Stuart Wakeman, Lawrence, has been chosen to advance and compete in the National FFA Proficiency Award Competition with his FFA Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Entrepreneurship Proficiency. Wakeman was chosen as one of four national finalists in the Agricultural Mechanics Repair and Maintenance Entrepreneurship Proficiency Award and will be heading to Indianapolis in October for final interviews in hopes of earning top recognition in this award category.

Wanda Westheffer will celebrate her 85th birthday with a card shower on Tuesday. Birthday wishes can be sent to 2202 Greenbrier, Lawrence, KS 66049. A family dinner will also be held.

Katie and Jay VanBlaricum, Topeka, announce the birth of their daughter, Violet Reindina VanBlaricum, on Aug. 24, 2011, at Topeka Birth and Women’s Center. Her maternal grandparents are Jerry Jennings, Lawrence, and Christine Fritzel, Arvada, Colo. Her paternal grandparents are Ken and Annette VanBlaricum, Pratt. Her great-grandparents are Mary and Ralph Reschke, Frances VanBlaricum and Bud Jennings, all of Lawrence.

Three Lawrence residents graduated from Drake University, in Des Moines, Iowa, at the conclusion of the 2011 spring semester: Aliza Rosenthal earned a bachelor’s degree in religion and psychology, Matthew Farrier earned a bachelor’s degree in graphic design and Lucca Wang earned bachelor’s degrees in public relations and painting.

Twenty entrepreneurial ideas developed by Kansas State University students were finalists to become the Next Big Thing, K-State’s entrepreneurial idea competition. The finalists competed April 21 for $20,000 in prize money that will be awarded to the top teams in the product, service, social entrepreneurship and graduate student divisions. Area finalists were: Amanda Leive, Basehor; Tim Leitnaker, Ottawa; and Danielle Willburn, Tonganoxie.

Kansas State University’s Army and Air Force ROTC units commissioned 30 cadets as second lieutenants at ceremonies held May 13. Nineteen cadets from K-State’s Wildcat Battalion Army ROTC unit and 11 cadets from K-State’s Air Force ROTC Detachment 270 earned commissions. Area cadets included: Katherine Maier, Ottawa, Air Force.

Kansas University visual art students, who were competing for scholarships, exhibited their works on the third and fourth floors at the Art and Design Building. The Department of Visual Art Student Scholarship Exhibition and Open Studio featured art by more than 100 undergraduate and graduate students whose works were displayed from May 1-3. Area students included: Justin Bergin, Allison Ice, Victoria Kimmel, Cora Mitchell, Heather Moore, Marysa Sacerdote, Ryan Schick, Alexandra Sova, Isaiah Stewart and Brandy Supernaw, all of Lawrence; Emma Brink, Meriden; Teri Ross, Perry; and Haley Freeman, Tonganoxie.

Kaitlan Brenn, Lawrence, earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of Northern Colorado during spring 2011 graduation ceremonies May 6-7.