MARQUETTE- Northern Michigan University acknowledged 18 graduates from its Honors Program at the May 4 commencement ceremony. The program provides academically talented students with a series of specially designed courses and unique learning experiences that complement their undergraduate degrees, regardless of major. Participants also have the opportunity to engage in independent and collaborative research with NMU faculty members.

Graduates who complete four years in the Honors Program have the full honors designation printed on their official university transcripts.

The students' names, hometowns and majors are as follows:

Michigan

Atlanta: Mitchell Stephenson, sports science; Carson City: Jacob Leys, biology/microbiology; Cheboygan: Reannon Dykehouse, English graduate bound; Commerce Township: Samantha Hasek, environmental science; East Lansing: Chloe Apelgren, zoology; Hesperia:Elizabeth Eldridge, biochemistry; Iron Mountain: Megan Jastremski, sports science; Marquette: Julia Dehring, international studies/French; Bree Ebrecht, psychology; Midland: Lauren Smith, zoology ; Powers: Andrea Savord, psychology; Saranac: Amanda Sterzick,

Illinois

Mundelein: Ariel Egan, zoology

Minnesota

Minneapolis: Rose Frankowski, political science/Spanish

Wisconsin

Hayward: Molly Burger, environmental science

Madison: Havah Cohn-Mitchell, individualized studies

Neenah: Pierce Huxtable, electronic journalism/theatre

Onalaska: John Schimek, biology/philosophy