Jacob Esau, Lawrence, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 quarter at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Ind., by earning at 3.3 grade-point average or higher.

Esau, a computer engineering major, is the son of John Esau and Mary Dillon.

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Cameron Hershiser, Lawrence, was named to the special president’s list for the fall 2008 semester at Dodge City Community College, by earning a grade-point average of 3.8 or higher. The special list includes those who have completed 64 hours or more and are not classified as a freshman or sophomore.

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Madison Phillips, Lawrence, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 semester at University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg by earning a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.99.

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Avila University, Kansas City, Mo., announces area students named to the deans list for fall 2008 semester, by earning a grade-point average of at least a 3.5. Area students are: Nicole Kirk and Courtney Kirkpatrick, Basehor; and Tia Shomber, Tonganoxie.

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The National Parliamentary Tournament of Excellence (NPTE) ranked four of Washburn University’s parliamentary debate teams in the top 20 from a field of 643 teams.

Keenan Hogan, sophomore, Lawrence, and teammate Andrew Lake, junior, Topeka, were ranked 18th in the nation.

The NPTE rankings track the overall success of each parliamentary team in the nation and are used to determine the top 64 teams, who will then square off at the highly competitive NPTE Championships, at the University of California-Berkeley in March.

Hogan is a biology major at Washburn.

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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 are honored at a luncheon in the spring.

Area students are:

Baldwin City: Sonja Combest, daughter of Michael and Jody Combest.

De Soto: Jacob Longaker, son of Rodney and Donna Longaker.

Lawrence: Courtney Longino, daughter of Robert and Linda Longino.

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Billie Burtrum, Lawrence, was named to the president’s honor roll for the fall 2008 semester at Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College, Miami, Okla., by earning a grade-point average of 4.0.

Burtrum, a freshman, is a physical therapy assistant major.

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Melissa Burch, Lawrence, has been admitted to Concordia University, in St. Paul, Minn., for the 2009-2010 fall semester. Burch was awarded the President’s Scholarship, which provides a total of $8,000 in funds.

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Shelby White, a 2006 graduate of Lawrence High School, was recently selected to be a 2009 orientation leader for Florida State University, in Tallahassee, Fla. White was one of 39 chosen from over 400 applicants. She is a member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the dean’s list, RENEW (Realizing Everyone’s Need for Emotional Wellness) Club president, and Gamma Phi Beta Sorority standards chairwoman. White has been involved in Dance Marathon to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network, Relay for Life, and Light the Night. She is pursuing a dual major in family and child sciences and philosophy.

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Arna Hemenway, Lawrence, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 semester in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at the University of Iowa, in Iowa City, by earning a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.

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Jennifer Hornbaker, Lawrence, was named to the dean’s list for the 2008 fall semester at Iowa State University, in Ames, by earning a grade-point of 3.5 or higher.

Hornbaker, a senior, is a journalism and mass communication major.

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Hannah Robinson, Lawrence, was named a recipient of the dean’s award for the fall 2008 semester at Colgate University, in Hamilton, N.Y., by earning a grade-point average of 3.3 or higher. Robinson, an international relations and religious studies major, earned a 4.0 grade-point average.

She is a 2006 graduate of Free State High School and the daughter of Rita Beyer and Steve Robinson.

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Jennifer and James Myers, Lawrence, announce the birth of their son, Hudsen James Myers on Dec. 23, 2008, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Hudsen has a brother, Koen John, 2.

His maternal grandparents are John and Janet Adams; paternal grandparents are Verlon and Marilyn Myers; and great-grandparents are Earl and Alietha Beckman, all of Lawrence.

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Lawrence High School’s Class of 1989 is organizing its 20-year reunion for Oct. 2-3. Information about tickets, reunion events, T-shirts and lost classmates may be found at www.lawrencehigh89.com. Classmates are connecting via Facebook at www.facebook.com. Other inquiries may be made at lawrencehigh89@hotmail.com.

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Cordley and Central Junior High School claimed first place trophies in K-6 and K-8 divisions, respectively, of the Onaga High School Chess Tournament Jan. 31 in Onaga. Prairie Park earned the second place trophy in K-6, and West Junior High School claimed the third place trophy in K-8. Individual champions were Free State High School’s Thomas Clark in K-12, WJH’s Aaron Simon in K-8, and Cordley’s Jackson Maher in K-6.

Other medal winners in K-12 were: Sam Stephens, Quail Run, third; Josh Kallenbach, Quail Run, sixth; and Kenny Blevins, Lawrence High School, ninth.

K-8 medal winners were: Sam Beaulieu, CJHS, second; Ian Gent, CJHS, third; and Austin Bailey, CJHS, fourth.

K-6 medal winners were: McCarthy Fitch, Cordley, second; Roscoe Bradt, Cordley, third; Colin Bradt, Cordley, fourth; George Wedge, Cordley, fifth; Max Briggs, Prairie Park, sixth; and Dylan McMannis, Prairie Park, seventh.

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Barton Community College, Great Bend, announces area students named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 semester by earning a grade-point average of 3.5 to 3.99

Lawrence students named to the list were Kathryn Hunt, Kara Kellison, Sean Land and Robert Voigts.

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Kayla Frost, Lawrence, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 semester at Hosftra University, in Hempstead, N.Y. She has been an intern for NY1 News, a New York City 24-hour news channel, and the Colbert Report on Comedy Central. Frost is an intern for Atlas Media Corp, a producer of non-fiction television series in New York City.

She is studying communications and television production and plans to graduate in May.

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Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., announces area students named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 semester, by earning a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher.

Area students are: Austin Hunter and Sarah Norris, Basehor; and Jennifer Crawford, Rebecca Haworth, Ken Homan and Katherine Johnson, Lawrence.