Indiana State University Newsroom

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- More than 1,850 students are candidates for degrees this spring at Indiana State University, compared with nearly 1,800 last year. The numbers break down to 1,380 undergraduates, 446 master’s degree candidates, 10 education specialists, and 41 doctoral degree candidates.

ISU’s 136th spring commencement ceremonies are scheduled for 2 p.m. May 5 in Hulman Center.

Jonathan Clark, a senior finance major from Lake Wales, Fla., has been selected as Student Commencement Speaker.

After two successful years studying electrical engineering at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Clark transferred to Indiana State in order to pursue his passion for business and finance. As an individual seeking to be actively involved in his education, he quickly found himself as an executive member in five organizations within his first 10 weeks at ISU.

Clark currently serves as president of three organizations -- the Business Professionals of America, ISU Investment Club and Toastmasters -- and vice-president of two others, the Financial Management Association and Student Alumni Association.

He supplemented the instruction he received in the classroom with real-life work experience, interning at Innsbruck Financial Consultants, Terre Haute; Lockton Companies Inc., Kansas City, Mo. and Edward Jones, Greenfield.

While at Indiana State, Clark has experienced success at national competitions, earning honors as the Business Professionals of America national interview competition champion and runner-up in the national association’s speech competition.

Six students who each maintained a 4.0 cumulative grade point average during their time at Indiana State will be honored with the Hines Memorial Medal during the ceremony.

Named for Linnaeus Neal Hines, who served as the university’s fourth president from 1921 to 1933, the Hines Medal recognizes graduating seniors with the highest cumulative grade point average.

This year’s honorees are:

Megan R. Anderson, Knox. An English major graduating with an Honors degree, she will work as a newspaper reporter covering the city beat for the Effingham Daily News.

Sarah L. Engle, Terre Haute. A double major in political science and legal studies, Engle plans to attend law school this fall.

Gabrielle M. Gerhardt, Marshall, Ill. A psychology major with a minor in child development, Gerhardt plans to pursue a master’s degree in school counseling.

Linda R. Kemper, Valparaiso. A mathematics education major with a minor in Spanish, Kemper plans to pursue certification to teach Spanish and a master’s degree in education while teaching in Northwest Indiana schools.

Kaitlin A. Korosi, Batesville. An accounting major with a forensic accounting minor, she will begin work for Defense Finance and Accounting Service in Indianapolis as part of the Leaders in Motion Program.

Kristin L. Leistner, Holland. A speech-pathology major, Leistner plans to continue her study in this field by pursuing a master’s degree.

Indiana State will recognize the departing president of Ivy Tech Community College Gerald I. Lamkin and nursing pioneer Loretta C. Ford with honorary degrees degrees during commencement ceremonies.

Contact and writer: Paula Meyer, ISU Communications & Marketing, (812) 237-3783 or pmeyer4@isugw.indstate.edu