Best & brightest

• Michael Bialas of Hoffman Estates graduated from Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, at the conclusion of the 2008 fall semester with a bachelor of business administration degree in finance from the College of Business and Public Administration.

• Kelsey Alaine Foster, the daughter of Graeme and Charlotte Foster of Hoffman Estates, graduated with a bachelor of arts degree in communications from Berry College, Mount Berry, Ga.

• Sharon Marie Gonnella has graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, with a bachelor of science degree in elementary education and a minor in psychology. She is the daughter of Ken and Mary Gonnella of Inverness.

• Ryan Christopher Grodzki was named to the dean's list for the fall 2008 semester at Hampden-Sydeney College, Hampden-Sydney, Va. Grodzki is a graduate of Barrington Community High School and the son of Kevin and Marcella Grodzki of Barrington.

• Andrew Krupp of Bartlett was named to the dean's list for the fall semester 2008 at Northern Michigan University, in Marquette.

• Eva Lawrence of Schaumburg, a special education major at Illinois State University, Normal, received a $300 scholarship from the University Club at Illinois State University.

• Phillip T. Makowski, son of David and Linda Makowski of Deer Park, was named to the Ohio Northern University dean's list for the fall quarter 2008-09. He is a junior majoring in computer science.

• Raisa McArtor, a 2008 Palatine High School graduate, was named to the dean's list at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, for academic performance during the fall 2008 semester.

• Thomas A. McCann, son of Thomas and Mary McCann of Barrington, was named to the fall 2008 dean's list at St. Michael's College, Burlington, Vt. McCann is a senior business administration major.

• Michael D. Miklius of Palatine received a bachelor of science degree in mathematics from the College of Arts and Sciences at Seton Hall University, South Orange, N.J.