Military service, victim advocacy support earns O’Neill student top honors

Posted on May 4, 2022 by Leslie Wells

Man in a suit holds a gold medal in front of him while smiling. — O’Neill’s Kevin Albert was named a recipient of IUPUI’s William M. Plater Medallion for Civic Engagement.

Kevin Albert is proud of his latest medal.

“I was very surprised and truly honored to have been selected for the medallion,” he says.

This medal isn’t for his work to support victim service organizations. It isn’t for his military service either. Yet both of those played into him receiving his latest accolade.

Kevin is one of six O’Neill students to be awarded the William M. Plater Medallion for Civic Engagement. The honor is reserved for graduating students who have shown a deep and lasting commitment to making the world a better place by serving their communities.

“This award is definitely a highlight during my graduate career,” he says.

Kevin is working on his Master of Public Affairs degree and plans to complete that mission in May 2022 before heading out on another later this year.

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O’Neill graduate recognized for community service

Posted on May 3, 2022 by Leslie Wells

Photo of man with beard holding medal, wearing a black suit jacket and smiling. — O’Neill’s Reece Thompson received the William M. Plater Medallion for Civic Engagement.

Reece Thompson has been involved in community service since he was a little boy. He started in Scouts when he was just 6 years old and stuck with the program for the next decade. That included his Eagle Scout project of restoring the only Black cemetery in Thorntown, Indiana—a project that earned state and national recognition.

“My most rewarding moments have come from civic engagement,” Reece says. “Contributing a small portion of your life to change someone else’s is an experience that you will carry through life.”

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Community engagement earns O’Neill student top honors

Posted on May 2, 2022 by Leslie Wells

Woman and man standing together on a stage with a black backdrop behind them. — Sara Hindi (L), pictured with IUPUI Interim Chancellor Andrew Klein, received the Elite 50 and Plater Medallion awards.

It’s been a decade since Sara Hindi walked into her first O’Neill class. In 2012, she was working on her bachelor’s degree in Media and Public Affairs. Ten years later, Sara is set to graduate with her second O’Neill degree—a master’s in Public Affairs—and two prestigious honors: a spot among IUPUI’s Elite 50 graduate students and her second Plater Medallion for Civic Leadership.

“O’Neill has helped me develop a lot of my leadership skills, allowed me to grow my professional network, and opened a lot of doors for me,” Sara recalls. “What you put into your time at O’Neill is what you will get out of it.”

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Elite 50 winner, O’Neill MPA candidate plans for life after law enforcement

Posted on April 25, 2022 by Leslie Wells

After spending 29 years working for the Fishers Police Department, Michael Johnson knew his time as an officer was coming to a close. Retirement was approaching—but Michael isn’t one to sit around. He knew retirement would merely be a transition for him. That’s when he began planning for life after law enforcement.

“I thought earning a master’s degree in Public Administration would set the stage for my future, even if I didn’t know exactly what I would do at the time,” he says. “I’m a 52-year-old father of three. I always wanted to earn a master’s degree but always talked myself out of the idea because I didn’t think I had time.”

Michael says he realized that pursuing a graduate degree would always be a time commitment, no matter what stage of life he was in. So, he began looking at options to advance and expand his education.

“I knew O’Neill was a well-respected organization for people seeking graduate degrees in public administration,” Michael recalls. “Already, the MPA program at O’Neill has allowed me to grow so much both academically and personally.”

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O’Neill students in Top 100 combine degrees to change the world

Posted on April 18, 2022 by Leslie Wells

red lighting on curtain of stage with projection reading Top 100 — Three O’Neill students were named among IUPUI’s Top 100 students for 2022.
Photo by: Liz Kaye, IU Studios

Solving complex problems requires expansive experience and education. Oftentimes, experts will come together from across multiple sectors and fields to address an issue. But some O’Neill students are taking a different approach. Rather than relying on others to fill in future gaps for them, they’re expanding their own expertise now by combining degrees.

Their commitment to academics and to making a difference has earned three of them a spot among IUPUI’s Top 100 undergraduate students for 2022.

Every year, the IUPUI Alumni Council honors 100 IUPUI juniors and seniors who have shown consistent excellence in academic performance, campus leadership, and community engagement.

For 2022, three O’Neill students made the list: Halee Griffey, Liv Pedigo, and Melissa Aceves.

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