Indiana State University Newsroom

Six Indiana State University graduating seniors are receiving the Hines Memorial Medal this spring semester for their excellent academic records.

The Hines Memorial Medal goes to students who entered Indiana State as first-time college freshmen and are completing their bachelor’s degrees with the highest cumulative grade point average.

It is named after Linnaeus Hines, the university's fourth president, from 1921-1933, and served two terms as Indiana superintendent of public instruction. The medal is awarded for the spring and fall semesters.

The recipients:

---Anna Behrens, an operations and supply chain management major from St. Joseph, Illinois, is looking forward to becoming an account analyst for a company in Carmel, Indiana. She hopes to start her own business one day.

“My time at ISU went by so quickly,” Behrens said. “It was an extremely fun and rewarding experience where I was able to meet so many wonderful people. I am grateful for the opportunities and skills I have obtained through the Honors College and the OSCM program.”

---Hannah Bunch, a biology major from Terre Haute, plans to attend graduate school to become a physician assistant. She treasured her time at ISU.

“From the very first time you step onto campus at Indiana State, you immediately feel like a part of the Sycamore family,” she said. “You are placed into a supportive environment with faculty, staff, and a community who truly want the best for you. State also found ways to push me out of my comfort zone with all the incredible opportunities presented to me and really allowed me to soar.”

---Sierra Crowe, a biology and chemistry major from Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin, will attend the Indiana University School of Medicine in the fall. She hopes to become a physician practicing obstetrics and gynecology.

“I initially chose State because of the welcoming feel and this feeling was definitely maintained throughout all four years,” Crowe said. “My professors were truly invested in my success and were interested in not only getting to know me as a student, but also as a person as well. While my course load was rigorous, I always felt I had the support I needed to succeed. This, coupled with the amazing extracurricular opportunities I was presented, made my time at State truly unforgettable.”

---Madeline Richmond, a legal studies major and Spanish minor from Plainfield, is moving to Bloomington to pursue a J.D. at Indiana University Maurer School of Law.

“Every class I took and experience I had challenged me in some way as a student or as a young professional,” Richmond said. “I never felt like just a student ID number at ISU. I truly felt as though the faculty and staff I interacted with really cared about me and my success in and outside of the classroom. It sounds kind of cheesy, but I really do believe that the friendships and professional connections I made at ISU will last for years to come.”

---Ben Walden, a music education major from Evansville, plans to get a job as a music teacher in his hometown.

“My time at Indiana State was rewarding and eye-opening for the opportunities I was offered and the achievements I was able to make,” he said.

---Taylor Yates, operations and supply chain management major and legal studies minor from Ashkum, Illinois, is moving to Albany, New York, to attend law school. Yates hopes to become a corporate lawyer at a private law firm.

“From studying abroad in Greece to being an ASE [academic success educator] in Pickerl Hall to meeting my best friend, my time here has been the best years of my life,” she said. “I am thankful for all of the opportunities that I have been given at State and the professors and staff that I have had the honor of meeting along the way. Even in New York, I will never forget Indiana State.”

Media contact:

Dianne Frances D. Powell, Associate Director of University Communication

(O) 812-237-8764

(C) 812-878-2131 diannefrances.powell@indstate.edu

Follow University Communication on Twitter: @IndStU_News