UI May Commencements Bring Crop of Inspiring Grads
Wednesday, May 1 2002
UI May Commencements Bring Crop of Inspiring Grads^May 1, 2002^MOSCOW – As the University of Idaho commencements approach May 9 (Idaho Falls), 11 (Boise), 13 (Coeur d'Alene) and 18 (Moscow), 1,672 graduates prepare for new lives, promises and goals kept. Some are the first to graduate in their family or in one of UI's new programs. Exceptional stories include:^Julia Nkanata, a Kenyan native, completes her master's degree in rehabilitation/community counseling and will return to Kenya to pass along training to people who work with HIV/AIDS patients. She also was an officer of UI's African students Association. Her new skills will address a significant social problem in the world today. "None of my family have a college degree or have traveled outside my home town and I feel so privileged to have had the opportunity to gain a meaningful education that will contribute directly to the challenges my country is facing." Contact: jnkatha@yahoo.com, (208) 882-5282 (Daily Nation, Kenya)^Yelena Chenchik, a master's student in the College of Art and Architecture, came from Russia on an Edmund Muski Graduate Fellowship. She wanted to study and then teach sustainable architecture, as, she says, "nobody does that in Russia. So, I had to come to the United States." With no money, the fellowship paved her way. Contact: (208) 885-8722, chen2731@yahoo.com^Kevin Davis, from Gresham, Ore. and a student in recreation and outdoor leadership, is a world-renowned javelin thrower for the deaf, who also competed in UI track. He regained some hearing in 2001 with a transplant known as a "Bionic Ear," was a Teaching Assistant, assumed student leadership roles, and upheld high scholastics and positive influence. He won the Outstanding Programmer Award for his department at a recent awards event. Contact: Spearchu@aol.com, (509) 336-2522, pager, or faculty adviser, Mike Kinziger, (208) 885-2165, mikek@uidaho.edu^Zeljka Vidic, from Zagreb, Croatia and a four-year member of the women's tennis team, came to UI as a refugee from Croatia, with nothing but a tennis scholarship and seven years experience with unpredictability, she says. Her family's home had been destroyed in the Serbian occupation. "In this small college town, I blossomed," she said. "Your friendly people, rewards for hard work, values for independence and the area's natural beauty helped heal me." She now will continue her business and marketing education at the graduate level. Contact: (208) 882-9882 or vidi4881@uidaho.edu^Rodney Hilaire, who came from Los Angeles, Calif. to UI for men's basketball, had a difficult adjustment and academic road, he admits. But when he lost his parents a few years ago, he remembers the promise he made to his mother -- that he would get a college degree. His mentors say his perseverance and effort to turn his life around made a significant impact at UI. This one's for you mom -- a degree in general studies. Contact: (208) 310-9521 (cell), (208) 885-8820 (dorm), or rodneyhilaire@hotmail.com ^Buck S. Samuel, of Nordman, is a first generation college graduate, a home-schooled product, a model for community volunteerism, and an exceptional student in microbiology and biochemistry. After graduation, he will study at Washington University in St. Louis, a top institution in microbial pathogenesis. Samuel is considered one of the top 40 college students in the country, based on being chosen for the USA Today 13th annual All-USA College Academic team. His many honors and achievements recognize his academic and research talents, his student leadership and community volunteerism, and his self-starting motivation. He credits "living in the northern Idaho wilderness for shaping my intense reverence and curiosity for the life around me." Contact: Samuel, (208) 883-0882, bucksam@sub.uidaho.edu^James George and his son, Trey, originally from Texas and Wyoming but more recently from Spokane, Wash. will walk together at the Moscow graduation. James' bachelor degree in Industrial Technology Education has been 30 years in the making, after retirement from a military career. Trey, who will get his master's in environmental science, "was my personal tutor!" They both enjoyed each other's support and even their wife/mom, Sonya, joined the homework circle to earn her cosmetology license in Lewiston. Contacts: treywa@hotmail.com, 332-4018, george0810@hotmail.com, (208) 835-3835^Robert D. Phillips, a Korean War veteran and Boise resident, will participate in Moscow's ceremony alongside his granddaughter Kathryn Lee Tracy, who receives a bachelor's degree in Family and Consumer Science. He had earned a UI business degree in 1951, but was called to action and missed his graduation ceremony 50 years ago. Contact: trac1745@uidaho.edu or Bill Loftus, (208) 885-7694, bloftus@uidaho.edu^Kelli Deck, of Mossyrock, Wash., is one of UI's speediest grads. She began attending Centralia Community College (CCC) in her junior year of high school, as part of Running Start and graduated both from high school and CCC with an associate of arts degree in 1999. Now, with her UI education finished, she is completing her student teaching in Genesee and will receive her secondary education degree in English May 18. "I am teaching 11th, 9th, and 7th graders and some have mistaken me for a student, which is understandable because a couple of them are pushing 19 and I'm only 20." Deck is the first in her family ever to go to college, and she says she was determined to "buck this trend." Contact: 892-9596, steelheaders@moscow.com^Anjel Luna, from Prosser, Wash., will pick up a master's degree in fine arts degree in studio arts (ceramics and sculpture) and in the process, has created some exceptional art about his background. He is the son of migrant farm workers and has been active at UI in helping recruit and mentor minority students. Contact: Luna3988@uidaho.edu^Erik Miller, from Deary, is a Marine who served for four years, returned home and began full-time study at UI in Information