Trine University has named Jenna Niemeyer, an English education major from Hoagland,
Indiana, the winner of the Robert B. Stewart Award for the Class of 2020.
The Robert B. Stewart Award is presented to the graduate who most clearly exemplifies
the traditions and values of Trine University through achievement in scholarship,
leadership and citizenship. Each academic school at Trine nominates a graduating senior
for this award; Niemeyer represented the Franks School of Education.
Niemeyer earned a cumulative 4.0 grade point average at Trine. Franks School of Education
Anthony Kline, Ph.D., said, “Trine faculty and clinical educators in area schools
rave of her dedication, passion and effectiveness in all she does.”
During her junior year, she was the lone undergraduate to make it through a professorial
review process to present at the 33rd Midwest Association of Teacher Educators (ATE)
Spring Conference. Conference presenters are typically higher education faculty and
some graduate students.
She spoke about a website she and another student created to incorporate socio-emotional
learning (SEL) and English language arts (ELA) instruction, and received very positive
feedback from the approximately 30 people who attended.
Her passion for social and emotional learning also led to her taking an independent
study to create her own podcast, where she interviewed state and national leaders
on the topic. She also joined a Franks School of Education faculty member in a spotlighted
session at the Indiana ISTE educational technology conference.
Niemeyer has earned Google Educator Certification during her time at Trine.
On campus, she served as a senator for Trine's student government. She was director
of academic success, Tau honor delegate and bylaw committee member for the Alpha Sigma
Tau sorority. She won multiple first-place recognitions in the Cunningham Writing
contest. She was a Humanities and Communication Media Team staff writer and consultant
for Trine's Writing Center.
She has served as a teen program instructor at the YMCA, math and literacy tutor for
local families, summer intern in Project Transformation in a low-income neighborhood
in urban Tennessee, and program assistant for a local after-school program. She recently
was named a 2020 Indy 500 Festival Princess, where she will participate in statewide
outreach to nursing homes, sports teams, hospitals and non-profits.
Other Trine University Distinguished Students included Robert Dick, a chemistry major
from Lawrence, Michigan, representing the Rinker-Ross School of Health Sciences; Brooke
Hardy, a chemical engineering major from Wauseon, Ohio, representing the Allen School
of Engineering and Computing; Madison Sanderson, a communication major from Leo, Indiana,
representing the Jannen School of Arts and Sciences; Jacklyn Peas, a management major
from Lagro, Indiana, representing the Ketner School of Business; and Sheri Boughton,
a psychology major from Sturgis, Michigan, representing the College of Graduate and
Professional Studies.
Robert Dick has been accepted into seven different graduate schools across the country
for Ph.D. programs in chemistry. He participated in undergraduate summer research
opportunities at Northern Illinois University and the University of Cincinnati, and
is completing a senior research project at Trine University.
He is credited as a co-author in an article published in the Journal of Materials
Chemistry. He has presented his work five different times, including twice in Trine
University’s STEM Symposium, where he received honors both times.
Consistently named to Trine University’s President’s List, he serves as president
of the university’s ACS Chemistry Club. He is a member of the National Society of
Leadership and Success, Phi Eta Sigma Honor Society, the Trine University Marching
Band, Trine University Wind Ensemble, Trine University Bridge Club and Trine University
Magic the Gathering Club. He served as vice president for Trine’s Gay Straight Alliance.
He also has served as a judge for the Northeast Indiana Tri-State Regional Science
Fair.
Brooke Hardy, who earned a 4.0 grade point average, is planning a career in the pharmaceutical
industry and will continue working for Pfizer, where she previously completed two
internships, in its Rotational Development Program upon graduation. She also completed
an internship for North Star BlueScope Steel, LLC in Delta, Ohio, while at Trine.
She has served as principal flutist and drum major in Trine University’s marching
band, where she increased the member retention rate by 50 percent by implementing
engaging marching warm-up procedures. She is president of Trine’s Bridge Club, which
tripled its membership this year and placed 14th last year in national collegiate competition.
She has served as vice president of operations of the Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, where
she helped create the Gigi’s Playhouse Crazy Christmas Sweater 5K fundraiser. She
also has been part of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, where she was
the Jeopardy team captain and competed nationally at the first Chem esports simulation;
Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society; Alpha Chi Honor Society; Omega Chi Epsilon
Chemical Engineering Honor Society, where she served as treasurer; Phi Eta Sigma Honor
Society; and the Chemical Engineering Society.
Hardy was named Trine University’s 2019 Homecoming queen.
Madison Sanderson earned the Outstanding ECO Center Intern award for her work with
Earth Fest as an intern for Trine University’s Art Eberhardt Environmental and Community
Outreach Center. She also has completed summer internships with Ambassador Enterprises
and the Indiana Republican Party, and will rejoin the Indiana Republican Party following
graduation in a full-time position with its fundraising and finance committee.
She placed second in the academic writing category in this year’s Cunningham Writing
contest, and her capstone presentation depicted how she was able to use skills gained
in courses and apply them to the workforce in terms of fundraising events, publications
and multimedia productions.
She was a member of Trine’s Women’s Soccer Team, where she was named to the MIAA Academic
Honor Roll and attended the NCAA Student Athlete Leadership Forum. She also served
as vice president of Trine’s Student Athlete Advisory Committee.
She was president of Trine’s student government this past year, and is a member of
the Skull and Bones Society and SPEAK for the Earth. She also has volunteered with
Walk Into My Future and Special Olympics of Steuben County.
Jacklyn Peas is graduating from Trine University in only three years with a perfect
4.0 grade point average. Her extracurricular activities have included Phi Eta Sigma,
intramural sports and the Trine University Bass Club.
She was honored as one of the first Ketner Pioneers during the 2018-19 school year
for an internship she completed with Merrill’s Detector Dog Services, based in Maine.
She worked with the Miami Heat, training dogs and working NBA games, including the
NBA All-Star game. This followed a previous internship with Merrill’s Detector Dogs
where she learned how to properly care for detection dogs and train them.
While in Angola, she worked at the Fremont Dog Lodge. Once she graduates, she will
operate the new business she founded with her mother, Heaven Scent K9, to continue
working with detection dogs.
Sheri Boughton will graduate summa cum laude and is focusing on substance abuse counseling
within her psychology degree. She is married and has three grown children, one of
whom is also graduating from Trine, and two grandchildren.
She served several years as a reserve deputy sheriff before taking time off as a stay-at-home
mom. She returned to work helping individuals with developmental disabilities and
those experiencing mental illness.
For the past 10 years she has been executive director of the not-for-profit St. Joe
Community Co-op. She also volunteers with her local United Way Chapter.