Monmouth College

Anderson, De Jong, de Zwart, Serpette named Monmouth's students of the year

Students are from, in order, Lisle, Freeport, Australia and Henry

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, Ill. (05/06/2026) — Four students have received top awards for the 2025-26 academic year at Monmouth College.

Men of the Year

The Monmouth chapter of Blue Key Honor Society - a national organization recognizing upperclassmen for outstanding character and ability and for distinction in service, leadership and scholarship - named Shane Anderson of Lisle, Illinois, the Senior Man of the Year and Cadan De Jong of Freeport, Illinois, the Freshman Man of the Year.

In the words of his nominator, Anderson has distinguished himself through sustained academic excellence, outstanding leadership, excellent verbal communication and a level of maturity that places him well ahead of his peers. He approaches every responsibility with seriousness, discipline and professionalism, consistently showing the character and judgment that make him worthy of the prestigious honor.

Academically, Anderson's performance reflects not only intelligence but a natural ability to organize others and to help his peers produce stronger work. He leads in a calm, steady and constructive manner, utilizing preparation, accountability and consistent follow-through.

A senior engineering major with a mechanical emphasis, Anderson was credited for demonstrating "an unusual ability to explain technical ideas in manner other can grasp." He's also developed substantial experience through engineering internships with TydenBrooks, a manufacturer of tamper-evident security seals.

Outside the classroom, Anderson has excelled as a student-athlete in track and field, placing third in the nation in the weight throw at the 2025 NCAA Division III National Indoor Championships.

Nominated by a faculty member, De Jong was credited for being "in the top 1% of undergraduate students I've ever had. He's already distinguished himself through exceptional academic performance, maturity and seriousness of purpose, reflecting the broader qualities that make this award meaningful."

In particular, De Jong was cited for actively taking leadership responsibility in two student-led projects for Scholars Day.

"His leadership style is grounded not in self-promotion, but in reliability, preparation and a genuine commitment to helping the group succeed," wrote the faculty member. Further, he was praised for his ability to balance academic expectations, teamwork and leadership responsibilities, indicating the potential to become a highly impactful member of the campus community.

Women of the Year

The Tau Pi chapter of Mortar Board - a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for scholarship, leadership and service - named Bronte de Zwart of Adelaide, Australia, the Senior Woman of the Year and Lexi Serpette of Henry, Illinois, the Freshman Woman of the Year.

de Zwart's nominator wrote that she "exemplifies academic excellence, intellectual maturity and extraordinary promise at the highest level. She has distinguished herself not only through her accomplishments as an undergraduate, but also through the rare level of sophistication, independence and professionalism she brings to her work.

During her recent summer work experience, de Zwart's supervisor indicated that she was performing at a post-doc level, which is extraordinarily unusual for an undergraduate student.

"Such praise reflects far more than strong grades alone," wrote her nominator. "It speaks to her ability to think deeply, work independently, solve complex problems and contribute in ways that exceed normal expectations for a student at this stage."

de Zwart was praised for possessing the type of intellectual ability, discipline and analytical strength that set her apart from her peers, allowing her to achieve at an elite level in the fields of physics and mathematics.

Added another nominator, "Simply put she is one of - and possibly THE - top student I have encountered in my years of undergraduate teaching. This excellence extends well beyond her own academics and includes leadership and participation in tutoring, athletics, sorority life, campus activities and The Midwest Journal of Undergraduate Research. Her assignments and exams could often be used as solution keys to the problems. Her research talks are excellent, and she does an excellent job of communicating science at a variety of levels without 'talking down' at any time. In short, Bronte is a generational 'wonder student.'"

A participant in Monmouth's three-week SOFIA program last August, Serpette was praised for her ability to get along with others and to encourage others to work hard in a positive manner. During her freshman year, she's been involved heavily in the Association for Student Activity Programming and admission events. She's also helped start a Running Club on campus which is beginning to host events to bring the college community together.

"Along with a heavy course load as a biochemistry and health science and human movement major, Lexi has embraced the college community and has made it better," wrote one of her nominators.

Added another, "She is a leader beyond her years in her ability to be composed and graceful in difficult situations. She is always willing to do the hard work and would never ask folks to do something she wouldn't do herself. She is the first one to arrive and the last one to leave when we have events. She is also keeping on top of a rigorous double major in the sciences. Lexi is the ideal freshman student, always looking for new things to try while maintaining the required focus on what brought her here - her academics."