Spotlight

BRIDGEWATER

Lawrence Andrea, an eighth-grade student at Shepaug Valley Middle School, was ranked nationally in the 77th annual Le Grand Concours (national French contest), according to Lisa Narug, director of the national competition sponsored by the American Association of Teachers of French.

Students were evaluated for their written, oral and listening comprehension skills in French. Nearly 100,000 students from all 50 states competed in the 2012 event.

Gaylordsville

Hillary M. Clark received a bachelor of arts in sociology May 20 from the University of Vermont in Burlington during the school's 209th commencement ceremonies.

Tristan Cowan has been named to the Dean's List for the spring semester at the University of New Haven.

Erika Bates graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., with a bachelor's degree in business administration.

KENT

Elissa C. Whitmore graduated magna cum laude from Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, where she earned a bachelor of science degree in marketing from the John F. Welch College of Business. Elissa is the daughter of Kenneth and JoAnn Whitmore of Kent and a 2008 graduate of Housatonic Valley Regional High School.

She will continue her studies at Sacred Heart University, and is enrolled in the fifth-year master's program in education.

new milford

Michael Edward Benson, son of Eric and Melissa Benson, graduated May 20 from Dickinson College in Carlisle, Pa., with a bachelor of science in biochemistry and molecular biology. Michael is a graduate of the Kent School.

Stephanie Tyler was recognized May 4 for academic achievement at Olaf College in Northfield, Minn, during the college's annual Honors Day convocation.

Stephanie is a graduate of New Milford High School and a history and French major. She is the daughter of Jeffrey and Cynthia Tyler.

Kate Baxter was recognized as among the sophomores with the highest academic average at Judson College in Marion, Ala.

Jacob Runyan was inducted into the International Business Honor Society at Quinnipiac University in Hamden.

Steven Groccia, a 2008 New Milford High School alumnus, graduated May 20 first in his class and summa cum laude with a bachelor of science degree from the University of Hartford.

Steven was selected as the 2012 University of Hartford College of Education Regent's award winner and made the President's List and the Dean's List all eight semesters. He achieved a cumulative GPA of 3.96.

Steven played defense for four years on the Hawks' NCAA Division 1 men's lacrosse team, helping Hartford win the America East Conference championship in 2011. He was also named to the 2012 NCAA America East all academic team.

Steven was a defenseman on NMHS' Green Wave lacrosse team and a member of the 2008 team, which won the South-West Conference Conference championship for the first and only time in school history. He was also named defenseman of the year twice at NMHS.

At the University of Rhode Island's 126th commencement May 19 to 20, almost 3,000 undergraduate and 738 graduate students became the university's newest alumni.

Among them:

Chris A. Lanfranco received a bachelor's degree in environment and natural resource economics.

Michael G. Moglia received a bachelor's degree in environmental horticulture and turfgrass management.

Nicolas F. Angione, received a bachelor's degree in communication studies.

Amy Kivela, of New Milford, graduated May 20 from Trinity College in Hartford. She majored in biology and minored in environmental science.

Margaret Mester was inducted into Alpha Lamba Delta, the national honor society of freshmen at the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania. Margaret is majoring in exercise science at the Jesuit university.

Matthew McLachlan made the Dean's List for the spring semester at Northeastern University in Boston in the College of Engineering. He is in the third year of a five-year program for civil engineering. Matthew is a 2009 graduate of New Milford High School.

Megan K. Beecher, daughter of Thomas and Amy Beecher and a 2008 graduate of New Milford High School, has been named to the Dean's List for the spring semester at Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Pa.

Brian McGrath received a bachelor's degree in finance May 20 from Providence College in Providence, R.I., during the 94th commencement exercises.

Curtis Weir, of New Milford, made the Dean's List at DePaul University in Chicago for the winter quarter of 2012.

Emily E. Fedorko and Paul M. Johnson, both of New Milford, were named to the Dean's List at Keene State College in Keene, N.H., for the spring semester.

Erika Roberts and Cody Wallace have been named to the Dean's List for the spring semester at the University of New Haven.

Jeffrey W. Sturm was inducted to the Beta Gamma Sigma honor society at Western New England University. He is a senior majoring in accounting.

Lucy Phillips participated in the academic excellence conference at Keene State College in New Hampshire and presented on "Synthesis of Colbalt Nanoparticles for Biomedical Applications," a correlation between neurological disorders of HIV and AIDS.

Rebecca Cosgrove graduated from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., with a master's degree in public administration.

The following residents of New Milford were awarded degrees during Salve Regina University of Newport, R.I.'s 62nd commencement on May 20.

Mallory Scott Lee was awarded a bachelor of science degree in elementary education and special education

Stephanie Mary Moots was awarded a bachelor of science degree in financial management.

Meghan Marie Noto was awarded a bachelor of science degree in social work.

Mallory Lee and Nichole Souza were named to the Dean's List at Salve Regina for the spring semester. Nichole is a rising junior.

Three local students graduated May 19 from the University of New Hampshire in Durham:

Mathew Henion earned a master's degree in recreation administration.

Stacy Holland earned a bachelor's degree in dietetics, summa cum laude, earning a GPA of 3.7.

Thomas Ferrell earned a bachelor's degree in psychology.

New Preston

Nikole Amon has earned Dean's List status for the 2012 spring semester at Lasell College. A member of the class of 2015, she is majoring in history.

Michael R. Underwood was named to the Dean's List at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Va. Michael is a sophomore majoring in history in the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences.

ROxbury

Eleanor Curren graduated May 26 from Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine, during its 207th commencement exercises. She majored in history.

Christopher Johnson Truini, a four-year student of the Salisbury School, recently graduated with honors and departmental distinctions in English, dramatic arts, philosophy and religion.

Christopher also received the Garrison Miller Crimson Knight Award, given to a member of the sixth form who, through his spirit, energy and sportsmanship, has supported the entire Salisbury School athletic department; the Jones Art Prize, given to the student who contributed the most to the Salisbury performing and visual arts curriculum; and the Quaile Medal, given in memory of founding headmaster the Rev. Dr. George Quaile, and awarded by the vote of the faculty to a sixth former who has shown the most satisfactory development during his Salisbury years.

This fall, Christopher, son of Joseph and Marla Truini, will attend Wheaton College in Norton, Mass.

Kate Truini was named to the Dean's List for the spring 2012 semester at Alfred University in Alfred, N.Y. She is a senior in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

Washington

Thomas B. Kimball, a member of the Class of 2012 and son of Eben and Anne Kimball, was named to the fall semester Dean's List at Colby College in Waterville, Maine.

The Shepaug Valley High School graduate majored in environmental studies with a policy concentration.

Michaela Garrity was named to the fall semester Dean's List at the University of Connecticut.