Emporia State University has announced candidates for graduation at winter commencement. Graduation ceremonies were conducted Dec. 15.

Lawrence residents who were candidates for degrees include Ryan C. Feldman, B.S. in Business; Susan E. Gibler, Magna Cum Laude, B.S. in Business; Kristopher D. Graves, Master of Arts; Mark Wilson Hamill, B.S. in Business; Sarah Merz, Master of Science; Cara Orban, Master of Library Science; and Derick Ryan Wallace, B.S. in Education.

Other area residents include:

¢ McLouth: Jennifer Marie Showalter, B.S. in Education.

¢ Oskaloosa: Andrew D. Bender, B.S.

¢ Ottawa: Beau Michael Bemis, Summa Cum Laude, B.S. in Business; Tera Rea Trotter Hylton, B.S. in Education; Shane Mikel Shogrin, Bachelor of Arts; and Michelle Nicole Wilmes, Master of Science.

¢ Overbrook: Cameron Mitchell Babb, B.S.; and Diane Marie Kemp Coffin, Summa Cum Laude, B.S. in Education.

¢ Winchester: Russell Alan Hill, Magna Cum Laude, B.S. in Business.

¢Cassie M. Sears, Lawrence, received a bachelor’s degree in recreation from the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho. Commencement was Dec. 8.

¢Brad and Tiffany Hopkins, Lawrence, announce the birth of their daughter, Elsie Rose Hopkins, born Nov. 27, 2007, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Elsie’s maternal grandparents are Randy and Margy Rose. Her paternal grandparents are Vickie Hopkins, Lawrence, and Ken Hopkins, Lee’s Summit, Mo. Great-grandparents are Bob and Leda Rose, and JoAnn Kappelman, all of Lawrence, and Phyllis Hopkins and Eugene and Mary Lou Mann, all of Iowa.

¢Heather Marie Adams, Tonganoxie, graduated cum laude from Upper Iowa University. She received a Bachelor of Science in human services from the university’s Fort Leavenworth Center. Adams earned a grade-point average between 3.3 and 3.59.

¢Miloche R. Kottman, Lawrence, was a candidate for graduation from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Kottman pursued a Master of Library and Information Science. Commencement exercises were scheduled for Dec. 16.

¢Betty J. Bullock, Baldwin City, received a Distinguished Service Award in recognition of teaching excellence at Johnson County Community College. Bullock, an associate professor of sociology, was cited for being a leader in developing and teaching for JCCC Learning Communities and serving as a mentor to students in the honors program.

Bullock has served on committees at the college, is an active researcher and is a leader in regional and national professional sociology organizations. Recipients receive $5,000 during a two-year period.

¢Kathleen Emma Lee Schaetzel, Lawrence, was named to the honor roll for grades achieved during the fall 2007 term at Deerfield Academy in Deerfield, Mass.

Schaetzel, a senior at the independent secondary school, had an overall average of at least 87.

¢Jacob Esau, Lawrence, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2007 quarter at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind. He earned a grade-point average of at least 3.3. Esau is a junior in computer engineering.