Who's neXt 3/20/14

Awards and achievements

Jade Ray Samanta and event organizer Mark Sanders, instructor of English at Three Rivers College. (submitted)

* Jade Ray Samanta, a student at Trinity Lutheran School in Cape Girardeau, recently won his second consecutive Regional Spelling Bee in Poplar Bluff, Mo., a news release said. Winning the fifth annual regional competition, held at Three Rivers College, earned him an all-expenses paid trip for him and two parents to Washington, D.C., where he will represent Southeast Missouri in the Scripps National Spelling Bee in May. Samanta won first place by correctly spelling the word "ribosome." Last year, Samanta made it through the first three preliminary rounds of the national bee, but didn't qualify for the semifinals. According to the bee's website, this year's event runs from May 25 to 31.

* Four local students were chosen as Missouri Scholars 100, a program sponsored by the Missouri Association of Secondary School Principals. They are Joshua Greaser and Vikas Rudrappa of Cape Girardeau Central High School, Samuel Lowes of Jackson High School and Reagan Kapp of Notre Dame Regional High School. According to the association's website, schools statewide were invited to nominate candidates for this recognition. Selection is based primarily on a formula using the student's grade-point average and ACT or SAT score, the site said. Each nominee had to first meet criteria of an Academic Decathlon, under which students must have a minimum GPA of 3.750; a minimum ACT score of 29 or a minimum SAT score of 1,900; be ranked in the upper 10 percent of the class; and have taken upper level courses in mathematics, science, English, and foreign language, the site said. The student must also have excellent attendance, be an exemplary school citizen, and be involved in the school activity program, the site said.

Graduates

The following area students were among 553 undergraduates who received degrees during the fall 2013 commencement Dec. 21 at Southeast Missouri State University:

Cape Girardeau

Jennifer Allen, bachelor of science in nursing with a major in nursing; Morgan Allen, bachelor of science with a major in hospitality management; Alexander Anderson, bachelor of science in business administration with a major in finance; Sarah Babich, graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of arts with a major in anthropology; Sharon Berry, bachelor of science with a major in social work; Tyler Bierschwal, bachelor of science in business administration with a major in finance; Stephanie Bird, bachelor of science with a major in mass communication, public relations option; Laura Boos, graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science with a major in recreation; Christopher Bourque, bachelor of science with a major in psychology; Matthew Britt, bachelor of science with a major in political science and a bachelor of general studies with a major in general studies; Christopher Brockmire, bachelor of science with a major in health management, exercise science option; Jennifer Brotherton, bachelor of science with a major in human environmental studies, dietetics option; Anthony Brown, bachelor of general studies with a major in general studies; Kara Burley, bachelor of fine arts with a major in dance; Allison Caines, bachelor of arts with a major in English, writing option; Megan Cattoor, bachelor of science; Thomas Cecil, bachelor of science in education with a major in elementary education; Michael Cervantes, bachelor of arts with a major in history; DaMon Christy, bachelor of science with a major in mass communication, radio option and a bachelor of arts with a major in mass communication, journalism option; Ashley Dangbar, bachelor of science with a major in hospitality management; Margaret Daniels, bachelor of science in education with a major in art education; Robert DeBrock, bachelor of science with a major in industrial technology, computer/multimedia graphics option; Rajitha Dissanayake Mudiyanselage, graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science with a major in engineering technology, electrical and control option; Thomas Dodd, bachelor of science in business administration with a major in international business; Nicole Duncan, bachelor of science with a major in political science; Constance Foltz, bachelor of science with a major in agribusiness: animal science option; Amanda Garner, bachelor of science in education with a major in art education; Rachel Getts, bachelor of science with a major in recreation; Alina Gheorghian, bachelor of science in nursing with a major in nursing; Justin Golden, bachelor of science with a major in hospitality management; Joshua Gregory, bachelor of science with a major in criminal justice, law enforcement option; Jessica Grimwood, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in education with a major in early childhood education; Kevin Groves, bachelor of science in business administration with a major in accounting; Aaron Hahn, bachelor of science with a major in Interdisciplinary studies; Brian Harris, bachelor of science in nursing with a major in nursing; Joy Harris, bachelor of science with a major in criminal justice, corrections option; Allison Harvel, bachelor of science with a major in historic preservation; Pratichhya Hatuwal, bachelor of science in business administration with a major in accounting; Amanda Hente, bachelor of science with a major in psychology; Kody Hindman, graduated summa cum laude with a bachelor of science in education with a major in biology education, unified science option; Joshua Hubbard, graduated with a bachelor of science with a major in biology, pre-physician assistant option; Leigh Hutchings, bachelor of science with a major in commercial photography; Damithri Jenkins, bachelor of science with a major in biology, microbiology/cellular biology/molecular biology/biotechnology option; Crystal Kaufman, bachelor of general studies with a major in general studies; Amanda Kaverman, bachelor of science with a major in biology, biomedical sciences option; Stacy Klusmeier, bachelor of general studies with a major in general studies; Peyton Knapp, bachelor of science with a major in social work; Lauren Lacavich, bachelor of science with a major in psychology; Sarah Lasky, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science with a major in biology, microbiology/cellular biology/molecular biology/biotechnology option; Anna Laurentius, bachelor of science with a major in mass communication, TV and film option; Jinjing Li, bachelor of science with a major in hospitality management; Paula McCormack, bachelor of general studies with a major in general studies; Spencer McCormack, bachelor of science with a major in psychology; Kaitlin McGrath, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science with a major in communication disorders; Corrie McNeely, bachelor of arts with a major in communication studies; Laura Meyer, bachelor of science with a major in biology, organismal, ecological and evolutionary biology option; Kasey Miller, bachelor of science in nursing with a major in nursing; Angela Morton, graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor of science in nursing with a major in nursing; Callie Mouser, graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science with a major in social work; Jared Mueller, bachelor of science with a major in athletic training; Emilea Old, bachelor of science with a major in criminal justice, law enforcement option; and Eric Osborne, graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science in business administration with a major in international business.

-- From staff reports