Oakton STEM coordinator noted in magazine for efforts

Gloria Liu of Buffalo Grove, coordinator for the Center for Promoting STEM at Oakton Community College, is a recipient of INSIGHT Into Diversity magazine's 100 Inspiring Women in STEM Award - a tribute to women across the nation whose work encourages young women to pursue science, technology, engineering or mathematics careers. Liu and the others will be featured in the magazine's September issue. Since 2007, Liu, who has a master's degree in business from the University of Phoenix and a bachelor's degree in political science from Brandeis University, has offered support, mentoring, field trips, guest lectures and more to expose Oakton students to careers in STEM fields.

• Oscar Gonzalez has been appointed director of business operations for Zengeler Cleaners. An 11-year employee of the family-owned company, Gonzalez has served as store manager at the Dundee Road location, in Northbrook, since 2008. In his new role, Gonzalez will supervise operations at all eight store locations. He joined Zengeler Cleaners in 2004, as a clerk.

• Air Force National Guard 2nd Lt. Dane M. Christensen has graduated from Specialized Undergraduate Pilot Training at Vance Air Force Base, Oklahoma. SUPT is a 52-week course of pilot training conducted in three phases: Academics and physiology; primary training and track select training. Christensen is currently serving as a student pilot with 128th Air Refueling Wing, General Mitchell Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin. Christensen, the son of Jerry T. Christensen of Elk Grove Village and Elaine M. Christensen of Bloomingdale, is a 2007 graduate of Elk Grove High School. He earned an bachelor's degree in 2012 from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston.

• Recognizing the value of high-impact learning and experience in today's job market, the following Augustana College students gained real-word know-how through summer internships: Wheeling resident Sebastien Chomereau-Lamotte, a senior majoring in art, interned with Augustana's Art Department, Rock Island; Anthony D'Angelo of Buffalo Grove, a senior majoring in business administration-management, served an internship with Wildfire Steakhouse, Lincolnshire; Kristin Molloy of Wheeling, a senior majoring in Spanish and economics, interned with Rock Island City Hall; and Libertyville resident Darwin Townsend, a senior majoring in business administration-management, served an internship with Rigalo Packaging, Des Plaines.

• Send your 'Neighbors in the News' items to Norrine Twohey at ntwohey@dailyherald.com.