Best & Brightest

Lauren Ann East, daughter of Steven and Eva East of Schaumburg, was named to the Dean's List with honors for the spring 2008 semester at Purdue University in Lafayette, Ind. Lauren, who will be a junior, is pursuing a degree in public relations and advertising. She is a graduate of Schaumburg High School.

• Lauren Kay Henderson, daughter of Carla and Robert Henderson of Bartlett, graduated with a bachelor of science degree in broadcast journalism from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on May 11. Lauren is a 2004 graduate of Bartlett High School, Bartlett.

• Kari Irwin of Palatine, a 2005 Palatine High School graduate, was awarded a Critical Language Scholarship by the United States Department of State, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and the Council of American Overseas Research Centers.

The scholarship will enable Irwin, a junior at Illinois Wesleyan University majoring in philosophy and religion, to travel to the American Institute for Indian Studies in Jaipur, India, where she will partake in intensive Hindi language instruction for 10 weeks this summer.

• Joel Peterson of Streamwood graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in management information systems from Cedarville University, Cedarville, Ohio. A 2004 graduate of Streamwood High School, Peterson is the son of Jeff and Diane Peterson of Streamwood.