Company honors Palatine woman

• Palatine resident Elizabeth Curtin was inducted into Grainger's President's Club, the company's highest and most prestigious level of achievement, for her contributions to W.W. Grainger Inc., and its customers.

Curtin was personally honored by Grainger's president and chief operating officer, James T. Ryan, during a special awards ceremony held at the Fairmont Mayakoba in Riviera Maya, Mexico.

As a member of the President's Club, Curtin, and the 27 other inductees from across the country, will sit on the President's Advisory Council during the upcoming year to provide insight and feedback to Grainger's executive leadership team.

• Alliance for Character in Education, the parent organization of The Willows Academy in Des Plaines and Northridge Prep School in Niles, honored Jeff Joniak, the play-by-play announcer of the 2007 Chicago Bears and sports director for WBBM radio, with its Vision in Education Award.

Joniak was honored for his friendship and support of the schools during the 11th annual Vision Education dinner held at the Four Season Hotel in Chicago.

• For his dedication and commitment to making a difference in the arena of hospice care on a national level, Bob Lee of Barrington was presented with the Hospice Award of Excellence by Hospice of Northeastern Illinois, a community-based nonprofit serving McHenry, Lake, Northwest Cook, Kane, Boone and DuPage counties.

Last year, Lee biked 6,500 miles across America to raise a grand total of $390,000 and awareness for cancer research and hospice care.

• The following Queen of the Rosary School, Elk Grove Village, band students received a superior ranking in the National Catholic Band Association's Solo Contest held at Guerin Prep in River Grove: Taylor Barnes, violin; Jason Cokkinias, snare drum; Mary Cokkinias, clarinet; Jack DeBartolo, violin; Bobby Hlavin, trumpet; Tyler Kudla, alto sax; Jessica Morrill, alto sax; Kathryn Riopel, clarinet; and Mitchel Wojcik, trumpet.

A ranking of excellent was awarded to: Martin Diaz, snare drum; Brian Carroll, snare drum; Alli Ludkowski, flute; Katie Morrill, clarinet; Marissa Murray, alto sax; Vinitha Raj, flute; Mary Lynne Riopel, clarinet; and Matt Weiler, trumpet.