Source: Suzanne Lueker, 785-532-6434, lueker@k-state.edu
Hometown connection: Abilene, Carbondale, Cawker City, Clearwater, Fort Riley, Junction City, Kansas City, Lawrence, Leawood, Lenexa, Liberal, Louisburg, Louisville, Manhattan, Marion, Salina, Solomon, Topeka, Wamego and Wichita, Kan.; Centre and Huntsville, Ala.; Loma, Colo.; Pensacola, Fla.; Normal, Ill.; Spirit Lake, Iowa; Hurdland, Mo.; Omaha, Neb.; Brigantine, N.J.; Carthage, N.Y.; Cameron, N.C., Mentor, Ohio; Newberg, Ore.; Cheltenham, Pa.; Clarksville, Tenn.; Suffolk, Va.; and Madison, Wis.
Website:http://www.dce.k-state.edu/students/pinnacle
News release prepared by: Rosanna Vail, 785-532-2720, rvail@k-state.edu
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
With honors: Nontraditional students earn place in Pinnacle honor society for academic excellence
MANHATTAN -- Academic excellence has earned nearly 70 Kansas State University students membership to Pinnacle Honor Society. The nontraditional student honor society has chapters in almost every state and more than 10,000 total members, including distance education students.
An induction ceremony for new members took place at the Division of Continuing Education's Honors and Awards Reception May 1 in the K-State Alumni Center.
Suzanne Lueker, director of nontraditional and veteran student services at K-State, says the number of Pinnacle inductees is steadily increasing, with this year's numbers up from around 50 inductees last year.
"For the past several years, our nontraditional student population has been increasing, as has the number of nontraditional students earning recognition for their academic achievements," Lueker said.
To be eligible to join K-State's chapter of Pinnacle, students must have achieved a GPA of 3.0 or higher, be of at least junior standing and have demonstrated a record of excellence in leadership, scholarship and service.
"Many of our university's nontraditional students have the laudable task of balancing family, career and education. It's very rewarding to have the opportunity to honor their efforts and achievements," Lueker said.
This year's Pinnacle inductees at K-State include:
Buddy Ladd, junior in history, and Trisha Schmelzle, May 2012 bachelor's graduate in general business administration, both from Abilene; Jordan Thompson, senior in electrical engineering, Carbondale; Kenneth Bader, senior in clinical lab science-medical technician, Cawker City; Jonathan Norton, junior in social science, Chapman; Colton Poort, senior in management, Clearwater; Danielle Maldonado, senior in pre-professional secondary education, Fort Riley.
From Greater Kansas City: Maria Snyder, May 2012 bachelor's graduate in anthropology, Kansas City, Kan.; Michael Hogan, senior in accounting, Leawood; Christa Morrow, junior in general business administration, Lenexa; Erin Baldwin, senior in general business administration, Olathe; and Katherine Mossie, junior in family studies and human services, Shawnee.
From Junction City: Jeremy Gast, senior in history; Emily Jones, senior in social work; Patricia Mansker, senior in social work; and Shaina Maslonka, senior in family studies and human services.
Nathaniel Demby, senior in general business administration, Lawrence; Edgar Alvarado, May 2012 bachelor's graduate in mechanical engineering, Liberal; Janetta Ashlock, May 2012 bachelor's graduate in social science, Louisburg; Michael Sender, senior in pre-professional secondary education, Louisville.
From Manhattan: Janet Adam, senior in history; Kristen Brant, senior in humanities; Ashlee Brawn, senior in general business administration; Jeffrey Bromley, senior in secondary education-social studies; Zian Butler, senior in English; Melissa Cain, junior in anthropology; Orendrea Carter, senior in social science; Alisha Comer, May 2012 master's graduate in interior architecture and product design; Shannon Gardner, senior in life sciences; Nicholas Gazzano, senior in social science; Victoria Gibson, junior in accounting; James Hood, senior in social science; Anthony Howell, senior in humanities; Ashley Meek, junior in apparel and textiles; Timothy Parish, May 2012 bachelor's graduate in social science; Leticha Peyton, senior in kinesiology; Doan Pham, senior in environmental design; Jesse Randall, senior in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology; Daniel Reust, junior in industrial engineering; Robert Sparks, senior in accounting; and Josette Van Pelt, senior in psychology.
Loy Blackketter, senior in professional pilot, Marion; Sarah Fairclough, senior in civil engineering, and Lori Sullivan, senior in fisheries, wildlife and conservation biology, both from Salina; Marcella Newcomer, senior in dietetics, Solomon; Carl Hughes, senior in general business administration, and Heather Kahre, junior in family studies and human services, both from Topeka; Theodore Damman, senior in fine arts, and Walter Siebert, senior in social work, both from Wamego; Sumer Martinez, junior in technology management, and Amanda Roberts, May 2012 bachelor's graduate in hotel and restaurant management, both from Wichita.
From out of state:
Christopher Parmer, senior in animal sciences and industry, Centre, Ala.; Shannon Berry, senior in dietetics, Huntsville, Ala.; Nicole Schmalz, senior in dietetics, Loma, Colo.; Kimberly Rogers, senior in food science and industry, Pensacola, Fla.; David Bareither, senior in food science and industry, Normal, Ill.; Sam Cook, junior in food science and management, Spirit Lake, Iowa; Stephanie Griffin, senior in family studies and human services, Hurdland, Mo.; Emily Cozzetto, senior in family studies and human services, Omaha, Neb.; Cindy Patierno, senior in dietetics, Brigantine, N.J.;Stacey Walsemann, senior in dietetics, Carthage, N.Y.; Jennifer Joyner, senior in dietetics, Cameron, N.C.; Michael Engelking, senior in dietetics, Mentor, Ohio; Jennifer Lanzer, May 2012 bachelor's graduate in kinesiology, Newberg, Ore.; Adrienne Kahn, senior in dietetics, Cheltenham, Pa.; Yvonne Roehr, senior in dietetics, Clarksville, Tenn.; Kelly Freno, senior in dietetics, Suffolk, Va.; and Karla Heikkinen, senior in dietetics, Madison, Wis.
More information about the honor society can be found at http://www.dce.k-state.edu/students/pinnacle.
