Elizabeth Heffernan graduates U of I with honors

Elizabeth Michelle Heffernan, daughter of Mike and Joanie Heffernan of Chester, graduated with honors from the University of Illinois in Urbana this past spring.

She was one of 13,183 students to earn U of I dean's list honors and among more than 9,000 students to graduate.

Elizabeth earned degrees in both Business Accountancy and Information Technology. She was a Chancellor's Scholar and an active member of the Business Honors Program all four years.

Meanwhile, her brother, Nicholas Michael William Heffernan, just completed his sophomore year at U of I and also made the dean's list. He is studying communications with a minor in business.

Elizabeth served as a lector at St. John's Catholic Newman Center and was a tutor for the School of Business athletes. She was a member of the Chi Omega Sorority and the Business Council Fraternity where she served on the executive board.

Elizabeth has accepted a full-time offer with Price Waterhouse Coopers in St. Louis. She will start work in September in the Audit Assurance Department, specializing in financial institutions.

Elizabeth graduated Chester High School with honors, and was active in cross-country, basketball, cheerleading, track, Student Council, the National Honor Society, Students Against Destructive Decisions, the Sting newspaper, Spirit Squad, Scholar Bowl, W.Y.S.E., Fellowship of Christian Athletes, the spring musicals and the yearbook staff.

Elizabeth was CHS Homecoming Queen her senior year as well as valedictorian of the Class of 2016.

Nick Heffernan is also a member of the St. John's Newman Center and he is an active member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at U of I where he is Rush chairman and serves on the executive board and is the Rush Chairman.

Nick graduated from Chester High School in 2018 and has just started his junior year at Illinois.