Three graduates will be honored at Indiana State University's winter commencement ceremony. Shelley Mitchell of Batesville will receive the President's Medal for Leadership, Scholarship and Service while Alissa Miller of Evansville and Rachel Posey of West Harrison will receive the Hines Memorial Medal for their academic accomplishments. The winter commencement ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 17.
Mitchell will graduate with degrees in music education and vocal performance. She plans to pursue a career in music teaching in the Indianapolis area. After teaching for a couple of years, she would like to return to graduate school to study vocal performance with a concentration in theatre and opera. She hopes to eventually have a career in performance.
Mitchell was a member of the American Choral Directors Association, Student National Association of Teachers of Singing, Music Educators National Conference, Advocates for Equality, the University Honors Program, Alpha Lambda Delta honor society and Pi Kappa Lambda honorary music society. Her community involvement includes work with the Terre Haute Children's Choir, Terre Haute North High School, the Terre Haute Holocaust Museum, Central Presbyterian Church and the Terre Haute Children's Museum.
Her previous awards have included the Alan C. Rankin Outstanding Senior award finalist, Richard Brett Study Abroad Scholarship, ISU Undergraduate Study Abroad scholarship, Theodore Presser Prestigious Music Award, Gertrude F. Meyers Vocal Scholarship, Bakerman Undergraduate Research Award, Sigma Alpha Iota Scholarship, Nora Wonning Scholarship, the Sylvester J. ‘Bess' Bartling Memorial Scholarship and the Jean and Fran Burst Educational Foundational Scholarship.
The daughter of Marjorie and James Powell, Mitchell is a graduate of Batesville High School
Miller will graduate with a degree in music with a concentration in business administration. She plans to continue her studies on flute and actively play in a band or orchestra. She also plans to get involved with the music community wherever she decides to live by helping with school music programs and local community bands and orchestras.
Miller was a member of the Kappa Kappi Psi National Honorary BandFraternity, Pi Kappa Lambda, Music Industry Association, ISU Orchestra and Wind Orchestra, Basketball Band, Flute Choir and Marching Band. She was also involved with the Hands of J.O.Y. puppet ministry in the community.
Her previous awards include the President's Academic Excellence Scholarship, NAMM Scholarship and the Paul W. Hagen Music Scholar Prize. Miller is the daughter of Stacey and James Miller and is a graduate of Reitz High School.
Posey will graduate with a degree in elementary education. She plans on continuing her professional growth through substitute teaching near her home and looking for teaching positions. She hopes to teach elementary students and stay involved with local ministries.
Posey was a member of the Christian Student Fellowship, ISU Track and Field, Sycamore All-Academic Team and the Student Athlete Advisory Committee. She was also involved in the community through Light House Mission and Whitewater Christian Service Camp. She also attended two mission trips through the Christian Student Fellowship.
Her previous awards include the President's Academic Excellence Scholarship, Sycamore Scholar Athlete, Missouri Valley Conference President's Academic Award and the Commissioner's Academic Excellence Award. Posey is the daughter of Rhonda and Randall Posey and a graduate of East Central High School.
Winter commencement will be streamed live on the ISU home page, www.indstate.edu. The video feed will begin at 11 a.m. with commencement scheduled to start at noon.
Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/photos/i-rbg8Lfb/0/L/i-rbg8Lfb-L.jpg - Shelley Mitchell
Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Headshot-Proofs/Alissa-Miller/i-8nF72f2/1/L/p11341ta10670718-L.jpg - Alissa Miller
Photo: http://isuphoto.smugmug.com/Other/Rachel-Posey/i-MChkhWd/0/L/Posey-Rachel-L.jpg - Rachel Posey.
Writer: Britany Dean, media relations assistant, Office of Communications and Marketing, Indiana State University, 812-237-3773 or bdean7@sycamores.indstate.edu