Best & Brightest

• Patrick Mundschenk, son of Brad and Nancy Mundschenk of Deer Park was honored recently for academic achievement during Monmouth College's annual Honors Convocation. The freshman accounting major was awarded the Mary MacDill Knapheide scholarship.

• Rita Karsbaek, daughter of Rune and Barbara Karsbaek of Palatine, was honored recently for academic achievement during Monmouth College's annual Honors Convocation. The junior psychology major was inducted into Psi Chi, the psychology honor society and recognized as a Blue Key member for outstanding character and ability, and distinction in service, leadership and scholarship.

• Northern Illinois University in DeKalb announced the following students were named to the spring 2007 dean's list in their respective colleges.

Barrington: Marjean France.

Inverness: Michael John Lipinski and Kathleen L. Shanahan.

Palatine: Debra Lynn Atkinson, Ashley Erin Bechtold, Michael E. Benson, Edward W. Chamberlain, Danielle Marie Chobak, Michelle S. Glassman, Taras Hryvnyak, Akiko Koike, Emily Yuo-Ting Leung, Timothy Pinkawa, Michael Kevin Reeve, Allison K. Saull and Urvita B. Shukla.

South Barrington: Patrick John Boland.

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

Barrington: Jaime Marisa Grant, special education-learning behavior; Brian J. Heine, computer science; Jim F. Hutchins, finance, Justin Robert Miller, biological sciences; and Crystal E. Stude, anthropology.

Barrington Hills: Michelle I. Herzau, nutrition and dietetics.

Inverness: Michael J. Lipinski, music education; Shannon Kathleen L. Shanahan, marketing; Scott Edward Wozny, economics.

Palatine: Andrew T. Baker, biological sciences; Amanda M. Caruso, accountancy; Christian Chavez, general emphasis, Danielle M. Chobak, speech, language pathology/audiology; Alexis C. Clements, public health; Kristine Nicole Huey, psychology; Young Hoon Huh, art, Amy Margaret Paxson, English; Joseph P. Porter, political science, international politics; David M. Rewkowski, finance; Glenn Arthur Ricci, anthropology; Dana Rene Schmidt, elementary education; Brandon John Sieben, English; Mark T. Sorrentino, physical education; and Jeff Allen Wysocki, marketing.

• Jack G. Saflarski, son of Robert and Laurel Saflarski of Palatine, and a sophomore at Northwood University in Midland, Mich., was named to the spring 2007 dean's list for achieving at least a 3.25 grade point average.

• Jill DeClerck, daughter of Teri and William DeClerck of Palatine, was named to the spring quarter dean's list at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Ind., for earning at least a 3.3 grade point average on a 4.0 scale. DeClerck is a senior majoring in chemical engineering.

• Thomas Nagawiecki, son of Mark and Ann Nagawiecki of Barrington, was named to the spring semester dean's list at Monmouth College for achieving at least a 3.667 grade-point average. He's a senior biology/environmental science major.

• Gregory William Tetzlaff of Palatine was awarded a Certificate of Academic Excellence by Northern Illinois University's Academic Advising Center for achieving a grade-point average of 3.57 during the spring 2007 semester.

• Michael Mares of Barrington graduated with a bachelor's degree in business from Ferris State University in Big Rapids, Mich., at the end of the May 2007 semester.

• Michael James Banasiak, son of Mr. and Mrs. Ralph J. Banasiak of Palatine, was named to the spring 2007 dean's list at Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tenn. for receiving at least a 3.5 grade point average. He is a student in the School of Engineering.

• Mary Scotillo, daughter of John and Nancy Scotillo of Barrington, was named to the spring semester dean's list at Monmouth College for achieving at least a 3.667 grade-point average. She is a sophomore education major.

• Marilee Minott of Palatine graduated suma cum laude from the Fashion Institute of Technology in May, with a bachelor's of fine arts degree in fashion design. She is employed by Coldwater Creek's design office in New York City.

• Patrick Mundschenk, son of Brad and Nancy Mundschenk of Deer Park, was named to the spring semester dean's list at Monmouth College for achieving at least a 3.667 grade point average. He is a freshman majoring in accounting.

