Indiana State University Newsroom

Indiana State University has recognized four students with the Richard G. Landini Outstanding Junior Award.

Named for Indiana State's eighth president, who served from 1975 to 1992, the award recognizes juniors for their outstanding achievement, service to their class and for living up to the ideals and values of the university. The Landini Award is presented by Sycamore Ambassadors (formerly the Student Alumni Association).

This year's Landini Award recipients are Ashley Haack, a criminology and psychology major from Westville; Thomas Lynch, a communication major from French Lick; Sarah Rose, an elementary and special education major from Brazil; and Kelly Steffen, a mathematics and math education major from Bloomington, Ill.

Haack is a member of Lambda Alpha Epsilon American Criminal Justice Association' University Honors Program, Alpha Lambda Delta honor society, Psy Chi psychology honors society, National Society of Collegiate Scholars, Hulman Memorial Student Union Board, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Akido Martial Arts Club, Lutheran Student Fellowship, Sycamore Service Corps and intramural sports.

She has studied at King's College in London; tutored students through the Linking Language Learners Program and volunteered at Ryves Youth Center, Salvation Army and the Jam the Bus food drive for Catholic Charities.

A graduate of Westville High School, Haack is the daughter of Tara and Henry Haack. Her future plans are to work in the juvenile justice system as a counselor and coach.

Lynch has served the university as an Office of Admissions orientation leader, an academic peer advocate, director of Sycamore Pride and Traditions for the Student Government Association, member of the Up ‘Til Dawn fundraising committee for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and as a tornado relief volunteer in Henryville and Joplin, Mo.

He has served Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity as new member educator, intramural representative and historian chairman and has attended Pike University Academy in Memphis, Pike University Regional Leadership Summit in Chicago and Pike University Convention in Denver. He is a two-year recipient of the Pi Kappa Alpha Freyberger Award for Sycamore Pride.

A graduate of Springs Valley High School, Lynch is the son of Tom and Cheryl Lynch. His future plans are to attend graduate school at Indiana State for student affairs and higher education.

Rose has served the university and the ISU Foundation as a call center coordinator and supervisor, learning community peer assistant, second language tutor and mentor and as a reading tutor with the Bayh College of Education's Sycamore Readers Program.

She is a recipient of the Academic Merit Scholarship, ISU Laptop Award, College Challenge Award, Patricia J. Drake Memorial Scholarship and has been accepted into the Bayh College of Education's Becoming a Complete Professional Program.

Rose has been active with Kappa Alpha Pi Leadership Society, Bayh College of Education's Becoming a Complete Professional Program, Indiana Student Education Association, Sigma Alpha Lambda national leadership organization and Pi Lambda Theta educational honor society.

She has served the community as a Terre Haute Children's Museum volunteer and a nursery attendant and Sunday School teacher at Central Presbyterian Church.

Rose is a graduate of Northview High School. Her parents are the late Danny Rose and Deborah and Michael McFadden. Her future plans are to complete a master's degree in history and become a social studies teacher.

Steffen, a member of the women's track and field team has served the university as a member of the student athlete advisory committee, a mentor in the Academic Enrichment Center and a math lab tutor.

She is a member of the University Honors Program, Golden Key International Honor Society and Alpha Lambda Delta. She received the "Elite 18 Award" for the highest achievement in academics and athletics in Missouri Valley Conference women's indoor track and field, has twice been a member of the Indiana State All-Academic Team and was selected for the U.S. Track and Field and Cross Country Coaches Association's All-Academic Team in spring 2012.

She has been active in the Sycamores Council of Teachers of Mathematics, serving as president this year, Christian Student Fellowship, Networking and Etiquette Workshop, March of Dimes Parents' Night Out, Habitat for Humanity student-athlete talent show, Wabash Valley Race for the Cure.

A graduate of Bloomington High School, Steffen is the daughter of Annmarie and Mitch Steffen. Her future plans are to become a middle school or high school math teacher and coach either track, cheerleading or diving.