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Alumni

Recent graduates:

Michael Cooper - 2008

Michael Cooper graduated in May 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Biology, Pre-Dentistry. Michael presented his Honors Project on the "Stress Physiology in Zebrafish and Its Application to Undergraduate Physiology Labs." His mentors were Dr. Mustafa and Dr. Dhawale of the Biology department. He graduated with a 4.0 Honors Program GPA. In addition to being a member of the Honors Program, Michael was an Ambassadon; took part in various student organizations such as the Biology Club and Pre-Dentistry Club; and performed community service at the IPFW Health fairs and Matthew 25. He plans to attend the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine.

Kathleen Casey - 2007

Kathleen Casey graduated in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature. Kathleen presented her Honors Project paper on "Diffusion of Innovation and Change: When Newspapers Meet the Internet". Her mentor was Jonathon Tankel of the Communication department. Kathleen graduated with a 4.0 Honors Program Average. She is currently studying Law at Indiana University.

Laura Thieme - 2007

Laura presented her Honors Project study on the function of the herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) UL24 gene product. Her mentor was Dr. Robert Visalli of the Biology department. Laura graduated with a 4.0 Honors Program average.

Allison Graber - 2007

Allison presented her Honors Project paper on "The Rwanda Case: An Analysis of Power in the Genocide Using Realistic Group Conflict." Her mentors were Teresa Enrick and Pat Ashton of Peace and Conflict Studies. Allison graduated with a 4.0 Honors Program average.

Brian Michel - 2006

Brian presented his Honors Project on a remote-control boat-lift drive-system as an extension for his senior design project for his Electrical Engineering Technology. His mentor was Professor Peter Goodman of Electrical and Computer Engineering Technology. Brian graduated with a 3.83 Honors Program average.

Maria Acosta - 2006

Maria presented her Honors Project paper on the "Stashi Law" and its consequences in the lives of female Muslim students in the French public school system.Her mentors were Nancy Virtue of International Language and Culture Studies and Steve Carr of Communication.

Lauren Harmison - 2006

Lauren presented her Honors Project paper on "No Place like Home: A Study of Homeless Children and Their Needs." The project included a curriculm teaching homelessness which could be used for grades K-5. Lauren is working on getting the curriculum portion of her Honors Project published. Her mentors were Drs. Phyllis Agness and David Lindquist of Education. Lauren graduated with a 3.8 Honors Program average. She worked at Fort Wayne Community Schools as a substitute teacher for a year. She is currently attending IPFW for a degree in nursing.

Nathaniel Hubley - 2006

Nathaniel presented his Honors Project on Contemporary Ethics as an extension of his senior project for his Philosophy major. His mentor was Professor S. Moore PhD.of the Philospohy department. Nathaniel graduated with a 3.6 Honors Program average and is currently attending Valparasio School of Law where he is working for his JD and MA.

Krista Marcum - 2005

Krista presented her Honors Project paper on " Project Homelessness: A Teaching Tool." Krista graduated with a 3.6 Honors Program average.

Ryan Brown - 2005

Ryan presented his Honors Project paper on "Cultural Capital: An Examination of the Emboyd Theater's Use of Live Entertainment to Give Credibility to its Film Exhibitions." His mentors were Steve Carr and Dave Switzer of Communication. Ryan graduated with two degrees in Communication and Political Science with a 4.0 Honors Program average. He received a Master's Degree in Professional Communication and worked as a Graduate Assistant with the IPFW Honors Program. Ryan was the Vice-President of Student Government for the 2007-2008 academic year.

Laura Ballou - 2004

Laura presented her Honors Project study of Amish Culture and Medicinal Beliefs, Practices and Practitioners at the Central States Anthropological Society annual meeting in Milwaukee on April 15th. Her mentors were Drs. Douglas Kline and Alan Sandstrom of the Anthropology Department. She then presented her paper to the Honors Program Council on April 8th and it was published in the High Plains Applied Anthropologist Journal, Fall edition. Laura graduated with a 4.0 Honors Program average and is currently studying Portuguese in preparation for her trip to Brazil next year to study the farm peoples of the Atlantic Rainforest while volunteering at Iracambi, an organization for the preservation of rainforests. She has applied for admission to the University of Wales in Lampeter where she will work toward her MA in Environmental Anthropology and later her PhD.

