College Credits: Plainfield Native Graduates College With Perfect GPA

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.

PSHS alumna graduates from UIC with perfect GPA

Nuria Rodgers attended the University of Illinois at Chicago for four years and graduated summa cum laude with a 4.0 GPA in May. She was chosen as the Dean's Merit Award recipient in the College of Education with a Bachelor's degree.

She graduated from Plainfield South High School in 2021.

She will be attending the University of Chicago next fall. In addition to being active on campus, she continued to be involved in the community with the local Cornerstone Thunder special needs drum line that she helped co-found and co-direct.

— Balbina Snerling

Plainfield student named to fall 2024 dean’s list at Ripon College

Ripon College has announced its Dean's List for the Fall 2024 semester recognizing academic excellence. To qualify for the Dean's List at Ripon College, students must achieve a 3.40 grade point average or higher on a 4.00 scale and complete at least 12 credits of regular letter-graded works.

Ryan Richter, a first year from Plainfield, was named to the Fall 2024 Dean's List.

— Merit Pages News

Student from Plainfield named to fall Deans' Commendation List at Nebraska

Camryn Paige Knobbe of Plainfield has been named to the Deans' Commendation List at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln for the fall semester of the 2024-25 academic year.

Knobbe, a sophomore majoring in advertising and public relations, and sports media and communication, was named to the Dean's Commendation List for the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

More than 200 students at Nebraska were named to the Commendation List for the fall semester.

The Commendation List recognizes students in the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, College of Arts and Sciences and College of Journalism and Mass Communications who met or exceeded a specified grade-point average and carried six to 11 graded semester hours.

— Merit Pages News

UW-Whitewater announces 2024 winter graduates

More than 800 students graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater at winter commencement, held Dec. 14, 2024, at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center.

The following students from your coverage area earned degrees from the UW-Whitewater at winter commencement:

• Plainfield, IL 60544: Erica Garvey graduated with the following degree: Business Administration - MBA.
• Plainfield, IL 60586: Ellie Grundon graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Marketing - BBA.
• Plainfield, IL 60585: Ashlynn Miller graduated Magna Cum Laude with the following degree: Elementary Education - BSE.

Approximately 633 students crossed the stage to receive their degrees at the ceremony, held at Kachel Fieldhouse in the Williams Center.

— Merit Pages News

Carthage College J-Term 2025 Study Tours

Nearly 200 Carthage College students traveled with faculty on international study tours in January including:

• Declan Fuller from Plainfield (60585) traveled as part of the course Geography and Biology of Nicaragua.
• Joseph Colvin from Plainfield (60586) traveled as part of the course Comparative Health Systems: Priorities and Perspectives (Norway/Sweden).
• Madison Felgenhauer from Plainfield (60586) traveled as part of the course Paris: A Capital Experience.
• Meghan Felgenhauer from Plainfield (60586) traveled as part of the course Geography and Biology of Nicaragua.
• Mikayla Icenogle from Plainfield (60544) traveled as part of the course Paris: A Capital Experience.

J-Term, or January Term, is a special month-long period of study in which Carthage students explore subjects outside their majors or minors, discover new interests, and test their creativity through classes held around the world.

— Merit Pages News

Plainfield student graduates from University of Maryland Global Campus

Daniel F. Vargas of Plainfield, earned a Bachelor of Science in Cybersecurity Technology from the University of Maryland Global Campus in fall 2024.

Vargas was one of nearly 5,900 students worldwide who earned degrees from UMGC in the fall 2024 term.

— Merit Pages News

University at Albany dean’s list names Plainfield student

The University at Albany has recognized Natalia Baron of Plainfield (60586), majoring in Human Development for selection to the Fall 2024 Dean's List.

The Dean's List at the University at Albany recognizes the outstanding academic achievements of full-time undergraduate students.

To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a grade point average (GPA) of 3.25 or higher in their first semester of study and a GPA of 3.50 or higher in subsequent semesters.

— Merit Pages News

Illinois Wesleyan Announces Fall 2024 Dean's List

Illinois Wesleyan University's Dean's List for the fall semester of the 2024-25 academic year consisted of 827 students from 31 states and 28 countries.

To qualify for the Dean's List, students must earn a GPA of 3.50 or better during the semester, based on 4.0 for straight As.

• Delainey Guiney of Plainfield
• Morgan Harrington of Plainfield
• Josh Hlavacek of Plainfield
• Rory Lavery of Plainfield
• Sarah Mustafa of Plainfield

— Merit Pages News

Iowa College Media Association honors Plainfield student

Isabella Devenuto was one of 23 Wartburg College students recognized by the Iowa College Media Association earlier this month.

Devenuto, of Plainfield, received honorable mention for Best Long Form Video Documentary.

Student media advisers are Pam Ohrt, Ron Johnson and Ashley Jones. Penni Pier, the department chair, oversees the Capstone program.

ICMA is made up of 12 colleges. The annual conference is held in conjunction with the Iowa Newspaper Association's conference.

— Merit Pages News

University of Tampa's December 2024 Commencement

The University of Tampa hosted a commencement ceremony on Dec. 13 to honor 982 degree-seeking candidates at the University's 159th commencement. The event was attended by the students, their family members and friends, UTampa faculty and staff members, and the general public. The ceremony included remarks by Eric Freundt, professor of biology, and the student challenge speaker.

• Monica Dzieciol, of Plainfield (60586), graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Allied Health BS
• Peyton Toman, of Plainfield (60586), graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Criminology and Criminal Justice BS

— Merit Pages News

UTampa names Plainfield students to fall 2024 dean’s list

The University of Tampa has honored 2,300 students who were named to the dean's list for the Fall 2024 semester. Students must maintain a GPA of 3.75 or higher to be eligible for the dean's list.

• Alexander Carlson, of Plainfield (60585), is a Sophomore majoring in Film and Media Arts BFA
• La'Nyah Nance, of Plainfield (60586), is a Senior majoring in Forensic Science BS
• Kimberly Werynski, of Plainfield (60585), is a Sophomore majoring in Biology BS

— Merit Pages News

Plainfield native selected for sales excellence program

Colin Doyle of Plainfield has been selected for the Undergraduate Certificate in Sales Excellence Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. With the special professional selling credential from the Center for Sales Excellence, students hone the communication, problem-solving and decision-making skills that employers seek. Doyle is a sophomore majoring in finance.

The program's 45 new students represent 11 majors and four colleges. The application process, open to all students at the university, includes submitting a resume and statement of interest. Once selected, students begin taking courses taught by sales and marketing faculty in the College of Business the following semester.

"This group of students is very motivated and willing to put in the extra work that is required for all the sales courses they'll take," said Ravi Sohi, professor of marketing, Robert D. Hays Distinguished Chair of Sales Excellence and executive director of the Center for Sales Excellence. "They are interested in earning the extra credential provided by the certificate and are aware of its value to potential employers. These students will benefit from all the interactions they will have with our corporate partners in the classroom and special events."

— Merit Pages News