College Credits: Plainfield Musicians Join University Marching Band

PLAINFIELD, 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.

Plainfield native becomes Cornhusker Marching Band member

Brandon Muff of Plainfield is part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 300-member Cornhusker Marching Band, which will make its 2022 debut Sept. 3 at Memorial Stadium with pregame and halftime performances at Nebraska's football home opener against North Dakota.

Muff, a freshman music major, plays tuba.

— 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.

Local students include:

• Jack Kincer of Plainfield, IL [Instrument: Trumpet; Year with HMB: fourth; Major: Finance]
• Kelly Lauryn Macanip of Plainfield, IL [Instrument: Mellophone; Year with HMB: fourth; Major: Nursing]

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.

— Merit Page News

SNHU announces Plainfield 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 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.

• Kelsey Ridsdale of Plainfield (60585)
• Aaren Nichols of Plainfield (60585)
• ShaLonta Bryant of Plainfield (60585)
• Tyler George of Plainfield (60586)
• Maria Vancina of Plainfield (60586)

— Merit Page News

Rachel Petko named to SNHU president's list

Rachel Petko of Plainfield (60586) has been named to Southern New Hampshire University's 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.

— Merit Page News

Plainfield 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 Plainfield are part of the university’s Class of 2026.

• Faith Rinehart of Plainfield [Major: Elementary Education]
• Grace Dillingham of Plainfield [Major: Chemical Engineering]
• David Harrison of Plainfield [Major: Computer Science and Engineering]
• Bailey Herrboldt of Plainfield [Major: Biomedical Engineering]
• Colin Meehan of Plainfield [Major: Undeclared Engineering]
• Juliann Pawlowski of Plainfield [Major: Biomedical Engineering]
• Nicholas Simpson of Plainfield [Major: Civil Engineering]
• Nicole Tirrito of Plainfield [Major: Civil Engineering]
• Kara Aguilar of Plainfield [Major: Open Major]
• Gianna Barone of Plainfield [Major: Psychology]
• Andrew Birsa of Plainfield [Major: Criminology, Law and Justice]
• Paul Blaso of Plainfield [Major: Biochemistry]
• Emma Burke of Plainfield [Major: Human Physiology]
• Jakob Campbell of Plainfield [Major: Pre-Business]
• Dante Davila of Plainfield [Major: Computer Science]
• Rachel Duffy of Plainfield [Major: Engineering Interest]
• Emily Eagen of Plainfield [Major: Open Major]
• Meghan Ehlers of Plainfield [Major: Pre-Physical Therapy]
• Abigail Eller of Plainfield [Major: Nursing Interest]
• Ella Farris of Plainfield [Major: Pharmacy Interest]
• Jackson Folkers of Plainfield [Major: Pre-Law]
• Mackenzie Grant of Plainfield [Major: Biology]
• Isabelle Hetterich of Plainfield [Major: Pre-Business]
• Liam Hurley of Plainfield [Major: Computer Science]
• Ashlee Jordan of Plainfield [Major: Pre-Business]
• Tanyr May of Plainfield [Major: Nursing Interest]
• Avery McEachern of Plainfield [Major: Pre-Business]
• Kenneth Ospalik of Plainfield [Major: Pre-Business]
• Gabriel Postacchini of Plainfield [Major: Computer Science]
• Alexander Rojo of Plainfield [Major: Psychology]
• Elizabeth Saul of Plainfield [Major: Pre-Physical Therapy]
• Jaclyn Simpson of Plainfield [Major: Nursing Interest]
• Isabella Weber of Plainfield [Major: Linguistics]
• Abigail Weiss of Plainfield [Major: Theatre Arts]
• Taylor Yurco of Plainfield [Major: Pre-Business]
• Katelyn Jorgensen of Plainfield [Major: Business Direct Admission]

— Merit Page News