Press Releases
SXU HONORS PROGRAM YIELDS FIRST GRADUATES
CHICAGO (May 20, 2003) -- Saint Xavier’s Honors Program, offering an enriched academic experience to talented and highly motivated students, saluted its first graduating class of 21 students at this year’s spring commencement.
Launched in fall 1999 under the direction of Program Director Judith Hiltner, students explored the themes “The Good Life” and “The Idea of America,” participating in special seminars, field work and research projects. An annual lecture series featured such local and national notables as Urban Ethnic Historian Dominic Pacyga, former White House Chief of Staff John Podesta, Channel 2 Political Editor Michael Flannery, and Gretchen Helfrich, moderator and host of WBEZ’s Odyssey.
The first graduating class of honors students is: Melissa Apple, Communications major from Palos, Hills Ill.; Fatima Arekat, a computer studies major from Burbank, Ill.; Jeremy Boss, a political science major from Palos Park, Ill.; Janet Czaplewski, a communication science and disorders major from Oak Lawn, Ill.; Stacy Czerwinski, a biology major from Chicago Ridge, Ill.; Geno DeMarchi, a biology major from Thornton, Ill.; Mark Dykstra, a political science major from Evergreen Park, Ill.; Melissa Ferguson, a biology major from Moline, Ill.; Jamie Gilbert, a marketing major from Chicago Ridge, Ill.; Margaret Hill, a communication and science disorders major from Park Forest, Ill.; Kim Johnson, a communication major from Westmont, Ill.; Meghan Kelly, an elementary education major from Chicago; Leanne Koning, an English major from Orland Park, Ill.; Krista Macewko, a computer science major from Chicago Ridge, Ill.; John Nino, a biology major from Oak Lawn, Ill.; John Normoyle, a communication major from Chicago; Ronza Othman, a biology and philosophy major from Burbank, Ill.; Mistelle Redmond, a chemistry major from Libertyville, Ill.; Kristen Trovato, an elementary education major from Burbank, Ill.; Kristen Wajda, a communication major from Chicago; and Kristen Yanikoski, a psychology major from Oak Lawn, Ill.
Founded in 1846, Saint Xavier University is a private, coeducational institution serving more than 5,200 men and women with high quality academic programs. It offers 36 undergraduate majors and 32 graduate program options in four schools: School of Arts and Sciences, School of Education, Graham School of Management, and School of Nursing. Located in a residential neighborhood in Chicago, the University offers personalized education that emphasizes challenging undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs of study. Crain’s Chicago Business (July 1, 2002) recognized Saint Xavier University for achieving the highest percentage of enrollment growth among Chicago-area universities and colleges during the previous year, increasing 6.3 percent. And, U.S. News & World Report named Saint Xavier in its 2002 “Best Colleges” issue as a best value and for its diversity as a master’s degree-granting institution in the Midwest region.