Congressman Jerry Moran announces that Tom Bush, son of John and Ann Bush, Lawrence, has joined his office in Washington, D.C., where he will serve as a legislative correspondent. Bush completed an internship in Moran’s office in May.

Bush is a 2004 graduate of Lawrence High School and a 2008 graduate of Washington and Lee University, where he received a bachelor’s degree in business administration. He was a member of College Republicans while at Washington and Lee. As a legislative correspondent, Bush will help Moran respond to the concerns of Kansans and manage various administrative projects.

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The University of Saint Mary announces area students awarded academic degrees at its 2009 commencement May 9 at McGilley Field House on the university’s Leavenworth campus.

Area students earning bachelor’s degrees were:

Basehor — Jenne Laytham; Sandra Lumley, nursing, Delta Epsilon Sigma; Amy Schlicht; and Nicole Swenson.

Eudora — Chance Rowland.

Lawrence — Nicole Hendrix, nursing, and Kizzie Ricks, nursing.

Linwood — Shannon Raines, cum laude.

McLouth — Addie Heim, nursing, Delta Epsilon Sigma, summa cum laude.

Tonganoxie — Jennifer Sparks, nursing, and Deborah Zerrer, nursing.

Area students earning master’s degrees: Melissa Heflin, Master of Business Administration, Linwood; and Brian Stephens, and Karen Stockman, teaching, Tonganoxie.

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Matthew De Oca participated in the American Legion Boys State of Kansas from May 31-June 6 at Kansas State University. De Oca, a senior at Lawrence High School, was one of nearly 500 boys who attended the government and leadership program.

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Kansas University announces area students who completed the Global Awareness Program.

The program recognizes students for studying abroad, taking courses with an international focus (or foreign language courses) and being significantly involved in international co-curricular activities. To receive certification, students are required to complete two of three requirements.

Students earn certification on their KU transcripts and were honored at an April 30 luncheon. Area students are: Jay Haupt and Lisa Zarate, Bonner Springs; Christie Jones and Elizabeth Kinsella, De Soto; Christine Allen, Katelyn Anderson, Sean Borton, Shylo Bundy, Sally Campbell, Benjamin Chapin, Muriel Green, Carlos Hernandez Monterola, Marie Hull, Carol Liang, Gina Lorenz, Meredith McCarter, Kendra Noll, Maureen Oliver, Deana Olsen (with distinction), Bradley Safarik, Harrison Swartz, Theresa Van Orman and Grant Wille, Lawrence; and Mollie Osborne, Tonganoxie.

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Aaron Clark, Baldwin City, has earned an associate’s degree in machine tool technology from Southeast Community College in Milford, Neb. The commencement ceremony was June 11 in the Lowell A. Welsh Center.

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Jennifer and Stephen Christensen, Lawrence, announce the birth of their son, Jacob Adam Christensen, Aug. 11, 2009, at Stormont-Vail HealthCare in Topeka.

His maternal grandparents are Daniel Nicholson, Lawrence, and Betsy Copenhaver, Clarksburg, W.Va.; and his paternal grandparents are John and Carol Christensen, San Antonio, Texas. His great-grandparents are Charles Reich, Lost Creek, W.Va., and Roy Nicholson, Salem, W.Va.

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The family of Alvena Tuggle, Eudora, will be hosts for a reception in honor of her 90th birthday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 5 at United Methodist Church, 2084 N. 1300 Road, Eudora. No gifts please. Cards may also be sent to Tuggle at 924 Walnut, Apt. 45, Eudora, KS 66025.

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Kansas University’s Department of Economics honored 27 outstanding students with about $30,000 in awards and scholarships at a May 6 awards banquet at the KU alumni center.

Faculty members from the department selected students for the awards and scholarships based on academic achievement.

Marie Hull, Lawrence, received the John Ise Award. The Leland J. and Helen Von Behren Pritchard Memorial Scholarship was awarded to Ryan Wing and Benjamin Unglesbee, both of Lawrence, and the Arthur Jerome Boynton Memorial Award was presented to Brandon Minster, Lawrence, and Anthony Falcon, Lecompton.

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Brittany “Nikki” and Sidney Pastor III, Abilene, Texas, announce the birth of their son, Maddox Von Pastor, Aug. 12, 2009, in Abilene.

His maternal grandparents are Gary and Teresa Roach, Kaufmann, Texas; and his paternal grandparents are Richard and Tammy Ziesenis, Lawrence, and Sidney Pastor Jr., St. Louis. His great-grandparents are Robbie Wisdom, Richard Ziesenis Sr., and Marvin and Rose Steffey, all of Eudora, Henry Bennett, Dallas, and Mavis Roach, Tyler, Texas.