Outstanding Students

Chris Martin

Automotive Student Enjoys Study Abroad Opportunity
Chris Martin, a senior Automotive Technology student from Gurnee, said his study abroad trip to Japan over the summer, was “the experience of a lifetime.” Chris was able to spend 42 days going to all of the top automotive companies in Japan as well as learn a lot about the Japanese people and their culture. He said he particularly enjoyed going to Top Secret and Trial Tuning Shops. Ultimately, he said he would like to return to Japan and work for a major automotive corporation like Toyota or Nissan.

Courtney Copping

Courtney Copping earned top pilot honors when the Flying Salukis attended the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Region VIII championship. Courtney, a senior in aviation management, is believed to be the first woman to earn top scoring contestant and top pilot honors in Region VIII history. She was also third in both power-off landing and short field approach and landing and placed in both fifth and seventh place in message drop, alternating with Taylor Breum, the event’s top male pilot, and second in SCAN.

Paced by Courtney’s top finish, the Flying Saluki’s had five of the six top pilots at the competition and easily earned their fifth regional title in six years. This qualifies the Flying Salukis for the national competition to be held at The Ohio State University, May 6-11. For more on the competition, see the article in the Saluki Times

Dane Fearneyhough

Dan Fearneyhough Dane Fearneyhough earned top pilot honors when the Flying Salukis attended the National Intercollegiate Flying Association Region VIII championship. Fearneyhough, a senior in aviation management, scored 70 points, including first-place finishes in short field approach and landing and power off precision landing.

Paced by co-captain Fearneyhough, who was also the top scoring contestant, the Flying Salukis put six team members in the top nine slots to easily earn a sixth regional title in seven years. The finish marks the 44th time in 45 years that the eight-time national champion Flying Salukis will qualify for national competition. For more on the competition, see the article in the Saluki Times

Danielle Sheley

Danielle Sheley Danielle (Dani) Sheley, a senior majoring in Interior Design, was the College of Health and Human Sciences Lincoln Laureate nominee this year. Dani is an outstanding student and a member of the University Honor’s Program where she has remained on the Dean’s List every semester. Dani has also been very involved throughout her SIU career. She has participated in the SIU Alumni Association Extern Program, earned a summer internship, and held multiple leadership positions including Executive Director of the SIU Chapter of Up ‘til Dawn, President of the Illuminating Engineering Society, and Assistant Director of SIU Leadership Conference. While actively engaged in her classes and highly involved on campus, Dani has also been a volunteer with Camp Quality Illinois and Community Kids.

Natalia Hajduk

Courtesy of the SIU Social Media Team, the College of Health and Human Sciences is proud to highlight Natalia Hajduk. Natalia is a first-year student from Różanka, Poland, majoring in architectural studies. She has earned a 4.0 GPA, making the dean’s list last semester. Natalia is a long distance runner for track & field and cross country and a member of the SIU Women’s Soccer Club. “Student-athletes at SIU are like a family. We always motivate each other to work even harder than we should,” she said. "Support is extraordinarily important when you are 1,000 miles away from your home, like in my case. Running for SIU makes me a better person.”Beyond that, she is a member of American Institute of Architecture Students, American Institute of Architects and Freedom by Design. “Being a member of AIA and AIAS is a wonderful experience. Spending time with people who have the same big passion, architecture, is really awesome,” Natalia said. Freedom by Design is working on a garden and ramp for a service dogs facility in Ava. Natalia is also a member of the University Honors Program and Saluki Volunteer Corps. In fact, while she was volunteering, she was influenced to develop the Polish Club, of which she is now the president. “The ability to meet all those great children was something that I will never forget,” she said. “If I can help, I will help. That is why I decided to start the Polish Club. Students can not only learn about polish culture but also visit Poland and Europe.” Recently, she had a poem and an art project selected to be published in the Grassroots SIUC magazine. “I have been drawing since I can remember. I just love it. When I have a blank paper, and after few hours, using pencils I can create something that can enrapture. I like to design things in totally different, new ways” she said. CHHS and the SIU Social Media Team commends Natalia Hajduk for her enhancement of the Saluki family.