Lisle, Illinois, Native Named SJC's Senior of the Year

Dr. Ernest R. Mills III, President of the College, congratulates Joanna Askwith, the 2008 Senior of the Year recipient, and her family at the President's Senior Dinner held on April 25. Pictured from left to right are: (back row) Mills; Greg Askwith; (front row) Sr. Patricia Robinson, B.V.M., SJC Professor of Sociology; Nancy Askwith; and Joanna Askwith.

Posted: May 1, 2008

On April 25th, during the President's Senior Dinner for the graduating class of 2008, Joanna Askwith was honored as Senior of the Year for Saint Joseph's College. She was awarded with a personal plaque, and her name was added to the perpetual Senior of the Year plaque listing located in the Halleck Student Center.

"It is a great honor to have been nominated and chosen by alumni, professors, and my fellow colleagues to receive an award for service and achievement held in such high esteem," Askwith said. "I am deeply honored by the versatile and effective team that the Class of 2008 has become in all our endeavors at SJC."

The daughter of Nancy and the late James, Askwith is an alumna of Rosary High School in Aurora, Illinois. During her time at Saint Joseph's College, she has committed herself to many service and community organizations. The Lisle, Illinois, native is the president of the Science Club and a member of Respect for Life and Habitat for Humanity. As a Chemistry and Biology major, Askwith has dedicated much of her free time to the Science Olympiad, serving as the student co-director, as well as volunteering at soup kitchens throughout the academic year. Additionally, she is a tutor in the areas of Biology and Chemistry and a lab assistant for Chemistry, Microbiology, and Biology.

Following Commencement this spring, Askwith plans to attend medical school to study immunology and earn a DO/MD.

Selection for the Senior of the Year candidates began in January, when members of the senior class voted for three of their classmates. Nominees were required to have a cumulative grade point average of 3.25 (minimum) on a 4.0 scale and completed and passed at least 105 college credit hours.

After the top five vote recipients were named, a selection committee consisting of members of the SJC Alumni Association Board of Directors interviewed each candidate and selected a winner.