The following local students graduated this spring from Brenau University in Gainesville:

Buford: Leslie H. Ackermann, Wonda Nadirah Askew, Jerry Lee Beverly, Leslie Guinn Bush, Brooks Criswell Clay, Kimberly A. Clemens, Kara Yvonne Dahlgren, Jennifer Erickson, Erin Allison Graham, Mary Elizabeth Harrison, Marinela Maria Kenney, Jason Lunt, Stacey Ann Mathis, Rebecca Helen Norris, Nicole Lynn Payne, Amber Danielle Pierson, Rebecca Elizabeth Pope, Karen Elizabeth Rose, Dana Elise Tanner, Jennifer Wood, Sara Ann Yuille;

Clermont: Elizabeth Ann Boykin, Teresa Renee Childs;

Cleveland: Robert Mitchel Owenby, Deborah Clarke Reed, Kristen Mae Sills, Alana Leigh Swain;

Flowery Branch: Mary Susan Johnson, Robyn Laurie Adams, Christine Beaman, Jennifer Lynn Bolas, Leigh Anne Brown, Kelly Pinkston Coldiron, Amanda Thompson Connell, Jamie R. Cushway, John Mark Garrison, Jalisa M. Harris, Jarrad Lamar Howard, Lisa Marie Johnson, Amanda Michelle Kiefer, Sophronia Jane Maddox, Heather Christian Mathis, Deana Marie Morfa, Victoria Suzanne Reed, Yamatha Saint Germain, Angel K. Sexton, Christy Marie Sparks, Jenna Kate Thayer, Diane K. Vu, Janet Lynn White, Lauren Kae Wilson;

Gainesville: Allegra I. Hill, Samantha Erin Byers, Amber M. Carlberg, Jessica Nicole Conrad, Donna Christine Derrer, Gloria Ogoegbunam Ejikeme, Godwin I. Ejikeme, Jessica BriAnn Hammond, Allison Haley Lee, Thao Phuong Nguyen, Wendy Jackelon Pritchard, Whitney Lovay Teal, Amanda Nicole Toney, Kim Lien Tran, Amanda Kim Wright, Karen L. Barrett, Lauren Beth Lovingood, Katlyn M. Ashe, Elizabeth Jane Bryant, Erin Jessie Caldwell, Briston Colby Chester, Nosleivys Falcon, Lorena Floyd, Karen Dee Glass, Andrea Michelle Hensley, Lisa Suzanne Howard, Allan W. Keller, Alexander Spears Mallis, Judy Marie Martin, Catherine Elizabeth Norton, Lori Jeanne Nye, Jessica Roxanne Reyes, Amanda Lynn Robbins, Tessy Adel Rusera, Tyler Monroe Stover, Jennifer K. Wilson;

Gillsville: Karen Elizabeth Chitwood, Erica Brooke Howser;

Hoschton: Lissa R. DeBoard, Melinda Jo Parris, Tracie Michelle Titshaw, Angela Danielle Wheat;

Oakwood: Kellie Lea Jackson, Barry RaShard Storey.

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Gainesville: Sarah Elizabeth Applegarth, Callie Tatum Flack, David Franklin, Carol Ann Gelderman, Melinda Katherine George, Brandon Norman Givens, Rachael Heidkamp, KayAnne Hulsey, Ashley Lanee' Lamphier, Mary-Rollins Dunagan Lothridge, Regina Nyambeki Ogechi, Monique Lynnette Purnell, Kristen Binet-Reggi Reed, Lindsey Colleen Rundell, Didy Elodie Rusera, Jessica Hope Thompson, Mafubo Ujeneza, Elizabeth D. Reynolds, Erin Michelle Brown, Rosibel Maria Dillard, Paul M. Fincher, Katherine Leigh Hake, Chikela Montrice Owens, Veronica Cecilia Portillo, Vanessa Marie Rosselot, Elizabeth C. Shelnutt, Edita Stewart;

Lula: Andrea Nicole Burton, Courtney Jo Hawkins, Jessica Lorianne Smith; Meghann Grace Tope;

Maysville: Stanley Gardiner Stewart;

Murrayville: Katherine Leigh Williams.

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Georgia College & State University has awarded degrees to the following area students:
Gainesville: Dennis Dickson, Rebekah Ryan, Matthew Ulm; Emily Palmer;
Buford: Kelly Herman, Jennika Jenkins, Rachel Oliver;
Cleveland: Carol Floyd;
Flowery Branch: Jason Barr, Sarah Goff.

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Flowery Branch High School student Caycee Jackson has been selected for membership by The National Society of High School Scholars.
The Society recognizes top scholars and invites those who have achieved academic excellence.

