FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                    April 24, 2007

NORTHWESTERN ANNOUNCES OUTSTANDING SENIORS OF 2007

Thirteen members of the Class of 2007 at Northwestern Oklahoma State University will be honored as Outstanding Seniors at the Northwestern Foundation’s Special Awards Ceremony at 6 p.m., Saturday, April 28, in the Student Center Ranger Room.

The 2007 Outstanding Seniors include (from left, front row) Pravaran Mahat, Paula Nevius, Michell Thomason, Christi Phelps, Hannah Feuerborn, Jennifer Drees, Ricki Cinnamon, Helena Plett, (back row) Derek Moore, Drew Lancaster, Lindsay Headlee, Benjamin Bowers and Kiersten Brown. The group each received a plaque and $100 savings bond at the Foundation’s Special Awards Ceremony Saturday.

            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:

            Benjamin Bowers of Enid will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in business administration. He earned an associate degree at Northern Oklahoma College prior to attending Northwestern. He has participated in Kappa Beta Delta Business Honor Society and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. He is one of the recipients of the T.C. Carter Award for the graduating senior(s) with the highest cumulative grade point average.

            Kiersten Brown of Enid will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She has served as a resident assistant in South Hall and been named to the president’s honor roll. She was selected to Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges. She was a member of Red & Black Scroll Honor Society and received several academic scholarships.

            Ricki Cinnamon of Garber will receive a bachelor of science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. She has been a member of Delta Zeta sorority, Fryer Hall Dorm Council and Student Government Association. As a freshman, she was a member of the President’s Leadership Class and later served as a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador. She was the recipient of an Oklahoma Regents Scholarship throughout her four years of school. She has been accepted to the School of Pharmacy at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

            Jennifer Drees of Medford will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in biology with a minor in chemistry. At Northwestern, she has been active in South Hall Dorm Council, intramural sports, Red & Black Scroll Honor Society and Biology Club. She was named to Who’s Who and has served as a tutor for college students and a mentor for a first grade student. She recently completed a 12-week internship at Share Medical Center.

            Hannah Feuerborn of Dewey will receive a bachelor of science degree in psychology with a minor in Spanish. She has been a member of Spanish Club, Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society, Chi Alpha campus ministry outreach and eXtreme Impact, also a campus ministry outreach. She received the Chesapeake Energy Scholarship and is a member of the Leadership Northwestern class.

            Lindsay Headlee of Alva will graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in English education. She is a founding member of Northwestern’s chapter of Sigma Tau Delta International English Honor Society, and a member of Lambda Iota Tau Literature Honor Society. She was the recipient of the Geraldine Burns Award for Excellence in English Studies given by the Oklahoma Council of Teachers of English.

            Drew Lancaster of Ponca City will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in nursing. He is a member of the Northwestern Student Nurses Association and the National Student Nurses Association. He was named to Who’s Who and has received several academic scholarships. In addition to his regular classes, he has received other education at the Jane Phillips Medical Center in Bartlesville and the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center.

            Pravaran Mahat of Kathmandu, Nepal, will graduate with a bachelor of arts degree in political science. He served as a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador and was named to Who’s Who. He was a member of Red & Black Scroll Honor Society, University Democrats, Sigma Tau Delta, Lambda Iota Tau and the International Student Association, serving as president in 2006-07.

            Derek Moore of Anthony, Kan., will receive a bachelor of science degree in biology. He has been accepted to the A.T. Still University College of Osteopathic Medicine in Mesa, Ariz. During his time at Northwestern, he was active in intramural sports, Castle Players and Cardinal Key Honor Society. He was a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador and member of Leadership Northwestern. In addition, he has been a volunteer emergency medical technician in Harper County, Kan.

            Paula Nevius of Enid will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. She was an honor graduate of Northern Oklahoma College. She was secretary of the Northwestern-Enid Student Council and president of the Northwestern-Enid Psychology Club. Nevius is founder and board member of HOPE In Oklahoma, a gynecologic cancer education and support program. She has had articles published in Family Circle and Redbook magazines among other publications.

            Christin Phelps of Houston, Texas, will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in psychology. She has been a member of the soccer team, serving as co-captain in 2006, and was academic all-American in 2005 and 2006. She also has been named to the all-region VI team and the all-Sooner Athletic Conference team. She has been a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador, a member of Cardinal Key Honor Society and named to Who’s Who. She also is a recipient of the T.C. Carter Award.

            Helena Plett of Okeene will graduate with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education. She is co-founder and president of Northwestern’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD), president of the Northwestern Scholar Ambassadors and co-founder and treasurer of the Northwestern Art Society. She was a resident assistant and member of Red & Black Scroll and Cardinal Key honor societies and Leadership Northwestern. She is a recipient of the T.C. Carter and John F. Kennedy awards.

            Michell Thomason of Lahoma will receive a bachelor of science degree in mathematics education. She has been a Northwestern Scholar Ambassador and served as president of the Math Club. She also was a member of SADD and Red & Black Scroll honor society. She has been a volunteer math tutor and a volunteer at Leonardo’s Discovery Warehouse in Enid. She also is a T.C. Carter Award recipient.

-NW-

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