Brenna Smith "Western Gives You Wings"
(Spring 2017 - Evergreen Park, IL)

Brenna was chosen to be the Spring 2017 convocation speaker on the Macomb Campus. She served in a number of positions and was recognized for her numerous achievements during her undergraduate career. Graduating summa cum laude, Ms. Smith was recognized as both the Communication and Economics & Decision Sciences Department Scholars. Additionally, Brenna earned the Gordy Taylor Student Leadership Award for her involvements and successes in Fraternity and Sorority Life, the First Year Experience program, and Student Government Association. Other recognitions include Peer Mentor of the Year (2015-2016), Greek Life President of the Year (2016), and SGA Cabinet Member of the Year (2015-2016). Ms. Smith completed her Master of Arts in Communication from Western Illinois University in the Spring of 2018.

Donna Rae Smith "Never Go It Alone"
(Spring 2017 - QC Campus - Dixon, IL)

Donna was selected as the Spring 2017 Honors Scholar for the Bachelor of Arts in General Studies Degree Program and Centennial Honors Convocation Speaker. Before choosing to study at WIU, Donna spent time as a student, wife, mother, business manager, and business owner. The summer of 2015, Donna Rae decided to finish her bachelor’s degree at WIU. As a BGS graduate, she holds minors in international business and management. Smith currently attends Western Illinois University in the institution's MBA program.

Prior to attending Western, Donna Rae worked in a number of capacities. When construction company for which Smith worked to manage trucking, costing, and aggregate analysis closed its doors in 2006, she began her own freight brokerage firm. By finishing her Bachelor's degree in online 2017, Smith fulfilled a lifelong dream.

Jane E. Marshall "Added Value"
(Fall 2016 - Keokuk, IA)

Victoria Kappel "Embrace Your Connections, Your Moment, Your Future"
(Spring 2016 - Orland Park, IL)

Kimberly Leiphon "These Paths"
(Spring 2016 - QC Campus - Bettendorf, IA)

Brock Merritt "Keep Your Eyes Skyward"
(Fall 2015 - Eureka, IL)

Shealyn Annabelle Ashby "Stay Hopeful, Stay Humble"
(Spring 2015 - Pekin, IL)

Wendy C Orman "Life Support"
(Spring 2015 - QC Campus - Le Claire, IA)

Josh Yelle "So Many Roads"
(Fall 2014 - Crystal Lake, IL)

Samantha Morrow "Lollipop Moments"
(Spring 2014 - Rushville, IL)

Andrey Salvador Mojica "Obstacles"
(Fall 2013 - East Peoria, IL)

Andrea Patten "There's Always Room for Change"
(Spring 2013 - East Peoria, IL)

Maya Stainback "The Western Revolution"
(Fall 2012 - Bellwood, IL)

Sarah Joanne Noack "Love for Learning"
(Spring 2012 - Eureka, IL)

Brandon Alan Kutmas "Hang on to Your Hats"
(Fall 2011 - Macomb, IL)

Lily Anna Blouin "An Awfully Big Adventure"
(Spring 2011 - Anchorage, AK)

Edward Bridge II "Forks in the Road"
(2010 - Pettus, TX)

Edward is a military veteran who graduated from Western Illinois University in 2010 with a Bachelor of Business degree in Information Systems and a minor in Computer Science. He was president of the College of Business and Technology Student Organization Council, Management Information Systems Association, and many other student organizations. He won the 2010 Thomas E. Helm Undergraduate Research Day podium presentation, received the Who’s Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges award twice, and was selected as the Academic Honors Convocation Student Speaker. He was also inducted into, and held leadership positions in, the following honors organizations: Blue Key Honor Society, Golden Key International Honour Society, Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society, Beta Gamma Sigma, Phi Kappa Phi, Sigma Iota Epsilon, and several others. His graduation honors included Summa Cum Laude, Lincoln Academy of Illinois Student Laureate, Centennial Honors College Scholar, Information Systems Departmental Scholar, and Honors Scholar awards.

