College Credits: Batavian Recognized By IL College Press Association

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 recognized at Illinois College Press Association convention

Augustana College's Adam Miller, a History major from Batavia (60510), earned recognition for individual and staff awards at the Illinois College Press Association ceremony on Feb. 24 for their work published in the Augustana Observer, the college's student newspaper.

At the ceremony held in Chicago, the Observer was named the top student news organization in the state by ICPA for 2023. Competing in the most competitive class, based on college enrollment size, the Observer took home first place for general excellence.

This is the second time in three years the Observer has earned the award. In all, the paper earned 14 awards at the state convention.

Miller was recognized in the category of Editorial Cartoon Division A - Honorable Mention.

The Observer, which first published in 1902, covers campus news, athletics, editorial content and other topics.

— Merit Pages News

Batavia student performs in Augustana Choir California tour

Xander Thomson, a Computer Science, a general music major from Batavia, was one of 54 Augustana College students who performed in the Augustana Choir tour of California from March 21 to March 25. The choir performed at five Southern California churches, followed by a home concert on April 6 in Davenport.

Under the direction of Dr. Jon Hurty, more than 50 students performed a mix of traditional and modern choral selections from various composers. During this tour, students shared a part of the Midwest choral tradition with friends, family and colleagues in California.

Established in 1931, the Augustana Choir has been conducted by Dr. Hurty since 1996. Under Dr. Hurty's direction, the choir has performed at Orchestra Hall in Chicago, Alice Tully Hall and Carnegie Hall in New York City, as well as many major cathedrals and concert venues in Sweden, Norway, China, Germany, Italy, Austria, Japan, Korea, Spain, France and the Czech Republic.

— Merit Pages News

Ohio University fall 2023 dean’s list names Batavia students

Multiple Ohio University students have been recognized within the 2023 Fall Dean's List.

Ohio's Dean's List recognizes undergraduate students who complete a particular semester with a GPA between 3.5 and 3.999 with a minimum of 12 hours attempted for letter grades that are used to calculate GPA.

In fall semester 2023, approximately 6,000 Ohio University undergraduate students qualified for the Dean's List. A complete listing is available online.

• Samantha Waldron of Batavia
• Emma Wheatley of Batavia

— Merit Pages News

Batavia student honored during UNL Teacher Education Convocation

Carlin King of Batavia was among 234 University of Nebraska-Lincoln undergraduate students officially admitted to teacher education programs during the 2023-24 academic year who were recognized at the inaugural Teacher Education Convocation April 5 at Carolyn Pope Edwards Hall. King is a junior in the secondary education: mathematics program.

The event featured two ceremonies - one for students admitted last fall and the other for those admitted this spring.

"We're seeking to elevate the stature of education and educators," said Nick Pace, acting dean of the College of Education and Human Sciences. "Teachers really are the gateway to the kind of world we want to live in, and we want to honor that. No matter one's position in life, everyone can point to a teacher who made a deep impact on their life."

Students were formally recognized during the convocation ceremonies and presented with a commemorative pin symbolizing that they are one step closer to entering the professional life of an educator. Marilyn Moore, a longtime educator who earned her bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees at CEHS, provided the keynote address for both ceremonies.

— Merit Pages News

Local student inducted into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi

Grant Hibbeler of Batavia, Illinois, was recently initiated into The Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest and most selective all-discipline collegiate honor society. Hibbeler was initiated at Western Illinois University.

Hibbeler 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.

Phi Kappa Phi was founded in 1897 under the leadership of undergraduate student Marcus L. Urann who had a desire to create a different kind of honor society: one that recognized excellence in all academic disciplines. Today, the Society has chapters on more than 325 campuses in the United States, its territories and the Philippines. Its mission is "To recognize and promote academic excellence in all fields of higher education and to engage the community of scholars in service to others."

— Merit Pages News