Best & Brightest

• Kristen Jett of Roselle, a graduate of Conant High School, was named a United States National Award Winner in foreign language. She was nominated by her French teacher, Vicki Chriske-Hines. Jett is the daughter of Patricia Jett, Roselle, and Wesley Jett, Chicago.

• Megan R. Hunt of Schaumburg, a student in the Robert R. McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science at Northwestern University, Evanston, was named to the 2006-07 winter quarter Dean's List for attaining a grade point average of at least 3.75.

• Joianna Christine Magdaleno, daughter of Jeannette and Julian Magdaleno of Schaumburg, accepted membership in the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. She was honored at an induction convocation last fall on the campus of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Magdaleno is a 2006 graduate of Conant High School.

NSCS, a member of the Association of College Honor Societies, is the only interdisciplinary honors organization for first- and second-year college students. Membership is by invitation only, based on grade point average and class standing.

• Shaun Boyes, son of David and Connie Boyes of Hoffman Estates, was named to the College of Arts and Sciences' Dean's List for the 2006-07 second semester at Loyola University Chicago. Boyes is majoring in chemistry and pre-med, and is a 2006 graduate of Hoffman Estates High School.

• Jami Lynne Pawlowski of Schaumburg was named to the Dean's Honor List in the College of Natural Science at Michigan State University, East Lansing, for achieving a 3.65 grade point average for the 2007 spring semester.

• Andrea Nicholas, daughter of John and Claudia Nicholas of Schaumburg, a student at the University of Dubuque in Iowa, was named to the 2007 spring Dean's List for earning a grade point average of 3.5 or higher. Nicolas is a graduate of Schaumburg High School.

• Sable Omes, daughter of Lester and Grace Omes of Schaumburg, received her private pilot certificate from the John D. Odegard School of Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. She is a graduate of James B. Conant High School in Hoffman Estates.

• Mark Mandel of Schaumburg, son of Mickey and Gerry Mandel, Spring Hill, Fla., earned his doctor of pharmacy degree Sept. 7 from Chicago College of Pharmacy of Midwestern University. Dr, Mandel graduated from Schaumburg High School in 1976.

• Adam Keller, son of Kenneth and Maria Keller of Schaumburg, and a freshman physics major at Monmouth College, was named to the college's big band orchestra for the 2007-08 academic year. Keller will perform with the group at various functions during the academic year.

• John Wainwright, son of David Wainwright and Michelle Vahlkamp of Hoffman Estates, received a bachelor's degree in mathematics and economics from Northwestern University's Judd A. and Marjorie Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences, Evanston.

The graduate of Hoffman Estates High School, participated in the mathematical methods and social sciences program. He will be a consultant with Market Strategy Group in Chicago.

• Brittany Mortensen of Hoffman Estates, a student in the Doisy College of Health Sciences at Saint Louis University, was named to the 2006-07 spring Dean's List. To qualify, she achieved a minimum grade point average of 3.7.

• Marina Bontkowski, daughter of Elena Bontkowski of Schaumburg, is a member of Zeta Phi chapter of Delta Gamma at Harvard University and was awarded the Delta Gamma Foundation Scholarship. The Conant High School graduate is studying psychology. The scholarship, which is $1,000 for the 2007-08 academic year, is based on scholastic achievement, campus and community involvement and chapter leadership.

• Stacie Regopoulos of Hoffman Estates, a student in the School of Social Work at Loyola University Chicago, was named to the spring 2006-07 Dean's List based on her academic achievements.

• David Brent Claxton of Hoffman Estates, a student at Wingate University in North Carolina, was named to the President's List for outstanding academic achievement during the spring 2007 semester. To qualify, he earned at least a 3.80 GPA.

• Meghan O'Kelly of Hoffman Estates is the recipient of a $1,000 scholarship award from The Baxter International Foundation. The scholarships are awarded each year to outstanding students who intend to enroll at an accredited college, university or vocational-technical school.

O'Kelly was selected from over 250 applicants. Students may apply to the program if a parent is employed for a minimum of three years, by the Foundation's sponsor, Baxter International Inc. Recipients are selected competitively on the basis of their academic records and personal achievements.

• Praduman D. Patel, son of Dilip and Manjula Patel of Schaumburg, was named to the dean's list with high honors for the spring 2007 semester at St. Louis College of Pharmacy in Missouri. To qualify, students must earn at least a 3.75 grade point average for the semester. Patel is a 2006 graduate of James B. Conant High School.

