College Credits: Student Graduates, Gets Inducted Into Honor Society

BATAVIA, 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.

Batavia student graduates college, gets inducted into academic honor society

Lily Zofkie of Batavia, IL was recently inducted into the Delta Chapter of Phi Beta Kappa at Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois.

Phi Beta Kappa is the oldest academic honor society in the United States, and the most prestigious, due in part to its long history and academic selectivity. Phi Beta Kappa aims to promote and advocate excellence in the liberal arts and sciences, and to induct the most outstanding students of arts and sciences at only select American colleges and universities. Membership is by invitation only and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only 10% of U.S. colleges and universities have Phi Beta Kappa chapters. These chapters select only about 10 percent of their arts and sciences graduates to join. Zofkie is among approximately 10,000 students to be initiated into Phi Beta Kappa each year.

Zofkie graduated from Knox College, Magna Cum Laude, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and a minor in Theatre Performance.

— Cela Zofkie

Batavia student takes part in theater production at Augustana College

The Augustana Opera program performed "Amahl and the Night Visitors" on April 21 and 23 in the Brunner Theatre at Augustana College. The performance was directed by Dr. Patrick McNally, assistant professor of music and director of opera.

Xander Thomson, from Batavia, was in the production.

"Amahl and the Night Visitors" is a touching one-act opera written and commissioned for television in 1951, Menotti felt inspired to write a work that recaptured his childhood and wrote "Amahl and the Night Visitors" to be kid-friendly. The opera tells the story of Amahl, a disabled boy who meets the Three Kings on their way to meet the Christ child.

— Merit Pages News

Student from Batavia honored at Who's Who at University of Mississippi

Alexis Newendyke, of Batavia, IL, pursuing a B.A.Ed. in Elementary Education, was honored in the 2022-23 class of Who's Who Among Students at the University of Mississippi.

Newendyke was in the company of 201 Ole Miss students who were recognized with the distinction during a ceremony on April 14 at the Gertrude C. Ford Center for the Performing Arts.

Who's Who Among Students is a respected honor program recognizing seniors who excel academically and demonstrate leadership and community service on and off campus.

— Merit Pages News

Batavia student inducted into honor society at Emory University

Lauren Grychowski, a native of Batavia, 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 a campus are invited to join each year.

— Merit Pages News

Batavia students perform Maurice Durufle's 'Requiem, Op. 9'

The Augustana Oratorio Society, Augustana Choir, Augustana Choral Artists and Augustana Symphony Orchestra joined together to perform Maurice Durufle's "Requiem, Op. 9" and other choral works by French, English and Brazilian composers. Jon Hurty and Ernesto Estigarribia conducted the performance. The performance took place May 7.

The following students will perform:

• Alice Pellemoine, from Batavia
• Xander Thomson, from Batavia

The Augustana Oratorio Society includes community members, the Augustana Choir and other Augustana students. The ensemble has performed Handel's "Messiah" and other oratorios almost every year. The ensemble is celebrated for exploring the riches of choral-orchestral literature.

— Merit Pages News