• Rita Karsbaek, daughter of Rune and Barbara Karsbaek of Palatine, was named to the spring semester dean's list at Monmouth College for achieving at least a 3.667 grade-point average. She is a junior majoring in psychology.

• Jessica Baird, daughter of Richard and Linda Baird of Palatine, was named to the dean's list at Albion College for the fall 2007 semester.

• Michelle A. Diaz of Palatine graduated from Minnesota State University in Mankako Dec. 15 with a bachelor of science degree in community health.

• Kristine Plazyk, daughter of Terry and Debra Plazyk of Palatine, is among 63 student members elected to join The Loras Alpha Chapter of Delta Epsilon Sigma, a National Scholastic Honor Society that invites college students earning a GPA of 3.7 or above to join. Plazyk is a senior at Loras College.

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

Barrington: Karl Fassl Erbach and Mary Scholke (education).

Barrington Hills: Brett William Hafferkamp.

Deer Park: Carolyn A. Dundon (business) and Jody Ann Voras (education).

Palatine: Christine E. Doheny, Stephanie Marie Reeve, Michael Patrick Van Grinsven (business), David Michael Wisniewski (business) and Lindsay Marie Zmich (music).

South Barrington: Anthony Albert Gagliano (business).

• Ashley Albrecht, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Robert Albrecht of Barrington, and a James Scholar junior with a dual major in English and psychology, was named to the dean's list for four semesters at the University of Illinois. She was the Finale Chairperson for the Mom's Day Sing, sponsored by the Atius Sachem Leadership Honorary Society, a member of the Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society, inducted into the Undergraduate Psychology Association last spring, elected to the Executive Board as publicity and recruitment chair for the Psi Chi National Psychology Honors Society, and joined the national leadership and honors organization Sigma Alpha Lambda.

• Adam Morgan of Inverness graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in management from Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., during the May 27 commencement exercises.

• Jessica Baird, daughter of Richard and Linda Baird of Palatine, was accepted this fall into the Prentiss M. Brown Honors Institute at Albion College in Michigan. Honors students are required to enroll in four "Great Issues" seminars in humanities, science, social science, and fine arts. In addition, Honors students must graduate with a 3.5 cumulative grade point average and produce an Honors thesis. Baird is a freshman at Albion and a graduate of Fremd High School in Palatine.

• Barbara Misielak, a pre-med major and Desislava Evans, a biology major, and both from Palatine, were among 56 new students accepted Roosevelt University's 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.

• Matthew Benson of Palatine was inducted into the Lambda Sigma Honor Society of Northern Illinois University, DeKalb. Lambda Sigma is an honor society of sophomore students who exhibit distinguished ability and achievement in four areas: scholarship, leadership, fellowship and service. A minimum grade point average of 3.2 on a 4.0 scale and enrollment in good standing with the university are required for application. Selection is based on leadership and service to the university community during the student's freshman year.

• Katie Bonifazi, daughter of Daniel and Kathy Bonifazi of Palatine, received a classroom assignment for the fall semester from Monmouth College where she is a junior education major. She will assist in fourth- fifth and sixth-grade classes at Roseville Elementary School in Roseville.

• Mandy Shellnut of Barrington graduated from Elmhurst College May 27, 2007 with a master's degree in supply chain management.

• Bethanne Carey of Port Barrington graduated from Elmhurst College May 27, 2007 with a master's degree in early childhood special education.

• Lauren Fontela of South Barrington graduated from Elmhurst College May 27, 2007 with a master's degree in business administration.

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

Barrington: Jennifer Chiappe, elementary education; Ciara Conway, accounting; Laura Kane, summa cum laude, special education; Brett McAllister, history, secondary education; Bevin Murdock, English; and Edyta Sawicka, cum laude, nursing.

Palatine: Stefany Comeaux, cum laude, nursing; Shari Irsay, cum laude, elementary education; Grace McHugh, summa cum laude, music; Joseph Plazak, summa cum laude, music, psychology; and Ian Robinson, jazz studies.