Arts in Bartlett board member honored with award in Taiwan

• Arts in Bartlett board member Mei Lin traveled to Ping Dong, Taiwan, to receive the 2015 Hakka Dedication Award for Distinguished Achievement, presented on June 29 by Minister Ching-Chung Liu of the Hakka Affairs Council of Executive Yuan, ROC. Lin is an active advocate for preserving the Hakka culture in the United States, and was instrumental in the Bartlett International Chorus joining the Chicago Hakka Chorus in the 2010 concert tour in Taiwan, to help establish Bartlett's Sister City International exchange with Miaoli.

• Barbara Meyer, a French and Spanish teacher at Buffalo Grove High School, has been appointed division head of World Languages, Social Science and English Language Learners at the school. Meyer, a 1994 graduate of Buffalo Grove, has spent her entire career at her alma mater teaching Spanish and French. Since 2006, she has taught all levels of French, ranging from French 1 to Advanced Placement French. In addition to her teaching duties, Meyer has served in a variety of leadership roles. She has a bachelor's degree in Spanish and French from the University of Iowa, a master's in curriculum and instruction from National Louis University and a Type 75 administrative certificate from Aurora University.

• Craig Van den Avont, president of GAM, a automation technology company in Mount Prospect, was invited by the Illinois Manufacturing Excellence Center to participate in a roundtable discussion with the U.S. Department of Commerce Manufacturing Council's subcommittee on innovation, research and development. The roundtable brought together manufacturing leaders to highlight innovation in the American supply chain ecosystem and devise strategies for small manufacturers to identify and invest in innovation.

• Joanne Jablonski of Palatine, a recent graduate of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and a player on the school's softball team, is the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference's 2015 NCAA Woman of the Year nominee. The award recognizes graduating female student-athletes for excellence in academics, athletics, community service and leadership. Jablonski, who graduated summa cum laude in May with a bachelor's in elementary education, was a four-year standout for the Warhawks, who won two WIAC regular season championships and three conference tournament titles, and reached the NCAA Division III tournament in each of the last three seasons.

• The Aptakisic-Tripp Elementary District 102 school board has appointed Steven Lefar to fill the board vacancy created by the resignation of Lenny Ostach. Lefar returns to the board after having served from 2007-2015. He was sworn in at the July 13 board of education meeting and will serve until the April 2017 election.

• Send 'Neighbors in the News' items to Norrine Twohey at ntwohey@dailyherald.com.