Kansas State University’s chapter of Pinnacle Honor Society, a nontraditional student honor society, has 50 new members. To be eligible, students must have achieved a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher, be of at least junior standing and have demonstrated leadership, persistence and future promise.

Area inductees include: Patricia Gooldy and Troy Heidner, both of Lawrence; and Courtney Thompson, Overbrook; and Kelly Leonard, Tonganoxie.

Several local students were among the 1,293 Fort Hays State University students who completed requirements for associate and bachelor’s degrees in the spring 2011 semester.

Area graduates earning bachelor’s degrees: Sheridan Thompson (English and secondary education), De Soto; Barbara Schaetzel (nursing) and Geoffrey Poston (elementary education), Lawrence; and Jennifer Stewart, (elementary education), Baldwin City.

Michelle Miller, Lawrence, was awarded a degree May 22 from Clark University in Worcester, Mass. Miller graduated with a Master of Arts in international development and social change.

Lisa Lyon, Winchester, was named to the spring 2011 dean’s list at Geneva College in Beaver Falls, Pa., by earning a grade-point average of 3.6 or higher.

Samuel Huneke, a graduate of Lawrence High School, has been elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa at Amherst College in Amherst, Mass., where his grade-point average is in the top 10 percent of the senior class.

William Jewell College, Liberty, Mo., announces area May graduates earning bachelor’s degrees.

Desiree Marmon (psychology), Eudora; and Ella Altenbernd (psychology and history) and Justin Esau (Oxbridge history of ideas and philosophy), Lawrence.

The following students were chosen as November Students of the Month at Oskaloosa High School: Carissa Allen, Riley Hamm, Hannah Lightfoot, sophomores; and Tyler Petitt, senior. The students will be treated to lunch this month at Applebee’s in Lawrence.

Forty-eight Kansas University students have been initiated into Mortar Board, a senior honor society. Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little and her husband, Shade Little, were inducted as honorary members of the KU chapter.

The initiation ceremony was April 17. A reception followed at the chancellor’s home.

Andy Kriegh, a junior from Lawrence, is chapter president for 2011-12. Sue Geoffrion Neverve is president of Lawrence Mortar Board Alumni.

Students must have a 3.0 grade-point average and hold senior status during some or all of the academic year.

New members, all of Lawrence, are: Julia Barnard, Hilary Ferguson (historian), Ellen Hernly, Stephanie Jian, Kriegh, Emily Lamb, Erin Robinson (Outstanding Educator Awards Co-Chair), Adam Rock and Hannah Vick.

Baylor University, Waco, Texas, conferred degrees on more than 2,000 graduates during spring commencement exercises May 13-14.

Lawrence graduates awarded bachelor’s degrees: Samuel Harwood, exercise physiology; and Jonathan Harman-Ashley Huber, finance, risk management and insurance.

Jessica Layden, Oskaloosa, was awarded a master’s degree in health, human performance, and recreation.

Emily Godinez, Lawrence, has been selected for membership to the National Society of High School Scholars.

Amanda Weishaar, Lawrence, participated in an internship program offered by Kansas State University’s Advanced Manufacturing Institute this summer.

Chastity Romero-Latham, Lawrence, was awarded a Master of Arts Degree this spring from the University of Oklahoma Norman campus.

McPherson College has recognized its highest academic achievers in their spring 2011 honor roll and honorable mention students. To qualify for the honor roll, students must earn a grade-point average of 3.55 or higher. Those earning a grade-point average from 3.25 to 3.54 are named to the honorable mention roll.

Area students named to the honor roll: Casey Maxon, Lawrence; Dustin Kitchen, Oskaloosa; and Madison Chambers, Wellsville.

Area students named to the honorable mention roll: Cord Cunningham, Ottawa; and Nicholas Wilde, Overbrook.

Stacie and Adriane Kaufman, Olathe, announce the birth of their daughter, Mia Grace Kaufman, on Sept. 19, 2011.

