September 29, 2006
SIUC attracts top high school graduates
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- The region’s top students clearly think the smart money’s on Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
“We have a total of 68 freshmen on campus who were valedictorians or salutatorians, which is really good, and 53 of them are from Southern Illinois, which is even better,” said Terri R. Harfst, an SIUC academic scholarship coordinator for the Financial Aid.
For more than two decades, the University has offered scholarships to students ranking No. 1 or No. 2 in their high school’s graduating class, and for the last 10 years, Harfst has overseen these awards. Never before has she seen such a bumper crop of “brains.”
“Last year, we had 30 valedictorians and salutatorians from Southern Illinois — 53 is quite an increase,” she said.
“I think our scholarship program attracts the best and brightest to our campus.”
While no firm evidence exists as to what caused the jump, Harfst guesses that the rising cost of higher education everywhere makes a quality, affordable, four-year university in their own backyard suddenly more desirable.
Harfst will begin making new award offers to this year’s high school seniors beginning Oct. 1. To them, she has one thing to say.
“We have outstanding programs and services at SIUC, and we especially want Southern Illinois students to take advantage of them.”
Regional valedictorians and salutatorians are (by hometown):
Altamont: Kristin Heiden (5614 E. 825th Ave.), a graduate of Altamont High School, who will major in biological science.
Anna: Natalie McLean (110 Highmore Ave.), a graduate of Anna-Jonesboro High School, who will major in English.
Beecher City: Charlee Forson (R.R. 1), a graduate of Beecher City High School, who will major in plant, soil and agricultural systems, specializing in agricultural systems.
Benton: Adam Sims (9317 Water Road), a graduate of Christopher High School, who will major in mechanical engineering.
Cairo: Cairo High School graduates Malcolm Slack (310 18th St.), who will major in some field of business, and Evony Thomas (427 11th St.), who will major in some area of music.
Carbondale: Carbondale Community High School graduates Lisa Furby (212 S. Canterbury Drive), who will major in mechanical engineering, and Andrew Giritharan (311 W. Park Lane), who will major in a field that will prepare him for further studies in medicine; and Emily Howell (2015 Evergreen Terrace Drive E.), a graduate of Zeigler-Royalton High School, who has yet to pick a major.
Carmi: Carmi-White County High School graduates Jenny Bingman (310 Stewart St.), who will major in communication disorders and sciences, and Amber Lee (849 County Road 1350 N.), who has yet to pick a major.
Coulterville: Kaylyn Gimber (513 S. Main St.), a graduate of Coulterville High School, who will major in theater.
Dahlgren: Frederick Holmes (R.R. 1), a graduate of Hamilton County High School, who will major in mechanical engineering.
Dongola: Timothy Hinkle (1540 Goodman Pond Road), a graduate of Dongola High School, who will major in foreign language and international trade.
Du Quoin: Della Carroll (444West St.), a graduate of Shawnee High School, who will major in a field that will prepare her for further studies in veterinary medicine.
Elizabethtown: Ryan Cowsert (R.R. 1), a graduate of Hardin County High School, who has yet to pick a major.
Energy: Krista Mason (401 Shannon Drive), a graduate of Herrin High School, who will major in radio-television.
Fairfield: Allyson Harlow (R.R. 5), a graduate of Carmi-White County High School, who will major in microbiology.
Farina: Catrina Bowen (8405 Anglen Road), a graduate of South Central High School, who will major in the physical therapy assistant program.
Grand Chain: Alex Dover (790 S. Main St.), a graduate of Century High School, who will major in political science.
Herrin: Herrin High School graduates Lisa K. Helleny (13893 Bandyville Road), who will major in a field that will prepare her for further studies in pharmacy; Sumar Kane (850 Belleview Place), who will major in chemistry; and Sarah Wisecarver (700 Legacy Drive), who will major in some area of business.
Hutsonville: Amanda Rumler (803 S. Rose), a graduate of Hutsonville High School, who will major in English.
Johnston City: Johnston City High School graduates Jessica Gibbens (15217 Harris School Road), who will major in accounting; Kris Kirkpatrick (1101 Burgess Ave.), who will major in elementary education; Mallori Stoner (17451 Harris School Road), who will major in radiologic sciences; and Toni Whitfield (1700 Davis), who will major in civil engineering.
Marion: Caleb Grounds (13039 Reed Cemetery Road), a graduate of Herrin High School, who will major in civil engineering; Callissa Harris (10245 Stitkar Road), a graduate of Unity Christian High School, who has yet to pick a major; Marion High School graduates Danielle Lintzenich (1405 N. McLaren), who will major in accounting, and Todd Marlo (13983 Timberline Road), who will major in a field that will prepare him for further studies in veterinary medicine; and Alex McCree (17626 Caplinger Pond Road), a graduate of Crab Orchard High School, who will major in accounting.