• Bethany Martins, daughter of Steven and Lois Martins of Schaumburg, was named to the spring 2007 Dean's List at Westminster Choir College of Rider University in Princeton, N.J. Martins, who is majoring in voice performance, is a 2003 graduate of York Community High School in Elmhurst.

• Yolanda Chang of Schaumburg, student at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, is one of six medical students selected from the class of 2008 for membership in its recently established local chapter of the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

GHHS student members are selected at the conclusion of their M3 year for outstanding humanistic activity. Awardees were inducted in conjunction with the White Coat Ceremony for the incoming class of 2010 in August 2007. In addition, the students will be recognized at the conclusion of their senior year during UICOMP's 2008 Student Awards and Honors Banquet and Convocation Ceremonies.

• Debra Houswerth, daughter of Andy and Donna Houswerth of Schaumburg, was named to the Honor Roll for the second semester 2006-07 academic year at the University of Indianapolis. Honor Roll students have earned a grade point average of at least 3.4 but less than 3.7.

• Eileen McGreevy, daughter of James and Sheila McGreevy of Schaumburg is a winner in the W.J. Deutsch & Sons Ltd. Scholarship Program. The scholarship rewards children of W.J. Deutsch & Sons employees for their academic excellence. McGreevy attended Schaumburg High School where her activities included peer counseling, yearbook, softball, tennis and Leadership Council. She intends to major in education at Western Illinois University, Macomb.

• Brendan Murphy, son of Michael and Mary Jo Murphy of Schaumburg, and a sophomore majoring in music at Monmouth College, was named to the college's big band orchestra for the 2007-08 academic year. Murphy will perform with the 25 student-musicians group at various functions throughout the academic year.

• Kayleen Iwanski of Schaumburg, a junior nursing student at Millikin University, Decatur, was honored during the Legacy of the Lamp ceremony hosted by the Millikin School of Nursing on Oct. 5. The ceremony honors junior nursing students as they enter the clinical education phase of their program.

• Aya Hayashishita of Schaumburg graduated after the 2007 summer session with a bachelor's degree in business administration with a major in international business from Southeast Missouri State University, Cape Girardeau.

• Adam Keller, son of Kenneth and Maria Keller of Schaumburg, and a freshman physics major at Monmouth College, was named to the wind ensemble for the 2007-08 academic year. The group, which is selected through auditions, is comprised of more than 50 student-musicians who perform at various functions throughout the academic year.

• Brendan Murphy, son of Michael and Mary Jo Murphy of Schaumburg, and a sophomore music major at Monmouth College, was named to the wind ensemble for the 2007-08 academic year. Selected through auditions, the group is comprised of more than 50 student-musicians who perform at various functions throughout the academic year.

Carrie Ann Hagedal of Schaumburg was named to the 2006-07 Dean's List at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wis., for achieving an honors grade point average of 3.4 or above.

• Matthew Hagedal of Schaumburg made the 2007 spring semester Dean's List at the University of Montana in Missoula, for earning at least a 3.5 grade point average.

• Sheiva Jahanban of Hoffman Estates, a senior at Lake Forest College was named to the Dean's List for the 2006-07 academic year for attaining a grade point average of at least 3.60 for two consecutive semesters. Jahanban is a graduate of Hoffman Estates High School.

• Kimberly Gratzke, daughter of Richard and Vicki Gratzke of Hoffman Estates, received a student teaching position through Monmouth College. The senior English/psychology major will serve as a student teacher in a language arts class at Chippewa Middle School in Des Plaines.

• Alyse Cerone of Cary, a former resident of Hoffman Estates, graduated from National-Louis University, Wheeling, with a master of arts in teaching degree from the university's National College of Education.

• Ryan Ho of Hoffman Estates, a music major at Millikin University, Decatur, was selected as a member of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra and the Millikin String Arts Ensemble for the 2007-08 school year. Ho, plays the Cello.

The symphony orchestra is both an organization of the Millikin University School of Music and a community-supported professional orchestra. The String Arts Ensemble is a chamber music orchestra that performs in various venues on and off campus.

• Chris Petterson of Hoffman Estates, a student majoring in a music education: instrumental, was selected as a member of the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra and the Millikin String Arts Ensemble for the 2007-08 school year. Petterson plays the cello.

The symphony orchestra is both an organization of the Millikin University School of Music and a community-supported professional orchestra. The String Arts Ensemble is a chamber music orchestra that performs in various venues on and off campus.

• Lisa Marie Jolmson of Hoffman Estates graduated from National-Louis University in Wheeling with a master of education degree in curriculum and instruction from the university's National College of Education. She is a former resident of Des Plaines.