Spring 2018 Graduation Celebration

Saturday, May 5, 201811:00 a.m.

Cohen Center Ballroom

Welcome and Introductions

Clay Motley, Ph.D.Honors College Director

Honors Executive Board Members

Dr. Derek BuzasiMs. Jessica DelgadoDr. Debra GiamboDr. Charles (billY) GunnelsMs. Ashleigh HalterDr. Margaret HambrickDr. Tanya Kunberger

Dr. Clay MotleyDr. Galen PapkovDr. Gizelle PerrettiMs. Jessica RheaDr. Jo StecherDr. Gerritt VanderMeer

Honors Faculty Fellows

Dr. Phillip AllmanDr. Elizabeth BouldinDr. Carolyn Culbertson*Dr. Eric Dent*Dr. Debra Giambo*Dr. Dennis Hunt

Dr. Katie JohnsonDr. Jan Meij*Dr. Thomas StefaniukDr. Mushfiq SwaleheenDr. Takashi Ueda

*Newly-elected as of Spring 2018

Undergraduate Advising

Allison Bacigalupi, DirectorRebecca Kroeger, AdvisorAshleigh Halter, AdvisorJessica Evers, Advisor

Opening Remarks

President Michael Martin, Ph.D.Florida Gulf Coast University

Presentation of Gold Eagle Medals

2018 Honors Gold Eagle Recipients

Richard Cassell

Arletys Gomez

Presentation of Honors Stoles

Michael AmenB.S. Entrepreneurship

Stole Presented by Amanda Amen

• President and Founder of FGCU Debate and Discussion organization “Coffee & Controversy”

• Won multiple FGCU pitch competitions for seed funding

• Co-Founder and Co-CEO of LiftUP LLC• First graduate of the FGCU Entrepreneurship

Program• Once found a spot in the Lutgert garage at 12 pm

Taylor BerryB.A. Elementary Education

Magna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dawn Berry

• Kappa Delta Pi Officer (2016 - 2018)o Attended and presented at National Conference

•Honors Education Cohort Program•Eagles Educate Board Member

o Put together a Conference o Attended conferences

•FGCU Women’s Soccer Team (2016 – 2018)o Freshman Preseason player

Morgan BradyB.A. Psychology

Magna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Allison Bacigalupi

• Honors Mentor for FTIC Honors students • Member of Kappa Delta Sorority• Elected to serve as a Senator for the College

of Arts and Sciences for Student Government• Served as Academic Excellence Chairman for

Kappa Delta Sorority• Created lifelong friendships and memories

with so many incredible people

Richard CassellB.S. Biology

Organismal and Ecological Studies ConcentrationSumma Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Ashleigh Halter

• Honors Mentor • Campus Naturalist• Volunteer at Talkin’ Monkeys Project• Creation of H4H Campus Chapter• Internship at Cayo Costa State Park

Bertin CenatusB.S. Biology

B.S. BiotechnologyCum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Lyndsay Rhodes

• Graduating college with two Bachelors degrees• Getting research published • Graduating with honors • Honors Senator• Learned how to ride a longboard • Tutored with The CAA

Stephanie CentenoB.S. Political Science

Minor: Global Studies and Peace & Social Justice

Stole Presented by Jesus Centeno

• TRIO SSS • National Society of Leadership & Success• Conducted internship teaching in the

Himalayas of India

Lesly ChavezB.A. Early Childhood Education

Summa Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Leila Abdel

• Part of the 1st Honors Education Cohort• Was a Resident Assistant• Went on an Alternative Service Trip• Part of the Leadership through Service

LLC

Kaycelene CollinsB.S. Criminal JusticeB.S. Forensic Studies

Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Martel Martinez

• Studied abroad in Macerata, Italy for 6 months at one of the most prestigious law schools in Italy

• Inducted into the National Honor Society for Leadership and Success

• Served as Treasurer for the RSO Students for Children that caters to children in lower-income communities

• New member of the Top of the Line Tau Sigma chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated.

• Nominated for the Outstanding Student Achievement award by her student advisor Shari Alvanas

Shelleka DarbyB.S. Political Science

International Affairs and Comparative Politics ConcentrationMagna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Donna and Winston Darby

• Created an international organization as a network for global youth leaders

• Interned for International Food Policy Research Institute in Washington, D.C.