Marilyn Jordan - 2004

Marilyn presented her Honors Project paper on Aristotle’s Politics, Ethics, and Metaphysics as an extension of her senior seminar for her Political Science major on April 29th. Her mentors were Drs. Elliot Bartky and James Lutz of the Political Science Department. Marilyn graduated with a 4.0 Honors Program average and is currently in the process of moving to the Atlanta area where she will be attending Emory University School of Law studying International Law and Human Rights.

Melanie Bush - 2004

Melanie presented the culmination of her 4 years of research on The Effects of Berry Extracts on Immune System Function and LnCap Cancer Cells, under the supervision of her mentor, Dr. Elliot Blumenthal, as her senior seminar for an Honors Biology Degree and as her Honors Project on April 23. She also presented her project at the Indiana Academy of Science and in Sigma Xi undergraduate research competition where she won second place. She was also recognized as The Outstanding Biology Senior by the Biology Department. She is now in the process of preparing it for publication. Her other mentors were Drs. Shree Dhawale and Robert Gillespie of the Biology Department. Melanie graduated with a 4.0 Honors Program average and is currently in a summer internship and will return to IPFW in the Fall as a graduate student of Biology. She plans to go to medial school after that. She will make her thesis an extension of her Honors Project. Melanie was also recently chosen Purdue Graduating Class Representative and Miss Fort Wayne 2004. As Miss Fort Wayne, she will be working as spokesperson for the Northeast Indiana chapter of the American Cancer Society.

Kristi Loy - 2004

Kristi presented her Honors Project paper on “To use a noun or not: A toddler’s choice?” at the Indiana Speech and Hearing Association meeting and the IPFW Student Symposium. She is currently preparing to present her project at the National Convention of The American Speech, Hearing, and Language Association in November. Her mentors were Dr. Lucille Hess of the Audiology Department and Dr. Beth Simon of the English and Linguistics Department. Kristi graduated with a 3.77 Honors Program average and is currently employed at the Learning Development Center and ARC working with autistic children. She will begin study for a Master’s degree in Speech Pathology at IU Bloomington and is engaged to be married in 2006.

Dustin K. Miller - 2004

Dustin presented his project “Amymara Plant Terminology and the Marketplace as a Measure of Acculturation” an analysis of factors that influence term borrowing among indigenous languages and Spanish in Andean South America. He presented his results to the Honors Council in April and to the Central States Anthropological Society 81st annual meeting in Milwaukee in Spring 2004. He is currently studying Mandarin Chinese in order to teach English in China next year and plans to attend grad school with an emphasis in Sociolinguistics.

Marsha Spaulding - 2004

Marsha presented her Honors Project research on the need for a homeless shelter in Adams County to the Adams County Commissioners on April 5th as well as to the annual IPFW Women’s Studies Symposium on March 31st and the annual I.U. Women’s Symposium on April 15th. Her mentors were Dr. Linda Fox of the Women’s Studies Program and Dr. Matthew Kubik of the Civil and Architectural Engineering Technology Program. Marsha graduated with a 3.57 Honors Program average and is currently in manager training with Pizza Hut. She is still presenting her findings and advocating through various media for the homeless in her area.

Jeffrey Wilkins - 2004

Jeffrey presented his Honors Project calibrated Fizeau wedge interoferometer with research to the Honors Council in April . His mentors were Drs. Mark Masters and David Maloney of the Physics Department. Jeff graduated with a 3.75 Honors Program average and is currently on his way to Purdue West Lafayette to begin graduate work in mathematics. He will also be working at PWL as a teaching assistant and is currently engaged to be married next year.