News From Honors Alumni
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Last Updated: Oct 06, 2026, 12:00 PM
What Our Alumni Are Doing...
Zeneya Scott, Political Science (2024)
Becomes the 11th member of her family to graduate from SIU Carbondale.
Morgan Ruden, English (2024)
Is starting on an M.S. in Library Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Morgan plans to become a research librarian and imagines libraries as free spaces where the intellectual life and soul of a community is nurtured.
Anna Feliciano, Physiology (2019)
"I will be attending Indiana University's School of Medicine in the Fall of 2019 in Indianapolis after graduation!"
Sara Dixon, Biological Sciences (2019)
"After graduation, I am starting medical school at A.T. Still University in July. I am planning on pursuing a career as an orthopedic surgeon with a focus on sports medicine."
Danielle Kapanowski, Law (2019)
"I will be starting at SIU School of Law this fall 2019!"
Abigayle Ochs, Physiology (2019)
“After graduating, I will be finishing my research in Dr. Hales' Physiology Lab and then moving to Nashville, TN to attend Physician Assistant (PA) School at Trevecca Nazarene University.”
Abbey LaTour, Art (2019)
"After graduation I will be moving to Elizabethtown, Kentucky to work at their local newspaper as a copyeditor and layout designer."
Katherine Gallick, Management (2019)
"After graduation, I will be moving to Washington DC and working for Deloitte Consulting as an Analyst within the Human Capital group."
Serenah Minasian, English (2019)
"I am continuing on to Graduate School at Illinois State University in English Studies and will be a Graduate Teaching Assistant there as well."
Jori Bonadurer, Languages, Cultures, and International Studies, Art (2019)
"After graduating, I will attend John Cabot University in Rome, Italy with a full tuition scholarship for a Master of Arts in Art History with the plans of pursuing a museum career. In the Summer of 2019, I will be an intern at the Peggy Guggenheim Collection in Venice, Italy assisting with museum operations and the Venice Biennale."
Hanna Netisingha, Zoology (2018)
"I loved being a part of the UHP family. The opportunities I had and the people I met were amazing; and popcorn Fridays were awesome. Thanks for the Honors Oasis and thank you for always being great support for Honors students and providing us with so much."
Haley Schmidt, Biological Sciences (2018)
"I'm really happy I decided to join the Honors program. I loved the classes and it has motivated me to complete a thesis project, which i otherwise would not have done."
Chad Ferriell, Musical Theater (2018)
"I have had an amazing time here being an Honors student. David told me something on the first day I met him that i wont forget. 'Being an Honors student is meant to reward you, not punish you.'"
Camille Myers, Marketing (2018)
"I always looked forward to meeting with my mentor. Everytime I went she reminded me why I decided to attend college in the first place and I always left with a renewed sense of purpose."
Priya Patel, Biological Sciences (2018)
"I have had an extremely good experience with the Honors Program at SIU and would recommend the program to anyone that asked. I learned about subjects that weren't in my field of study but still found a way to incorporate all of it in to my studies."
Keegan Trip, Horticulture (2018)
"I really enjoyed the size (small and more personal), diversity of subjects, and quality of teaching instructors that the Honors Program offers. I was better challenged in these classes unlike most of the core classes."
Ariel Gorham, Zoology (2018)
"Every mentor I met with was extremely helpful in guiding me towards my end goal and ensuring that I was keeping up with all of my classes and extracurricular activities. They were the biggest support during my undergraduate career."
Shelby Moore, Biological Sciences (2018)
"My favorite part was being able to register for classes before anyone else. I always got into the classes I wanted."
Tyler Chance, Political Science (2013)
“The University Honors Program has not only given me the chance to grow academically, but it has also given me the chance to grow a family. The people I have come in contact with in my honors classes have become my best friends; they have become my family. That family is one thing that the honors program provides that no other academic program could match.”
