Sanford, Matlock named Monmouth College's top seniors; Panganiban, Dailey earn awards for freshmen

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, Ill. (05/11/2022) — Four students have received the top awards of the 2021-22 academic year at Monmouth College.

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 Mason Sanford of Mapleton, Illinois, the Senior Man of the Year and Ethan Panganiban of Wheeling, Illinois, the Freshman Man of the Year.

Through his active participation in the Monmouth College Pipe Band, Sanford's talents are often on display at public events. He is also a member of the Fighting Scots lacrosse team and a Scot Ambassador. Behind the scenes, he excels in his academics and his research on the effects of glucose toxicity on the nervous system.

Before even taking his first class at Monmouth, Panganiban participated in a summer research project that required him to understand the lived experiences of immigrants, people of color and older adults. Within his first semester, he joined the College's childhood development research team. A constant presence in the Center for Science and Business, Panganiban can often be found playing the piano in Mellinger Commons, creating a warm presence in the building. Also a member of the Zeta Beta Tau fraternity, Panganiban was praised for the way he "seamlessly connects with those around him."

The Tau Pi chapter of Mortar Board - a national honor society that recognizes college seniors for scholarship, leadership and service - named Olivia Matlock of Lee's Summit, Missouri, the Senior Woman of the Year and Megan Dailey of Pendleton, Indiana, the Freshman Woman of the Year.

Matlock has been involved in the Pi Beta Phi women's fraternity, the Stockdale Fellows Alternative Spring Break program, Classics Day, the SOFIA program and the Courier student newspaper. A Scots Ambassador, she also served as a captain of the lacrosse team, as a Latin tutor, and as a student worker for the classics department. A member of the Midwest Women's Lacrosse Conference All-Academic Team, Matlock has been named to the Dean's List every semester at Monmouth and recently earned a Maxima Cum Laude distinction on the National Latin Exam. A double major in classics and English, she is a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta and Eta Sigma Phi honor societies.

A member of the Fighting Scots track team, Dailey is majoring in classics, art and educational studies. Like Matlock, she was actively involved in last semester's award-winning Classics Day V and earned a Maxima Cum Laude distinction on the National Latin Exam. Dailey is also involved in the fine arts through her participation in the Wind Ensemble, the Jazz Ensemble, the theatre department and Art Alliance. She carried a perfect 4.0 GPA through her first semester in college.