On campus

Graduation cap toss

Local students are graduating from Western Illinois University at the end of the spring 2021 semester.

Neelum Rizwan of Oswego, social work, will graduate with academic distinction, cum laude.

Matthew Sierzega of Oswego, law enforcement and justice administration, will graduate with highest academic distinction, summa cum laude.

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Cortney Bols of Sandwich will be graduate from Ripon College in May. Bols is majoring in educational studies EC/MC and exercise science - physical education. Bols’ parents are Robert and Kimberly Bols of Sandwich.

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John George of Yorkville graduated from Iowa State University with a Master’s of Engineering degree in electrical engineering.

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Leah Kiser of Oswego was named to the dean’s list for outstanding academic performance at Northland College during the winter 2021 term.

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Martez Malone of Montgomery has graduated from McKendree University with a BBA degree in sport management.

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Two Illinois State University students, including Gabriela Ornelas of Yorkville, have been selected as winners of the 2021 Association of Environmental Health Academic Programs (AEHAP) Student Research Competition for their work to improve the filtrating ability of N95 respirators.

Environmental health and sustainability students Ornelas and Rowan Carroll of LaGrange worked with Dr. Liangcheng “L.C.” Yang to improve the respirators by using a high-voltage recharger to increase electrostatic charges.

As winners, the students receive a $1,000 award and up to $1,000 in travel expenses to present their research. Student winners presented at the National Environmental Health Association’s (NEHA) Conference & Exhibition, and they will present at the AEHAP Student Research Symposium in May.