Mark and Jodi Abel, Shawnee, announce the birth of their daughter, Hannah Marie, on Nov. 16, 2010, at Lawrence Memorial Hospital.

Grandparents are Cindy Wingebach and Chris and Theresa Abel, all of Eudora, the late Thomas Wingebach and the late Marlon Lewis. Great-grandparents are Raymond and Dorothy Wingebach, Robert Cawley and Mary Abel, all of Eudora; Kenneth Turner, Grain Valley, Mo.; the late Judith Turner; the late Barbara Cawley and the late George Abel. Hannah’s great-great-grandmother is Lois Gish, Lawrence.

Two area residents completed degrees at Drake University in Des Moines at the conclusion of the 2010 summer semester.

Jordan Ray, Lawrence, earned a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration degree in finance and management, and Teresa Galutia-VanAlstine, Ottawa, earned a Master of Science in rehabilitation administration.

Two area residents have been nominated by U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts for appointments to U.S. service academies. Applicants must meet the individual admission requirements of each academy, which will make the final decision on who will receive an appointment. Area nominees are Nathan Petrie, Berryton, U.S. Air Force Academy; and Mackenzie Hartwell, Eudora, U.S. Military Academy.

Local students received top rankings at the Kansas Music Teachers Association state auditions held Nov. 13 at Kansas University. Naomi Kurata won in the grade 7-8 division, Kelsy Jian won in the grade 3-4 division and Fedor Sharov was runner-up in the grade 9-10 division. Receiving honorable mention (third place) were Malka Hampton, Riddhi Duvvur, Smitha Ramesh, Luther Fuller and Maria Ferrara. Receiving “I” ratings in their divisions were Rita Joseph, Rebecca Feng, Omar Roth, Payton Gunderson, Jamie Ward, Shera Bhala, Quincy Beeler, Saskia Ferrara, Jacob Coons, Brian Chang, Erin Scherl, Alita Joseph and Caitlin Laird. These students represent the studios of Jean Drumm, Janet Hart Johnson, Carole Ross and Jung Spooner.

Student journalists from The Campus Ledger, the student newspaper of Johnson County Community College, won 18 awards, including eight first-place certificates, in the 2010 Gold Circle Awards. Among the top winners was photographer John Young, Lawrence, who won four first-place awards, one second-place award, three third-place awards and two certificates of merit.