Lee Stewart, 2011 USA Today All-College Academic Team, Political Science (2012)
“The University Honors Program has been an integral piece to my success at SIU. The classes taught in this program are fantastic and the professors are dedicated to student success. The services provided by the UHP and The Office of Major Scholarship Advisement have helped me to network on campus, become involved in research, and helped set me apart from other students. The friendships I've made through being in this program have also been some of the most meaningful and lasting friendships of my college career.”
Carly Freiwald, Marketing (2012)
“When I joined the Honors Program as an incoming freshman I thought it was just going to be something that would look good on my resume. However, I'm junior now and as the years have progressed I have become more and more fond of the program. I have thoroughly enjoyed every class that I have taken and I think it is a great opportunity. Today I was reading over the email with the new classes for next semester and I was astounded. I want to take almost every single class! I'm especially excited about the Walt Disney class!"
Kimberly Adele Bilitzki, Bachelor's in Plant Biology (2012)
“I'm friends with several of you on FaceBook! Love seeing everyone progress! I just started my grad program at Indiana university Bloomington! And so far I love it. Currently working on the NSF pre-doc!”
Yuri Fedorovich, Bachelor's in Physiology (2012)
“Currently I am a first year graduate assistant in the Physiology Department, SIU School of Medicine with research interests in Neuroscience. I am planning to finish my degree in August 2013 and tie my future with medicine afterwards.”
Loran (Luehr) Morris, Bachelor's in Human Nutrition and Dietetics (2012)
“I spent my summer doing my favorite thing in the world.....working at SUMMER CAMP!! Then I began my graduate program in Food and Nutrition with an emphasis on Community Nutrition at SIUC this fall. I should be graduating with my Master's of Science with my Registered Dietitian licensure in May 2014, and then, who knows where God will take me! I was thinking being an international missionary dietitian with my husband for a few years.”
Cameron Jones, Bachelor's in Civil Engineering (2012)
“I started working as a Civil Engineer and Land Surveyor in Jacksonville, Illinois. I Love what I do and learn something new everyday!”
Sarah Harvey, Computer Science (2011)
“I started a PhD program in Computer Science at University of Waterloo in Canada in September 2011. My research areas are in security, privacy and information retrieval, and I currently work on problems relating to location privacy, and privacy in personalization systems.”
Arielle (Thibodeaux) Masterson, Bachelor's of Social Work (2011)
“I went on to University of Southern Indiana to do my Master of Social Work. I finished this year. Currently, I'm working as a mental health therapist. I also married a SIU alum a couple of months ago.”
Kelsey Elizabeth Jarrett, Bachelor's in Microbiology (2011)
"I will graduate from SIU School of Medicine with a M.S. in Cellular Physiology this May. I'm in the process of applying to PhD programs so that I can pursue interdisciplinary studies in both molecular biology and immunology, which for me, is the scariest thing I've ever done. Eventually, I hope to become a professor and run my own laboratory."
Issac Simon, Bachelor's in Zoology (2011)
“I was in Israel interning in a zoology lab at Tel Aviv University for a while. Now I'm back in the states hoping to start graduate school in the fall.”
Emily Boyer, Bachelor's in Spanish (2011)
“I am currently working at the Macon County Health Department as the MIECHV Intake Coordinator where I help families facing adverse experiences get a good start as a family so they will all succeed.”
Payton Lindsay, Bachelor's in Mathematics and Civil Engineering (2011)
“Over the summer of 2012 I worked as an intern with the DOD at the Pentagon, and that Fall semester I started as a grad student in Structural Engineering at Purdue University. For this summer I spent the first half working on my research here at Purdue and the second half at Sandia National Labs in NM doing research for them. I will graduate with my Masters in the Spring, but it won't mean much because I'm staying on at Purdue for my PhD.”
Nathan Wachter, Bachelor's in Biological Sciences (2011)
“I am now in my second year of Medical School in Springfield, IL with SIU School of Medicine. I am not sure what I am going to specialize in but am thinking about a surgical specialty.”
Lisa Furby, Bachelor's Mechanical Engineering (2010)
"I began law school in the Fall of 2010 at Washington University in St. Louis. I will graduate this May after 3 long years!”
