Stephen and Angela Jacobs Strum, Clayton, Mo., announce the birth of their daughter, Erika Rose Strum, Sept. 20, 2002, at Missouri Baptist Hospital in St. Louis. She has a brother, Jake Strum, 2.

Maternal grandparents are Ed and Sonja Jacobs, Lawrence. Paternal grandparents are Barbara Strum, Chesterfield, Mo., and the late Sidney Strum. Great-grandparents are Erika and Chistoph Hassel, Neunkirchen, Germany; Reta Jacobs, Lawrence, and Irene Ash, New York.

Rebekah Kroeker Zemansky, Lawrence, received the Menno Simons Scholarship from Goshen College, Goshen, Ind. The Menno Simons Scholarship, which covers 40 percent of tuition, is granted based on SAT scores, high school rank and grade-point average.

Zemansky, the daughter of Ellen Kroeker and Gil Zemansky, graduated from Lawrence High School.

The Old West Lawrence Neighborhood Assn. and its Applause Committee announce properties that have received public recognition and a yard plaque for neighborhood beautification and improvement. The fall awards are part of an ongoing “thank you” to neighbors for projects great and small. The awards go to:

837 Ark. Return of a converted duplex to its original single-family intent and total renovation, including an addition approved by the Historic Resources Commission.

817 Maine Brick sidewalk restoration using an OWL grant for homeowners needing to repair sidewalks.

800 Ala. Neighbor-friendly low picket fence in back and side yard.

637 Ind. Fancy shingle replacement on a rental home.

800 Ind. New exterior paint.

Molly Kocour became an initiated member of Kappa Chapter of Kappa Alpha Theta at Kansas University Oct. 5. She is the daughter of Bob and Nancy Kocour, Lawrence.

The family of Norma Babbitt is requesting a card shower for her 80th birthday on Nov. 4. Her address is 130 N. 100 Road, Overbrook 66524. She would enjoy hearing from family and friends.

Amy Kennedy, Lawrence, has been named to the Dean’s Honor Roll at Ottawa University for the spring 2002 semester by earning at least a 3.5 grade-point average. She is the daughter of Dick and Darla Sturdevant and Bernie and Janice Kennedy. She is a 1998 Lawrence High School graduate.

The Lawrence Accredited Music Teachers Assn. will present students in two recitals Thursday at the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H.

Students performing in the 7 p.m. program are Charles He, Brian Chany, Jake Hase, Garrett Frank, Dami Wang, Alita Joseph, Jimmy He, Jason Chang, Maryanne Smith, Luke Rhodes, Ashly Rasmusen, Katie Smith, Nolan Frank, Megan Andrews, David Joseph, Margaret Bireta, Chelsea Jacobson, Tennery Carttar, Kelly Gibson, Kyle Gibson, Maxwell Gregoire and Rachel Rasmussen.

Students performing in the 8 p.m. program are Mathew Schaich, Jeff Miller, Clare Hove, Benjamin Greenburg, Jacqueline Qi, Rance Graham Bailey, Mark Laccheo, Ying Niu and Anne Kettle.

Students are from the studios of Eleanor Basgall, Patricia Burgstahler, Alice Downs, Jean Drumm, Sue Evans, Sylvia Frank, Sarah Higgins and Sue Kwak.