• Awarded the Presidential Leadership Certificate from past president Dr. Wilson Bradshaw

• Inducted into the National Housing Honorary and the International Golden Key Honor Society.

• Created interdisciplinary symposium on electronic waste, served in Impact Christian Campus Fellowship, Residential Conduct Committee and other RSOs

Mallory DonnellyB.S. NursingCum Laude

Stole Presented by Tony Donnelly

• Served as a Student Government Senator for the Marieb College of Health and Human Services for 2 consecutive years

• Accepted into Florida Gulf Coast University School of Nursing

• Presented research on Kangaroo Care in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

• Awarded the “Outstanding BSN Student Award” through the national nursing honors society Sigma Theta Tau International

Caitlin EarlyB.A. Elementary Education

Summa Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Roberta Early

• Student of the Year Award for the College of Education

• 4.0 GPA, President’s List• Student teaching internship at Corkscrew

Elementary School• Student teaching internship at Veterans Memorial

Elementary School• Honors Senator for the College of Education (2016-

2017)

Cassandra EllisB.A. Philosophy

Minor: Critical TheoryCum Laude

Stole Presented by Coleen Ellis

• Honors College Senator• Assistant Director of Student Relations• Eagle International Ambassador• President’s Society Legislative Internship• Presidential Leadership Certificate

Andriel EthridgeBachelor of Social Work

Magna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Taffy Armstrong

• Member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., Order of Omega, Phi Alpha Honors Society, and Social Work Student Association

• Resident assistant for two years, and new RA of the year for the Groves team.

• Dean’s list (Spring 2015 and Spring 2016) and President’s list (Fall 2015 and Fall 2016)

• Accepted into the Advanced Standing MSW Program at the University of South Florida

Jessie GlennonB.S. Health ScienceMinor: PsychologySumma Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Peter Reuter

• President of Aquila: The FGCU Student Research Journal

• Honors Mentor• Organized first bi-annual Showcase of Undergraduate

Research Experiences and first annual Aquila Awards (both highlight outstanding student scholarship and faculty support in every field)

• Graduating Summa Cum Laude (with highest Honors)• Accepted into FGCU’s and the University of Florida’s

Doctorate of Physical Therapy programs

Kayla GloverB.S. Finance

Magna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Clay Motley on Behalf of Karen Muhl

• Honors College Senator• St. Baldrick’s shave-ee• Debt free!

Rachel GoldenbergB.A. Special Education

Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Allison Bacigalupi

• Complete my academics with a 3.78 • Member of the founding Honors Cohort for the

College of Education • Held multiple positions in my sorority, Alpha Chi

Omega.• Planned and raised money for St. Baldrick’s Day

Arletys GomezB.S. Political Science

Minor: Global StudiesSumma Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Ivonne Rodriguez and Arnaldo Gomez

• Student Government Director of Civic Engagement• Honors College Immokalee Immersion Service

Program Student Leader• Alternative Breaks Program Student Leader • On-Site Coordinator for the 2017 LeaderShape

Academy• Fundación Por La Justicia Human Rights Intern,

Summer of 2017• Hall of Fame Recipient 2018

Grant GrabarczykB.S. Biology, Concentration in Microbiology

Magna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Steve Grabarczyk

• Presented at HAPS Conference 2016.• Involved with a research project about

bacteriophage and biofilms.• 3 Year College Club Swimming Nationals

Qualifier.• 3.89 Upper Level GPA.

MacKenzie GrubbB.S. Biology, Pre-Professional Concentration

Magna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Ronald Grubb

• Achieved over 1000 hours of community service• Publication of Independent Breast Cancer

Research • Be the Match Representative for Lee, Collier,

and Manatee County • United States Surgeon General’s Award

Casey HaennB.S. Nursing

Stole Presented by Allison Bacigalupi

• Florida Student Nursing Association State Executive Board Regional Director and Community Outreach Chair –educating youth on teen pregnancy and nurses on how to handle a teen mom in their care!

• Studied abroad in Trinidad & Tobago, researching Calypso and studying culture and conservation

• Peer mentor to four young women in the Women in STEM live-learn community

• Researched pet therapy in the geriatric and pediatric population

• Teen mom graduating with her Bachelors of Science in Nursing a year early and debt free!

