FREEPORT - Highland Community College awarded 326 degrees and certificates at its annual commencement ceremony.
Area students included:
• Nathan Spurlock of Lena was presented with the Fine Arts/Visual Arts Award. Spurlock was an active staff member of the student newspaper, "The Highland Chronicle." He also served on the production staff of "The Prairie Windmagazine" which contains original poetry, prose, visual art, and music contributed by students, staff, alumni, and other members of the Highland Community. A member of Phi Theta Kappa, Spurlock also assisted with freshman orientation and art galleries. He plans to continue his education by going on to complete a BFA in painting and to one day teach art at the college level.
• Carol Ellefson of Orangeville received the Vocational Technology/Information Systems Award. Carol graduated with high honors after being out of school for many years before returning to college to complete an associate of applied science in information systems.
• Joey Stott of Lena was presented with the Citizenship Award. Stott has been a dynamic student leader at Highland. She served as president of Phi Theta Kappa in 2007-08 and vice president of the Student Senate in 2008-09. She also served as a mentor and tutor in the Success Center. Stott is active in the community as well; she serves as a Jo Daviess County auxiliary deputy sheriff and member of the mounted patrol. She also serves as secretary/treasurer of the Le-Aqua-na Saddle Club. Stott plans to transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to study the sciences and secondary education.
Area students included:
• Nathan Spurlock of Lena was presented with the Fine Arts/Visual Arts Award. Spurlock was an active staff member of the student newspaper, "The Highland Chronicle." He also served on the production staff of "The Prairie Windmagazine" which contains original poetry, prose, visual art, and music contributed by students, staff, alumni, and other members of the Highland Community. A member of Phi Theta Kappa, Spurlock also assisted with freshman orientation and art galleries. He plans to continue his education by going on to complete a BFA in painting and to one day teach art at the college level.
• Carol Ellefson of Orangeville received the Vocational Technology/Information Systems Award. Carol graduated with high honors after being out of school for many years before returning to college to complete an associate of applied science in information systems.
• Joey Stott of Lena was presented with the Citizenship Award. Stott has been a dynamic student leader at Highland. She served as president of Phi Theta Kappa in 2007-08 and vice president of the Student Senate in 2008-09. She also served as a mentor and tutor in the Success Center. Stott is active in the community as well; she serves as a Jo Daviess County auxiliary deputy sheriff and member of the mounted patrol. She also serves as secretary/treasurer of the Le-Aqua-na Saddle Club. Stott plans to transfer to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville to study the sciences and secondary education.
