College Credits: Geneva Native Now Teaches Elementary School In Alaska

GENEVA, 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.

My son is Brendan Boivin, a 2017 graduate of Geneva High School. He received his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from North Central College in Naperville in 2021. Before graduating, he heard about teaching jobs in Alaska. He was intrigued and interviewed. He was hired to teach elementary in a remote village in southeast Alaska called Kasigluk for 2021-22. He had a very challenging but rewarding experience. It was a 1-year contract. He came home to Geneva and found a job teaching elementary in Aurora for 2022-23.

As the spring of 2023 approached, he was trying to decide what he wanted to do. He had been experiencing another challenging year — for different reasons than in Alaska — and wasn't sure where the road ahead would lead. Well... it was leading him back to Alaska. He interviewed at a couple of different schools in Alaska and then heard his previous school had an opening for a teacher. They hired him and he accepted.

Brendan is teaching fifth and sixth graders at his previous school, Akula Elitnaurvik Elementary in Kasigluk, Alaska. Kasigluk is near the Bering Sea and is 422 miles west of Anchorage. Kasigluk is a small village, just over 500 people. Automobiles are rare and you can really only fly in.

Brendan is very active in extra-curricular activities for the school such as being the Art Liaison; he organizes Game Nights and also helped with the recent volleyball tournament in which he cooked spaghetti for over 80 kids and many more activities. In his spare time, he keeps busy cooking, walking his dog and enjoying the sunsets. He also just observed the Northern Lights!

We are extremely proud of Brendan! We miss him dearly but know he is happy and making a difference not only in the children's lives he teaches but in the community as well. We will relish seeing him at Christmas and when he is home some in the summer too.

— Linda Boivin

Geneva student among names on University of Alabama Early College director’s list

A total of 385 students enrolled in UA Early College during Summer Semester 2023 at The University of Alabama were named to the director's list with an academic record of 3.6 or higher. These students represent 67 percent of students enrolled during the summer semester.

The director's list recognizes students enrolled in classes through the UA Early College program. UA Early College allows high school students to get a head start on their college courses. High school sophomores, juniors and seniors enrolled in UA Early College can choose from more than 80 different online and on-campus courses and earn up to 30 hours of college credit.

The 2023 summer list includes Sara Boeldt, of Geneva, who attends Geneva Community High School.

— Merit Pages News

Geneva student is a Cornhusker Marching Band member

Brock Mason of Geneva is part of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 299-member Cornhusker Marching Band, which will make its 2023 debut Sept. 16 at Memorial Stadium with pregame and halftime performances at Nebraska's football home opener against Northern Illinois.

Mason, a freshman actuarial science major, plays trumpet.

This year's band includes representatives from nearly every region of the country, though 75% of the students are from Nebraska. Twenty-two percent of the students have majors in the Glenn Korff School of Music. The rest are studying in 60-plus other degree programs across campus. Each band member passed two auditions to gain admittance to the group.

— Merit Pages News

Doctor of osteopathic medicine student from Geneva celebrated at white coat ceremony

Chelsea Brandt, a student in Des Moines University's Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program, was a participant in the university's 2023 White Coat Ceremony on Sept. 15. Brandt is from Geneva, IL.

Among the members of the program's Class of 2027, Brandt received the white coat as a symbol of the training aspiring health professionals receive and the accompanying responsibilities they've accepted for their future roles.

Across the country, the White Coat Ceremony is a rite of passage for students as they begin their medical education and prepare to become compassionate, competent health care providers. Participating in DMU's ceremony were 149 students in the College of Health Sciences' Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Doctor of Occupational Therapy and Doctor of Physical Therapy programs; 56 students in the College of Podiatric Medicine and Surgery's Doctor of Podiatric Medicine program; and 226 students in the College of Osteopathic Medicine's Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine program.

— Merit Pages News

Local resident named to dean's list at Biola University

Clark Giansanti was named to Biola University's Dean's List for academic excellence.

Giansanti, a Bible, Theology, and Ministry major from Geneva, IL, was one of approximately 1,500 students who were named to the dean's list in spring 2023. 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.

"Inclusion in Biola University's Dean's List is reserved for students who demonstrate exceptional performance in their academic studies. This honor signifies hard work, engagement, and investment in scholarship," said Dr. Tamara Anderson, Senior Associate Provost. "These attributes are the building blocks of continued success, not only in the classroom, but in the workplace and in the student's personal lives. We celebrate these students and their achievement, looking forward to their future accomplishments."

— Merit Pages News

Roster set for women's cross country team at UW-Whitewater

Katie McNamara from Geneva, IL, who is studying Marketing at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, has earned a roster spot on the Warhawk women's cross country team for the 2023 season.

The Warhawks are just past the halfway point of the 2023 regular season and have placed among the top two teams at two meets so far. Last year, UW-Whitewater placed fifth at the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship and 12th at the NCAA North Region Championship.

— Merit Pages News