College Credits: Some Aurora Students Start College, Others Graduate

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.

Aurora natives admitted as first-year students at Utah State University

Utah State University was excited to welcome more than 4,500 first-year college students to campus as the university began the fall 2022 semester.
The following local students were admitted and began college in August.

• Colin Nix, from Aurora, attends USU at the USU Main campus.
• Sophia Robbins, from Aurora, attends USU at the USU Main campus.
• Katelyn Verdejo, from Aurora, attends USU at the USU Main campus.

— Merit Page News

Levi Jordan of Aurora awarded degree from UA

Levi Jordan of Aurora, IL (60504), has received the following degree from The University of Alabama: Bachelor of Science in Commerce & Business Administration. UA awarded over 1,400 degrees during its summer commencement ceremonies on August 6, 2022.

— Merit Page News

Maya Benziger graduates from Bates College

Maya Benziger of Aurora, Ill., graduated Summa Cum Laude after majoring in politics, history, and music at Bates College in Lewiston, Maine. Benziger, the daughter of Keith E. Benziger and Nicole B. Benziger, is a 2018 graduate of Waubonsie Valley High School..

In her first year at Bates, Benziger received the Charles Dana Award, the highest honor Bates bestows on students in their first year. She graduates as a member of Phi Beta Kappa, an organization recognized as conferring the highest undergraduate academic honors and as the oldest Greek letter society in the U.S..

Bates College graduated 477 students from 39 U.S. states and 40 nations on May 29, 2022.

— Merit Page News

Aurora's Nora Brink enrolled at College of the Holy Cross

The College of the Holy Cross is excited to welcome Nora Brink of Aurora as a member of the College's Class of 2026.

At 904 students, representing the largest class in Holy Cross' 179-year history, the Class of 2026 hails from 575 high schools, 14 countries and four continents. Twenty-five percent of the class are students of color and international students; 24 languages are spoken; and 50 members hold dual citizenship. Nine students live within 1 mile of campus, which is about the same number as those who live more than 5,000 miles from The Hill.

— Merit Page News

Sherlonda Knight named to SNHU Dean's List

Sherlonda Knight of Aurora (60504) has been named to Southern New Hampshire University's Summer 2022 Dean's List. The summer terms run from May to August.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.500 to 3.699 for the reporting term are named to the Dean's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

— Merit Page News

SNHU announces Aurora students named to president’s list

It is with great pleasure that Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) congratulates the following students on being named to the Summer 2022 President's List. The summer terms run from May to August.

Full-time undergraduate students who have earned a minimum grade-point average of 3.700 and above for the reporting term are named to the President's List. Full-time status is achieved by earning 12 credits over each 16-week term or paired 8-week terms grouped in fall, winter/spring, and summer.

• Ashley Brown of Aurora (60504)
• Darcel Sanders of Aurora (60505)
• Andrew Perrin of Aurora (60506)

— Merit Page News

Aurora student qualifies for Seton Hall University dean’s list

Seton Hall University is pleased to announce Huzefa Tawawalla of Aurora has qualified for the Spring 2022 Dean's List.

After the close of every semester, undergraduate students completing all courses with a GPA of 3.4, with no grades lower than "C", qualify for the Dean's List.

— Merit Page News

Aurora student graduates from Carthage College

Carthage College congratulates Kyle Czerak of Aurora, IL, who graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics.

— Merit Page News

Aurora Class of 2026 students start school at University of Iowa

The University of Iowa continues to attract high-achieving students.

This fall's incoming first-year class has topped previous records with an average high school grade-point average (GPA) of 3.82. The average high school GPA for the classes of 2025 and 2024 were 3.81 and 3.78, respectively.

It is also the third-largest incoming first-year class on record at 5,178 students, after 5,643 in the fall of 2016 and 5,241 in the fall of 2015.

The following students from Aurora are part of the university’s Class of 2026.

• Reese Belano of Aurora [Major: Computer Science and Engineering]
• Ayshe Ali of Aurora [Major: History]
• Srivant Avulabalayyagari of Aurora [Major: Computer Science]
• Ana Barroso of Aurora [Major: Pre-Medicine]
• Celine Chang of Aurora [Major: Human Physiology]
• Anthony Dudzienski of Aurora [Major: Enterprise Leadership]
• Farris Elkhatib of Aurora [Major: Engineering Interest]
• Samy Ennassiri of Aurora [Major: Pre-Business]
• Joseph Feltman of Aurora [Major: Pre-Business]
• Harrison Fonseca of Aurora [Major: Sport and Recreation Management]
• Matthew Gajdalo of Aurora [Major: Health and Human Physiology]
• Corey Goist of Aurora [Major: Psychology]
• Stephanie Guerrero of Aurora [Major: Neuroscience]
• Isabel Langenkamp of Aurora [Major: Nursing Interest]
• Justin Lee of Aurora [Major: Biology]
• Taylor Mathews of Aurora [Major: Speech and Hearing Science]
• Laney Porter of Aurora [Major: Social Work Interest]
• Aron Ramiscal of Aurora [Major: Computer Science]
• Addy Roberts of Aurora [Major: Nursing Interest]
• John Roney of Aurora [Major: Pre-Physical Therapy]
• Joseph Seltzer of Aurora [Major: Communication Studies]
• Lina Sonalla of Aurora [Major: Pharmacy Interest]
• Aranza Vargas of Aurora [Major: Health and Human Physiology]
• Stephanie Varys of Aurora [Major: Radiation Sciences Interest]
• Brady Benoit of Aurora [Major: Business Direct Admission]
• Luke Churchill of Aurora [Major: Business Direct Admission]
• Sean Gilliland of Aurora [Major: Business Direct Admission]
• Jacob Henkle of Aurora [Major: Business Direct Admission]
• Erin Howell of Aurora [Major: Business Direct Admission]
• Teague Stotlar of Aurora [Major: Business Direct Admission]

— Merit Page News