Her grandparents are Jimmie and Opal Kaufman, Eudora, and James and Colleen Fleck, Madisonville, Ky.

Scott Klopfenstein, a master’s student in geography from Lawrence, was one of four students at Kansas University to receive outstanding achievement awards from the Kansas Geological Survey. Klopfenstein received the Jack Dangermond/ESRI Geospatial Technologies Student Award for his work in Cartographic Services.

Stephanie Jian, Lawrence, was one of six outstanding undergraduates at Kansas University selected as Hall Center Scholars for 2011-12. Each scholar also received an award of $500. The selected students will spend the academic year in conversation with the visiting speakers of the Hall Center’s Humanities Lecture Series.

Nicole Lordemann, Baldwin City, was one of two Kansas State University Salina pilots to compete in an historic, all-female race, this summer, Air Race Classic 2011.

The race began June 21 in Iowa City, Iowa. Racers had through June 24 to finish the race in Mobile, Ala., and stopped at checkpoints in Brookings, S.D.; Jamestown, N.D.; Spearfish, S.D.; Rawlins, Wyo.; Alliance, Neb.; Great Bend; Borger, Texas; Norman, Okla.; and El Dorado, Ark.

Lordemann competed in a Cessna Skyhawk 172 equipped with a Garmin G1000 avionics system.

During Emporia State University’s Summer Theatre production of “Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got the Will?,” Trinity Standridge, Bonner Springs, played Marlene Turnover. The show ran June 22-25.

The following students were named to the spring 2011 dean’s list at Creighton University in Omaha, Neb., by earning a 3.5 grade-point average or higher.

Area students included: Austin Hunter and Lucas Turner, Basehor; Katherine Johnson, Sonya Bhakta, Jennifer Crawford, Rebecca Haworth, Evan Taylor and Brooke Thurman, Lawrence; Grant Klise, Berryton; and Brandon Leppke, Bonner Springs.

Kansas high school students experienced what it took to be a teacher at the Kansas Future Teacher Academy in Emporia June 12-16. The academy consisted of 26 Kansas high school students and was held at Emporia State University.

Kelly Kristiansen and Guin Toalson, both of Free State High School, attended the academy.

Elizabeth Bellinger, Oskaloosa, graduated cum laude May 10 from in Southwestern College, Winfield, with a bachelor’s degree in elementary education.

The University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, announced area students named to the spring 2011 dean’s honor list, by earning a grade-point average of 3.5 or better.

Area students included: Allyson Coy, Shelby Crawford, Sharon Grant-Guerra and Daniel Schaffer, Basehor; Laine Armstrong, De Soto; Wesley Henning, Kathleen Hermesch and Mariah Vaughn, Lawrence; Michelle Chrisman, Linwood; Chelsey Breshears, Geri Jenkins and Kyle Mabary, McLouth; and Emily Gripka, Alex Nowasell, Amie Riddle and Melinda Watson, Tonganoxie.

Sally Konzem, Lawrence, graduated cum laude June 5 from Lawrence University, Appleton, Wis., with a bachelor’s degree in psychology. Students who received the honor of cum laude, graduated with a grade-point average between 3.4 and 3.69.

The University of Saint Mary, Leavenworth, held its spring commencement ceremony May 14.

Area students awarded Bachelor of Science degrees included: Keven Courtney, Basehor; Ashley Fischer, Overbrook; and Alex Nowasell (cum laude), Tonganoxie.

Area students awarded bachelor’s degrees in nursing included: Sharon Grant-Guerra (cum laude), Basehor; Lisa Hatter, Lawrence; and Jennifer Tate (summa cum laude) and Melinda Watson, Tonganoxie.

Area students awarded Master of Arts degrees included: Sherrie Wright (teaching), McLouth; and Tammy Hedge, Tonganoxie.

Jessyka Coulter, Linwood, was named a Dimmitt Scholar at Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa, in recognition of high academic distinction for the 2010-11 academic year.

