Indiana State University Newsroom

During spring commencement ceremonies Saturday (May 8), 12 Indiana State University graduates will be recognized with the Hines Memorial Medal. The award, named for Linnaeus Hines, who served as the university's fourth president from 1921-1933, recognizes those students with the highest cumulative grade-point average during the pursuit of a bachelor's degree.

Spring 2010 recipients of the Hines Memorial Medal are:

Ryan Paul Beard of Clinton, a business administration and management major, plans to begin his career near his hometown.

Erin Elizabeth Braun of Newburgh, a finance major, plans to relocate to Phoenix, Ariz. to begin a position in supply chain management in the corporate headquarters of PetSmart.

Sara Christine Buse of Huntingburg, an elementary education major with a Spanish minor, plans to move to northwest Missouri after her July wedding in hopes of finding a teaching position.

Michael Joseph Cook of Charleston, Ill., a political science major with an economics minor, plans to pursue a master's degree in health administration.

Eric Michael Gettelfinger of Depauw, an insurance and business administration major, plans to begin in June 2010 as a personal lines market underwriter with Westfield Insurance.

Miranda Jane Helms of Bloomfield, a nursing major, plans to work in intensive care in the Greene County area and possibly continue her education.

Kelsey Elise Luna of St. Louis, a psychology major with an English (creative writing) minor, plans to attend the University of Missouri-Columbia for graduate study in sport psychology. Her ultimate goal is to become a sport psychology consultant working with collegiate athletics.

Lisa Nicole Nepote of Clinton, an elementary education major with minors in reading and English as a second language, plans to teach in Indiana.

Scot Steven Sauers of Columbia City, a criminology and criminal justice major with minors in psychology and forensic accounting, plans to become a federal law enforcement special agent in the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Karen Corrine Wenning of Greensburg, an elementary education major with minors in reading, human development and family studies, plans to obtain an elementary teaching position.

Kelli Jo Whitaker of New Palestine, an elementary education major, plans to educate and inspire children.

Kaelynn Marie Hayes of Danville, Ind., a history major with a minor in Spanish, plans to attend Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis for a graduate degree in public history.

Hayes is also the recipient of the President's Medal for Leadership, Scholarship and Service. She was involved with Hulman Memorial Student Union Board, serving as secretary and treasurer and as chairperson of the community service, diversity and Spring Week communications committees. She served as president of the President's Scholars Association.

She spent a semester studying in Lancashire, England at Edge Hill University. Hayes volunteered at the Study Abroad Fair and worked as a Learning Community Peer Assistant and a Fall Welcome Ambassador. In her senior year, Hayes wrote about her student experiences as an ISU blogger for prospective students. She interned with the Wabash Valley Visions and Voices as the project technician. She also volunteered at the Sheltering Winds domestic abuse shelter.

She spent time as a Spanish tutor and a note-taker at ISU. Her academic accomplishments include the Richard G. Landini Outstanding Junior Award, Union Board Jerry Vargo Participation Award and the John and Carl E. Vukusich Memorial Scholarship.