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• Honors Day 2004

Dr. Folke-Christine Moeller-Sahling, left, assistant professor of German and humanities, and students Abby Ruble and Erin Simmons share a joke relating to the contents of Simmons’ gift following the School of Liberal Arts Honors Day Program March 21. The package is full of teaching materials for Simmons, an elementary education major.
 
 
 

• Walter Jermakowicz III, 2003 Graduate
  University of Southern Indiana senior Walter J. Jermakowicz III received the President’s Medal during the USI Commencement ceremony on Sunday, May 11, 2003, at Roberts Stadium in Evansville. The President’s Medal is the highest honor given a student at graduation.
  
  Jermakowicz is being recognized for his commitment to academic excellence and for his service to the University and the community. He will graduate magna cum laude with three degrees—Bachelor of Science with a major in biology, Bachelor of Science with a major in chemistry; and Bachelor of Arts with a major in German. His career goals include biomedical research and teaching in a higher education setting.
  
  He served for two years as the student representative to the USI Board of Trustees, appointed by the governor of Indiana.
  
  His many honors include receiving the national Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, the USI Trustees Distinguished Merit Award, the USI Spirit of the Eagle Award, and a Fulbright Award to study in Germany next year. As a Fulbright scholar he plans to study blood vessel formation in nervous system tumors at the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology and enroll in courses in neurobiology at the University of Munich.
  
  As an undergraduate, he has won many prestigious study and research opportunities including summer research fellowships at the Mayo Clinic and Washington University. Jermakowicz is widely published in professional and scientific journals and has presented his research at meetings of international societies.
  
  An active student leader, Jermakowicz has been Student Government Association vice president for Student Affairs and Activities, attorney general, and treasurer. He was selected by SGA for the Top 10 University Leaders Award and for the Member of the Year Award. Jermakowicz also has served on the Board of Directors of the USI-New Harmony Foundation and the USI Athletic Board.
  
  Fluent in English, German, and Polish, Jermakowicz has studied in Germany and Poland, where he co-founded the Polish Chemical Society Student Division. He has been active in the Association of German Students, the USI Student Affiliates Chapter of the American Chemical Society, and the Health Occupation Students of America, which he served as Indiana state vice president.
  
  In the Evansville community, he has been a youth group leader at St Mary’s Catholic Church, served as a judge for the Tri-State Regional Science Fair, and participated in high school speech and debate contests.
  
  Jermakowicz is the son of Dr. Eva Jermakowicz, USI associate professor of accounting, and the late Walter J. Jermakowicz Jr.
  
  Other finalists for the President’s Medal are Kendra Maasberg, Evansville; Nathaniel Rivers, Evansville; and Karen Schnellenberger, Jasper.

 

• Mary Jo Hagedorn, 1999 Graduate

Dr. Donald Wolfe and Mary Jo Hagedorn with the mayor of Osnabrück, summer 2001.  As a state-wide Rotary competition winner, Mary Jo was awarded an all-expenses-paid year of study in the country of her choice.  Mary Jo chose to pursue advanced German studies at the University of Munich.

• Jenny Medcraft, 1998 Graduate
  Jenny graduated with a B.A. in Computer Information Systems and German and with a minor in Mathematics.  While a student, she attended the International Summer School of German Language and Culture at the University of Heidelberg. She also earned the Award of Excellence Scholarship from the Association of German Students.  Jenny works for USI now as a Computer Systems Analyst for the colleges of Business and Liberal Arts. 

 

• Kirt Page, 1998 Graduate
  A chemistry major with three years of German at USI, Kirt was the 1998-99 recipient of a Fulbright Fellowship to the University of Mainz, Germany.  He was also accepted by the Max Planck Institute for Polymers as an intern.  He is currently pursuing his doctorate in chemistry.

 

• Amy Huebschman Lutzel, 1996 Graduate
  At USI, Amy double-majored in Communications and German, where she earned the Award of Excellence from the Association of German Students.  While at USI, she also studied at the Hochschule in Bremen and the University of Heidelberg.  After ten years of working in the travel industry and getting to traveling to 47 states in the U.S., all over the Caribbean, Mexico, and Europe, Amy decided it was time for a change and returned to school to receive a Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Paralegal Studies through Colorado State University.  She is now working as a Legal Assistant at the Vanderburgh County Prosecutor's Office.  In her spare time, she serves as Secretary on the USI Alumni Council.