McLeansboro: Alisha Blackstone (R.R. 3), a graduate of Hamilton County Junior-Senior High School, who will major in the physical therapy assistant program.
Metropolis: Brooke Armstrong (89 Paradise Lane), a graduate of Massac County High School, who will major in political science.
Mound City: Segan Humble (402 Main St.), a graduate of Meridian High School, who will major in a field that will prepare him for further studies in medicine.
Mount Carmel: Amy Phegley (12916 E. 570 Lane), a graduate of Mount Carmel High School, who will major in the physical therapy assistant program.
Mulkeytown: Lauren Swisher (11197 Fox Hunters Road), a graduate of Sesser-Valier High School, who will major in mathematics.
Murphysboro: Murphysboro High School graduates Kyle Barringer (3284 Ava Road), who will major in computer engineering; Amanda Reiff (824 Stave Mill Road), who will major in elementary education; and Markie Rhodes (7 Louis Wides Drive), who has yet to pick a major.
Nashville: Megan Habbe (18095 Whitetail Run), a graduate of Nashville High School, who will major in mining engineering.
O’Fallon: Jennifer Murray (1003 Oak Tree Court), a graduate of O’Fallon Township High School, who will major in journalism.
Olney: Lacey Wright (6936 E. Cleaver Lane), a graduate of East Richland High School, who will major in civil engineering.
Percy: Michelle Hagene (226 Cutler Trico Road), a graduate of Trico Senior High School, who will major in a field that will prepare her for further studies in medicine.
Shumway: Tiffany Wilson (208 W. Madison), a graduate of Beecher City High School, who will major in the physicians’ assistant program.
Sparta: Sparta High School graduates Rachel Hauskins (602 Spartan Drive), who will major in cinema and photography; Gregory McBride (123 Fox Run), who will major in civil engineering; and Barbara Wheelden, (12211 Moffat Road) who will major in civil engineering.
Steeleville: Natalie Reitz (816 Windy Way), a graduate of Steeleville High School, who will major in the physicians’ assistant program.
Tamaroa: Emily Plumlee (6271 Swan Road), a graduate of Pinckneyville Community High School, who will major in a music field.
Tamms: Brittany Lingle (16745 Newell Road), a graduate of Egyptian Community High School, who will major in a field that will prepare her for further studies in law.
Xenia: Audra Ord (P.O. box listing), a graduate of Flora High School, who will major in journalism.
Other valedictorian and salutatorian scholarship holders studying at SIUC are (by hometown):
Aledo: Andrew Yung (2562 30th Ave.), a graduate of United Junior-Senior High School, who will major in zoology.
Ashland: Elizabeth Campbell (313 W. Fremont St.), a graduate of A-C Central High School, who will major in psychology.
Bloomington: Ryan Kernes (903 Mayflower), a graduate of Bloomington High School, who will major in civil engineering.
Chicago: Monique Theus (2303 W. Warren Blvd.), a graduate of Josephinum High School, who will major in chemistry.
Decatur: Sarah Carr (3432 Greenview Drive), a graduate of Meridian High School, who will major in plant, soil and agricultural systems.
Dewey: Jeremy Birkey (3235 Greenwood Drive), a graduate of Fisher Junior-Senior High School, who will major in mechanical engineering.
Edinburg: David Tapscott (P.O. box listing), a graduate of Edingburg High School, who will major in mechanical engineering.
Green Valley: Tember Voller, (13911 Townline Road) a graduate of Midwest Central High School, who has yet to pick a major.
Macon: Ashley Kendall (155 S. Wall), a graduate of Meridian High School, who will major in the physical therapy assistant program.
Quincy: Steven Looten (2522 S. 31st), a graduate of Quincy Notre Dame High School, who will major in theater.
Roodhouse: Caitlin Woodlock (R.R. 3), a graduate of North Greene High School, who will major in architecture.
Rossville: Matthew Ervin (212 Stewart St.), a graduate of Bismarck-Henning High School, who will major in electrical engineering.
Shelbyville: Justin Hennings (R.R. 3), a graduate of Shelbyville High School, who will major in zoology.
Tuscola: Doral Woodworth, (649 N. State Route 130) a graduate of Villa Grove High School, who will major in a field that will prepare him for further study in pharmacy.
Windsor: Lauren Warf (420 N. Pine), a graduate of Windsor High School, who will major in animal science.