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Kansas University announces area women joining sororities through the fall formal recruitment process.

More than 800 women took part in recruitment, and all 13 of KU’s Panhellenic Association sororities added members through recruitment.

New members of Alpha Chi Omega are: Robin Leatherman, Arielle Spiridigliozzi and Emily Teefey, all of Lawrence; and Anna Terry, Tonganoxie.

• Alpha Delta Pi: Megan Bastemeyer, Lawrence.

• Chi Omega: Emily Laskowski, Berryton; Haley Finucane and Rachel Pyle, Eudora; and Hannah Norman and Lauren Self, both of Lawrence.

• Delta Gamma: Grace Dooley and Jennifer Hughes, both of Lawrence.

• Delta Delta Delta: Julia Harris, Lawrence.

• Gamma Phi Beta: Miranda Gilmore, De Soto.

• Kappa Kappa Gamma: Danielle Augustine and Megan Wells, both of Lawrence.

• Pi Beta Phi: Ali Rueschhoff, Lawrence.

• Sigma Kappa: Jordan Armenta, Chantelle Johnson, Kara Thompson and Leah Tomassian, all of Lawrence; and Ashley Clayton, Tonganoxie.

• John Christian and Alisha Retter, both of Lawrence, announce the birth of their daughter, Savanna Christian, on Oct. 11, 2009, at Stormont-Vail HealthCare in Topeka.

•Lisa Marie and Todd William Carpenter, De Soto, announce the birth of their son, Carson William Carpenter, on Oct. 8, 2009, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

His maternal grandmother is Nancy Willcott, Lenexa; his paternal grandfather is William Carpenter, Maywood, Mo. His great-grandmother is Donna Shapiro, Overland Park.

•Dayle and Mike Black, Lawrence, announce the birth of their son, James Maxwell Black, on Oct. 19, 2009, at Overland Park Regional Medical Center.

His maternal grandparents are Gordon and Dianna Dryer, Blue Springs, Mo; and his paternal grandparents are Mike and Jolene Heidrick, Salina.

•Brett and Diana Wiard, Austin, Texas, announce the adoption of their daughter, Hannah Meredith Wiard, who was born on Sept. 25, 2009, in Austin.

Her maternal grandparents are Dean and Joyce Jordan, Lawrence; her paternal grandparents are Buck and Denise Wiard, Hutchinson.

Her great-grandparents are Paul and Carolyn Jordan, Lawrence, Bob and Ava Hastert, Omaha, Neb., Doris Graber, Pretty Prairie, and Ed and Carolyn Wiard, Enid, Okla.

• Eric Hammond, Lawrence, earned a bachelor’s degree in technology information management, cum laude, this spring from Upper Iowa University, in Fayette, Iowa. Cum laude is awarded to students who earned a grade-point average between 3.3 and 3.59. The ceremony for spring 2009 graduates was held May 9 on the Fayette campus.

•Kelley Liebst, daughter of Roger and Anne Liebst of Lawrence, participated in a research internship this summer at the National Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Very Large Array (VLA) complex near Socorro, N.M.

Liebst, a senior at Kansas University, is majoring in physics and astronomy.

•Katelyn Truscello, Lawrence, was named the recipient of the Guy and Gladys Peterson Award during a student awards ceremony for the University of Iowa College of Education in April. Funding for this award was established by Jessica Ann Vogel’s trust agreement, in memory of her parents, Guy and Gladys Peterson. Truscello, who is studying for a degree in music education and violin performance, currently plays violin in the University of Iowa Symphony Orchestra and is chapter president of the Collegiate National Association of Music Education.

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The Rev. Bob Flannery, Carbondale, Ill., formerly of Lawrence, and St. John’s University class of 1969, received an Alumni Achievement Award from St. John’s University during homecoming festivities Oct. 3 in Collegeville, Minn. The awards are presented annually during homecoming weekend, where each 20 through 50-year reunion class recognizes a classmate for his or her accomplishments.

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Several area social studies teachers were among 25 teachers from Kansas, Nebraska, Pennsylvania and Texas who traveled to Washington, D.C., from July 14-16. During the three-day trip, arranged by the Bill of Rights Institute in Arlington, Va., the teachers explored the grounds of George Washington’s Mount Vernon, George Mason’s Gunston Hall, and the National Archives, in addition to examining the writings of Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.

This program, designed for teachers who had never visited the Washington, D.C. area, was made possible by grants from the Abell-Hanger Foundation and the Fasken Foundation of Texas; the Allegheny Foundation of Pennsylvania; and the Fred C. and Mary R. Koch Foundation of Kansas.

Area teachers included: Mike Ortmann, Lawrence High School; Candie Campbell, Ottawa High School; Mike Runyan, De Soto High School; and Robyn Kelso, Eudora High School.

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Lois and Lew Llewellyn, Lawrence, attended the 33rd Biennial Convention of the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) from June 25 to 28 in Portland, Ore. More than 3,200 people attended the event. The convention’s theme was “Look to the Hills … God Reigns.” The LWML is the official women’s auxiliary of the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. Immanuel Lutheran Church and University Student Center, 2104 Bob Billings Parkway, and Redeemer Lutheran Church, 2700 Lawrence Avenue, are part of this national women’s group.