Samantha Claypool, Amanda Look and Jordan Noller, all of Lawrence, were named to the 2009 dean’s list for the spring term at Knox College, Galesburg, Ill., by earning a grade-point average of 3.45 or higher.

Claypool is a junior, Noller is a senior, and Look graduated cum laude in June earning a bachelor’s degree in anthropology and sociology, with a minor in English literature.

• Kara and Jason Spurling, Olathe, announce the birth of their daughter, Quinn Olivia Spurling, on Sept. 1, 2009, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

Quinn has two sisters, Rachel, 7, and Maryn, 5.

Her maternal grandparents are Janice Richardson and Mike Richardson, both of Lawrence; her paternal grandparents are Karla and Merl Spurling, Grantville. Her great-grandmother is Alice Richardson, Shawnee.

• Lawrence High School Marching Lions won first place at the Blue Valley Marching Invitational on Sept. 26. In addition to winning first place, they also won the Best Music Award and the Best General Effect Award. Nine other high schools attended the competition.

Mike Jones is the band director of the LHS Marching Lions. Assistant directors are Patrick McCarty and Johannah Cox. The Dance Team coach is Marja Edwardson. Drum majors are Travis Jacobsen, Ellen Bentley and Kelsey Schweer.

• Kelli and Randall Hedges, Auckland, New Zealand, announce the birth of their son, Joshua Bryan Randall Hedges, on Aug. 20, 2009, at North Shore Hospital in Auckland.

Joshua has a sister, Brea, 18 months.

His maternal grandparents are Don and Shari Raybern, Lawrence; his paternal grandparents are Kay and Allen Benjamin, Tauranga, New Zealand, and the late Bryan Hedges.

• The University of Iowa, Iowa City, announces area students named to the dean’s list for the 2009 spring semester, by earning a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. Area students are Amelia Hurst, Baldwin City, and Arna Hemenway and Katelyn Truscello, Lawrence.

• Lucca Wang of Lawrence, a junior at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, has been elected to represent the School of Fine Arts in the Student Senate for the 2009-2010 academic year. The Student Senate is a legislative body on campus that changes and implements campus policy based on the needs of the university and its students.