PNC Students Earn Chancellor’s Leadership Awards

Purdue University North Central Chancellor Dr. James B. Dworkin has announced the winners of the 2011-2012 Chancellor's Leadership Award.

The students selected for the honor join a distinguished group of students who have a record of academic achievement and demonstrated leadership through involvement in school and community activities.

PNC Chancellor James Dworkin stated, "I am pleased that we can offer students this opportunity to enhance their leadership qualities. This effort will transfer into our local communities as our students graduate and assume leadership positions in their chosen fields of work."

Award criteria include school and community involvement and leadership, scholastic achievement and potential for participation and leadership in PNC extracurricular activities. Students earning leadership awards represent high schools throughout Northwest Indiana and were involved in a variety of clubs, activities, community and church organizations and sports.

The Chancellor's Leadership Award is a renewable scholarship program that requires participation in an on-campus leadership seminar and volunteer service, among other requirements. Several of the scholarships are sponsored through endowment funds created by local businesses and individuals.

Students earning the awards are:

Allan Barnes - A 2011 South Bend Penn graduate, Barnes is a Business major. He was a four-year basketball team letterman who will play basketball for the Panthers.

Amy Boren - An Early Childhood Education major, she was awarded the Newman Civic Fellow Award for service. She is president of Purdue Learning About Young Children in Education (PLAYCE) and was an AmeriCorps member.

Kristin Buibish - A 2011 Morgan Township High School graduate, she was a Spanish Club member, softball team member and a 10-year 4-H member. She also has her CNA license.

Cassie Chester - A Human Resource Management major, she is a current PNC student. Chester was president of the Society for Human Resource Management at PNC. She is a member of student government and is an AmeriCorps volunteer.

Kirsten Deel - A Biology major with a pre-med concentration, she is a 2011 Knox High School graduate. Deel was a People-to-People Student Ambassador and has traveled to six European countries.

Stephanie Duff - She is a Communication major and current PNC student. This past year she was one of the first students involved with the PNC Athletic Department basketball, baseball and softball broadcasts. She plans to become an ESPN commentator.

Alexia Evan - A Valparaiso High School 2011 graduate, her sisters Athena and Jennifer are PNC graduates. She was a member of the Earth Awareness Club and participated in Key Club, Spanish Club and National Honor Society. She is a Liberal Studies major.

Julia Garay -She is a 2011 La Porte High School graduate was a member of the PNC College Bound program. A Nursing major, she was a participant and role model in the Girls Reserve program, volunteered at the La Porte County Library and the hospital.

Andrew Holt - A Biology major, Holt is a 2011 Michigan City High School graduate. He was captain of his Science Olympiad team and first in the Robot Ramble regional competition.

Alexis Lange - Lange is a Business major who was homeschooled. Formerly a student at Boone Grove, she was a student manager of the football and tennis teams. She was involved Caring About Military Personnel (C.A.M.P.), a program designed to adopt troops and send them goods and supplies.

Megan McCormack - A 2011 Washington Township High School graduate, McCormack is a Communication major with a Business minor. In high school she was involved in student council, Key Club and choir.

Joseph McQuillin - A Construction Engineering and Management Technology major, McQuillin is a 2011 graduate of Marquette High school. He was involved in student government, teen court, Quiz Bowl and Leadership La Porte County and is an Eagle Scout.

Amy Miller - A Biology major, Miller is a current PNC student and has been a trainer with the athletic teams and hopes to become a physical therapist. She is involved with her local 4-H group.

Melody Palmer - A current student majoring in Biology, she was inducted into the Tri-Beta Honor Society for biology students will be participating in the Delta Sigma Science Club. She is also involved with the Panther News Network.

Weston Rettinger - Is an Elementary Education major. As a current PNC student, he plays baseball for the PNC Panthers. Rettinger was instrumental in starting the live half-time performances during basketball games.

Samuel Rogowski - A Human Resources major and current PNC student, Rogowski served two deployments in Iraq with the Indiana National Guard. He is secretary of the Society of Human Resource Management Club (SHRM) and is a member of the PNC Veterans.

Emily Surma - A 2011 North Judson-San Pierre High School graduate, she is a Nursing major. She was involved with National Honor Society, track and field and cross country and was a senior mentor. Outside of school, she is president and treasurer of her local 4-H group and team leader of Girls Growing Confidence.

Ronald Taylor - A Liberal Studies major, Taylor has volunteered at the Lubeznik Center for the Arts, the Washington Park Zoo, the Michigan City Parks Department and the Puppet Parlor Theater and will be a Guest Engagement Ambassador for the Lincoln Park Zoo this upcoming winter.

James Ziegler - As a PNC student majoring in Biology, he is president of the Delta Sigma Science Club and is planning a forensics camp for children next summer. He is a Biology Department teaching assistant and tutors fellow students.