Best & Brightest
• Michael P. Folan, son of Michael and Maureen Folan of Arlington Heights was named to the dean's list at Northwestern University for the 2008 winter semester with a GPA of 3.75. Michael, a junior is pursuing a double major in economics and political science and graduated from St. Viator High School, Arlington Heights in 2005.
• Peter Meersman, Arlington Heights was one of five students in the Department of Advertising at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, who won a silver Addy Award for his creative work in advertising. The American Advertising Federation of Central Illinois presented the awards Feb. 29 in Springfield. Meersman's work, titled "Voss Water," was in the out-of-home category. He now qualifies for entry into AAF's regional and national Addy competitions.
• Melissa Gorski, daughter of Bill and Laura Gorski of Arlington Heights, was one of 20 student-athletes at Monmouth College recently named to the Midwest Conference All-Academic team for the winter sports season. Gorski, a junior English major, earned the honor while a member of the Fighting Scots women's basketball team. To be named to the MWC's All-Academic team, a student-athlete must have completed at least one year at the institution, carry a cumulative GPA of 3.2 and earn a varsity letter in that sport.
• Kristen Kardas, daughter of Kim and Penny Kardas of Park Ridge, and a student at Valparaiso University in Indiana, is one of several social work majors who is helping the community through her junior internship experiences this year. Kardas is interning at Opportunity Enterprises in its supported living program, which is dedicated to finding innovative, caring solutions designed to help people reach their maximum potential.
• Jeffery Raffaelli of Des Plaines, a junior at Lake Forest College, was recently been selected as a member of Lake Forest College's Senior 25 which is a distinction awarded to 25 outstanding students entering their senior year. Selection is based on academic excellence, leadership on campus, commitment to service and extracurricular participation. Raffaelli is a graduate of Maine West High School.
• Paul Wlodyga of Des Plaines graduated with a master of business administration degree from Elmhurst College at the midyear commencement ceremony held Feb. 10.
• Elmhurst College announced the following students graduated with bachelor's degrees at the midyear commencement ceremony held Feb. 10.
Des Plaines: Maria Correa.
Elk Grove Village: Rachele Schayer (summa cum laude).
Mount Prospect: Rebecca Menna.
Park Ridge: Dianna Fiore and Abby Sapp (magna cum laude).
Students who graduated summa cum laude had a grade-point average of 3.90 or better on a 4.00 scale and magna cum laude a GPA between 3.700 and 3.899.
• Lauren Etmekjian of Buffalo Grove was named to the Mortar Board National College Senior Honor Society at the University of Illinois. The national honor society recognizes college seniors for their achievements in scholarship. leadership. Etmekjian is vice president of the Kinesiology Club on campus.
• Ashley Amber Mata of Wheeling was named to the dean's list for the 2007-08 Winter term for her superior academic achievement at Johnson and Wales University, Providence, R.I. This fall she will receive an associate in science degree, baking and pastry arts.