Science Education Major Melanie Loulousis of Mokena Receives Prestigious Scholarship

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Olivet's Dr. Gregg Chenoweth presents scholarship award to Melanie Loulousis

BOURBONNAIS, IL (09/22/2011)(readMedia)-- One of only 53 recipients nationwide, Olivet Nazarene University senior Melanie Loulousis of Mokena recently received a $5,000 scholarship from the Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA). A student in Olivet's School of Education, she applied for and was awarded this 2011 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) Teaching scholarship. She is the daughter of Jeanine and George V. Loulousis.

The STEM Teaching scholarship is awarded to students who are actively pursuing an undergraduate degree for the purpose of teaching STEM subjects at U.S. middle or secondary schools.

"The STEM emphasis in our country's educational system is helping the United States become more competitive in these professional areas," said Dr. Gregg Chenoweth, vice president of academic affairs at Olivet. "We are excited about Melanie's accomplishments and about what she will contribute as an educator in the field of science education."

Two aspects of Loulousis' Olivet education that she credits for strengthening her application for the 2011 scholarship are her Pence-Boyce summer research project on heat shock proteins with Dr. Greg Long, professor in Olivet's biological sciences department; and her research trip to Costa Rica with Dr. Leo Finkenbinder and students from that department.

Currently, Loulousis is doing her student teaching at Lincoln-Way Central High School, New Lenox, Ill., with an enrollment of 1,892 for the 2011 school year. She is teaching freshman and honors biology, and is co-teaching advanced placement (AP) biology.

With plans to teach high school biology, Loulousis plans to graduate from Olivet with a science education degree in 2012.

Olivet Nazarene University is an accredited Christian, liberal arts university offering more than 100 areas of undergraduate and graduate study, including the Doctor of Education in ethical leadership. Olivet has one main campus in Bourbonnais, Ill. - just 50 miles south of Chicago; three sites: Rolling Meadows and Oak Brook, Ill., and Hong Kong; and more than 100 School of Graduate and Continuing Studies learning locations throughout Chicagoland and the Midwest. From Oxford to Tokyo, hundreds of Olivet students also experience the global classroom each year, whether through study abroad opportunities or worldwide mission trips.

Armed Forces Communications and Electronics Association (AFCEA) International is a non-profit membership association that serves the military, government, industry and academia as an ethical forum for advancing professional knowledge and relationships in the fields of communications, IT, intelligence and global security. AFCEA Foundation supports development of engineers and technical personnel through selective training, scholarships, awards, prizes and grants for educational activities of unique, high value, professional educational programs.

ONU news is also available on the web. Go to www.olivet.edu and click on "News & Events." Licensed University photos and official logos available upon request. For additional information, contact Laura Warfel at 815-928-5403, or lwwarfel@olivet.edu.