Montana KnightB.S. BiotechnologyMinor: Chemistry

Summa Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Takashi Ueda

• Inducted into the Florida Gulf Coast University 2018 Hall of Fame.• President of my sorority, Chi Omega, where I oversaw operations. We

granted two wishes for the Make-A-Wish foundation and brought our GPA up to the highest Panhellenic GPA while I was President.

• Founded and led a service organization called Eagles of Tomorrow that went into local elementary schools and taught hands-on STEM education.

• Allocated the 2017-2018 Activity and Service Fees, a four million dollar budget, to FGCU departments and registered student organizations while I was a senator for the College of Arts and Sciences.

• Graduating summa cum laude at the end of my undergraduate career.

Yelixa Larios-LopezB.S. Community Health

Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Eliezer Larios

• First generation college student• 2018 FGCU Hall of Fame Recipient• President or Dean’s List throughout FGCU

Career• Over 400 service learning hours obtained

Cara Litvin

Stole Presented by Mariah Washington

• First group of students to graduate from the Honors College of Education Cohort

• Awarded full-time teaching internship • Offered teaching position in 3 counties across

Florida• Inducted into Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Eta

Sigma Honors Society

B.A. Elementary Education

Nicole MamprejewB.S. Biology, Pre-Professional Concentration

B.A. PsychologySumma Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Lyndsay Rhodes

• 2018 FGCU Hall of Fame Inductee• Cancer researcher in the lab of Dr. Lyndsay

Rhodes • President of the FGCU Cancer Research Program • Won Organization of the Year by the Dean of

Students' Office• Attending medical school in August 2018

Emily MarkovichB.A. Psychology

Minor: Interdisciplinary StudiesCum Laude

Stole Presented by Lindsey Johns

• Resident Assistant and Residence Life Team Assistant

• National Residence Hall Honorary, President• Honors Senator, Procedural Chair• Excellence in Mentoring Award Recipient 2018

Christopher NorbergB.S. Biomedical Engineering

Pre-Med and Cell & Tissue Engineering ConcentrationSumma Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Galen Papkov

• Resident Assistant of Honors Live Learn Community (2016 - 2017)

• Completed and Presented Research in Gene Transfection and Biomechanics

• Honors Mentor for the Honors College (2017 -2018)

• President of Alpha Eta Mu Beta Biomedical Engineering Honor Society (2017 – 2018)

Diana Peguese

Stole Presented by Tony Peguese

• Honors Research – Sustainable Development• Honors Study Abroad – Singapore• Graduating Summa Cum Laude, 3.9 GPA • Admitted to FSU Graduate Program, MSI• I am still married, and still have six children

B.A. CommunicationCommunication Studies Concentration

Summa Cum Laude

Evelyn Philistin

Stole Presented by Shyla Harrison

• Orientation Leader and Orientation Team Leader• Resident Assistant for two years in Palmetto Hall• Student Government Director of Civic Engagement• 7 service trips (Dominican Republic, Ghana, New

York, Chicago, Atlanta, Miami)• Over 1,000 service learning hours

B.S. Social WorkB.S. Criminal Justice

Cum Laude

De’Chelle PlummerB.A. Psychology

Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Karen Plummer-McLean

• Created Human Trafficking Curriculum for adolescent boys

• Caribbean Student Association Vice President and Secretary 2016 - 2018

• National Society of Leadership and Success Member• Completed two internships: Virtus Academy and

Enterprise Holdings• Led Diaper Drive for Our Mother’s Home for

teenage mothers

Madeline QuinnB.A. Secondary Social Science Education

Minor: HistoryMagna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Patrick Quinn

• FGCU Hall of Fame 2018• Study Abroad to Germany, Austria, and Ireland• Honors College and Student-Athlete Mentor• Involvement with Student Government and Greek Life

Jazmyne RobinsonB.A. Communication

Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Keyanna Davis

• A Step Above Perfection Secretary• Eagle Radio Social Media Manager • Eagle Radio Graphic Designer• Eagle News Television Host

Makayla RodriguezB.A. Elementary Education

Magna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Christine Hubsch

• Completed 160 hours of service learning.• Member of the Honors Cohort.• Gained confidence in my teaching abilities.

Amy SalamaB.S. Biology

Magna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Salama Salama

• FGCU Honor’s Mentor• Has been consecutively on the Dean’s List at FGCU• Presented research at FIU under guidance of Dr.

