Northwest Missouri State University announces area students named to its president’s honor roll for the fall 2008 semester, by maintaining a 4.0 grade-point average. Area students are: Britany Bahr, Lawrence; and Stephanie Gaines, Overbrook.

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Kimberly and Christopher Taylor, Lawrence, announce the birth of their daughter, Madeline Grace Taylor, Feb. 19, 2009, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Madeline has a sister, Olivia, 9, and a brother, Joey, 6.

Her maternal grandmother is Suzi Jackson and her paternal grandmother is Cheryl Taylor, both of Lawrence.

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Jenica Wessels, Lawrence, was named to the dean’s list for the 2008 fall semester at Baylor University, Waco, Texas, by earning a grade-point average of 3.7 or higher.

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Central Junior High School and Sunset Hill School claimed first place team trophies, in K-9 and K-3, Feb. 14 at the Ottawa High School Chess Tournament. Quail Run earned the second place trophy in K-6, while West Junior High School claimed the third place trophy, in K-9. Wakarusa Valley’s Robert Neman and WJH’s Aaron Simon were individual champions in K-6 and K-9. Other Lawrence medalists were:

In K-12: Thomas Clark, Free State High School, second; Peter Lesslie, FSHS, fourth; and Roy Wedge, Lawrence High School, 10th.

In K-9: Eddie Wilson, CJHS, ninth; Ian Gent, CJHS, 10th; Sam Beaulieu, CJHS, 11th; Owen McFadden, South Junior High, 14th; Austin Bailey, CJHS, 15th; Luke Lesslie, Southwest Junior High, 16th; and Caleb Ledbetter, WJHS, 20th.

In K-6: Josh Kallenbach, Quail Run, second; Joseph Miller, Quail Run, fourth; George Wedge, Cordley, eighth; Jonathan Lesslie, Quail Run, 11th; Tom Brooks, Quail Run, 13th; Cameron Edgecomb, Sunset Hills, 15th; Diane Camarda, Sunset Hill, 16th; Max Briggs, Prairie Park, 20th; Christopher Greenfield, Prairie Park, 22nd; and Nick Maloun, Prairie Park, 25th.

In K-3: Ting-Ting Shi, Quail Run, second; Jackson Maher, Cordley, fifth; Hannah Ledbetter, Sunset Hill, 10th; Wilson Remington, Sunset Hill, 11th; Shrivatsa Malladi, Langston Hughes, 12th; Eliza Haase, Sunset Hill, 14th; Lincoln Edgecomb, Sunset Hill, 15th; and Lacey Greenfield, Prairie Park, 16th.

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Rachel Van Horn, a 2008 graduate of Lawrence High School, has been named the Skyline Conference Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2008 for women’s volleyball. She was named First Team All-Conference last fall.

Van Horn is a freshman at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y.

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Peter Zemansky, a 2008 graduate of Lawrence High School, was named to the dean’s list at Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, by earning a grade-point average of 3.5 higher, for the fall semester.

He is the son of Ellen Kroeker and Gil Zemansky, Butte, Mont., formerly of Lawrence.

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A reunion is being planned for Free State High School Marching Band members from 1998 to 2005 and their parents. The potential dates are Aug. 15, Aug. 22 or Sept. 19. Band members and their parents are asked to contact, Karen Anderson at fsbandbooster@sunflower.com with their information.

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Desmond Granger, Lawrence, was named to the fall 2008 provost and vice president’s list at Truman State University in Kirksville, Mo., by earning a grade-point average between 3.5 and 3.99. He is the son of the Rev. and Mrs. Charles Granger, Lawrence.

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Elizabeth Alvarez, Lawrence, earned a special diploma for childhood development associate from Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, Pa. The winter commencement ceremony was Jan. 31 in the Spartan Center on campus.

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Rebekah Curry, Lawrence, attended Scholars Day at Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Mo. The Jan. 19 event was held for students who were honors program applicants for fall 2009.

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Jimmy Elder of Elder Farms and LeRoy Elder of Elder & Son LLC, both of Linwood, participated in the Ridge Till Non-Irrigated division of the 2008 National Corn Growers’ Association (NCGA) Corn Yield Contest in Kansas. Jimmy placed first with Pioneer brand hybrid 33K44, yielding 207 bushels per acre, and LeRoy placed second with Pioneer brand hybrid 33D47, yielding 195 bushels per acre.

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Wichita State University has announced the area students named to the dean’s list for fall 2008 semester, by earning a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. Area students are: Emily Ballock, Eudora; Kathryn Osborne, Jamie Stanclift and Jason Ware, Lawrence; and Rosston Eubank and Ethan Miller, Oskaloosa.

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Josie Polk and Leah Williams, both of Lawrence, were named to the honor list at Missouri University of Science and Technology, formerly the University of Missouri-Rolla, by earning a grade-point average of 3.2 or higher for the fall 2008 semester.

Polk, a senior, is a business and management systems major, and Williams is a freshman engineering major.

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Seth and Stephanie Readinger, Independence, Kan., announce the birth of their twin boys, Kyler Robert Readinger and Felix Michael Readinger, Feb. 18, 2009, at Coffeyville Regional Medical Center.

Their paternal grandparents are Michael and Renee Readinger, Lawrence, and their maternal grandparents are Robert and Susan Eaton, Elk City.

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Jennie Roberts Brunkan, Denver, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 semester at the University of Colorado at Denver Pharmacy School. Brunkan earned a grade-point average of 3.82 for the honor and is the daughter of Claire and Don Roberts, Lawrence.

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Lisa Lyon, Winchester, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 semester at Geneva College, Beaver Falls, Pa., by earning a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher.

Lyon, a junior, is majoring in communication disorders.

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Alyson Hock, Lawrence, was named to the dean’s list for the fall 2008 semester at Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, by earning a grade-point average between 3.7 and 3.99.

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Susan Warden earned highest honors for the fall 2008 semester at Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, N.Y., by earning a grade-point average of 3.670 or higher.

Warden is the daughter of John Staples and Susan Warden, Lawrence.

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Betty Dobbins will celebrate her 90th birthday with a reception from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. March 7 at the First Christian Church, 1000 Ky. The event will be hosted by her children, Sherri Millsap, Dr. Kent Dobbins and John Dobbins, and they request no gifts.

Betty and her late husband, John, moved with their family to Lawrence in 1947. They owned and operated the Chuck Wagon, a BBQ and steak restaurant, near 25th and Iowa, from 1949 until 1970.

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Kansas University spirit squads earned three top-10 finishes from the 2009 Universal Cheerleaders Association/Universal Dance Association College Nationals held January in Orlando, Fla.

The KU Cheer Squad, Rock Chalk Dancers and Big Jay finished the competition fifth, ninth and ninth.

To watch video of the KU spirit squads’ performances at the national competition, visit varsity.com.

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Kaplan University celebrated the graduation of its winter 2009 class during a Jan. 31 ceremony in Miami. Five-time Grammy Award-winning recording artist John Legend served as the commencement speaker. Among those receiving degrees were Athena Devers, Master of Business Administration, Perry.