Around and About

Brad and Julie Boydston, Lawrence, announce the birth of their daughter, Sydney Boydston, born Jan. 24, 2006, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital. She has a brother, Jacob Wyatt Boydston, 2. Maternal grandparents are Ron and Sharilyn Smith, Emporia. Paternal grandparents are Ben and Kay Boydston, Lawrence. Great-grandparents are George and Imogene Wyatt, Emporia; Bob and Theresa Smith, Erie; and Bunny Richards, Lawrence.

Kevin and Dena Johnston, Lawrence, announce the birth of their son, Braycen Curtis Johnston, born Feb. 2, 2006, at St. Francis Hospital in Topeka. He has a sister, Skyler Raegann, 3. Maternal grandparents are Bob and Gin Fox, Holton. Paternal grandparents are Jim and Rose Johnston, Wichita.

Teresa Michelle and John H. Loftiss Jr., Linwood, announce the birth of their daughter, Piper Delaney Loftiss, born Dec. 8, 2005. Grandparents are Gary and Laney Stussie, Lawrence, and John and Denise Loftiss, Kansas City, Kan. Great-grandparents are Mae Cook, Garnett; Clara Gunter, Kansas City, Kan.; and Howard and Earline Loftiss, Kansas City, Kan.

A card shower is being held for James Black, Lawrence, who will turn 80 on March 1. His children are Stan and LaDene Black, Jim and Debra Black, Brad Black and Nancy and Neil Rowland.

Cordley School won the first-place trophy in the K-6 division at the Prairie View High School chess tournament Feb. 11 in La Cygne. Medal winners from Cordley were Eddie Wilson, second; Sam Stephens, third; Zack Curran, seventh; Jake Burdett, 12th; McCarthy Fitch, 13th; Roscoe Bradt, 15th; and George Wedge, 16th.

Central Junior High School student Roy Wedge finished 11th in the K-12 division.

Cameron Moore, Perry, made the dean’s list for the fall 2005 semester at Spring Arbor University, Spring Arbor, Mich., by receiving at least a 3.5 grade-point average.

Baker University students Jenna Collins and Tim Obiefule, both of Lawrence, will perform with the Kansas Intercollegiate Band at the Kansas Music Educators Convention Friday in Wichita. Collins plays the French horn and Obiefule plays the contra-alto clarinet for Baker’s Symphonic Band.

Laura King, Lawrence, recently was named to the 2005 scholar’s list at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas.

Jessica Leffler graduated in December from Washburn University with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice and a minor in psychology. Leffler was on the dean’s list and president’s honor roll, and completed an internship at Douglas County Community Corrections. She is employed with Douglas County Youth Services. She is the daughter of Konnie Leffler, Lawrence, and Bill Leffler, Gibbs, Mo. Jessica’s children are Jaden and Ava Leffler.

Alumni from Tonganoxie High School Class of 1986 are participating in a Class Reunion Web site at http:// classreport.com/usa/ks/tonganoxie/ths/1986.

Class member Tim Dykes has volunteered to act as class administrator for www.classreport.com. Dykes invites Class of 1986 alumni to fill out a profile. Plans for a 20-year class reunion are under way. Those helping to organize the reunion are Vicki (Groshong) Schalansky, Loralee Stevens, Dan Lynch, John Scott and Kelly (Lakemper) Greef.

Charlie Turner and Vinny Gonzalez, McLouth High School students, and Jonathan Varner, Perry-Lecompton High School student, will compete in the 2006 History Day regional competition Feb. 25 at Washburn University.

Turner and Gonzalez will give a documentary on “Jesse Owens: Leading by Example.” Varner will give a paper on “The First Crusade.”

Winners of the competition will be invited to compete at the state level.

The following area students made honors during the fall 2005 semester at Kansas State University: Andrea Arnold, Brian Bondurant, Jeffrey Wagner and Eric Waters, Baldwin; Crystal Conner and Roshena Schmidt, Eudora; Andrea Ahrens, Rebecca Bayouth, Melissa Bowers, Ruth Gibson, Jenna McGovern, Erin Niedenthal, Daniel Schneider, Elizabeth Sims, Alayna Stewart, Katherine Towner and Aaron Trent, Lawrence; Molly Hoss, Joshua Lesser and Eric Lorimer, Lecompton; Kyle Huschka, Adam Kretzer, Teal Ludwick and Zachary Maier, Ottawa; Danielle Burkdoll and Whitney Coen, Wellsville; Kelsey Bates, Sarah Dissinger, April Heady-Smith, Kabel Robbins and Krystal Robbins, Oskaloosa; Kara Bowman, Cameron Freeman, Nicole Kirk and Courtney Sebree, Basehor; and Kelly Heitmann, Tonganoxie.

