The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center announces area graduates from level 2 of its Future Astronaut Training Program this summer in Hutchinson. The camp builds on knowledge gained from FATP level 1, also held at the Cosmosphere.

The weeklong program is for students entering grades 7-10 and emphasizes teamwork, leadership and problem solving. During the week, campers receive advanced training courses in space shuttle systems, space physiology and microgravity science. Campers also build and launch rockets, receive a full day of scuba training and underwater exercises, construct robots, and participate in a ropes course with a 30-foot climbing wall.

Lawrence July 25 graduates include: Adam Fales, son of Leon and Michelle Fales; Kane Eggers, son of Bruce Eggers and Jackie Counts; and Hunter Adam, son of Michelle Adam.

Lawrence June 27 graduates include: Sameah Stevenson, daughter of Shala Stevenson and Kelly Gilstrap.

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Ashley Coffman, Lawrence, has been assigned to teach elementary vocal music education at Soderstrom Elementary in Lindsborg, under teacher Lori Nelson. She began Aug. 11 and will continue through Oct. 3.

Coffman will also teach secondary vocal music education at Smoky Valley High School under teacher Leah Ann Anderson from Oct. 6 through Dec. 5.

Coffman is a senior at Bethany College in Lindsborg.

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Lynne Stahl received the Frank Krutzke Senior Essay Award during the annual Academic Honors Convocation at Colorado College in Colorado Springs, Colo.

Her winning essay is titled “Constitutional Acts and Genderational Gaps: The Instability and Performativity of Identity in ‘The Silence of the Lambs.'”

Stahl is a senior this fall, majoring in English and Spanish. She is 2005 graduate of Free State High School and the daughter of Susan Stahl and Saul Stahl of Lawrence.

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Brianna Eden, Overbrook, was named to the 2008 spring semester honorable mention list at Garden City Community College by earning a grade-point average between 3.0-3.199.

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Pittsburg State University announces area students who made the honor roll during the summer 2008 semester.

Area students named to the All-A honor roll by earning a 4.0 grade-point average:

Basehor – Ross Turney.

Lawrence – Ashley Taylor.

Ottawa – John Casady and Karah Hiles.

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Kirsten Whitlock-Ming, Lawrence, is a May honor roll graduate of Kansas City Kansas Community College. She earned an Associate in Applied Science degree in respiratory therapy in May. She is employed with Pharmaceutical Research Inc. in Lenexa.

She is continuing her education at Washburn University in Topeka for a Bachelor of Science degree in health care administration.

Whitlock-Ming is a 1999 graduate of Lawrence High School and the daughter of Jessie Miller and Rick Whitlock, Lawrence.

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The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center announces area graduates from level 1 of its Future Astronaut Training Program this summer in 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.

Lawrence July 18 graduates: Kathryn Amick, daughter of Monty and Stephanie Amick.

Lawrence July 26 graduates: Rachel Hampton, daughter of Kathryn Myers and John Hampton; and Cale Bertrand, son of Mark and Marsi Bertrand.

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Meredith Rubis Beightel and Chris Beightel, Lawrence, announce the birth of their daughter, Eleanor Leigh Beightel, born Aug. 30, 2008, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Eleanor has a brother, Wyatt, 6, and a sister, Lillian, 3.

Her maternal grandparents are Laura and Jerry Raedeke, Nisswa, Minn., and Steve and Jolene Rubis, Fairmont, Minn. Her paternal grandparents are CW and Karen Beightel, Lawrence. Her great-grandparents are Shirley Rubis, Lakefield, Minn.; Eleanor and Les Mueller, Okoboji, Iowa; and Nell Tollefson, Lawrence.

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The Kansas Chess Grade Championships were Sept. 13 at Washburn Rural High School in Topeka. Each student competed against others from around the state in the same grade. Lawrence area winners:

11th grade: Nathaniel McFadden, Lawrence High School, 12th.

Eighth grade: Andrei Elliott, Southwest Junior High School, third.

Seventh grade: Edward Wilson, Central Junior High School, first; Aaron Simon, West Junior High School, third; and Sam Beaulieu, CJHS, sixth.

Sixth grade: Sam Stephens, Quail Run, second; Robert Newman, Wakarusa Valley, third; and George Wedge, Cordley, sixth place.

Fifth grade: Roscoe Bradt, first; and McCarthy Fitch, third, both of Cordley.

Third grade: Colin Bradt, first; and Jackson Maher, second, both of Cordley.

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Katherine Blair has been accepted to Cottey College in Nevada, Mo., and plans to major in English for the fall semester.

She is a graduate of Basehor-Linwood High School and the daughter of Sandy and Jeff Blair, Lawrence.

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The Torneden Family Reunion will have a potluck from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sept. 28 at Perry American Legion, U.S. Highway 24. Please bring table service and any family pictures or mementos you would like to share. Drinks will be provided.

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Angela and Tyler Bogart, Salina, announce the birth of their daughter, Addison Elizabeth Bogart, born Sept. 5, 2008, at Salina Regional Hospital.

Addison has a brother, Evan Bogart, 3.

Her maternal grandparents are Bernie and Della Bierman, Baldwin City. Her paternal grandparents are Barry and Andrea Bogart, Salina; and Gene and Claudia Luetters, Salina.

Her great-grandmother is Betty Bogart, Carlton.

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Emporia State University hosted a two-day orientation academy for nearly 50 Kansas teachers for national certification. The event was Sept. 12-13 at the Great Plains Center for National Teacher Certification at ESU’s Jones Institute for Educational Excellence.

The process takes a better part of the academic year and requires teachers to assess their teaching from all aspects: teaching over time, documenting student work samples, capturing classroom interactions, matching class lessons to state and national standards, and collaborating with parents and community.

Teachers must document what they do in written reports, videos and other media and submit them to teaching peers, who determine whether the teacher-candidate’s portfolio matches the standards of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards.

Area teachers attending the orientation:

¢ USD 458: Basehor-Linwood – Dorothy Hoyt-Reed.

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Lawrence High School’s Class of 1966 is planning a 60th birthday bash for Oct. 4.

For more information, contact Barbara Lauter at (785) 856-1837, Bruce Roberts at (785) 312-4205, or visit www.lhs1966.net.

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Sigma Alpha Iota International Music Fraternity will have a salad supper with the Beta Beta Collegiate Chapter at 6 p.m. Sunday at the home of Becky Foster, 1133 Mark Blair Court. Co-hostesses will be Marian Scheid and Julie Holmberg. Program will be Autumn Airs: Folk Tunes.