Sandy Praeger, Kansas commissioner of insurance, has awarded a $1,000 scholarship to a Kansas University minority student as part of a program established by an insurance company’s discrimination suit settlement.

Danyel Bell, a senior accounting major at the KU School of Business and the daughter of Douglas and Mildred Bell of Lawrence, will receive the scholarship money for the spring 2011 semester. The scholarship is funded by a Monumental Life Insurance Co. settlement originated in 2005 in Kansas.

Nearly 550 students completed degree requirements from Kansas State University this summer.

Lawrence graduates include: Mary Anderson, doctor of education in special education; Eric Marlow, bachelor of science; and Scott Unekis, master of science in agricultural economics.

Other area graduates earning bachelor’s degrees include: Brian Johnson, civil engineering, Wellsville; Sarah Rouse, education, De Soto; and Travis Kurtz, agriculture, Overbrook.

Jesse and Katie Bruner Soff announce the birth of their son, Kellen Stewart Soff, on July 20, 2010, at Providence St. Joseph Hospital in Burbank, Calif.

His paternal grandparents are Dr. Matt and Lori Soff, Plantation, Fla.; and his maternal grandparents are Dr. Steve and Kathy Bruner, Lawrence.

The descendants of John Bernard Carl Torneden and Caroline Friederike Emilie Altenbernd Torneden met for their 76th annual Torneden Family Reunion on Sept. 26. Twenty-eight family members and guests met for a basket dinner at the Kanwaka Township Hall.

The host families for the reunion were Jeanne Torneden and family and Raymond and Caroline Flory and family.

Those attending from Lawrence included Raymond and Caroline Flory, Kevin Reetz, Harold Torneden, Jeanne Torneden and Jeanne Waisner.

Those attending from other areas included: Marvin and Myrtle Jones, Tonganoxie; Dora Bussart, Gary Engle, Gaylord and Phoebe Schneck, and Julie Smith, Oskaloosa; Richard Gantz, Perry; Dot Gantz and Jeanne Gantz, Grantville; Lorene Cox, Sam Spiker, Lawrence, Connie and James Torneden, Lola Mae Torneden and Marvin and Marvel Torneden, Linwood; and Del and Nadine Garrison, McLouth.

A moment of silence was held for two family members who died in the past year, David Cox and Marvin Hunter. Gifts were presented to the youngest and oldest family members in attendance as well as the most recently married and the member who traveled the farthest. Those receiving gifts were Sam Spiker, 7, Frank Henak, 98, Wanda Paver (most recently married) and Del and Nadine Garrison (most distance traveled).

Many brought items and pictures to share. In addition, updated copies of the Torneden Family Tree were distributed.

The host family for the 2011 Torneden Family Reunion will be Gaylord and Phoebe Schenk.

Alison and Ross Dessert, Eudora, announce the birth of their daughter, Eden Regina Dessert, on Oct. 2, 2010, in Olathe.

Eden has two sisters, Francesa Rose, 6, and Isabella Therese, 2; and a brother, Peter Frassati, 4.

Her maternal grandparents are Dennis and Susie Collins, Omaha, Neb., and Mark and Linda Sipple, Columbus, Neb.; and her paternal grandparents are Rolly and Karen Dessert, Lansing.

Her great-grandmothers are Betty Phinney, Montpelier, Vt., Dorothy Dessert, Deland, Fla., and Josephine Kaczmarek, Buffalo, N.Y.