Alyssa Crider, Lawrence, will be reading her original book “Daisy’s First Day” at 11:30 a.m. today at Borders Books Music & Cafe, 700 N.H.

Lauren Hoge, 14, Linwood, was named Kansas’ top youth volunteer for 2006 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Award, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. She was nominated by Leavenworth County 4-H in Leavenworth. She received $1,000, an engraved silver medallion and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C.

Lauren collected donations of new and gently used books for children staying at Safe Homes, a local shelter for abused women and children.

Ryan Rowland, Lawrence, made the dean’s list for the fall 2005 semester at Charleston Southern University, Charleston, S.C., by earning at least a 3.50 grade-point average.

Johnson County Community College announced area full-time students who made the honor roll during the fall 2005 semester.

Those who made the president’s list by earning a 4.0 grade-point average: Christopher Moore, Basehor; Leslie Elmer and Emily Hedge, De Soto; Wandamarie Baker, Charis Grosdidier, Jason Keezer, Rachel Torkelson and Justin Wood, Eudora; Arly Allen, Carletta Bassett, Christopher Benjamin, Frank Boyd, Jack Campbell Jr., Kendra Clouston, Laura Coons, Cynthia Currey, Jennifer Dixon, Megan Frink, Letitia Garber, Rachel Helker, Paula Higbie, Grant Jamison, Jennifer Kissinger, Rose Kopf, Matthew LeGresley, Patrick Lyon, Elizabeth Madl, Mariah Markham, Danielle Meyeres, Casey Owens, Brian Powell Jr., Ginger Ray, Robin Smith, Matthew Steinbacher, William Stewart-Starks, Lana Williamson and Jacqueline Wise, Lawrence; Sharon Wintermute, Linwood; Amanda Bird, John Cover and Douglas Crawshaw Jr., Ottawa; Marla McClain, Pomona; Jason Chambers, Joseph Marin and Brandon Smith, Tonganoxie.

Those who made the dean’s honor roll by earning at least a 3.5 GPA: Nicole Schafer and Amanda Schultz, Baldwin; Dara Norwood and John Orrick III, Basehor; Jonathan Huber, Matthew Saving, Jesse Smith and Jessi Van Roekel, De Soto; Daniel Bonebrake, Kyle Cox, Brendan Jackson, Tina Lencioni, Morgan Rumple, Kaori Wakabayashi and Christopher Williamson, Eudora; Michelle Adam, Ethan Adams, Travis Alderson, Christina Annis, Andrew Avila, Brian Barger, Ashley Bird, Emily Bofetta, Alyssa Buecker, Courtney Crouch, Christopher Decedue, Heather Dover, Ravan Fisk, Caleb Freiburger, Jason Fry, Caitlin Funston, Kendal Graham, William Grier III, Chase Gudenkauf, Matthew Hall, Brian Haynes, Lane Hermreck, Matthew Hillers, Lindsey Holladay, John Jefferson, Seth Jensen, Nathan Johnson, Ah Lim, Trevor Lindquist, Emily Lundberg, Miranda Maxey, Kieran McBride, Samuel McCall, Sara McEachern, Anne Ndungu, Daniel O’Connell, Stephanie Pearson, Belinda Penaloza, Carolyn Pringle, Donna Proffitt, Nichole Rapp, Jessica Roper, Scott Schmidt, Katie Schwyhart, Kazufumi Shinjo, Katelyn Stevenin, Wesley Teal, Christine Traner, Ashly Wallace, Daniel White, Jaymes Williamson, Emily Williamson, Jeungen Yu and Jacqueline Zook, Lawrence; Jesica Sines, Linwood; Michiru Akiyama, Chad Conus, Amanda Domnanish, Sam Gorton, Brian Green, Michael Mathews, Kayley Potter, Jami Samsel and Kimbra Savage, Ottawa; Leslie Huffman, Overbrook; Tristan Bowersox and Brandon Gooden, Tonganoxie; and Anna Rees and Megan Samsel, Wellsville.

Zachary Parks, Lawrence, recently was named to the dean’s list for the 2005 fall semester at Limestone College in Gaffney, S.C., by earning a 4.0 grade-point average.