Buffalo Grove Students Earn Honors At Mississippi State, UW-Whitewater

BUFFALO GROVE, IL — We’re tracking higher education accomplishments by local students throughout the academic year. To submit an achievement, email eric.degrechie@patch.com.

College Credits announcements are compiled from Merit Pages News, colleges and universities, and submissions from readers and families.

Mississippi State University

MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS — Calla Lermer, of Buffalo Grove, was among more than 3,500 students who graduated from Mississippi State University in spring 2026.

Lermer earned a Bachelor of Science summa cum laude from MSU’s College of Education.

Lermer was also named to Mississippi State’s President’s List for the spring semester, along with fellow Buffalo Grove resident Andrew Lermer.

Students named to the President’s List earned a grade-point average of at least 3.80 on a 4.0 scale while completing at least 12 semester hours of coursework.

University Of Wisconsin-Whitewater

WHITEWATER, WI — Two Buffalo Grove students earned degrees from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater during spring 2026 commencement ceremonies:

• Thomas Hein, Buffalo Grove (60089), graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in computer science.
• Jessica Velent, Buffalo Grove (60089), earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in accounting.

More than 1,850 students graduated during ceremonies held May 16 at Kachel Fieldhouse in Whitewater and May 19 at the Wells Cultural Center on the university’s Rock County campus in Janesville.