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KALAMAZOO, Mich.—Forty-five students were recognized as Western ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ University's top seniors for 2024 during the annual Presidential Scholars Convocation.

Each year, faculty members from across the University select the most outstanding senior in their nearly 50 academic schools, departments and programs to represent their unit as a WMU Presidential Scholar. This year, scholars were chosen from a senior class of 4,349 students.

The Presidential Scholar designation is the highest academic honor that Western can bestow on its undergraduates. Selection is based on a student's general academic excellence, academic and artistic excellence relative to their majors, and intellectual and artistic promise.

The 2024 Presidential Scholars Convocation, which was by invitation only, featured a keynote address by 2023 Presidential Scholar Rebecca J. Adams, who graduated this past spring with a Bachelor of Science in speech pathology and audiology.

WMU President Edward Montgomery and Dr. Sarah Summy, president of the Faculty Senate, also spoke at the March 15 event.

"Each and every one of the Presidential Scholars personifies the best of what we want our students to take from their Western experience," said Montgomery. "They've pursued their purpose and received a quality, hands-on education. They've developed grit and the ability to overcome setbacks and obstacles. They've identified their ‘why’ and are prepared to lead a full, well-rounded life. As soon as they graduate, they will be taking the next step toward a meaningful career or graduate school. I’m very excited for the scholars, proud of all they have accomplished, and we cannot wait to see what they do next in fulfilling their life's journey."

2024 PRESIDENTIAL SCHOLARS

• ´¡³¦³¦´Ç³Ü²Ô³Ù²¹²Ô³¦²â—Opal Eddy of South Haven, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• ´¡°ù³Ù—Gracie Klingbeil of Naperville, Illinois
• ´¡±¹¾±²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô—Matthew Rendell of Granger, Indiana
• Biological sciences—Kayla Byrd of Haslett, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Business information systems—Shanice Tan of Malaysia
• Chemical and paper engineering—Alyson Block of Des Plaines, Illinois
• °ä³ó±ð³¾¾±²õ³Ù°ù²â—Seth Byrne of Hemlock, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Civil and construction engineering—Summer Yeck of Muskegon, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• °ä´Ç³¾³¾³Ü²Ô¾±³¦²¹³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô—Cori Osterman of Brighton, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Comparative religion—Logan Deater of Traverse City, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Computer science—Chanjin Park of South Korea
• ¶Ù²¹²Ô³¦±ð—Ashlie Roth of Portland, Oregon
• ·¡³¦´Ç²Ô´Ç³¾¾±³¦²õ—Chloe Wieber of Plainwell, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Electrical and computer engineering—Sergei Akhmatdinov of Russia
• Engineering design, manufacturing and management systems—Alex Seymour of Scotts, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• ·¡²Ô²µ±ô¾±²õ³ó—Lauren Johnson of Kalamazoo
• Environment, geography and sustainability—Alexa Hempel of Macomb, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Family and consumer sciences—Danielle Shemanski of Jackson, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Finance and commercial law—Olivia Bainbridge of Grand Blanc, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Geological and environmental sciences—Moira Burns of Marysville, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• ±á¾±²õ³Ù´Ç°ù²â—Abigail Ward of Decatur, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Human performance and health education—Hannah Spitzley of Fowler, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Industrial and entrepreneurial engineering and engineering management—Nathan Snyder of Alto, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Integrated supply management—Madison Dober of Lake Orion, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Intercultural and anthropological studies—Hollie Powless of Kalamazoo
• Interdisciplinary health programs—Elise VanSparrentak of Kalamazoo
• ²Ñ²¹²Ô²¹²µ±ð³¾±ð²Ô³Ù—Haley Jackson of Portage, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• ²Ñ²¹°ù°ì±ð³Ù¾±²Ô²µâ€”Megan Hansen of Mundelein, Illinois
• ²Ñ²¹³Ù³ó±ð³¾²¹³Ù¾±³¦²õ—Ritabrato Chatterjee of India
• Mechanical and aerospace engineering—Adam Tuckey of Marysville, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• ²Ñ³Ü²õ¾±³¦â€”JD Reeves of Grand Rapids, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• ±·³Ü°ù²õ¾±²Ô²µâ€”David Le of Kalamazoo
• ±Ê³ó¾±±ô´Ç²õ´Ç±è³ó²â—Richele Wilkin of Sycamore, Illinois
• Political science—Cecelia Chapleau of Portage, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• ±Ê²õ²â³¦³ó´Ç±ô´Ç²µ²â—Claire Dine of Saint Joseph, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Public affairs and administration—Collin Holzberger of Port Huron, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• ³§´Ç³¦¾±´Ç±ô´Ç²µ²â—Kelli Sanji of Bartlett, Illinois
• ³§±è²¹²Ô¾±²õ³ó—Piper Meldrum-Roy of Muskegon, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Special education and literacy studies—Morgan Lenox of Buchanan, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Speech, language and hearing sciences—Anna Munson of Kalamazoo
• ³§³Ù²¹³Ù¾±²õ³Ù¾±³¦²õ—Reagan Hartman of Union, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• Teaching, learning and educational studies—Mary Borkholder of Colon, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• °Õ³ó±ð²¹³Ù°ù±ð—Lindsey Beck of West Bloomfield, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§ 
• University studies—Marcia Nyland of Parchment, ¾ÅÒ»Â鶹ÖÆƬ³§
• World languages and literatures—Logan Case of Cincinnati, Ohio

For more WMU news, arts and events, visit WMU News online.