Best & Brightest

• Marquette University in Milwaukee, Wis., named the following local students to the fall 2007 dean's list.

Des Plaines: Benjamin Coogan, finance; Michelle Derusha, nursing; Brett Kuhn, civil engineering; Elizabeth Nowak, nursing; Amy Patel, athletic training; and Jeffrey Wolf, advertising.

Elk Grove Village: Sarah Biermann, public relations; Andrew De Lutio, teaching history; Bridget Dolan, undeclared; Caitlin Johnson, finance; Elizabeth Tau, nursing; Emily Tau, public relations; and Jennifer Tripoli, speech pathology and audiology.

Mount Prospect: Sophia Anagnos, teaching English; Kerri Chen, accounting; Kathryn Doucette, communication studies; Natina Lamontagna, nursing; Elizabeth Longo, psychology; Chad Mikesell, business economics; Michael O'Brien, electrical and computer engineering; Sarah Reiff, physics; Julie Rendino, exercise science; Peter Ruzicka, criminology and law studies; and Alexandria Stasiak, nursing.

• Jo Nelle Robinson of Mount Prospect received a master's degree in library and information studies from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee during graduation ceremonies held Dec. 16.

• Niti G. Patel, daughter of Girish and Chandrprabha Patel of Mount Prospect, participated in the White Coat Ceremony of St. Louis College of Pharmacy in Missouri. After the 201 students donned their white coats, they recited and signed the Pledge of Professionalism. She is a 2005 graduate of Hersey High School.

• Meaghan McDonagh of Prospect Heights, student at Millikin University, Decatur, was selected as a member of the University Women's Choir for the 2007-08 season. McDonagh, a music major, was chosen by audition and will sing alto. She is a graduate of Wheeling High School.

• Amilynn Sieber, daughter of Glen and Katherine Sieber of Mount Prospect, received a bachelor's degree in psychology Dec. 15 from Alverno College, Milwaukee, Wis. While at Alverno, Sieber interned at the Milwaukee Center for Independence. She was also a line therapist for children with autism.

• Katherine Billings, daughter of Daniel and Deborah Billings of Mount Prospect, was named to the fall 2007 dean's honor list at Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa, for achieving a perfect 4.00 grade point average for the semester. Billings is a senior majoring in elementary education and special education, and a graduate of Prospect High School.

• Patrick Anderson of Elk Grove Village, a freshman at Millikin University, Decatur, was among a group of first-year students who used projects in their Critical Writing Reading and Research and University Seminar courses to help inform fellow students and the public through a series of radio public service announcements.

Anderson worked on an announcement for getting out the vote. It encouraged those 18 to 24 years old to vote by discussing the issues and candidates in the 2008 presidential elections. Anderson is a freshman majoring in music education: instrumental, and a graduate of J.B. Conant High School, Hoffman Estates.

• Kristen Sullivan of Elk Grove Village was named to the dean's list for the 2007 winter quarter at DePaul University, Chicago, for her outstanding academic performance.