Indiana State University Newsroom

Indiana State University has presented the Hines Memorial Medal to five graduating seniors in recognition of their academic accomplishments.

Named for Linnaeus Hines, who served as the fourth president of Indiana State from 1921 to 1933, the Hines Medal is awarded to students with the highest cumulative grade-point average during the pursuit of a bachelor's degree at Indiana State. Recipients will be recognized during Indiana State's spring commencement which begins at noon Saturday, May 5.

Megan Cornett of North Vernon is graduating with bachelor's degrees in mathematics and mathematics education and plans to teach high school math.

Her campus involvement has included serving as a mentor with M2: Mathematics and Mentoring for Girls; president and co-founder of IS2CTM: Indiana State Sycamores Council of Teachers of Mathematics; Honors Council chair; honors student peer advisor; vice president of the University Honors Student Association; Go Figure student docent; mathematics and computer science department student tutor and office worker; and learning community peer assistant for first-year math education majors.

In addition to the Hines Medal, Cornett's honors have included being recognized as this year's outstanding senior by the department of mathematics and computer science; Indiana Council of Teachers of Mathematics Scholarship; President's Academic Excellence Scholarship; and Donald and Mary Jo Stanley Scholarship.

While at ISU she has been active in Relay for Life; Donaghy Day; and was a Hull House service learning trip volunteer.

Katie Davis of Bedford is completing a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies and a minor in recreation management and youth leadership. She will be moving to Milwaukee with her husband after graduation. She intends to work for a health-related or youth-serving nonprofit organization and eventually attend graduate school. Within the year, she also intends to become a certified family life educator.

While at ISU, Davis served as student director of annual giving and on the fundraising committee for the Nonprofit Leadership Alliance; an AmeriCorps volunteer; English as a second language tutor at the Vigo County Public Library; writing consultant for the student writing center; English department tutor; Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service volunteer; and Intervarsity Campus Ministry participant.

Her community activities have included serving as a March for Babies intern and a special events volunteer for the March of Dimes; program evaluation specialist for ISU and Wabash Valley Boy Scouts; recreation activities volunteer at Cobblestone Crossing; participant in Walk Now for Autism Speaks, Special Olympics Indiana volunteer; funding review team member for United Way of the Wabash Valley; and volunteer for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

In addition to the Hines Medal, Davis has received the Rankin Award in recognition of campus and community leadership. She is also a National Council on Family Relations Honor Student, an Indiana Top Scholar and a Ronald McDonald House Charities Scholar for Kentuckiana.

George Ralph Fritch IV of Linton is graduating with a bachelor's degree in chemistry, with a bio-chemistry concentration, and a major in biology. Fritch has been accepted to the Indiana University School of Medicine.

While at Indiana State, Fritch was active in the University Honors Program and served as president of the American Chemical Society student chapter. In addition to the Hines Medal, he has received the P. D. Wilkinson Award, placed third in an Earth Day poster competition and was a Stanley Scholarship recipient. His community activities included volunteering at Sullivan County Community Hospital and at the Children's Museum of Terre Haute.

Shannon Hayes of Danville, Ind., is graduating with a bachelor's degree in psychology and a minor in sociology. She plans to work at either a university or for a nonprofit organization before attending graduate school in the field of school counseling.

While at Indiana State, she has served as vice president of internal affairs, secretary-treasurer and community service committee chair for Hulman Memorial Student Union Board; organizational representative and Spirit Day committee chair for the homecoming steering committee; community service committee chair and coordinator for the Spring Week committee; dance marathon participant; University Honors Student Association; Summer Honors counselor; learning community peer assistant; tele-counselor; Office of Admissions student assistant and campus tour guide; and orientation leader and Fall Welcome coordinator for New Student Transition Programs.

In addition to the Hines Medal, Hayes has received the Rankin Award in recognition of campus and community leadership; the President's Academic Excellence Scholarship: Sophomore Leadership Award; Richard G. Landini Outstanding Junior Award; Jerry Vargo Participation Award (Union Board); and Linda Eldred Distinguished Service Award (Union Board).Her community activities have included Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service; College Relay for Life; Up 'Til Down for St. Jude's Research Hospital; and Walk Now for Autism.

Veronica Silver of Williamsport is completing a bachelor's degree in elementary and special education and will be teaching kindergarten this fall at Williamsport Elementary School.

While at Indiana State, Silver has been active in the Indiana Student Education Association and 4-H. In addition to the Hines Medal, she has been recognized as a high honor collegiate scholar, a Sycamore Scholar and is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars.

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/Cornett-Megan/i-NvXFgmf/0/L/042212MeganCornett-2974-L.jpg - Megan Cornett

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/Commencement-Spring-2012/i-KQPQDcK/0/L/041112katiedavis-6470-L.jpg - Katie Davis

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/Commencement-Spring-2012/i-Tfprxtj/0/L/040212george-ralph-fritch-iv-L.jpg - George Ralph Fritch IV

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/Hayes-Shannon/i-BB9nLSK/0/L/042212hayesshannon-2949-L.jpg - Shannon Hayes

Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/Commencement-Spring-2012/i-kxhtvc7/0/L/040612veronicasilver-4821-L.jpg - Veronica Silver

Media contact: Dave Taylor, media relations director, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3743 or dave.taylor@indstate.edu