The Dole Institute of Politics announces area students who are Sen. Robert J. Dole Public Service Scholars for the 2008-09 academic year. The program recognizes graduating Kansas high school students who have demonstrated volunteerism, public service in their communities and maintained a 3.0 grade-point average. The recipients were awarded a $1,000 scholarship, renewable up to three years, with a commitment of completing 100 hours of civic activities annually.

Area students:

De Soto: Ashley Williams.

Lawrence: Kahlyn Heine, Michelle Smith and Kylie Waite.

Oskaloosa: Dillon Robbins.

Tonganoxie: Sarah Smith.

¢Julie Norman, Oskaloosa, earned a Bachelor of Science degree in graphic design from Missouri Western State University, St. Joseph, Mo. The commencement ceremony was on May 10 at the M.O. Looney Complex on campus.

¢Morgan Brown, daughter of Sean and Pam Brown of Lawrence, competed for the title of Miss Teen of Kansas at the 2008 state pageant Aug. 1-3 in Manhattan. The winner will receive a $1,000 cash scholarship and a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond. The new state titleholder will also be eligible to compete for the National Title of Miss Teen of America and vie for additional scholarships, awards and prizes.

¢Libby Queen, Lawrence, was among 40 high school students awarded a scholarship by Hy-Vee Inc. Queen, who plans to attend Kansas State University this fall, was awarded $1,000 because of her academic achievements and demonstrated interest in school and community activities. She is employed with the Hy-Vee at 3504 Clinton Parkway.

¢David Johnston, Lawrence, was a delegate for the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s (LAF) 2008 LIVESTRONG Summit. He attended the event with Rueben Perez. Both are staff members at Kansas University and were chosen to be among the 1,000 delegates attending from across the country.

The LIVESTRONG Summit was July 24-27 at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center James Cancer Hospital on the university’s campus in Columbus.

Johnston is the LIVESTRONG Army leader for Lawrence.

¢Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, announces its May 2008 graduates. The commencement ceremony was May 18 at the Drake Knapp Center in Des Moines. Area students earning undergraduates degrees:

Baldwin City – Meghan Harr, Bachelor of Arts in English.

Lawrence – Steven Anthony, Bachelor of Arts in journalism and mass communication in advertising-management; Allison Edwards, Bachelor of Arts in biochemistry and molecular biology; Joshua Gaston, Bachelor of Arts in English; Ross Miller, Bachelor of Business Administration in finance and management.

¢Jacqueline Miller, Lawrence, earned a Master of Science degree in professional meteorology during the summer from the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

Miller is eligible to participate in commencement ceremonies in May 2009.

¢Josie Polk, Lawrence, was named to the spring 2008 semester honor roll at Missouri University of Science and Technology, formerly the University of Missouri-Rolla. To be named to the honor roll, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.2 or above. Polk is a senior majoring in business and management systems.

¢Wichita State University announces area students named to the dean’s list for the spring 2008 semester. To be included on the dean’s list, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.5 grade or higher.

Area students:

De Soto – Molly McKechnie.

Lawrence – Melissa Kramer, Brandon Mcguire, Matthew Pelsma, Jamie Stanclift and Jason Ware.

Oskaloosa – Rosston Eubank.

¢Richard Vetter, Lawrence, was named to the dean’s list for the spring 2008 term at North Central College, Naperville, Ill. To be eligible for the dean’s list, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher. He is the son of Joseph Vetter and Elaine Ayala.

¢Wichita State University announces area students earning degrees in May 2008. The commencement ceremonies were May 16-17 in Charles Koch Arena.

WSU awards summa cum laude to students who have attained a grade-point average of 3.9 or higher; magna cum laude to those with an average of 3.55; and cum laude to those with an average of 3.25.

Area students earning undergraduate degrees:

Eudora – Kaleb Niedens, Bachelor of Science in aerospace engineering, summa cum laude.

Lawrence – Melissa Kramer, Bachelor of Arts in psychology, magna cum laude; Matthew Pelsma, Bachelor of Music in music performance, magna cum laude.

Area students earning graduate degrees:

Eudora – David Schonberg, Master of Social Work in social work.

¢Lucy Pennewell earned the award of Kansas State Ambassador in the Junior Teen division at the National American Miss Kansas pageant. The pageant was at the Hyatt Regency Aug. 9-11 in Wichita. She is a ninth-grader at Central Junior High School and the daughter of Joe and Louise Pennewell, Lawrence.

