Emporia State University’s faculty nominated 21 seniors for the school’s highest undergraduate honor: the 2011 Dwight and Ida Curry Newberg Outstanding Senior Award. Nominees were recognized at the senior recognition banquet April 25. Local nominees included Ryan Hahn of Berryton.

Christian Beer and Yiyang Zhang, both of Lawrence, are among 46 Washburn University School of Business undergraduate, graduate and post-baccalaureate students who were inducted into Beta Gamma Sigma international honor society on May 4.

Alec Heline, Lawrence, has been accepted for admission for the 2011-12 academic year to Luther College in Decorah, Iowa. Heline received an Academic Achievement Award.

Amelia and Mark Burnett, Iuka, announce the birth of their son, Grayson Perry Burnett, on April 13, 2011, at Pratt Regional Medical Center.

Grayson has a brother, Caleb, 1.

His maternal grandparents are Dale and Terri Coffin, Oskaloosa; his paternal grandparents are Lynn and Marcia McGhee, Lawrence, and Bruce Burnett, Abilene.

His great-grandparents are Jennie Coffin, Leavenworth, and Tom and Wanda Swearngin, and Perry and Pat McGhee, all of Warsaw, Mo

Diana Plas and Travis Alexander, Pratt, announce the birth of their daughter, Tabitha Denae Alexander, on April 6, 2011, at Pratt Regional Medical Center.

Her maternal grandparents are Cait and Steve McKnelly, Lawrence; her paternal grandparents are Christy Johnson, Medicine Lodge, and Ron Alexander, Topeka.

Her great-grandparents are Mary Emmons, Terry Emmons and Beverly Alexander, all of Burlington.

Brad Kabus, a senior at McLouth High School, has received the Dale Dennis Excellence in Education award sponsored by United School Administrators of Kansas. He is the son of Bill and Betsy Kabus, McLouth.