McKendree University

Eleven McKendree University women's water polo players were recently named to the Western Water Polo Association (WWPA) Conference All-Academic Team for the 2020-21 school year. To qualify for the WWPA All-Academic Team, a student-athlete must have participated in at least 50 percent of games during the 2020-21 season, carry a 3.0 cumulative grade point average, classified as a full time student and have completed at least one semester or two quarters at their institution. Honorees included: Maddy Bolton, Jr., Alta Loma, Calif./Los Osos Abigail Burton, Jr., (Chino, Calif./Chino Alivia Garcia, So., Buena Park, Calif./Kennedy Alaina Johnson, Sr., Mason, Ohio/William Mason Kaitlyn Kasper, Fr., Thomasville, Ga./Thomasville Carley Manuel, Jr., Lantana, Texas/Guyer Nicky Rafalo, So., Chicago, Ill./Maine South Katelyn Rodrigue, So., Brentwood, Calif./Heritage Isabella Strimling, Sr., Brentwood, Calif./Heritage Rio Tomlinson, Fr., Okemos, Mich./Okemos Emily Westlove, Sr., Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central

Nine McKendree University women's water polo players were recently named to the Association of Collegiate Water Polo Coaches and Collegiate Water Polo Association (ACWPA) All-Academic Team for the 2020-21 school year. Nominees for ACWPA All-Academic Team honors must achieve a 3.2 cumulative grade point average or higher during the 2020-21 school year to be eligible for the award. Student-athletes are recognized in three levels - 3.2 to 3.4 (Excellent), 3.41 to 3.7 (Superior) and 3.71 to 4.0 (Outstanding). Honorees included: Excellent (3.2-3.4) Maddy Bolton, Jr., Alta Loma, Calif./Los Osos Alivia Garcia, So., Buena Park, Calif./Kennedy Superior (3.41-3.7) Abigail Burton, Jr., (Chino, Calif./Chino Alaina Johnson, Sr., Mason, Ohio/William Mason Carley Manuel, Jr., Lantana, Texas/Guyer Isabella Strimling, Sr., Brentwood, Calif./Heritage Rio Tomlinson, Fr., Okemos, Mich./Okemos Emily Westlove, Sr., Naperville, Ill./Naperville Central Outstanding (3.71-4.0) Kaitlyn Kasper, Fr., Thomasville, Ga./Thomasville The women's program also earned team-wide recognition of overall excellence as they achieved a 3.04 cumulative GPA.

Eight McKendree University women's wrestlers were named to the National Wrestling Coaches Association (NCWA) Scholar All-America Team during the 2020-21 season. This season, the NCWA had a total of 101 individuals represented by 16 different institutions on the 2021 Individual Scholar All-American Teams. Honorees included: Emma Bruntil, So., Acme, Wash./Mount Baker Senior Pauline Granados, R-So., Rialto, Calif./Carter Cameron Guerin, Fr., Yakima, Wash./A.C. Davis Joye Levendusky, Jr., Avon, N.Y./Avon Emmily Patneaud, Fr., Newark, Calif./Gilory Natalie Reyna, Jr., Hesperia, Calif./Whittier Payton Stroud, So., Buckley, Wash./White River Felicity Taylor, Jr., Spillville, Iowa/South Winneshiek The Bearcat team also recorded the second highest team GPA among the Top 10 teams recognized, with a team GPA of 3.720.

Seven McKendree University women's hockey players were recently named Academic All-Americans by the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA) for the 2020-21 school year. In order to be considered for Academic All-American honors from the ACHA, the student-athletes from ACHA programs have to be classified as a junior, senior or graduate student and have a 3.2 GPA or higher. Honorees included: Elia Burbidge, Sr., Tottenham, Ontario/The Hill Academy Laurynn Davey, Sr., Owens Cross Roads, Ala./Huntsville Chase Hallemann, Sr., Ballwin, Mo./Marquette Callie Hoadley, Sr., Hanover, Mass./Hanover Brittany Koch, Jr., Bloomfield Hills, Mich./Bloomfield Hills Naomi Leasck, Jr., St. Louis, Mo./Lindbergh Paris Suzuki, Sr., Covina, Calif./Covina