She received her Ambassador trophy, crown and sash at the state level competition and has earned the opportunity to compete in the National Pageant this fall at the Hyatt Regency in Garden Grove, Calif.

Her sponsors for the pageant were Debbie Ziegler, Bello Salon, Fairview Fire Department, County General Store, and friends and family.

¢Emporia State University announces students who have been members of Phi Theta Kappa during their community college years who will receive scholarships to continue their education as they transfer to Emporia State this fall.

Area winners of Phi Theta Kappa transfer scholarships include Kristin Potter, Anthony Foust and Eric Fox, all of Lawrence; and Alyson Baggett and Sarah Larson, of Tonganoxie.

Fox was named among seven students who will receive additional scholarships because of their standing as members of PTK’s All-Kansas Academic Team.

¢ Alex Houston, Lawrence, graduated from level 1 of the Future Astronaut Training Program June 14 at the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, Hutchinson.

The weeklong program is for students entering grades 7-10 and emphasizes teamwork, leadership and problem solving. During the week, campers train in space simulators, practice spacewalk rescues, launch homemade rockets, direct a robotic mission and learn night sky observation techniques.

He is a seventh-grader at West Junior High and the son of Mary Morningstar and Peter Houston, Lawrence.

¢Members of the Lawrence Free State Future Farmers of America Chapter joined more than 280 Kansas FFA members at the 2008 State Conference for Chapter Leaders July 7-9 at Rock Springs Ranch, south of Junction City.

Attending the conference were Emily Surdez, State FFA president, Sabetha; Leanne Milleret, president; Scotty Thellman, vice president; Ashley Rector, secretary; and Laura Priest, adviser, all of Lawrence.

Key points the members learned during the conference included vision, expectations, purpose and growth, being a role model, challenging the status quo, and creating a shared vision.

¢Jessica Nichols, Lawrence, earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in biology and applied critical thought and inquiry from William Jewell College in Liberty, Mo. The commencement ceremony was May 3 at Mabee Center on the William Jewel campus.

¢Libby Johnson and Mason Heilman, both of Lawrence, were elected executive officers for Student Senate at Kansas University during the 2008-09 academic year.

Johnson, executive secretary, is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a graduate of Lawrence High School and the daughter of Carey and Jean Johnson.

Heilman, committee chair, is a junior in secondary education with a history and government concentration. He is a graduate of Free State High School and the son of Steve and Sally Heilman.

¢The Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics at Kansas University hosted 20 teachers from around the state for the first Government and History High School Teacher Conference on July 31.

The theme was “Civic Engagement and Election 2008.” Selected teachers discussed the significance of young people becoming involved in civic life, public service and national, state and local elections.

Area teachers who participated: Bill Gollier, Bishop Seabury Academy, Lawrence, and Blanche Wulfekoetter, Jefferson West High School, Meriden.

¢Amanda Steiner, the 2008 Ms. Wheelchair Kansas, attended the Ms. Wheelchair America event where she competed for the national title and received the new Best Platform Award. The event was July 21-27 at the Hilton Hotel in Rockville, Md.

She is the fifth woman to represent the state of Kansas at the national competition since 2004.

Steiner, who lives in Lawrence and is originally from Marion, was crowned Ms. Wheelchair Kansas in March 2008.

¢Emporia State University announces area students named to the 2008 spring semester honor roll. To be listed on the honor roll, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.80 or higher.

Baldwin City – Lacey Rockhold.

Basehor – Kelly Schaffer.

Bonner Springs – Jennifer Cole and Jessica Crosby.

De Soto – Jennifer Petronella.

Eudora – Michelle Nila and Brandon Van Anne.

Lawrence – Kira Barker, Cassandra Brickell, Madeline Fister, Kelly Forsyth, Olson Kilmer, Karen Kroge, Scot Lange, Raymond Lee, Victor Tuttle and Wendolyn White.

Meriden – Whitney Czajkowski.

Ottawa – Megan Bathory, Audanell Lester, Christopher Lyman and Kelby Wadkins.

Tonganoxie – Laura Graveman, Janelle McCoy and Stephanie Reynolds.

Wellsville – Megan Cleveland.