Indiana State University Newsroom

Four graduating seniors are receiving the Hines Memorial Medal from Indiana State University for the Fall 2021 semester.

The medal is awarded 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, who served two terms as Indiana superintendent of public instruction.

The medalists will be recognized at the upcoming Commencement ceremonies. They are:

---- Sarah Acklin, a finance major and Spanish minor from Ogden, Illinois, says her time at Indiana State has been so impactful in shaping her into the person she is today. "Indiana State offers so many different opportunities to get involved and develop yourself if you seek them out, especially all the experiential learning opportunities offered by the Scott College of Business," she said.

Acklin plans to work as a Transfer Pricing Associate at PricewaterhouseCoopers or PwC, where she will be collaborating with large firms that have international supply chains to ensure that each country the firm operates in receives its fair amount of tax revenue. "International business has always been an area that interests me, so I am looking forward to beginning my career in such a fascinating field," she said.

---- Trinity Hilton, special education and elementary education major from Moweaqua, Illinois, will be pursuing her passion for teaching special education and will be working as an elementary functional skills teacher. "I am beyond grateful for ISU," Hilton said. "I met so many wonderful people who helped me grow both professionally and personally, and I received amazing opportunities that I never could have imagined. ISU truly became my home away from home.

---- Addison Leyerle, Cybercriminology & Security Studies and Criminal Justice major from Champaign, Illinois, plans to earn a cybersecurity certification and seek a computer security analyst position after graduation. "I am proud to have been a part of the new Cybercriminology program," said Leyerle. "The faculty at ISU was supportive and provided me with opportunities to advance my skills and form connections with others in my field."

---- Christian Walker from Greenwood, Indiana, double majored in criminology and criminal justice, and geography and sustainability. He is looking forward to pursuing a career in law enforcement. "I chose my majors because I want to be a conservation officer which interests me," Walker said. "I chose Indiana State because of its solid criminology program and affordability."