Brooke Armstrong, Bachelor's Political Science (2010)
“In Fall 2010, I started work to get my J.D. at the School of Law here in Carbondale, and I'm due to graduate this May after really enjoying the past two and a half years. After that, I'll take the bar exams for Illinois and Kentucky, and contingent on my passing, I hope to practice law somewhere in Southern Illinois or Western Kentucky.”
Kilby Osborn, Bachelor's in Physiology (2010)
“I am currently a medical student at Indiana University School of Medicine”
Steve Looten Jr., Bachelor's in Theatre (2010)
"I have been privileged to work for theatre companies in Ohio, Illinois, California, and North Carolina - acting, directing, sword-fighting, building sets, hanging lights, blowing things up, teaching my ways to impressionable teenage minds, and a number of other fun activities. Next week, I will move to Minneapolis, MN to be near friends from SIU!”
Stephanie Buckley, Special Education (2009)
"Honors classes have allowed me to explore worlds that I did not think were possible to me. I have not only learned about how to be a better student, but a better and more well-rounded person."
Joe Batir, 2007 Morris Udall Scholarship Winner, Geology (2009)
"My experiences with the honors program will be some of my best memories of my college experience."
Sean Goodin, Physiology-Political Science & Chemistry (2009)
"University Honors Program has enabled me to gain a wealth of information that is above and beyond what you can get in a normal class."
Sarah P. Beard, Marketing & Management (2008)
"The University Honors Program is an excellent opportunity for students to enhance their college experiences. The classes offered through the Honors Program are not like any other classes on campus. I have learned more from my honors classes than any other classes."
Cory Maria Dack, English & Music (2008)
"Some of the honors professors I've worked with have been the best and most thought provoking teachers I've ever had."
Payton List, Film Production & Premedicine (2007)
"I have been able to explore many new areas of study that I would have never thought about otherwise. My analytical and writing skills have improved greatly with each of the courses I have taken. I also enjoy small class sizes because I am able to work closely with the professor and participate in class discussions."
Todd Styles, English (2007)
"The honors program is a great aid to students. Lots of scholarship opportunities and interesting classes, I recommend it to any student."
Laura Deaton, Psychology (2007)
"I think the honors program provided a chance to be exposed to some interesting classes instead of just average core. It made going to class an enjoyable experience. Working for my Honors thesis has also really prepared me for what to expect in graduate school."
Rapeepan Maitree, Electrical Engineering (2007)
"University Honors Program helps me build on my accomplishments and inspire me to climb a little higher and stretch the boundaries of my imagination."
Brenda Sanders, University Studies (2007)
"Through the SIUC Honors Program, guest lectures, breakfast meetings and opportunities to meet diverse academic luminaries, I have had significant exposure to academic figures that would otherwise have been unavailable to me. Thus my academic experience has been enriched and has equipped me with strong confidence in knowing that I will complete post-graduate degrees and enjoy a meaningful career. I wholeheartedly recommend participation in the SIUC Honors Program."
Austin Mohr, Mathematics & Computer Science (2007)
"The University Honors Program has been an indispensable aid in my pursuit of major scholarships. The faculty are skilled, knowledgeable and tireless in their efforts. It is because of their focused, goal-oriented work that I was able to secure the Barry M.Goldwater Scholarship. I cannot express the depth of my gratitude for their steadfast belief in my abilities and ardent desire for my success."
Fahran Robb, 2006 USA Today All-USA College Academic team, Agriculture Information & Political Science (2007)
"The University Honors Program has opened so many doors for me. I never would have applied for the USA Today All-USA College Academic Team without their guidance. They truly care about providing us an advantage for our future."
Adam Hall, Cinema & Photography (2007)
"The Honors Program has been a huge part of my college experience. Having the opportunity to meet and converse with outstanding professionals such as Story Musgrave, David Levy and Garrison Keillor is a source of inspiration and encouragement in my own pursuits."