AWARDS AND HONORS First to receive the WCAA's brand-new Trustees Scholarship for exemplary leadership is WCP junior Shirley Wang. Originally from Taiwan, Shirley went to middle and high school in Portland, Oregon. Shirley's focus is international public health, and she told an interviewer from The Oxford Press that she could see herself pursuing her career eventually in either Taiwan or Geneva, Switzerland. Asked why she chose to attend Miami, she said, in part, "to take part in the unique program of study offered by the Western College Program."  Pris Strand Berry '54, Shirley Wang '06, Dean Bill Gracie, at award ceremony Tops in the largest national university recycling contest ever, Miami beat out 48 schools across the country for the win -- thanks to the students of Western's McKee Hall, who led the way. The winners celebrated with a dinner party.  (click on graph to enlarge) WCAA student worker Jenny Gallow (front left) and other McKee residents enjoying celebration dinner ... and appropriately decorated cake Best of the best: Twenty-seven students (from among the 18,000 on three Miami campuses) received President's Distinguished Service Awards for their "outstanding contributions to the intellectual life of the campus, for service to the campus community, or service to the surrounding communities." Six from the Western Program -- an impressive 22% of the recipients, though Western students comprise only about 1% of the MU student body -- received the award.  Among the winners were Western students Majida Al-Husaam, Laura Englehart, Jason Harnish, Sophia Turczynewycz, Shirley Wang, Bethany Weber.

SENIORS CELEBRATE Senior projects were presented April 26-28, in Leonard Theatre. Area alumni were invited to a casual buffet at the Lodge the evening of April 26, to dine with Dean Bill Gracie and hear that night's presentations.  Western alums Chuck Rodabaugh '79 (far left) and Pris Strand Berry '54 (far right) talk with students After the last presentation, an official signing ceremony takes place in the Peabody gallery.  Professor Bill Green, advisor of Laura Englehart, Katie Zeitler and Jason McDonald, after signing ceremony The impressive stack of bound and signed Senior Projects, ready to be placed in the Windate Writing Center The full text of all Senior Projects is viewable online. After the projects, come finals. After finals, comes graduation. The weekend begins with a reception at Patterson Place where the senior who best represents the "spirit of Western" is presented with a special robe to wear at Miami's graduation.   Betty Sipe Gerber '52 presenting Jason Harnish '05 with graduation robe of Elizabeth Koons Miller '32 Finally, the seniors gather at Kumler for still more awards and the commencement ceremony. Each senior, as his or her name is called, lights a candle from the preceding classmate, then turns to pass the flame to the classmate following. Katie Gibson lighting her candle from Abby King as classmates look on Betty Gerber, congratulating recipients of two WCAA honors: Kelly Markle, winner of the Wallace Award for "contributing most to the Senior Workshop," and Jason Harnish