Ten McKendree University women's bowlers earned National Tenpin Coaches Association (NTCA) All-Academic Team honors during the 2020-21 season. In order for a student-athlete to earn NTCA All-Academic honors, a student-athlete must have had a cumulative GPA of 3.4 or higher for the 2020-21 academic year to qualify. Honorees included: Isabel Allen, Fr., Tamworth, England Alyson Burns, Fr., Lexington, Ky./Lexington Catholic Isabella Correa Sarmiento, Sr., Cali, Colombia/Colegio Leonistico La Merced Rhian Dobinson, Fr., Farnborough, England Dominique Donegan, Fr., Midlothian, Ill./Breman Brianna Evans, So., Topeka, Kan./Seaman Hope Gramly, Jr., Prosper, Texas/Prosper Rebecca Hagerman, So., Loves Parks, Ill./Harlem Britaney Myers, Sr., Mechanicsville, N.Y./Stillwater Maranda Pattison, So., Redwood Valley, Calif./Ukiah Independent In addition, the women's bowling program was recognized by NTCA for its success in the classroom during the 2020-21 season. McKendree was one of a record 59 teams to earn an NTCA All-Academic Team honor as the Bearcats finished the year with a 3.32 team grade point average. In order to earn a NTCA Team All-Academic Award, a team must have achieved a team GPA of 3.2 or higher.

The McKendree University men's volleyball program earned several academic awards for the 2020-21 school year. The team earned a United States Marine Corps (USMC) / American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Team Academic Award and was one of seven men's collegiate volleyball programs to earn the Team Academic Honor Roll, which represents the highest scholarly achievement for the Top 20 percent of team GPAs from each division. Twenty players were also selected to the Midwestern Intercollegiate Volleyball Association (MIVA) All-Academic Team, including: Ethan Carroll, R-Sr., OH, Barrington, Ill./Barrington Kolten Christenson, Fr., OH, Phoenix, Ariz./O'Connor Francisco Comas, Jr., Libero, Naperville, Ill./Neuqua Valley Wyatt Dimke, Gr., MB, Ham Lake, Minn./Blaine Daniel Duggan, R-So., MB, Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton North Brendon Dunn, R-Jr., OH, Sherman Oaks, Calif./Notre Dame Cameron Fimbres, Fr, OH, Tucson, Ariz./Pueblo Hayden Frear, So., OH, Colorado Springs, Colo./Vanguard Lucas Galifos, Gr., OH, Mokena, Ill./Lincoln Way East Jacob Gall, R-So., MB, Fairview Heights, Ill./Althoff Catholic Evan Gebert, Gr., OPP, Fort Wayne, Ind./Snider Chris Kissling, Fr., Lib., La Habra, Calif./Los Altos Tommy McGrath, R-Jr., MB, MB, Paradise Valley, Ariz./Brophy College Prep Niklas Oltmanns, Fr., MB, Duluth, Minn./Duluth East Tyler Poulsen, So., S, Gilbert, Ariz./Campo Verde Patrick Ross, Sr., OH, Anthem, Ariz./O'Connor Zach Schnittker, Gr., Opp., Arlington Heights, Ill./Buffalo Grove Ryan Serrano, R-Jr., S, Phoenix, Ariz./Boulder Creek Kyle Wilson, R-Fr., OH, Nassau, Bahamas/Queen's College Nikos Xydakis, Fr., Opp., Roscoe, Ill./Boylan Catholic

Six McKendree University men's wrestlers were named National Wrestling Coaches Association (NWCA) Division II Scholar All-Americans for the 2020-21 school year. In order for a student-athlete to be nominated to the Division II Scholar All-American Team, he must have a minimum 3.4 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale, with that benchmark at 3.25 for those who qualified for the 2020 NCAA Division II Wrestling Championships. Below are this year's McKendree University men's wrestling Scholar All-Americans: Ryan Haynes, Fr., Pekin, Ill./Pekin Community Logan Kvien, R-Fr., Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein Josh Ramos, R-Fr., Plainfield, Ill./Providence Catholic Nate Smalling, Gr., Belleville, Ill./Belleville West Robbie Snellenberger, R-So., St. Charles, Mo./Lutheran Kevin Zange, R-Sr., Woodstock, Ill./Woodstock

