17 students honored as 2026 Founders’ Scholars

Black Hawk College recently honored 17 East Campus students for their academic excellence at the 42nd Annual Founders’ Scholars Awards.

The award is named after the East Campus founders – Dr. Glenn Case, James Golby, Gust “Brick” Lundberg, Theodore “Ted” Vlahos and Robert White – and presented by the East Campus faculty.

The award criteria are:

1. Achieved a minimum 3.80 cumulative GPA at the end of the fall semester.
2. Completed 30 credit hours at Black Hawk College, of which 12 credit hours are taken at the East Campus.
3. Completed an Associate in Arts or Associate in Science (transfer) degree as the declared program per the grad application.
4. Applied for graduation by March 13, 2026.

The 2026 Founders’ Scholars are:

• Chloee Barnes, Park Hill, OK
• Jace Clayes, Kewanee, IL
• Faith Frykman, Kewanee, IL
• Amy Geary, Laotto, IN
• Logan Goerks, Wyoming, IL
• Marcus Guzman, Kewanee, IL
• Kyrsten Hill, Galva, IL
• Cora Hodge, Kewanee, IL
• Addyson Lehman, West Liberty, IA
• Mia Merkel, Galva, IL
• Krishna Patel, Wyoming, IL
• Kruz Schnowske, Cambridge, IL
• Olivia Shike, Sadorus, IL
• Kendall Vincent, Kewanee, IL
• Emily West, Victoria, IL
• Makenna Witte, Kewanee, IL
• Kelsey Zepp, New Windsor, MD

Pictured at the awards ceremony are:

• Front row – Chloee Barnes, Jace Clayes, Faith Frykman, Amy Geary, Logan Goerks, Marcus Guzman and Kyrsten Hill
• Back row – Cora Hodge, Mia Merkel, Krishna Patel, Kruz Schnowske, Olivia Shike, Emily West and Kelsey Zepp