2009 Outstanding Seniors
Pictured from left to right, front row: Christopher Crookham, Elizabeth O'Connor, Meredith Rees,
Emily Ponder, Haiyun Zhao, Christopher Kapp. Second Row: Emma Meyer, Dana Bolden, Megan Smith, Marcus Glassman, Kristen Croner, John Contreni (Justin S. Morrill, Dean, College of Liberal Arts). Not Pictured: Molly Trueblood and Christina Giles.
These 13 seniors achieved academic success, demonstrated a commitment to their major, balanced the academic load with extracurricular activities and/or employment, demonstrated leadership ability, and will graduate during the current calendar year.
ANTHROPOLOGY- Marcus Holt Glassman, LaPorte, IN
Major: Anthropology
Activities: Student Health volunteer, Foundation of Medical Relief of Children, Caduceus Club, Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity
Future: Medical school followed by work in international medical relief and policy efforts
COMMUNICATION - Elizabeth O'Connor, Hammond, IN
Major: Organizational Communication
Activities: Hawkins Hall staff resident, Disney College Program Alumni Association vice president, Boilermaker Network, Boiler Gold Ambassadors
Honors: Lambda Pi Eta Communication Honor Society, Phi Beta Kappa, Liberal Arts Honors Program
Future: Graduate work in organizational communication with a specific focus on employee engagement and virtual career work
ENGLISH-Emily Ponder, South Bend, IN
Major: English
Activities: "All-American" Marching Band piccolo section leader, Purdue Concert Bands, Quebec honors study tour, Transylvania honors study tour, Beijing performance tour
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Honors Colloquium, Kneales Award of Cultural Criticism, Liberal Arts honors scholarship
Future: Graduate work in English
FOREIGN LANGUAGES AND LITERATURES-
Christopher B. Crookham, Georgetown, TX
Majors: French and Political Science
Activities: French-American Center in Montpellier, First United Methodist Church childcare supervisor, "Help and Learn" service learning volunteer, Purdue Model United Nations event coordinator, Fazolis' manager
Honors: Alpha Lambda Delta, Phi Beta Kappa, Circle K Service Organization, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Warren P. Thayer Jr. Scholar
Future: Pursue a master's in public policy, join the Peace Corps, and enter into U.S. politics
Health and Kinesiology - Chris Kapp, West Lafayette, IN
Majors: Movement and Sports Science
Activities: Purdue Athletic Department tutor, Follett's Bookstore customer service representative, Leadership Journey (Dean of Students), Caduceus Club, Liberal Arts Dean's Ambassador
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Thayer Scholar, Mihee Yi Scholarship recipient
Future: Medical School
HISTORY - Emma C. Meyer, Paoli, IN
Major: History and Political Science
Activities: Purdue History Organization vice president, Purdue Opportunity Award, Golden Key vice president of community service, Purdue Symphonic Band, Purdue Philharmonic Orchestra, Phi Alpha Theta journal editor
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Alpha Theta, Purdue University Honors Program, Kneale Award for Linguistics, Thayer Scholar
Future: Graduate school to pursue a doctorate in South Asian/World History
INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES- Molly Lynn Trueblood, Pendleton, IN
Majors: Linguistics and Anthropology
Activities: Best Buddies Purdue, intramural sports, Vienna Coffee employee, Discovery Park intern
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society
Future: Graduate school or teaching English abroad
PHILOSOPHY - Haiyun Zhao, West Lafayette, IN
Majors:Philosophy and Math
Activities: Indiana Legal Services, Shoemaker House, Purdue Exponent copy editor, ITaP Student Advisory Council, math instructor, legal intern, undergraduate research fellow
Honors: Phi Beta Kappa, Clitheroe Scholar, Schenkman Prize in Mathematics
Future: Working in a law firm before pursuing a JD and LLM
POLITICAL SCIENCE - Meredith Rees, Perrysburg, OH
Major: Political Science
Activities: U.S. Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee intern, U.S. Senate Office of Sherrod Brown intern, U.S. State Department Bureau of International Organizations and Affairs intern, Liberal Arts Honors Office student assistant, Liberal Arts Dean's Ambassador
Honors: Purdue University Honors Program, Pi Sigma Alpha (political science honor society) president and treasurer, Liberal Arts Honors Scholarship, Student Representative for the Dean's Advisory Council, Purdue University Delegate to Naval Academy Foreign Affairs Conference
Future: Intelligence analyst for the National Security Agency (NSA)
PSYCHOLOGICAL SCIENCES - Megan A. Smith, Wadsworth, IL
Major: Psychology
Activities:Subsitute teacher for local school districts, childcare worker in the Counseling and Psychological Services clinic
Honors: Phi Kappa Phi Honors Society, Alpha Lambda Delta Honors Society, Phi Eta Sigma Honors Society, Psi Chi chapter treasurer (2007) and president (2008), Psychology Honors Program
Future: Graduate work in cognitive psychology
SOCIOLOGY-Dana Bolden, Merrillville, IN
Major: Law and Society
Activities: Purdue Women's Track and Field, Boiler Gold Rush team leader, peer mentor, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Liberal Arts Dean's Ambassador
Honors: Alpha Lambda Delta Eta Sigma Honor Society recruitment chair, Black Caucus Academic Award, SSACI Higher Education Award, Big Ten Conference Scholar-Athlete Award
Future: Law School
SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING SCIENCES-Kristen M. Croner
Major: Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences
Activities: National Student Speech Language Hearing Association, GLASS program volunteer with Battle Ground School, Saint Margaret Mercy Hospital administrative assistant
Future: Graduate work in speech-language pathology to become certified by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association
PATTY AND RUSTY RUEFF SCHOOL OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS- Christina Marie Giles
Majors: Art History and Economics
Activities: Art History Student Organization chapter president, Latino Cultural Center culture and art chairperson and Web/graphics specialist, and Krannert Business Opportunity Program counselor and resident assistant. Former National Organization for Women Purdue chapter president and vice president, and Latino Student Union vice president
Honors: National Society of Collegiate Scholars
Future: Graduate studies in contemporary Islamic art, art business, as well as an MBA
CONGRATULATIONS SENIORS and GOOD LUCK!