Best & Brightest

•Melissa Hoebbel, daughter of Gary and Sue Hoebbel of Inverness, was named to the dean's list for the spring 2007 semester at Illinois State University in Normal. Hoebbel is a junior majoring in public relations/communications in the College of Arts and Sciences. She is a 2004 graduate of Fremd High School, Palatine.

•John Petty of Palatine, a senior at Oklahoma City University was named to the 2007 spring semester dean's list.

•Lauren J. Sandberg, daughter of Andy and Jill Sandberg of Barrington Hills, graduated June 15 from Northwestern University. She was awarded a bachelor's degree from the School of Communication, summa cum laude, with departmental distinction. In addition, Sandberg received Departmental Excellence Awards in Communication Sciences and Disorders in both 2006 and 2007. The Barrington High School graduate was also an active member of Kappa Alpha Theta sorority.

•Bradley University in Peoria recognized the following area student by naming them to the spring dean's list for achieving a minimum 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.

Barrington Hills: Dana L. Charmoy, Hubert A. Gudanowski, Lindsey A. Olmon and Blanka Roguljic, Barrington Hills.

Lake Barrington: Chelsea L. Sullivan.

Palatine: Jennifer M. Galvan, Chelsea J. Gray, Lauren M. Greene and Rachel K. Hacker Palatine.

•Michael R. Conti Mica of Barrington graduated in May 2007 with a bachelor's degree in biochemistry and molecular biology, cum laude from Boston University in Massachusetts. He was also named to the spring semester dean's list.

•Kelly A. Paice and Michelle J. Pajerski, both of Barrington, were named to the spring semester dean's list at Boston University in Massachusetts.

•Benjamin B. Schor of Barrington graduated in May 2007 with a bachelor's degree in international relations from Boston University in Massachusetts.

•Trinity International University in Deerfield recently named the following local students to the college academic dean's list for achieving a semester grade point average of 3.5 or higher.

Palatine: Kristen Suiter, freshman, elementary education; Nathan O'Day, junior, general studies; and Jesse Flanagan, sophomore, psychology.

•Daniel Patrick Dunne, son of Dan and Janell Dunne of Palatine, completed the Global Awareness Program this spring and was recognized in a May 10 ceremony at the University of Kansas, Lawrence. Dunne, a senior majoring in business and management, received a Global Awareness Program certificate. He is a Palatine High School graduate.

•Kristen Renee Larson, daughter of Rick and Marcia Larson of Palatine, was named to the spring 2007 dean's list at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, for achieving a grade point average of 3.60 or higher. She is a speech communications major in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences , and a 2005 graduate of Fremd High School.

•Debra Elizabeth Romz of Palatine graduated with a master of science degree from Illinois State University in Normal at the end of the spring 2007 semester.

•Rebecca Lynn Williamson of Barrington graduated in May 2007 with a bachelor's degree in psychology, human services, from the College of Arts and Sciences at Millikin University, Decatur.

•Breanna Carol Bradbury of Palatine graduated cum laude in May 2007 with a bachelor's degree in musical theater from the College of Fine Arts at Millikin University, Decatur.

•Sayo Sudo and Brandon Wubs, both of Palatine, were named to the dean's list at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, for earning a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher during the spring 2007 semester.

•Kristine M. Plazyk and Ashley E. Rivard, both of Palatine, were named to the 2007 spring semester dean's list at Loras College, Dubuque, Iowa, for earning at least a 3.5 grade point average.

•Columbia College Chicago announced the following students graduated with undergraduate degrees at the May 12 commencement ceremonies.

Palatine: Aaron Bass, journalism; Edward Boe, film and video; Malachy Cross, graphic design; Ryan Curtis, audio arts and acoustics; Michael Dahlinghaus, film and video; Sienae Lee, graphic design; Kyal Sylverne, illustration; Lori Stevens, journalism; and Natalie Szewczyk, photography.

•The University of Iowa in Iowa City named the following students to the dean's list for academic achievement during the 2007 spring semester.

Barrington: Brooke Elizabeth Duval, Linda Marie Hays, Emily Patricia Kean, Anne Catherine Kesler, Lindsey E. Kurek, Victoria Diane Nudo, Lauren Peter, all enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts; and Dana Stephanie Kurek, College of Business Administration.

Deer Park: Sarah May Arnberger, College of Engineering; Nicole Rae Messina and Jennifer Anne Pratscher, both in the College of Liberal Arts.

Inverness: Randi Lynn Bahnick, College of Nursing; and Kaitlyn Elizabeth Gilski, College of Liberal Arts.

North Barrington: Claire Rachael Nolan and Christine A. Scobee, both in the College of Liberal Arts.

Palatine: Danielle Cathleen Battaglia, College of Business Administration; Matthew J. Riley, College of Engineering; Abigail Lauren Gardner, College of Nursing; Kathryn L. Chelminski, Megan Eileen Flaherty, Patrick Kenneth Galligan, Jack Francis Gende, Keri Keller George, Alison Marie Gibbons, Michael Joseph Kaminski, Morgan B. Ottier, Karen Nicole Saetre, Isabelle Othman Smith and Sally Ann Solberg, all enrolled in the College of Liberal Arts.

Port Barrington: Katie Lynn Ellis, College of Liberal Arts.

South Barrington: Brittany Kristine Page, College of Liberal Arts.