membership - will once again be the sound of Iowa Football and the heartbeat of historic Kinnick Stadium at each of the Iowa Hawkeyes' seven home games.

These local students are part of the band.

• Farris Elkhatib of Aurora (60503)
• Aron Ramiscal of Aurora (60502)

— Merit Page News

UW-Whitewater awards Aurora students scholarships

The following local students are among the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater scholarship recipients receiving financial awards for the 2022-23 academic year.

• Aurora, IL 60503 - Adam Boardwine, who is studying Human Performance, won the following scholarship(s): Warhawks Thrive Scholarship
• Aurora, IL 60502 - Nicole Dawson, who is studying Biology, won the following scholarship(s): Chancellor Scholars
• Aurora, IL 60503 - Lexi McCauley, who is studying Business Education, won the following scholarship(s): Carl J Ganser Scholarship; Geraldine M Schmidt Polley Scholarship; Harriet D Rogers Scholarship; Marie Benson Memorial Scholarship; Transfer Excellence Scholarship

— Merit Page News

Aurora student graduates from Ohio University

Marques Hatch from Aurora, IL, graduated with an MSAA (Athletic Administration) from The Ohio University's College of Business in Summer 2022.

More than 1,700 students graduated with bachelor's, master's or doctorate degrees from Ohio University for summer semester 2022.

The graduates represented many areas of the United States and an abundance of countries, including Botswana, China, Ghana, Greece and Oman.

— Merit Page News

Annika Baker named to dean's list at Biola University

Annika Baker was named to Biola University's Dean's List for academic excellence.

Baker from Aurora, IL, an Applied Physics major, was one of approximately 1,600 students who were named to the dean's list in spring 2022. Biola students are placed on the dean's list to honor those with a GPA of 3.6 or higher while enrolled in 12 or more credits and whose cumulative GPA is at least 3.2.

— Merit Page News

Augustana students from Aurora perform "Cabaret"

Augustana College students performed Cabaret" November 17-20, 2022. Several principal roles were double-cast and performed by different actors on different nights. This was to accommodate the growth of the college's music theater department and gives a chance for more students to shine on stage.
Local students who participated included the following.

• Joe Burck of Aurora (60504)
• Paige Withey of Aurora (60506)

— Merit Page News

Aurora student helps shape future of University of Iowa

Ijeoma Ogbonna, of Aurora, is one of more than 40 current students at the University of Iowa who are helping to shape the future of their alma mater by serving on one of 18 charter committees that advise institutional leadership on topics ranging from diversity and teaching to research and intercollegiate athletics.

Ogbonna is a member of the Committee on Diversity and Financial Aid Advisory committee. You can learn more about each of the UI's charter committees by clicking here.

The charter committees are another example of the University's commitment to the long tradition of shared governance in which university-wide policies and initiatives are made in collaboration with the campus's many leaders and shared governance representatives.

— Merit Page News

Aurora students named to BJU Symphonic Wind Band

Bob Jones University recently named several students to the Symphonic Wind Band.

The Symphonic Wind Band is BJU's top-performing instrumental ensemble. Each year, performers audition by playing a group of excerpts taken from band literature or study etudes, scales, and sight reading unfamiliar music. Following that selection audition, a second audition is held for seating within the ensemble. Dr. Bruce Cox serves as director.

• Andrew Weiss, a resident of Aurora, has been named to the Bob Jones University Symphonic Wind Band. Weiss is a Senior majoring in Music.
• Zachary Weiss, a resident of Aurora, has been named to the Bob Jones University Symphonic Wind Band. Weiss is a Sophomore majoring in Engineering.

— Merit Page News