Mundelein resident named outstanding graduate at Northern Michigan

Submitted by Kristi Evans, NMU News Director

Arika Egan of Mundelein was selected as the outstanding graduate by the physics department at Northern Michigan University in Marquette. She also received the NMU Board of Trustees outstanding female graduate award.

Egan even served as the student soloist for the May commencement ceremony, leading the audience in singing the alma mater and national anthem. She was a double major in physics and philosophy. She graduated with full university honors after completing a capstone project based on her work tutoring students in the introductory physics classes.

Egan has worked on astronomical observation and image processing at NMU, beginning four years ago as a Freshman Fellow. Last summer, she participated in the National Science Foundation's Research Experience for Undergraduates program by assisting with an observational astronomy project at the University of Wyoming.

Parts of her work have been highlighted at the Argonne National Laboratory undergraduate research conference and at the most recent meeting of the American Astronomical Society.

In addition to her scientific interests, Egan was the founder of the NMU Social Justice Committee and played in the NMU jazz band and combo. She plans to serve as an adjunct instructor in the NMU physics department and work in the university observatory while studying for her GRE toward a possible doctorate in astronomy.

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