Thursday, December 19

Profiles

Student Spotlight: Austin Herrera
Profiles

Student Spotlight: Austin Herrera

Written by Megan Melone Photography submitted by Austin Herrera Austin Herrera is a junior majoring in secondary history education. Austin manages McKendree’s archives, the collection of the university’s historical documents, photographs and artifacts. I interviewed Austin on his work in the archives and his experience as a McKendree student: Where are you from? HERRERA: I’m from Belleville, Illinois. You are a history ed. major. Why’d you choose that? HERRERA: I was getting my associate in arts at SWIC (Southwestern Illinois College), and I had a history professor named Raymond Webb, and I was just engrossed in his teaching style. He told history like a story, which was impactful because usually people do not have much interest in history, but in his classroom everybody...
Senior Spotlight: Kiley Hasenfratz
Profiles, Sports

Senior Spotlight: Kiley Hasenfratz

Written by Megan Melone Photography by McKendree Athletics and Kiley Hasenfratz Kiley Hasenfratz is a senior exercise science major from Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Kiley is a forward on the McKendree women’s hockey team. I interviewed Kiley to find out more about her time at McKendree: What is your major? HASENFRATZ: I’m an exercise science major. I got really interested in the body one year, after getting hurt a bunch while playing hockey. So, I initially taught myself how to take care of myself after a game and recover properly, and that just made me really interested in the body, and I thought like you know what? This would be a really good profession to take over and help other people when they can't. Kiley Hasenfratz Why did you decide to study abroad? HASENFRATZ:...
Senior Spotlight: James Cronin
Profiles

Senior Spotlight: James Cronin

Written By Megan Melone Photography By McKendree Athletics and James Cronin James or “Jimmy” Cronin is from Naperville, Illinois, and is a senior middle school education major focusing on social sciences. Jimmy is also the starting goalkeeper for the McKendree men’s water polo team. I interviewed Jimmy Cronin about his time at McKendree and future plans: What’s your major and why’d you pick it? CRONIN: My major is middle school social science. So, I’m gonna be a middle school history teacher. So, originally I came in, and I didn’t have a clue what I was doing, and I just kind of sat around. I ended up getting the Covid-19 year, so I got an extra year to kind of think about everything. Looking back at it, I thought, Who are the people that made the biggest impact in my life and...
A Bearcat Globetrot
Academics, Profiles

A Bearcat Globetrot

By Madison Rohn, Lead Editor Photos submitted by Sonia Halabi Bearcat Sonia Halabi made the most of her summer by representing McKendree at two international conventions in Singapore and Montreal for Rotaract Club and sociology, respectfully. Sonia Halabi is a senior majoring in sociology. She is also involved in many extracurricular activities, including Rotaract Club, which is part of the international service organization, Rotary International. Sonia learned about Singapore’s history while she was there for the Rotary convention. Sonia’s involvement in the Rotaract Club is what brought her to Singapore this summer. After being encouraged by her club’s advisors, Sonia decided to attend the Rotary International convention across the Pacific Ocean. She joined over 14,000 Ro...
Senior Spotlight: Isabella Barbaglia
Profiles, Sports

Senior Spotlight: Isabella Barbaglia

By Megan Melone, Writer Photography via Bella Barbaglia Isabella Barbaglia is a senior history major. She is the president of the McKendree History Club, plays on the McKendree women’s golf team, and is a member of both, Phi Kappa Phi and Phi Alpha Theta honor societies.   I interviewed Bella about her time here at McKendree and her after-school plans:  Where are you from? BARBAGLIA: I am from St. Louis, Florissant Area, which is like North St. Louis.  Why did you decide to come to McKendree? BARBAGLIA: I went to Rockhurst in Kansas City, and after my freshman year I decided I didn’t like it. I wanted somewhere closer to home and I was looking at small schools. When I visited McKendree, I loved the campus and had the opportunity to play golf, so I decided to com...
Senior Spotlight: Charli Thurlow
Profiles

