Making Elmhurst Proud: Students Study Down Under, Build a Home, Make the Dean's List and Exhibit Art

Work-study in Australia

Forty-seven Augustana College students studied and worked in Sydney, Australia, for the first two months of 2012. The international study program, known as "Augustana in Australia," places students in career-relevant positions in Sydney and immerses them in Australian culture. Elmhurst residents Angela Pisani and Emily Schwass, seniors at the Rock Island college, were among the participants. Pisani is majoring in elementary education, and Schwass is majoring in sociology and social welfare.

The students completed a five-week on-campus internship seminar and a complimentary class in either intercultural communication or business ethics before leaving for Australia in January. Once in Australia, students worked for a variety of employers in numerous fields—from healthcare to education and from hospitality to non-profit work.

During their trip, the students also visited the ANZ Stadium, where the 2000 Olympics were held; the Sydney Opera House; and the Blue Mountains just outside of Sydney. Some students traveled to New Zealand and other areas of Australia, including Melbourne, Darwin and Cairns, where they were able to snorkel and dive the Great Barrier Reef. Students returned to the United States last month.

Karen M. Petersen, Augustana's director of business internships and the Australia program's director, said, "The highlight of the Australia internship program is the personal growth students experience by integrating into a totally new culture—both personally and professionally."

At Augustana, students choosing to intern or study abroad can receive financial support from the college thanks to a program launched in 2009 called Augie Choice, which grants students in their junior year or beyond the opportunity to receive a one-time grant of $2,000 to offset the expenses of study abroad, an internship or research project.

Habitat Project

Dan Cahill of Elmhurst, a member of the class of 2012 at Providence College, Providence, R.I., spent a week working with Habitat for Humanity as part of the college's Alternative Spring Break 2012 program.

Cahill was among nearly 110 Providence College students who volunteered to spend their spring break working at Habitat home sites in 12 locations in the United States. They participated through the Habitat campus chapter at Providence College, which is sponsored by the chaplain's office. Cahill worked on a home project in Coatesville, Penn.

Founded in 1976, Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, nondenominational Christian housing organization. Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent, affordable houses in partnership with those in need of adequate shelter and other volunteers who work through more than 1,900 affiliates worldwide.

Augustana Dean's List

The following Elmhurst students were named to the dean's list at Augustana College for the 2011-12 winter term. Students maintained a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher on a 4-point scale for courses taken during the term.

• Melanie Battistoni, senior, psychology and art
• Alexandra Blust, sophomore, liberal studies
• Stephanie Dantino, senior, biology
• Courtney Grob, senior, business administration-finance
• Erik Hansen, junior, business administration-management.
• Rebecca Hodgson, senior, psychology
• Sophia Kelly, freshman, communication sciences and disorders
• Luke Lampo, freshman, liberal studies
• Andrew Mueller, senior, English and classics-Latin emphasis
• Brian Pollastrini, senior, Spanish and English
• Kerry Robbins, freshman, liberal studies
• Katherine Segreti, sophomore, business administration and sociology
• Amy Seida, junior, communication sciences and disorders
• Cody Sharko, sophomore, multimedia journalism and mass communication and business administration-advising
• Erik Westerberg, sophomore, math education and mathematics

North Central College

Elmhurst residents Kayla Kummerow, Mary Kate Rohn, Scott Skuteris and Brian Zable were named to the dean's list for the winter term at North Central College, Naperville.
 
Augustana Art Exhibit

Senior Melanie Battistoni of Elmhurst, an art and psychology major at Augustana college in Rock Island, will display her work, along with five other students, at the Augustana College Art Museum as part of the Senior Studio Art Exhibition April 28 through May 19.

The exhibition is the culmination of a process known as Senior Inquiry, which encourages seniors to demonstrate the critical thinking and communication skills they've developed and to reflect on the value of their work for the common good.

Battistoni combined her interests in psychology and painting to develop a series exploring humanity's need for aggression as contrasted to society's aversion to euthanasia. She has been guided by a faculty mentor and has worked countless hours to properly display her efforts, expression and progress made during the past four years.

The exhibiting artists will discuss their art in the Augustana College Art Museum during a 50-minute walking tour program at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 8. The public also is invited to the closing reception from 12:45 to 2 p.m. Sunday, May 20.