Best & Brightest

• Northern Illinois University in DeKalb announced the following students were awarded bachelor's degrees at the May 12 commencement ceremonies.

Hoffman Estates: Christina K. Adamczyk, biological sciences; Nabeel Ahmed, accountancy; Benjamin R. Biesiada, marketing; Erin Bobsin, communications, organizational/corporate; Dana F. Cali, psychology; Philip Daniel, English; Brent Martin Delgado, communications, organizational/corporate; Ryan Allen Jones, operations and information management; Nicole M. Kiolbasa, marketing; Lisa Suzanne Lawrenz, fine arts, 3-D studio; Michael Jose Mangino, biological sciences; Jean Marie Meers, nursing; Candace Rodriguez, elementary education; Daniel Jose Sacomano, English; Amisha G. Shah, elementary education; and Rebecca Judith Tibus, general emphasis.

Schaumburg: Stephen Earl Carlson, psychology; Song Eun Char, studio art-design; Erin Marie Conner, elementary education; Chris Scott Cuva, mechanical engineering; Courtney C. Davis, marketing; Anthony J. DeBartolo, physical education; Nicholas S. Garbe, electrical engineering; Timothy J. Jackowiak, studio art-design; Kristin S. Kowynia, marketing; Meagan Meisner, sociology-criminology; Elena V. Potemkina, marketing; Chantelle M. Robinson, sociology-criminology; Anthony Robert Rowan, physical education; Lindsey M. Scavella, speech, language pathology/audiology; Matthew Ryan Schmidt, elementary education; Frank G. Serritella, accountancy; Mayur H. Shah, economics; Tracy Anne Sharbaugh, nursing; Shoeb M. Siddiqui, finance; Jennifer Noel Silvia, elementary education; Amy F. Sokol, family social services; Michael S. Steiler, psychology; Amy Katherine Svean, NDHA, hospitality/administration; and Maureen Wang, marketing.

• Kimberly A. Beach, Amy L. Funk and Marina A. Tecktiel, all of Hoffman Estates, were named to the dean's list for the 2007 spring semester at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, for achieving a grade point average of 3.66 or higher.

• Corey J. Brodsky of Schaumburg was named to the dean's list for the 2007 spring semester at the University of Minnesota Twin Cities campus, for achieving a grade point average of 3.66 or higher.

• Jeff Ottow of Schaumburg graduated with a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering technology from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., at the end of the May 2007 semester.

• Dr. Allyson F. Jacobson of Chicago, completed a five-year general surgery residency at University of Illinois at Chicago in June. Jacobson grew up in Schaumburg. After Jacobson's graduation with honors from Hoffman Estates High School in 1992, she matriculated from Washington University in St. Louis in 1996 with a double major in biology and psychology. She attained an Emergency Medical Technician license and completed advanced studies in the field of biology before she received her medical degree from Finch University of Health Sciences/Chicago Medical School (now the Rosalind Franklin Medical School) in North Chicago in 2002. Jacobson is currently in New York City to continue subspecialty training in breast surgery and breast cancer reconstruction at Beth Israel and St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospitals in Manhattan.

• Emily Jane Westerhold of Schaumburg, a 2003 graduate of Conant High School in Schaumburg-Palatine School District 211, recently relocated to San Francisco, Calif. Westerhold graduated with high honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign with a bachelor of science degree in accountancy on May 12, 2007. She was also recognized at commencement as a member of the International Business Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma. She is the daughter of Dr. Jane L. Beyer Westerhold of Schaumburg and Craig Westerhold of Clayton, Missouri.

During Emily's time at the University of Illinois, she was an active member of Phi Gamma Nu, a professional business fraternity. In addition, she was the site facilitator during spring break leading University students to volunteer in Head Start classrooms in Bridgeton, New Jersey. Upon return, she began volunteering in the Prairie Side Head Start program in Urbana for 8-10 hours each week. Emily also volunteered in the Vis-à-vis Tutoring Program as a mentor for Champaign junior high school students in mathematics. During the summer of 2005, Emily participated in the European Economics Study Program through the Manchester Business School.

Emily was recognized at the university as a recipient of the 2004 Mothers Association Book Award for Superior Academic Achievement, a James Scholar, and received third place in the PriceWaterhouse Coopers xACT Case Competition.

• Shawna Jansen, daughter of David and Donna Jansen of Schaumburg, and a junior at North Central College in Naperville, was named for the 2007 fall term to the dean's list.

• Patrick Nebl, son of Gail and John Nebl Schaumburg, and a sophomore at North Central College in Naperville, was named to the dean's list for the 2007 fall term.

• James Nebl, son of Gail and John Nebl Schaumburg, and a sophomore at North Central College in Naperville, was named to the dean's list for the 2007 fall term.

• Timothy Lesiewicz, son of Thomas and Kathy Lesiewicz of Schaumburg, and a freshman at North Central College in Naperville, was named to the dean's list for the 2007 fall term.

• Kristin Arredia, daughter of Renee and Charles Arredia of Schaumburg, and a junior at North Central College in Naperville, was named to the dean's list of scholars for the 2007 fall term.

• Jessica Sokolowski, daughter of David and Lorraine Sokolowski of Hoffman Estates, earned her master's degree in special education from Lewis University. She received her undergraduate degree in fine arts from Columbia College in Chicago and is a 1998 graduate of Hoffman Estates High School.