Michael’s Bioinformatics Section• Completed research with Dr. Lee• Will be attending LECOM medical school in Fall 2018

Krystal ShephardB.S. Criminal Justice

Minor: Psychology and SociologyMagna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Nicola Foote

• Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. National Scholarship Recipient 2016 and 2018

• Theta Nu Xi Multicultural Sorority, Inc. Regional Scholarship Recipient 2016

• Order of Omega Initiate 2016• FGCU FSL Soar Award Recipient 2017• FGCU FSL Multicultural Greek Council Executive

Member of the Year 2017

Anne SkinnerB.A. Elementary Education

Magna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Christine Skinner

• Recognized as a nominee for Florida Gulf Coast University’s College of Education Student of the Year.

• One of 11 Honors students who participated in the inaugural College of Education’s Honors Cohort Immersion Program, which allowed for one additional year of teaching in the elementary school classrooms prior to starting my senior year internships.

• Spoke on behalf of the College of Education’s Cohort Program at a National Field Conference in Ruston, Louisiana.

• Volunteered in the community by receiving over 400 service learning hours.

• Inducted into Kappa Delta Pi National Honor Society and serving as the Professional Development Chair & Historian for two semesters in total.

• Presented at a conference called, “Kappa Delta Pi Convocation” in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Shelby SmithB.A. Communication, Communication Studies Concentration

Minor: MarketingMagna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Allison Bacigalupi

• Completed 739.5 service learning hours• Eagle I Ambassador exclusively to students

from Italy and Bahrain• Raised $2,200 in Honors College classes for

various organizations• Graduating Magma Cum Laude with 3.87 GPA

Tatyana SuaresB.A. Psychology

Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Lauren Strunk

• Served as an Honors College Mentor• Interned at True Core Behavioral Solutions• Became a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha

Sorority, Inc.• Became a member of Order of Omega• Maintained a GPA of 3.6

Jeannie SuttonB.A. Political Science

Minors: Community Planning and Development, SociologyMagna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Julie Boudreaux

• Conducted and presented research at the Florida Political Science Association’s Annual Meeting, the FGCU Social Science Symposium, and the Florida Institute on Homelessness and Supportive Housing Conference.

• Maintained a 3.9 GPA and graduated within four years while working 40 or more hours per week.

• Provided more than 160 service-learning hours to local non-profit agencies.

Hannah TatumB.S. Biology, Pre-Med Concentration

Magna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Lyndsay Rhodes

• Completed 2 years of breast cancer research with Dr. Rhodes

• Member of Chi Omega• Member of 8 RSOs• Went on Winter 2016 Alternative Break• Plans on going to medical school

Leslie TooheyB.A. Secondary Biology Education

Minor: BiologySumma Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Elia Vazquez-Montilla

• Spent 1½ years working with high school seniors as an AVID tutor

• Served as an Instructional Support Leader for FGCU students taking Biology I

• Logged over 160 volunteer hours over a two-year period at the Naples Zoo

• Completed a 70-hour internship as an assistant to the aquarists at the Long Island Aquarium in Riverhead, NY

Aliza TorresB.A. English

Minors: Creative Writing and Gender StudiesMagna Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Ashley Papp

• Graduating in 2.5 years. • I am the first in my immediate family to earn a

Bachelor's degree. • Served as President of the West Lake Village Area

Council. • Helped revive the school magazine, The Mangrove,

and served as an editor.

Chelsea TorresB.A. PsychologyMinor: English

Summa Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Dr. Yvette Mallory

• FGCU Honors College Mentor, 2016-2017• Peer Educator for FGCU Prevention and Wellness • Recipient of the Honors Development Grant to

present research at a regional conference• Intern Coordinator at a private psychology practice

in Fort Myers• Attending DePaul University’s Clinical-Community

Psychology PhD Program this fall

Vilma Un Jan ContrerasB.S. Software Engineering

Summa Cum Laude

Stole Presented by Sandra Un Jan

• Recently presented research study FGCU’s Research Day; won the award for the Best Research Engineering Poster.

• Awarded the Latin American and Caribbean Scholarship throughout my four years of undergraduate studies.

• Accepted into the Computer Science Masters Program at North Carolina State University.

Congratulations, Honors Graduates!

Spring 2018