Dimmitt Scholars must be full-time students who have completed at least 45 credits of college work with a cumulative grade-point average between 3.50 and 3.75.

Mark Jongman-Sereno and Scott Thellman, both of Lawrence, were named to the 2011 spring dean’s list at Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, by earning a grade-point average of at least 3.5.

Missouri University of Science and Technology, formerly the University of Missouri-Rolla, announces area students named to the spring 2011 honor list, by earning a grade-point average of 3.2 or above.

Lawrence students included Christopher Lane, Leah Williams and Hunter Scheib.

Bethel College, North Newton, announced area students whose spring 2011 semester grades have earned academic distinction.

Will Nagengast, Genevieve Rucker and Anna Cook, all of Lawrence, were named to the dean’s list by earning a grade-point average of 3.7 or higher.

Area graduates awarded bachelor’s degrees during May 22 commencement exercises: Andrea Baldwin (nursing), Amanda Fredrickson (business administration, cum laude), Daniel Lassman (biology) and Caleb Stephens (social work), Lawrence; Nathan Dick, (business administration), Baldwin City; and Joshua Powell (communication arts and music), Basehor.

David Debiasse, Lawrence, graduated cum laude May 7 from the University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg, with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Five Kansas State University doctoral candidates have received a prestigious university scholarship for their dissertations that focus on improving human health and enhancing the quality of life.

Each recipient of the K-State’s Research Foundation doctoral research scholarship was awarded a $15,000 scholarship stipend and up to an additional $5,000 for tuition reimbursement.

The 2011-2012 recipients included Andrew Jones, a doctoral candidate in physics, Lawrence.

Meghan Shanks graduated in June from the University of Cincinnati with a master’s degree in medical physics. Shanks is a 2005 graduate of Lawrence High School and a 2009 graduate of Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa.

Alyson Hock, Lawrence, graduated cum laude May 21 from Simpson College in Indianola, Iowa, with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and biochemistry.

Six area students have accepted scholarships to attend Fort Hays State University for the 2011-2012 academic year.

Ellen Bentley, a 2011 Lawrence High School graduate, accepted a $500 Academic Opportunity Award in teacher education.

Beckett Bergstrom, a 2011 Lawrence High School graduate, accepted an $800 Hays City Silver Academic Award.

Misti Jenkins, a 2011 McLouth High School graduate, accepted a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in nursing and a $500 Copper Academic Award.

Cassidy Steele, a 2011 Jefferson West High School graduate of Meriden, accepted a $900 Academic Opportunity Award from the College of Business and Leadership and an $800 Hays City Silver Academic Award.

Nicholas Stephens, a 2011 Shawnee Heights High School graduate of Berryton, accepted a $900 Academic Opportunity Award in art and design.

Anthony Weiss, a 2011 Baldwin High School graduate, accepted a $700 Fort Hays Bronze Academic Award.

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln announces area students named to its spring 2011 deans’ list/honor roll.

Veronica Grizzle, DeSoto, was named to the College of Journalism and Mass Communications deans’ list/honor roll, by earning a minimum grade-point average of 3.7.

Kaylen Fleming and Brittany O’Donnell, Lawrence, were named to the College of Arts and Sciences deans’ list/honor roll, by earning a minimum grade-point average of 3.7.

Monica Sorensen, Bonner Springs, was named to the College of Business Administration deans’list/honor roll, by earning a minimum grade-point average of 3.6. Sorensen earned a 4.0 grade-point average.

Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, announces area students named to its the spring 2011 president’s and dean’s lists. Students earning a 4.0 grade-point average were named to the president’s list; those earning a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher were named to the dean’s list.

Jordan Payne and Aliza Rosenthal, both of Lawrence, were named to the president’s list.

Byron Varberg, Justine Ahle and Matthew Farrier, all of Lawrence, and Connor Twombly, Baldwin City, were named to the dean’s list.

Samantha Claypool, Lawrence, graduated magna cum laude June 4 from Knox College in Galesburg, Ill., with a bachelor’s degree in international relations.