Local students wrap up school year with honors at colleges and universities

Bittick receives Baylor University degree

WACO — Taylor Leigh Bittick earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in history during Baylor University's spring commencement.

The university conferred degrees on more than 2,000 graduates during exercises on Friday and Saturday, May 15-16, in the Ferrell Center on the Baylor campus.

Baylor is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked liberal arts institution. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest, continually operating university in the state.

Local students named to Dean's List at SFA

NACOGDOCHES — Four Kilgore students have been named to the Dean's List at Stephen F. Austin State University for the spring semester.

The students and their majors are: Molly Elizabeth Garasic, nursing; Sarah M. Hale, theatre; Brittany Nicole Krantz, dance; and Lacy Ann Waldo, interior design.

To be eligible for this honor, a student must be enrolled in 12 or more semester hours and maintain a grade-point average of no less than 3.5.

Alexander graduates with honors

WICHITA FALLS — André Terrell Alexander of Kilgore graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in respiratory care from Midwestern State University.

She was among 666 undergraduate and graduate students who were candidates for degrees in May 2009 with the provision that they meet all requirements as prescribed by the faculty and administration.

Andrews, Adams earn honors at Northwestern of Louisiana

NATCHITOCHES, La. - Two students from Kilgore, were named to the President's and Dean's Lists for the spring 2009 semester at Northwestern State University of Louisiana.

Brett Andrew Andrews was among 369 named to the President's List. Students on the President's List must be enrolled full-time at Northwestern and make A's in all academic courses pursued.

Paul R. Adams was among the 834 named to the Dean's List. Students on the Dean's List must be enrolled full time at NSU and have a grade point average for the fall semester of between 3.5 and 3.99.

Garner makes TSTI dean's list

Eliot A. Garner of Kilgore was named to the Dean's Honor Roll during the spring semester at Texas State Technical College in Marshall.

The dean's list recognizes scholastic achievement of students with a 3.5 grade point average for the semester.

Austin College students learn rules of business etiquette

SHERMAN — Knowing the right answers to a potential employer's questions is not always enough to secure the job.

Understanding simple tasks, such as the appropriate way to pass items around the table, eat various foods, or respond to offers of alcoholic beverages can make or break the impression of potential employers when the interview process includes a meal.

Austin College's Career Services offered a Spring Etiquette Dinner where issues such as these were addressed not only by college professors and career advisors, but also by business professionals from the North Texas area.

Among the student participants was Leigh-Ann Sechrist, a Kilgore High School graduate. She is the daughter of Mike and Susan Sechrist.

Shaw named to SFASU Who's Who

NACOGDOCHES — Jami Shaw, a graduate of Nacogdoches High School, has been chosen for inclusion in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Shaw is a graduate student at Stephen F. Austin State University studying secondary education.

She is the daughter of Ronny Shaw and Jane Green, both of Kilgore.

The Who's Who award was created to recognize outstanding students on American campuses of higher education. Selection is based on the following criteria: scholarship, participation and leadership in academic and extracurricular activities, citizenship, and service to the university and community.

Locals awarded degrees at UT-Tyler spring commencement

Several area students were among the 815 graduates recognized during the University of Texas at Tyler spring commencement ceremonies held May 8 and 9 in the UT Tyler R. Don Cowan Fine and Performing Arts Center.

The presentation of degree candidates were made by the deans of each of the university's colleges: Dr. Alisa White, Arts and Sciences; Dr. Mary Fischer, Business and Technology; Dr. William Geiger, Education and Psychology; Dr. James Nelson, Engineering and Computer Science; and Dr. Linda Klotz, Nursing and Health Sciences.

Local graduates from the College of Arts and Sciences are: Elizabeth Ann Kaiser of Kilgore, Master of Science degree in mathematics; Angela M. Glover of Overton, Master of Science, political science; Chance E. James of Kilgore, Bachelor of Music.

Earning Bachelor of Science degrees from Kilgore were: Jacki Hein, chemistry; Danielle C. Sellers, criminal justice; and Megan Alexandra Jackson, sociology.

Graduating from the College of Business and Technology was Vikas Kumar Verma of Kilgore. Summer Thomas of Kilgore earned a Bachelor of Business Administration in marketing and Brandy M. Armstrong of Overton earned a BBA in accounting.

Bachelor of Science degrees in human resource development were awarded to Kilgoreites Amanda Gayle Bradberry, Michael Miller and Amanda Brantley.

The College of Education and Psychology awarded a Master of Arts degree in school counseling to April Jacquiline Naomi Hughes and a Master of Education degree in educational administration Kimberly A. Slayter, both of Kilgore.

Candace Gail James of Kilgore and Alicia K. Cooley of Liberty City earned Bachelor of Science degrees in interdisciplinary studies.

From the College of Engineering and Computer Science, Daniel Beck and Travis Streeter, both from Kilgore, earned Bachelor of Science degrees in mechanical engineering.

The College of Nursing and Health Sciences awarded a Master of Education degree in health and kinesiology to Shaketha R. Pierce of Arp and a Bachelor of Science degree in nursing to Cheryl Diane Lucas of Kilgore.

Jessica Borrego named to Who's Who

NACOGDOCHES — Jessica Borrego, a graduate of Kilgore High School, has been chosen for inclusion in Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges.

Borrego is a junior at Stephen F. Austin State University majoring in elementary education. She is the daughter of Joseph and Rachel Borrego of Kilgore.

The Who's Who award was created to recognize outstanding students on American campuses of higher education. Selection is based on the following criteria: scholarship, participation and leadership in academic and extracurricular activities, citizenship, and service to the university and community.

Dorman named to UT Tyler Who's Who

TYLER — Alyssa Dorman of Kilgore is among 23 students at The University of Texas at Tyler who were named to Who's Who Among Students in American Universities and Colleges for the 2008-09 academic year.

Honorees are chosen based on their academic achievement, service to the community, leadership in extracurricular activities and potential for continued success.

Local make UT Tyler honor lists

TYLER — Several area students are among those named to The University of Texas at Tyler's President's Honor Roll and Dean's List for the 2009 spring semester.

Among the 283 students named to to the President's Honor Roll Mark Foxworth, Andrea Dukes, Amanda Brantley and Tricia Mehler, all of Kilgore, and Natalie Glover of Overton.

To be named to the President's Honor Roll at UT Tyler, a student must have completed, in one semester, 12 or more semester credit hours with grades of "A" in all courses that carry grade points.

Local students among the 223 named to the Dean's List are Marion Carol Burns, Hailey Calloway, Amanda Gayle Bradberry, Lucio Eugenio Galvan and Christopher Chandler Covent, all of Kilgore, and Autumn Elizabeth Boren of Overton.

To be named to the Dean's List at UT Tyler, a student must have completed at least 12 semester credit hours at the university with a grade point average of 3.75 or above.

Gill graduates magna cum laude at TCU

Madison Dare Gill of Kilgore graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree and a major in accounting from Texas Christian University in Fort Worth.

Commencement exercises were held May 9 in the Daniel Mayer Coliseum on the TCU campus.

To earn the magna cum laude honor, a student's grade point average must range between 3.7 and 3.89.

Sanders on UNT Dean's List

Simone Sanders of Overton wwas named to the Dean's List during the 2009 spring semester at the University of North Texas in Denton.

Now a senior at UNT, Sanders had a 3.8 grade point average. She is a premed major studying to become a gynecologist.

She is a 2006 honors graduate of Overton High School.