FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                          April 25, 2005

NORTHWESTERN ANNOUNCES OUTSTANDING SENIORS OF 2005

Twelve members of the Class of 2005 at Northwestern Oklahoma State University will be honored as Outstanding Seniors at the Special Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 30.

            To be selected as an Outstanding Senior, students must show campus and/or community involvement, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or better, have completed at least 60 hours at Northwestern, never have been subject to academic or disciplinary action and show the promise of future achievement.

            Each recipient receives a plaque and a $100 savings bond.

            Those selected, listed alphabetically, and a brief summary of their activities are:

            Kellie Bradford of Waynoka will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in computer science with emphasis on business information systems. At Northwestern, she has been a class officer and an officer in Cardinal Key honor society, Castle Players drama organization, Circle K, Delta Zeta sorority and the Student Government Association. Bradford has volunteered with Alva Public Schools, Little Olympics, Alva Public Library Reading Program, Summit for Youth and Headstart.

            Audra Curry of Enid will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in mass communications. She has been a member of the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ), Oklahoma Broadcast Education Association and Phi Kappa Delta speech and forensics honorary. An intern with the Northwestern public relations office, she also has been a staff member of the Northwestern News and has won awards from SPJ and the Oklahoma Collegiate Press Association. She helped promote a record-setting university blood drive.

            Laura Dippel of Alva will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. At Northwestern, she has been active with Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, Panhellenic Council, Student Oklahoma Education Association, President’s Leadership Class and Bible Chair. She has served as a Ranger Connector and as a mentor, assisted with the Miss Northwestern Pageant, was a Relay for Life team captain and volunteered with the Special Olympics.

            Marina Johnson of Enid will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in E-commerce with an emphasis in Web site design and management. She previously had completed a bachelor of arts in English and French from Anglia Polytechnic University in England. At Northwestern, she was the founding president of the Enid campus’ Multicultural Club, a member of Cardinal Key honor society and a volunteer with the Cimarron Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross. She also was a volunteer teacher of Italian as a second language to adults.

            Megan Lee of Mooreland will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. At Northwestern, she has been active with the Student Oklahoma Education Association, Alpha Sigma Alpha sorority, College Republicans, Cardinal Key Honor Society and Red & Black Scroll Honor Society. She has been a member of the President’s Leadership Class and a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador. Lee has volunteered with Project Help, as an elementary school mentor and with the Outreach to Teach program.

            Ericka McGuire of Woodward will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in accounting. She has been active in Phi Beta Lambda business club, Delta Zeta sorority and the Society of Physics Students. She also is a member of the Oklahoma Society of Accountants and the Oklahoma Society of Certified Public Accountants, receiving that group’s Outstanding Accounting Student Award last year. McGuire was a member of the inaugural President’s Leadership Class.

            Behezinam “Jubee” Palanga of Lome, Togo, will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in computer science. A graduate of Coffeyville (Kan.) Community College, Palanga has been active in the International Student Organization, volunteered to help with the World Dinner and international cultural awareness. He also has been a member of the Computer Science Club and Phi Theta Kappa and an information technology volunteer with the Alva Public Library.

            Kelli Persons of Mooreland will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She has been a member the Student Oklahoma Education Association, Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, dorm council, Baptist Student Union and Wesley House. She also played varsity soccer for two years, played intramurals and was an Alva schools mentor.

            Nikki Spillman of Woodward will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in biology. She was a member of the inaugural President’s Leadership Class and also has been active in Delta Zeta sorority, Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors, Circle K, Cardinal Key Honor Society and Leadership Northwestern. She also is a Ranger Connector and assisted with the Kiwanis Little Olympics track meet.

            Kayla Stewart of Cherokee will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. At Northwestern, she has been a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador and a member of Baptist Student Union, College Republicans and dorm council. She teaches Sunday school and vacation Bible school and has volunteered as a Special Olympics coach and as a tutor.

            Cammie Vloedman of Oklahoma City will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in E-commerce. She has been a member of the Phi Beta Lambda business club, Cardinal Key Honor Society, Red & Black Scroll Honor Society and Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. Last summer she served an internship with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.

            Williams Yamkam of Douala, Cameroon, will graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in political science. He has been active with the Student Government Association, International Student Association and Cardinal Key Honor Society. He has written a weekly column for the Northwestern News and earned awards from the state Society of Professional Journalists and Oklahoma Collegiate Press Association.

-NW-

Back to News Page