• Madhura Katre, daughter of Aparna Katre of Schaumburg, was named to the Dean's List of scholars at North Central College in Naperville for the 2007 fall term. She is a senior at the college.

• Eastern Illinois University in Charleston announced the following students were awarded bachelor's degrees at the end of the spring 2007 semester.

Hoffman Estates: Jeremy L. Efrom, Jeremy Ross (business) and Timothy Jacob Mueller.

Schaumburg: Todd Anthony Anticevich, Lauren Elizabeth Carnevale (education), Michael James Everson, Kurt Louis Kalush, Megan Kathleen Koncel (education), Johanna Erin Lau, Victoria Jane Markus, Christopher Joseph Metzke (business), Megan Marie O'Donnell, Ashley Marie Constance Petrone, Angela Marie Pierobon (education), Jeffrey Martin Piotrowski (business), Anthony William Trapani (education) and Gregory Evan Young (business).

• Sireesha Potula of Schaumburg graduated from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, at the end of the spring 2007 semester with a master of science degree.

• Julie Theresa Zito of Schaumburg graduated from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, at the end of the spring 2007 semester with a master of science degree.

• Isaac B. Behrens of Hoffman Estates received a degree in Adult Studies during commencement ceremonies Dec. 15 at Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights.

• Amy Lynn Stevenson of Hoffman Estates, a student at Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., was named to the 2006-07 spring Dean's Honor Roll for earning at least a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.

• Christopher Michael DeGrande of Schaumburg, a student at Creighton University, Omaha, Neb., was named to the 2006-07 spring Dean's Honor Roll for earning at least a 3.5 grade-point average on a 4.0 scale.

• Daniel Stephen Schwent, son of Penny and Dale Schwent of Schaumburg, was named to the 2007 spring honor list at the University of Missouri-Rolla for achieving a grade point average of 3.2 or above out of a possible 4.0. Schwent is a junior majoring in biological sciences.

• Jennifer M. Procter of Schaumburg has accepted membership in Golden Key International Honour Society and was honored at a recent induction ceremony at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. The global nonprofit organization provides academic recognition to college juniors and seniors in the top 15 percent of their class as well as leadership development opportunities, community service, career networking and scholarships. Membership into the Society is by invitation only to students in all fields of study.

• Roosevelt University accepted a record number of 56 new students into its Roosevelt Scholars Program for the 2007-08 academic year, which began classes in September. The average ACT of a scholar is 26.8, ranking in the 89th percentile nationally. The program offers an enriched curriculum with an emphasis on urban and metropolitan issues or the sciences. Scholars must maintain high academic standards to remain in the program. Area students and their majors include:

Hoffman Estates: Alyssa Auge, biology; Amber Auge, biology; and Steven Florian, jazz/percussion.

Schaumburg: Jacquelyn Fisher, psychology.

• Eastern Illinois University in Charleston announced the following students were the recipients of bachelor's degrees during the summer of 2007.

Schaumburg: Waynie Wilson Olaprath, Vincent P. Payne and Trisha Leigh Varland.

• Sharyne Katherine Connell of Schaumburg graduated with a master of science degree from Eastern Illinois University, Charleston, at the end of the 2007 summer semester.

• Michael Casmer, son of Ralph and Dawn Casmer of Schaumburg, received a classroom assignment for the fall semester from Monmouth College where he is a sophomore physical education major. He will assist in a physical education class at Monmouth-Roseville High School.

• Tony Kramp, son of Kevin and Nancy Kramp of Schaumburg, received a classroom assignment for the fall semester from Monmouth College where he is a junior history major. He will assist in a history class at Aledo High School in Aledo.

• Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, awarded master's degrees to the following students Aug. 11 at the end of the summer session.

Hoffman Estates: Martin Andrew Hey, College of Business, accounting science.

Schaumburg: Sandhya Balasubramanian, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Adam Nelson Bonk, College of Business, business administration; Yan Cao, College of Business, business administration; Pratima Dandamudi, College of Arts and Sciences; Erin Elizabeth Hartgraves, College of Business, accounting science; Jyothi Punukollu, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; and Charles Joseph Sebastyan Jr., College of Business, business administration.

• Megha Shah of Schaumburg, a freshman in Loyola University's College of Arts and Sciences, was named to the dean's list for the 2007 fall semester.

• Michael Glennon of Schaumburg graduated from Elmhurst College May 27, 2007 with a master's degree in professional accountancy.

• Stephanie Heinlein of Schaumburg graduated from Elmhurst College May 27, 2007 with a master's degree in industrial/organizational psychology.

• Sherri Jones of Schaumburg graduated from Elmhurst College May 27, 2007 with a master's degree in supply chain management.

• Andrew Oh of Schaumburg graduated from Elmhurst College May 27, 2007 with a master's degree in early childhood special education.

• Elmhurst College announced the following students were awarded bachelor's degrees at the May 27 commencement ceremony.

Schaumburg: Christina Conte, speech-language pathology; Brian Goodheart, magna cum laude, music theory composition, philosophy; Jessie Korzelik, early childhood education; Anthony Lentino, magna cum laude, music business; Claire McCarthy, summa cum laude, nursing; Kelly Schaefer, nursing; Jennifer Serio, psychology, secondary education; and Nicole Viso, business administration.