2023 Pott College Awards
Congratulations to the student recipients of the 2023 Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education awards:
2023 Pott College Distinguished Graduate
Corrie Grubb
Department of Engineering Distinguished Graduate
Hometown: McLeansboro, IL
I will be forever thankful for the great experiences, memories, and friendships that have developed during my four years at USI. During my time here, I have enjoyed being involved with several different extracurriculars, including American Society of Civil Engineers, Engineers in Action, Pott College Peer Mentor Program, and plenty of intramurals. Being at USI has taught me how to be dedicated towards my academic goals, how to be a leader, and most importantly – how to have a lot of fun!
With the help of my fantastic professors, I feel confident that USI has prepared me for a successful career; I am excited to say I have accepted a position in Evansville as an Entry-Level Civil/Environmental Engineer at Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. I am eager to use my degree to help improve the world around us!
After graduating, I will be working as an Entry-Level Civil/Environmental Engineer at Commonwealth Engineers, Inc. in Evansville. I am excited to work with this great company in solving local challenges related to stormwater, hydraulic structures, wastewater, drinking water, and more!
Pott College Distinguished Graduate Finalists
Arya Bolla
Department of Biology Distinguished Graduate
I'm from Indianapolis, IN. In the fall of 2023, I will begin my first year as a medical student at Indiana University School of Medicine. I am so grateful to my professors at USI for their guidance these past four years, and I am greatly looking forward to this next step in my academic career!
Mohit Manchella
Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry Distinguished Graduate
My hometown is Carmel, IN and I will be starting medical school in the fall!
My experiences at USI have been nothing short of phenomenal. The opportunity to be directly involved with the community through numerous student organizations, such as Pre-Professional Health Club, American Chemical Society, and Timmy Global Health have motivated me to focus on ideating strategies to erase disparities in underserved communities.
Behind many of my achievements are incredibly supportive Pott College professors I have had the pleasure of learning from. I am not able to encapsulate in a short paragraph how much their support means to me, but I certainly would not be where I am without their unfettered commitment to helping students achieve their goals.
Of course, my favorite memories at USI involve the many friends I met during my time here. I’ll always cherish our incredible spring break trips, silly inside jokes, late nights thinking about our futures, and even the stressful times of studying for exams together. My USI experience would not be the same without them.
My time at USI has been unforgettable, and I’ll miss everything about being part of this tight-knit community when I graduate this May.
James Bingaman
Department of Geology, Physics, and Environmental Science Distinguished Graduate
I grew up in Arlington Heights, IL but have lived in Kentucky and West Virginia since then. I discovered my passion for geology while taking GEOL151 Geology of America’s National Parks. Spending time outdoors has always been a major part of who I am. I love to hike and camp whenever the opportunity presents itself. Getting to combine academics with my passion for the outdoors is gratifying. The geology program helped me gain the knowledge and field skills I needed. Through both field trips and labs, I learned how to be a scientist. I have been privileged to work on two research projects with Dr. Bill Elliott and Dr. Paul Doss. After graduation, I plan to attend a geology field camp to expand my field experience further. I hope to attend graduate school and continue investigating anthropogenic impacts on groundwater resources.
Sylvia Adler
Department of Kinesiology & Sport Distinguished Graduate
USI provided me with an opportunity to try out different careers before finding the one that I was looking for. Observing athletic trainers, teachers, and coaches helped me build my network and find the right career path. My internship with Coach Wildeman and Coach Rueter at USI was one of the toughest and most rewarding experiences, and I highly recommend this program to anyone interested in the strength and conditioning field. My future plans consist of coaching teams and individuals to guide them towards maximizing their potential.
Chloe McIsaac
Department of Mathematical Sciences Distinguished Graduate
I am incredibly grateful for my time as a mathematician at USI. The entire staff in the mathematical sciences department was encouraging and helpful throughout my entire degree. One of my favorite memories was attending the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) Regional Conference in Indianapolis with other students and professors. Unique experiences like that conference set me apart from other candidates when interviewing for jobs. After graduating in December 2022, I moved back to my hometown near St. Louis, Missouri and began teaching in an excellent school and district. I am proud to hang up a USI pennant in my classroom, where I continue to share the love of reasoning and problem solving with my students.
Megan Gardner
Teacher Education Department Distinguished Graduate
Hello, my name is Megan Gardner. I am a December 2022 graduate from USI where I majored in Elementary Education and minored in Elementary Math Teaching. While at USI I was a member of the Student Education Association, I was a Welcome Week Leader, and I played some intramural sports. The teacher education program gave me several amazing opportunities. The professors helped prepare me for my own classroom and showed that they cared about my success as a teacher. I was able to gain experience in several classrooms and work alongside different skilled teachers. Most importantly, I built lasting relationships with classmates, professors, and students!
Distinguished Graduate & Academic Achievement Awards
Biology
Clayton Ragan - Academic Achievement Award in Science Teaching
Arya Bolla - Distinguished Graduate in Biology
Chemistry
Cassie Hopkins - Distinguished Graduate in Chemistry
Mohit Manchella - Distinguished Graduate in Biochemistry
Geology, Physics, & Environmental Science
James Bingaman - Distinguished Graduate in Geology
Chase DeBruyn - Distinguished Graduate in Environmental Science
Engineering
Corrie Grubb - Distinguished Graduate in Civil Engineering
Grant Schneider - Distinguished Graduate in Electrical Engineering
Elijah Vance - Distinguished Graduate in Engineering
Richard Meyer - Distinguished Graduate in Manufacturing Engineering
Braedon Weisling - Distinguished Graduate in Manufacturing Engineering Technology
Adam Kirkham - Distinguished Graduate in Mechanical Engineering
Kinesiology & Sport
Isaac Goodreau - Academic Achievement Award in Kinesiology & Sport
Alexa Adkins - Distinguished Graduate in Exercise Science
Sylvia Adler - Distinguished Graduate in Kinesiology
Olivia Bischof - Distinguished Graduate in Sport Management
Josiah Goudreau - Distinguished Graduate in Master of Science in Sport Management
Mathematical Sciences
Joel Humphrey - Academic Achievement Award in Calculus
Yijing Niu - Distinguished Graduate in Mathematics
Chloe McIsaac - Distinguished Graduate in Mathematics Teaching
Teacher Education
Kaitlin Siedl - Distinguished Graduate in Early Childhood Education
Megan Gardner - Distinguished Graduate in Elementary Education
Elsie Carter-Keith - Distinguished Graduate in Secondary/P-12 Education
Allison Howard - Distinguished Graduate in Special Education