Best & Brightest
• Adam Pearson, son of Ed and Linda Pearson, Mount Prospect, graduated from Illinois State University with a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Technology with a Focus in Print Mgmt./ Imaging Technology.
• Brian S. Lastovich, son of Steve and Tina Lastovich of Elk Grove Village, graduated with a bachelor's degree in Sport Management and Marketing from the University of Dayton. Commencement ceremony was held on May 4.
• Mark Zajac, a senior at Maine West High School, has been awarded a DAR Illinois State Scholarship by the Twenty-first Star Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. Mark is in the top 1 percent of his senior class. He was also honored at the chapter's February luncheon for his outstanding work in American History.
• Joseph Balogh of Rosemont graduated from Western Illinois University in three years with a perfect 4.0 GPA, with a bachelor's degree in Law Enforcement and Justice Administration with a minor in Computer Science. Joe was awarded the William E. Brattain Award which gives "recognition to an outstanding senior." He served as Honors Convocation speaker and was named National Student of the Year. Joe is the son of Edward and Mary Balogh.
• Timothy Glenn Anderson, son of Glenn & Nancy Anderson of Des Plaines, recently graduated from Northern Illinois University. He was inducted into the Alpha Kappa Delta, the International Sociology Honor Society and Phi Alpha Theta, the International History Honors Society from the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Tim was a 2004 Maine West graduate.
• Samantha Lynn Hajdu graduated from Marquette University in Milwaukee on May 18 with a bachelor of arts degree in broadcast and electronic communications and with a double major in political science. Samantha is a member of Pi Sigma Alpha-the political science honor society. Samantha was a reporter, news anchor and producer of the news at Marquette's TV station-MUTV and interned with Bill Kurtis productions and Midland productions. She is the daughter of Melissa and Peter Hajdu of Mount Prospect.
• Joshua M. Concon of Arlington Heights has been awarded the National Academic Excellence Scholarship by Northland College in Ashland, Wisc. He is the son of Alexander Concon and Patricia Westlund. Concon intends to pursue a degree in sports management.
Allison Joy Pozdol, daughter of Andy & Judy Pozdol of Arlington Heights, graduated cum laude from Luther College in Decorah, IA, on May 18, 2008 with a degree in Music and a minor in K-12 Music Education with a vocal emphasis. She has been a three-year member of the nationally acclaimed Nordic Choir under the direction of Dr. Craig Arnold and has toured with the choir to nearly 20 states and in four European countries.
Melanie Pozdol, daughter of Andy & Judy Pozdol of Arlington Heights, traveled to Rhodes, Greece for a three-week Maymester course on Byzantine Art History. She will travel to France in mid-July to study oboe at an International Music Festival and to research oboe reed materials grown in southern France. The University of South Carolina, where Melanie is a McNair Scholar and student in the Honors College, funded both of these trips.
• Emily Zak, daughter of Rick and Laura Zak of Arlington Heights and a 2004 graduate of Buffalo Grove High School graduated cum laude with a bachelor of science degree in nursing on May 8 from the University of Illinois at Chicago.
• Jeremy Eberhard of Arlington Heights, made the spring 2008 Dean's List at DePauw University. Also he won the 2008 Concerto Competition for violin at DePauw University. He is the son of Richard and Terri Eberhard.
• Kelly O'Connor, daughter of Tim and Donna O'Connor of Wheeling, graduated with honors from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign on May 10. She received a degree in speech and hearing science, and will go to Marquette University in the fall to study for her master's degree.
• Kevin R. Wilson, son of Richard and Susan Wilson of Buffalo Grove, received a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Illinois in Champaign on May 10. Kevin has accepted a position with the Barack Obama Campaign as a Field Organizer.
• Ryan D. Hartung, son of Paul and Cheri Hartung of Wheeling, received a bachelor's degree in technology education from Illinois State University in May.
• Loren Marsh, daughter of Wayne and Cheryl Marsh of Buffalo Grove, received a bachelor's degree from Dominican University in River Forest May 3.