Senior Spotlight: Charli Thurlow

By Megan Melone, Writer Photography submitted by Charli Thurlow Charli Thurlow is a senior mathematics major with a sociology and business minor. She is on the McKendree women’s golf team and a member of both the Phi Eta Sigma honor society as well as the Pi Mu Epsilon honor society.  I interviewed Charli about her time at McKendree and her after-school plans: Where are you from? THURLOW: Belleville, Illinois, about twenty minutes from here.  Why did you choose to come to McKendree? THURLOW: I liked the idea of being close to home, which I have really enjoyed these past four years. I also liked the small close-knit classroom rather than a big, open lecture hall. Being close with my professors has been really nice and helpful, and I liked the campus when I saw it. I he...
Senior Spotlight: Martina Hicks
Profiles, Sports

Senior Spotlight: Martina Hicks

By Megan Melone, Writer Photography from McKendree Athletics Martina Hicks is a senior biopsychology major with a minor in biology. Martina is the 2022-23 Academic All-GLVC and a recipient of the James R. Spalding Sportsmanship Award, as well as the secretary for SAAC (Student Athletic Advisory Committee).  I interviewed Martina about her time at McKendree and her plans for the future:  Where are you from?  HICKS: I am from Coeur d’Alene, Idaho originally. But the last four years I’ve lived in Hamilton, Montana.  Why did you decide to come to McKendree?  HICKS: My senior year was COVID. I originally was on the brink of playing golf in college. In Idaho, golf is a spring sport, so I didn’t get a spring season, and that made me push towards looking at schools. McKendree...
 Senior Spotlight: Phoebe McCutcheon
Profiles

 Senior Spotlight: Phoebe McCutcheon

By Megan Melone, Writer Photography submitted by Phoebe McCutcheon Phoebe McCutcheon is a senior art major. They are the captain of the McKendree women’s rugby team and a Resident Assistant in Walton Hall. I interviewed Phoebe about their time at McKendree and their plans after graduation:  Where are you from?  MCCUTCHEON: I am from Indianapolis, Indiana.  Why did you decide to come to McKendree?  MCCUTCHEON: I decided to come to McKendree because they had just started the women’s rugby team and I wanted to be one of the first people on the team.  McCutcheon poses with their art at an exhibition Why did you choose to pursue an art major?  MCCUTCHEON: Art is one of the few things that I have been consistently good at through my life. I am definitely not a math p...
Senior Spotlight: Brianna Burke
Profiles

Senior Spotlight: Brianna Burke

By Megan Melone, Writer Photography submitted by Brianna Burke Brianna Burke is a senior secondary English education major from Fort McMurray in Alberta, Canada. Brianna is the goalie for the McKendree women’s hockey team, and she also plays saxophone in the McKendree jazz band. I interviewed Brianna about her time at McKendree and her plans after graduation:  Where are you from?  BURKE: I am from Fort McMurray, Alberta Canada.  How has living in the U.S. been for you? BURKE: When I first came down here, it was quite a culture shock. I came in August of 2020, and that was when the election was going on, so just seeing the political climate and how very different it was from home and proximity-wise being so far from home was a huge change. I had never lived awa...
Senior Spotlight: David Justice
Profiles

Senior Spotlight: David Justice

By: Megan Melone, Writer Photography submitted by David Justice David Justice is a senior music major from Vandalia, Illinois. Along with being the president of the McKendree Spectrum Alliance, they are also a resident assistant in Walton Hall, a member of the Spirit of McKendree Band, Vice President of Finance for Alpha Delta Gamma, and involved in the McKendree Theatre program. I interviewed David about their time at McKendree and their plans after graduation:  Why did you choose to come to McKendree? Justice: I was originally recruited for the former marching band, but I came here when everyone had just got back from COVID, so we didn’t really have too much of a marching band. And with other circumstances, it turned into the spirit band, which is what it is now.  How is ...