Local scholars honored by UI, NIC

BONNERS FERRY — School can be challenging, and making top marks requires both motivation and dedication. Two young women from Bonners Ferry, Brianna Reasoner and Mercy Bushnell, have proven they have what it takes by making the dean’s list for spring 2017.

“This achievement represents exemplary work and speaks highly of your ability to achieve balance across school and personal responsibilities,” Ali Carr-Chellman, dean at the University of Idaho, wrote to Reasoner. “You are not only tasked with departmental and college requirements, but as part of a four-year land grant institution with very high expectations, you must also meet rigorous university requirements.”

Brianna Reasoner is majoring in elementary education with an emphasis on history at the University of Idaho with plans to be a teacher. She earned this award with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher with 12 or more graded credits.

“Ever since I was little I wanted to be a teacher.” Reasoner said. “When the teacher asked the students what they wanted to be when they grew up, some said a firefighter or a superhero, I always said that I wanted to be a teacher.”

Lisa and Tracy Iverson were inspirational figures for Reasoner as a student at Bonners Ferry High School. Reasoner will be graduating the University of Idaho in December and following that, she will be student teaching at Mt. Hall Elementary school.

With Lisa Iverson being the principal at Mt. Hall, Reasoner said, “It will be really interesting being her student again.”

Mercy Bushnell is majoring in engineering at North Idaho College. She received the award for achieving a GPA of 3.75 or higher and is now listed among the elite students of NIC. Bushnell was also awarded Outstanding Student of the Year of the Engineering Department, as well as the New Eyes award for being an outstanding physics student.

Bushnell was homeschooled most of her life, and achieved her GED at the age of 16. Following that, she began college courses.

Former algebra professor Charles Drexel gave Bushnell the needed guidance for her to excel in the math department and decide on the career path in chemical engineering.

“I chose chemical engineering because I am really interested in the sciences, but I wanted to apply it a little bit more than just working in a laboratory, so I thought engineering was a good mesh of working with things and making things.” Bushnell said. “I have two end goals in mind, but I haven’t chosen solidly between the two yet, one is to do Energy Research, and the other is Biomedical Engineering.”

Biomedical engineering or bioengineering, is the development of mechanical systems such as arm and leg extensions, for example, that has helped thousands to function as normally as possible, with their disabilities.

Both girls acknowledged their parents, teachers, and mentors saying how they would not have gotten this far without them.

For more information on bioengineering visit: https://www.livescience.com/48001-biomedical-engineering.html