MACOMB, Ill. - Two Western Illinois student-athletes received academic accolades from the Centennial Honors College. Jenna Verity (Schaumburg/Conant) from track and field, and swimming's Shawn Fitzpatrick (Delran, N.J./Delran) received the Ernest J. Codilis, Jr. Pre-Law Scholarship.
The Codilis scholarship is named after Ernie Codilis, a Political Science major and 1973 graduate of Western Illinois University. The scholarship is a one-time non-renewable award of $5,000.
Criteria for the award includes: being in good standing as a full-time student at Western Illinois and in the Centennial Honors College, actively pursuing the Honors College Pre-Law minor, maintain at least a 3.70 GPA at Western, and enrolled with junior or senior status at the time of the award. Applicants had to demonstrate a solid record of extra curriculum participation, including leadership and campus/community involvement.
Fitzpatrick concluded her junior year on the swimming team, concentrating on the freestyle and backstroke events. Voted team captain last year, Fitzpatrick also serves as the swimming program's representative on the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
She also currently sits as Vice-Chair on the Student Council of the College of Arts and Sciences, Student Representative of Sociology and Student Ambassador in the WIU Student Ambassador Program. Fitzpatrick joined fellow Leatherneck Student-Athletes helping with the Rocky's Reach program, interacting and helping elementary school children and teachers in Macomb.
In the pool she swam a career-best time of 1:00.18 in the 100-yard backstroke at this year's Summit League championships. That time ranks her seventh on the Western career 'Top 10' list.
Verity is on track to graduate in three years and currently owns a 3.94 cumulative GPA. She will intern with the Kane County States Attorney's Office. In addition to the Codilis Scholarship, Verity has in the last couple years received several other Awards, including: the Keith Webb Scholarship, Lulu and Marcy Bodine Scholarship Award, Charles Leonard Scholarship Award, and Presidential Scholarship Award.
Last winter, she set a personal best in the weight throw at the Summit League Indoor Track and Field Championships, clearing 49-11.75 feet for ninth place. Recently during the Outdoor season Verity set a personal-best with a 156-9 throw in the hammer at the Stan Lyons Invitational.
Along with her awards and athletic accolades, Verity is a member and currently serves as President of the Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity International Pre-Law Chapter. Verity joined the Western Illinois chapter of Habitat for Humanity in Spring 2010 and recently was voted President. She also is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and was a Senator-At-Large with the Student Government Association.
