Jeff and Christy McWhirt announce the birth of their daughter, Jolie Anna McWhirt, born April 12, 2005, at Menorah Medical Center in Overland Park. Maternal grandparents are Steve and Connie Duncan, De Soto. Paternal grandparents are Robert and Janet McWhirt, Basehor. Great-grandparents are George and Rita Nuessen, Madison; Mary Truby, Basehor; and Adelaide McWhirt, Topeka.

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Jason and Nikki Schmitz, Lawrence, announce the birth of their twins, Aidan James Schmitz and Lilly Kathryn Deanna Schmitz, born Feb. 19, 2005, at Shawnee Mission Medical Center. They have a brother, Isaac Clayton Schmitz, 2. Maternal grandparents are Cindy Foster, Tonganoxie, and James Foster, Washington. Paternal grandparents are Jim and Judy Schmitz, Lawrence. Great-grandparents are Helen and Jerry Daniels, Hanford, Calif.; John and Mary Ann Bynum, Squaw Valley, Calif.; and Mary Frances Campbell, Lawrence. Great-great grandmother is Ruth Weilkle, Hanford, Calif.

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Eric and Rebecca Wagner, Baldwin, announce the birth of their son, Brody James Wagner, born March 31, 2005, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. Maternal grandparents are Dr. Steve and Lori Myrick, Lawrence. Paternal grandparents are David and Carolyn Alexander, Olathe, and Don Wagner, Lawrence.

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Haley Pollock, Lawrence, was one of nine collegiate members recently initiated in NoNoSo, an alumnae women’s honor society at Washburn University. The honorary organization recognizes outstanding Washburn senior women based on their morals, integrity, merit, community involvement, leadership qualities and academic achievements.

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The Kansas Scholastic Chess Assn. recently named Thomas Reams and Sean Stenseng, Southwest Junior High School students, All-State in the High School Division for the 2004-2005 scholastic chess season. Southwest Junior High School’s chess team was given All-State Honors in the High School Division, while Quail Run and Wakarusa Valley schools received All-State Honors in the Elementary Division. To receive all-state honors, players and teams were rated on their season performances, and the top 10 in each category were named all-state.

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To celebrate the National Federation of Music Clubs’ National Music Week, students of Sylvia Frank will present a piano and instrumental program, “The History of American Music,” at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Lawrence Presbyterian Manor chapel. Students who will be performing are Rohini Banerjee, Raka Banerjee, Nolan Frank, Garrett Frank, Bryson Hewins, Jackie Hewins, Emily Keizer, Patrick Keizer, Erin Ice, Allix Ice, Elsa Latare, Marley Sutter and Ian Zylstra.

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Kate Nielsen, Lawrence, participated in Truman State University’s Celebration of Student Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement on April 14. The conference offers students the opportunity to present the research they have conducted under the guidance of faculty. Nielsen, daughter of Niels and Diane Nielsen of Lawrence, is a senior majoring in communication disorders.

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Kara Pittman, a Eudora High School graduate, and Laura Groves and Garrett Wiens-Kind, Free State High School graduates, have accepted Fort Hays State University scholarships. Pittman accepted an $800 Hays City Silver Academic Award and a $500 Award of Excellence in business. She is the daughter of Darla Pittman, Eudora. Groves accepted a $500 Award of Excellence in art and a $400 Fort Hays Bronze Academic Award. She is the daughter of Parker and Kathleen Groves, Lawrence.

Wiens-Kind accepted ann $800 Hays City Silver Academic Award and a $500 Award of Excellence in art. He is the son of Cindy Wiens, Lawrence, and Mark Kind, Overland Park.

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Amy Bullerman, Lawrence, has received the John Henry Cardinal Newman scholarship from Newman University, Wichita. Bullerman, who will graduate from Lawrence High School this spring, is the daughter of Terry and Lisa Bullerman.

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Lisa Marie Theno, Lawrence, received a $500 scholarship from Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 9271 in Tonganoxie.

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Elizabeth Stephens, Lawrence, has been named to the dean’s list for the winter quarter of the 2004-2005 academic year at Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill., by earning at least a 3.70 grade-point average. She is the daughter of Ann Stephens, Lawrence, and David Stephens, Garden City.

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Kathleen Schmidt is retiring after 31 years of teaching music in the Wathena schools. A reception will be given after Open House/Awards Night, which begins at 7 p.m., Friday at the school. It will be her last school concert.

She began teaching in 1974 when she and her late husband, attorney Melvin Schmidt, moved to Wathena. She had previously taught in the McLouth and Garnett school districts. Schmidt graduated from the Boston Conservatory of Music and has a master’s degree in piano performance from Kansas University.