Systems, began a family and started his own business. Despite multiple responsibilities, he works regularly with a teenager who has developmental disabilities. He just won a prestigious award for his business through Seattle University - the Pacific Northwest Collegiate Entrepreneurship Award. He will receive a degree in Information Systems in May. Contact: jodimiller1@hotmail.com, emiller101@email.msn.com^BOISE – More boot-strapping comes from the Boise/Twin Falls resident campuses with 73 graduates:^Steve Clayton is the first full-time doctoral student to graduate from the Boise ecohydraulics research group. He represents the new breed of scientists with backgrounds in both biology and engineering. Contact: sclayton@uidaho.edu ^David Tuthill, who converted his vision for new technologies and software at his Idaho Department of Water Resources workplace into a doctoral dissertation. Bringing a unique water rights adjudication model into academe for study, Tuthill demonstrates UI-Boise's collaborative efforts with government and industry to solve tough problems. Contact: dtuthill@idwr.state.id.us, (208) 327-7929 (office)^Craig Gingerich, an educator in Seoul, Korea, was able to complete his master's degree in Educational Administration through the Boise Center by taking his final exams in Korea. His Korean supervisor was his exam proctor, and they transpired in the midst of intense yellow dust storms and Gingerich's own heavy teaching duties. Contact: clging@uriel.net^Chris Hurst, associate director of information technology at Boise State University, receives a degree in educational leadership at UI-Boise. This program allows working people to finish degrees and attend classes evenings and weekends, without having to spend any time in Moscow. Contacts: (208) 426-1295, churst@boisestate.edu or Carolyn M. Keeler, Coordinator, Educational Leadership, UI-Boise, (208) 334.2999, ckeeler@uidaho.edu^Pam Adams will be graduating with a master's degree in Adult Education this spring. She's a single mom, raising two teenagers, going to school full time. Pam has successfully completed her master's degree and is considering starting the doctoral program in the fall. She inspires her faculty who wonder how she can work, raise teens and accomplish her academic goals. Contact: focus@velocitus.net^COEUR D'ALENE -- From this center, 47 students have earned their degrees this spring:^Andrea Partridge has finished in counseling and human services -- by correspondence from Oak Harbor, Wash. The race is on between the baby stork and May 13 commencement ceremonies. Contact: kevandrea@earthlink.net^Nichole Thiel, undergraduate student in teacher education, began classes in 1987 on the Moscow campus, did work study in the Coeur d' Alene office. After being on academic probation in her first few years, she came back to become a solid student. She's already been hired by Lakeland School District for fall 2002 as a Home-Economics teacher. Contact: nthiel@yahoo.com, (208) 772-0821^Sarah Leverett-Main, is the first woman to receive her doctorate at UI- Coeur d' Alene, and will receive her advanced degree in education. She is the coordinator for school counseling at Eastern Washington University, and wrote her dissertation about admission screening measures and student success, which surveys counselor education programs nationally. Contact sleverett@ewu.edu, (509) 255-5377 mcintosh@uidaho.edu^IDAHO FALLS -- At the Idaho Falls center, 42 candidates have concluded studies. Faculty adviser Chris McIntosh is inspired by his four agribusiness graduates, who he says have earned their bachelor degrees completely at night while they maintained other jobs and family obligations. Contact: mcintosh@uidaho.edu^The following is the first wave of what will be many graduate students from the adult education program, under the advising of Professor Mark McCaslin, markm@uidaho.edu:^Karen Wilson-Scott's, Ph.D. in education, an INEEL technical writer, doctoral dissertation touches on perseverance in adults committed to new challenging life pursuits after age 50. Her son Matthew Hollister, also is graduating in Moscow with a B.S. in Micro Biology. Contact: (208) 526-0582, klh@inel.gov or arwen@onewest.net^Kathy Wraught started college in 1973 at what was then Ricks College, then began with UI-Idaho Falls in 1990, and midstream lost her husband. Overcoming this adversity, she now graduates with a B.S. Industrial Technology. Contact: kjr@inel.gov, (208) 526-8073.^Julie Birdsong, assistant professor of education at Idaho State University, earns a doctoral degree and prepared a biographical study/dissertation about professional and personal growth of a cooperating teacher in the midst of education reform. Contact: birdjuli@isu.edu, 208-282-7830^Kathleen Olsen, an Idaho State University nursing instructor, prepared a doctoral dissertation about care-giving for the elderly spouse. It explores the challenges of elderly people when their spouse develops problems with balance and it results in a fall. She actually completed her studies last December, but was in Nepal, so she'll "walk" in May. Contact: olsekath@isu.edu, (208) 282-5190^Roy Huff, who works at Brigham Young University-Idaho, as part of his doctoral program at UI-Idaho Falls, researched perceived and real barriers for prospective Latter-day Saint senior missionaries, who spend their golden years in humanitarian, education, or religious activities. Contact: HUFFR@byui.edu^Vaughn Stephenson, a Brigham Young University-Idaho employee, prepared a thesis on the effect of classical background music on spatial reasoning skills of college students. Contact: STEPHENSON@byui.edu^Roger Scott, an INEEL employee, prepared a dissertation entitled "An Educated Imagination: The Phenomenology of Creating," a topic he believes is important to his daily work in a highly technical and engineering-driven organization. His wife, Sherry, also will receive her B.S. in nursing from ISU. Contact: sct@inel.gov^-30-^NH-5/1/02-HT/STS
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