"On behalf of NSHSS, I am honored to recognize the hard work, sacrifice, and commitment that Caycee has demonstrated to achieve this level of academic excellence," said NSHSS Founder and Chairman Claes Nobel. "Caycee is now a member of a unique community of scholars-a community that represents our very best hope for the future."

Membership in NSHSS entitles qualified students to enjoy a wide variety of benefits, including scholarship opportunities, academic competitions, free events, member-only resources, publications, participation in programs offered by educational partners, online forums, personalized recognition items, and publicity honors.
For more information about NSHSS, visit www.nshss.org

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Alexandria Grogan of Gainesville graduated from Valdosta State University May 7 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion Studies. This fall, she will attend Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, N.C. She is the daughter of Ken and Edie Grogan.

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Brenau University has selected the following area sophomore students for membership in Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society.
Jordan Paige Bryant from Gainesville, a biology major and daughter of Brian and Becky Bryant.

Joshula Ashley Bunch from Gainesville, a pre-nursing major and daughter of Tim and Tina Bunch. She is also a member of Alpha Gamma Delta.
Ashley Nicole Long from Gainesville, an occupational therapy major and daughter of Tim and Rhonda Long.

Megan Lauren-Ashley Pinter from Buford, an early childhood education major and a member of Delta Delta Delta sorority.

Ariel Marie Simmons from Gainesville, a theater arts major with a musical theater emphasis, and daughter of David Simmons and Lynnley Messina. She is also a member of Alpha Chi Omegav.

Alpha Lambda Delta, founded in 1924 at the University of Illinois, recognizes and encourages academic excellence among first-year students at four-year colleges and universities with more than 700,000 students in 244 chapters throughout the United States. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or better to be eligible for membership.

The society encourages its members to make "meaningful contributions to society" through tolerance, generosity and insight. In addition new members must pledge to continue to maintain a high level of scholarship.

"The first year of college is tough for most students making the transition from high school," said Beth Nott, faculty adviser for the Brenau chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta. "Even the best students in high schools sometimes struggle once they get to campus of a college or university. This recognition means that these students begin their higher education experiences at Brenau in the top 20 percent of their class."

For more information, visit www.nationalald.org.

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The following area students were named to the dean's list for spring semester at Emory College, the undergraduate liberal arts college of Emory University in Atlanta. Students must be in the top 20 percent or have approximately a 3.86 grade-point average or higher to qualify.

Amanda Winburn of Hoschton,daughter of Mary Ann Clarke of Hoschton and Charles Edward Winburn of Nicholasville, Ky.;

Michael Hatch of Gainesville, son of Steven Warren Hatch and Ella E. Hatch;

Kristin Morgan of Buford, daughter of Charles Morgan and Sharon Morgan; Ehiole Akhirome of Buford, son of Godwin Akhirome and Omoh Akhirome;

Stephanie Llanes of Flowery Branch.

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The following students were chosen to the honor list at Oxford College, the two-year liberal arts division of Emory University in Oxford for spring semester.

Students must have a cumulative grade-point average of 3.5 or higher to qualify.

Courtney Caroti of Gainesville, daughter of Mellanie R. Slaby;

Elisa Jones of Statham, daughter of Thomas Jones and Pamela Jones of Gainesville;

Adam Morrow of Cleveland, son of Michael R. Morrow and Margaret A. Morrow.

These students were named to the merit list of Oxford College. Students must earn a grade-point average of 3.0 or higher during the previous semester to qualify.

Grace Cummings of Clermont, daughter of Newsom Christopher Cummings and Carol Grant Cummings;

Krista Banda of Flowery Branch, daughter of Vankes Banda and Oudom Banda.

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Branden Jovaag, Gainesville, a student-athlete at Oglethorpe University in Atlanta, recently was named to the Southern Collegiate Athletic Conference (SCAC -NCAA Division III) 2011 Spring Academic Honor Roll for basketball.
To qualify, a student-athlete must maintain a minimum 3.25 grade-point average for the term and be a regular member of a varsity athletic team in the SCAC conference.

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Lauren DiAnn Keil graduated from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., on May 26 with a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in history and literature, with government and citation in Spanish minors.

She is studying for a master's degree at the University College of London this fall. She is the daughter of Jeff and DiAnn Kiel of Gainesville.

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Matthew Jeffrey Kiel of Gainesville was chosen for the dean's list at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, N.Y., for spring quarter.

Kiel is a third-year animation student. He is the son of Jeffrey and DiAnn Kiel of Gainesville.