He then graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2013 with a Master of Business Administration degree in Information Technology & Strategic Management. He was a National Society of Hispanic MBAs Fellow, Phi Kappa Phi Fellow, and received second recognition induction into Beta Gamma Sigma and Phi Kappa Phi. His graduation honors included Summa Cum Laude and Academic Excellence awards. Since then, he has held multiple, global, leadership roles at several of the world’s largest technology companies and has authored several published works. He also serves as an angel investor and board member for several startups and charitable foundations.

Jamie Lee Hunzinger "Fare Thee Well"
(Spring 2009 - Fox River Grove, IL)

Matthew Thomas Brink "The Value of Our Responsibility"
(Fall 2008 - Mendota, IL)

Michael Kwiatkowski "One Step"
(Spring 2010)

Christine Elizabeth Coughlin "Metamorphosis"
(Fall 2009)

Joseph Thomas Balogh "The Power of One"
(Spring 2008 - Rosemont, IL)

Katie L. Reiss "Have You Seen the Coral in the Cornfield"
(Spring 2007 - Arlington Heights, IL)

Daniel A. Douglas "Switching gears"
(Fall 2006 - Indianhead Park, IL)

Sarah Elizabeth Windham "Finding Your Voice in the Choir"
(Spring 2006 - Dwight, IL)

Ashley M. Goetze "Numbered Days"
(Fall 2005 - Morton, IL)

Jessica Marie Denna "Lifelong Leadership"
(Spring 2005 - LaGrange, IL)

Michelle Elizabeth Tufano "The Future Through the Eyes of the Past"
(Fall 2004 - Lombard, IL)

Laura Leigh Watson "You Shall Know Our Velocity: ready to Jump into the Unknown"
(Spring 2004 - Macomb, IL)

Hilary Ann Snodgrass "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles"
(Fall 2003 - Geneseo, IL)

Lacie L. Westbay "How Did We Get Here; Where Can We Go?"
(Spring 2003 - Knoxville, IL)

Michelle L. Ashley "Shakespeare Comes to Convocation"
(Fall 2002 - Decatur, IL)

Michael C. Baxa "One Person, Many Paths"
(Spring 2002 - Aledo, IL)

Amy Kathleen Reed "Exceptional Students: What makes the Difference?"
(Fall 2001 - Rushville, IL)

Marina R. Skowronski "Journey to Achievement"
(Spring 2001 - Frankfort, IL)

Kianor Shahmohammadi "What Are We Doing Tomorrow?"
(Fall 2000 - Frankfort, Germany)

Marcee C. Duvall "Face the World Undaunted"
(Fall 1999 - Aurora, IL)

Matthew A. Bills "Different Paths, One Objective"
(Spring 1999 - Decatur, IL)

William V. Fuhr "A Funny Thing Happened to Me on the Way to My Degree"
(Fall 1998 - Taylor Ridge, IL)

Edward A. Brown "How I Got Here - Where I'm Going"
(Spring 1998 - Hazel Crest, IL)

Jamie S. Roginski "The Building of Community"
(Fall 1997 - Kewanee, IL)

Mandi Rae Urban "Success is Counted Sweets"
(Spring 1997 - Libertyville, IL)

Aaron Marie Stremmel "A Helping Hand"
(Fall 1996 - Canton, IL)

Aundrea K. Frieden "It is Also True in Life"
(Spring 1996 - Illinois City, IL)

Susan M. Wilson "Striking the Balance"
(Fall 1995 - Macomb, IL)

Alistair W. MacKinnon "The Risk of Education"
(Spring 1995 - Chicago, IL)

Tracey A. Dietrich "Creating Our World"
(Spring 1992 - Quincy, IL)

Michael T. Marrah "Respect and Change"
(Spring 1991 - Algonquin, IL)