Best & Brightest

• Syed Asad of Round Lake graduated with honors in December 2007 with a bachelor of business administration degree in health administration from Benedictine University in Lisle.

• Erik Tylkowski of Gurnee, a student at Eureka College, was named to the 2007-08 fall dean's list for maintaining a grade point average of least 3.5 on a 4.0 scale.

• Justin S. Baker of Ingleside, a freshman at Hope College in Holland, Mich., was named to the 2007-08 Dean's List for having a minimum 3.5 grade point average.

• Jordan Daniel Finlayson, son of Wayne and Cherie Finlayson, Fox Lake, was named to the 2007 fall honor list at Missouri University of Science and Technology, Rolla, for having at least a 3.2 GPA.

• Carrie Pollard of Round Lake Beach, a vocal student at Western Illinois University, Macomb, and a fall 2007 graduate with a bachelor's degree in music and an option in vocal performance, was awarded an alternate prize in the Young Artist voice competition at the East Central Division Music Teachers National Association Young Artists woodwind competition held Jan. 18-20 at Olivet Nazarene University, Bourbonnais.

• The University of Iowa in Iowa City announced the following students graduated with bachelor's degrees at the December 2007 commencement ceremonies.

Gages Lake: David Carlton Anderson, German; and David Carlton Anderson, industrial engineering.

Grayslake: Tara Elizabeth Leaderbrand, elementary education, dance.

Lindenhurst: Amy Frances Matheson, elementary education.

Gurnee: Mary Katelin McCarthy, elementary eEducation; Elizabeth Anne Shakespeare, business administration, finance; and Carolyn C. Sweet, communication studies.

Lake Villa: Samantha A. Marrs, Spanish with distinction.

• The University of Wisconsin-Whitewater announced the following students were named to the fall 2007 Dean's List for having at least a 3.4 GPA.

Antioch: Crystal A. Juzwik, sophomore, English, Antioch Community High School graduate; Jacquelyn E. Rindahl, senior, elementary eEducation, Antioch Community High School graduate; and Angelica M. Simonini, junior, social work, Antioch Community High School graduate.

Gages Lake: Mallory A. Yott, freshman, pre-business, Warren Township High School graduate.

Grayslake: Eric D. Michel, junior, integrated science/ business administration, Warren Township High School graduate; and Nicole K. Sarver, senior, biology, Grayslake Community High School graduate.

Gurnee: Jennifer M. Germain, junior, business administration, accounting, Warren Township High School graduate; and Danyelle C. Jenkins, seniorm elementary education, Tremper High School graduate.

Lake Villa: Ryan M. Boesch, senior, early childhood education, Grant Community High School graduate; and Sara R. Schnirer, senior, social work Grant Community High School graduate.

Lindenhurst: Nicholas C. Johnson, sophomore, education, history, Antioch Community High School graduate.

• Valparaiso University students are helping present prenatal showers to mothers in Northwest Indiana this spring. New and expectant mothers are learning how they can raise healthy sons and daughters through a series of educational "showers" developed by Valparaiso nursing students this semester. The showers are planned and presented by groups of three or four students as part of the course Nursing Care of the Childbearing Family. The following students are participating in the presentations:

Antioch: Annah Hurley, a junior nursing major presenting on the topic of physiological changes during pregnancy; and Brenda Moechoe, a junior nursing major presenting on the topic of care of the newborn.