Tufts University announces Dean’s List for Fall 2014

MEDFORD, Mass. — Tufts University recently announced the Dean’s List for the Fall 2014 semester.

Among these students are:

Benjamin Barnes of Readfield, Class of 2015

Sophia Bunnell of Wilton, Class of 2018

Justin Stearns of Greenwood, Class of 2018

Dean’s List honors at Tufts University require a semester grade point average of 3.4 or greater.

Boston University awards academic degree to local student

BOSTON — Boston University awarded academic degrees to 1,664 students in January 2015.

Among the graduates was Sean T. Hardy, of Norway, who received a Master of Arts in Biostatistics.

Students inducted into Phi Kappa Phi

BATON ROUGE, La. — The following local residents recently were initiated into the honor society of Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and most selective collegiate honor society for all academic disciplines.

David Andrukaitis, Gray, initiated at Arizona State University; Laura Personette, Auburn, initiated at University of Southern Maine; Jessica Irving, Livermore Falls, initiated at USM; Erin Raymond, New Gloucester, initiated at USM; Dale McQueeney, Poland, initiated at USM; Jessica Poisson, Sabattus, initiated at USM; Mary Hayes, Topsham, initiated at USM.

Membership is by invitation and requires nomination and approval by a chapter. Only the top 10 percent of seniors and 7.5 percent of juniors, having at least 72 semester hours, are eligible for membership. Graduate students in the top 10 percent of the number of candidates for graduate degrees may also qualify, as do faculty, professional staff, and alumni who have achieved scholarly distinction.

Katrina Dorson named to the President’s List for the spring 2015 semester

BURLINGTON, Vt. — Katrina Dorson of Wayne was named to the Champlain College President’s List for the spring 2015 semester.

Dorson is majoring in Web Design and Development.

Students who are named to the President’s List have achieved a semester grade point average of 4.0 or higher.

Alexa Fryover named to Castleton Student Orientation Staff

CASTLETON, Vt. — Castleton student Alexa Fryover of Jay was recently named as a member of the Castleton Student Orientation Staff for the 2015-16 academic year.

The job of a Student Orientation Staff member is to serve as a role model, peer counselor, peer academic adviser, and group facilitator for new students during the summer Registration sessions, Orientation, and First Year Seminar.

Area Students Elected to Phi Beta Kappa at Colby College

WATERVILLE — Area residents were among 52 students at Colby College in Waterville who were elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa this spring. Membership in the society is one of the highest academic honors an undergraduate student can achieve.

Xiaojie Chen of Wilton is a member of the Class of 2016. Chen, who is majoring in economics with a concentration in financial markets and mathematics, is the son of Liting and Sumei Chen of Wilton and attended Mount Blue High School.

Samantha J. Jones of Buckfield is a member of the Class of 2015. Jones, who is majoring in English and women’s, gender, and sexuality studies, is the daughter of Kirk Jones and Kathy Saarinen of Buckfield and attended Buckfield Junior Senior High School.

Kara M. Witherill of Readfield is a member of the Class of 2015. Witherill, who is majoring in global studies, is the daughter of Donald and Donna Witherill of Readfield and attended Maranacook Community School.

Poland Native Elijah Breton Presents at PCA/ACA Conference

ITHACA, N.Y. — Elijah Breton, a Poland native and junior sport studies and communication studies dual major in the School of Health Sciences and Human Performance at Ithaca College, presented his research study entitled “Tony Stewart and NASCAR’s Deadly Sins” at the 2015 Popular Culture Association/American Culture Association conference (PCA/ACA).

Breton, along with Brian Hotchkiss ’09, presented on the culture of NASCAR with an emphasis on the motivations behind the death of Kevin Ward, Jr., a sprint car driver who was struck and killed by Tony Stewart’s vehicle during an August 2014 race.

The PCA/ACA Conference celebrates and supports scholarship in the popular and American arts.

Bethel native takes part in opera

ITHACA, N.Y. — Bethel native Johanna Ruby, a junior performance major in the School of Music at Ithaca College, participated in the fully staged production of the opera “The Wolf by the Ears” as part of an Opera Workshop course.

The performance was the world premiere of the opera composed by Ithaca College professor Dana Wilson and was produced through a unique in-class experience offered by the college’s School of Music.

Opera Workshop, a two-credit elective course taught by Brian DeMaris ’02, offers students of vocal performance an in-depth look at the art, the craft and the field of opera in today’s world.

“The Wolf by the Ears” explored the relationship between President Thomas Jefferson and his slave “mistress,” Sally Hemmings, within the many contradictory and hypocritical social structures of their time.

Elmira College announces dean’s list

ELMIRA, N.Y. — Elmira College, a private, coeducational, liberal arts college located in Elmira, N.Y., has released its dean’s list for academic achievement for term II, 2015. The dean’s list recognizes students who have a grade point average of 3.6 or higher.

Taryn Carlson ’16, Dixfield; Kristen Fecteau ’17, Gray; Eliza Foster ’15, Raymond; Alexandra Hood ’15, Lewiston; Timothy Leach ’16, Naples; Melissa Strauss ’15, Waterford; Kallah Turner ’18, Turner; and Alexandria Woodard ’18, Greene.