The McKendree University men's and women's swimming teams earned Scholar All-America status from the College Swimming and Diving Coaches Association of America (CSCAA). McKendree was one of 424 schools in all divisions and levels (NCAA, NAIA and NJCAA) to receive the award and one of 46 NCAA Division II schools that had both their men's and women's teams selected. During the 2021 spring semester, the Bearcat men amassed 3.42 cumulative GPA, while the Bearcat women posted a 3.64 cumulative GPA. The 3.64 GPA posted by the Bearcat women was the third highest among GLVC schools. Eleven student-athletes were named to the 2020-21 CSCAA NCAA Division II Scholar All-America Team. First-Team honorees included: Henrik Dahrendorff, Gr., Beckum, Germany/SC Magdeburg Fabio Dalu, So., Cagliari, Italy/Liceo L.B. Alberti Cagliari Hallie Dixon, Jr., Jeffersonville, Ind./Jeffersonville Ethan Larson, Jr., Anchorage, Alaska/PAIDAIE Cooperative School Gregg Lichinsky, Jr., West Des Moines, Iowa/West Des Moines Valley Xander Skinner, Sr., Namibia, Africa/Windhoek Afrikaans Private School Honorable Mention honorees included: John Bodden, Jr., George Town, Cayman Islands/Cayman Prep and High Charlie Fraser-Allen, Jr., London, England/Highgate Wood Secondary School Abigail Rumpp, Jr., Knoxville, Tenn./L&N STEM Academy Victoria Sananikone, Sr., Cedar Park, Texas/Cedar Park Taras Zherebetskyy, Jr., Alghero, Sardegna, Italy/ITS "Angelo Roth" The award recognizes students who achieved a grade point average of 3.50 or higher and were invited to compete at their respective national championship. To qualify for First-Team Scholar All-America, student-athletes must have earned a GPA of 3.5 or higher and participated in their national championship. Second-Team selections (also called Honorable Mention) must have also earned a 3.50 GPA or higher and achieved a "B" time standard for the national championship or participated at a diving zone qualification meet.

Congratulations to the McKendree University students and Class of 2021 graduates whose work is published in the Spring 2021 issue of Scholars: The McKendree University Online Journal of Undergraduate Research.

Three McKendree University psychology alumni were recently informed that their article titled "Evidence for a Gender Stereotype About Psychology and its Effects on Perceptions of Men's and Women's Fit in the Field" was accepted for publication. The article is forthcoming in the academic journal The Journal of Social Psychology. A preprint can be found online here.

McKendree University congratulates its Class of 2021 graduates on their achievements! #McK2021

Congratulations to students on the McKendree University Dean's List for earning a grade point average of 3.60 or higher for the spring 2021 semester.

McKendree University congratulates students on the President's List for achieving a perfect 4.0 grade point average for the spring 2021 semester.

Mitch Deleel, an award-winning debater who made his mark at McKendree University and on the national stage, has received the 2021 Technos International Prize.

McKendree University's Chi Mu chapter of Kappa Delta Pi international honor society in education announces its 2021 initiates.

Jessica Morey is the 2021 McKendree University School of Business Outstanding Student of the Year, sponsored by Northwestern Mutual.

Artwork by two McKendree University students is on display in the National Undergraduate Juried Exhibition, highlighting emerging contemporary artists at the Albrecht-Kemper Museum of Art in St. Joseph, Mo.

McKendree University announces the winners and participants of its recent speech competition at the Hettenhausen Center for the Arts on campus.

McKendree University's Alpha Zeta Epsilon chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha, the national political science honor society, congratulates its newest members.

The McKendree University School of Business congratulates outstanding students who have received its Award of Excellence for their academic achievement.

McKendree University congratulates the newest members of Sigma Tau Delta, the international English honor society.

Tau Sigma National Honor Society for Transfer Students at McKendree University welcomes its newest members in 2021.

McKendree University's chapter of Phi Eta Sigma academic honor society is proud to announce its newest members, inducted in spring 2021.

The McKendree University chapter of Psi Chi, the international honor society for psychology, inducted new members as part of the 2021 Academic Excellence Celebration on April 22.

McKendree University congratulates its outstanding students from all disciplines for their high overall academic achievement.

The Kappa Epsilon chapter of Kappa Pi international art honor society welcomes its newest members at McKendree University in 2021.

Chapter 292 of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation's oldest, largest and most selective all-discipline honor society, congratulates its newest members from McKendree University, inducted on April 22, 2021.

McKendree University's chapter of Pi Gamma Mu international honor society for the social sciences initiated new members on April 22 as part of the Academic Excellence Celebration.

McKendree University students present their research and creative work, live and online, duriing the eighth annual Academic Excellence Celebration. #McKAEC2021

Lambda Pi Eta, the national communication collegiate honor society, installed new members at McKendree University on April 14.