Northridge team earns place at DI Global Finals

Northridge Elementary’s "The Brainiators" placed first out of 26 teams in the elementary level of the "DIrect DIposit" challenge at the state Destination Imagination tournament April 17 in Denver.

The team of third-, fourth-and fifth-grade students includes Zoe Johnston, Talen Fischer, Olivia Vasquez, Amanda Marlow, Elizabeth Levi, Ryan Tubbs and Jack Vasquez. Team managers are Ashley Vasquez and Kim Marlow.

With its first-place finish, Northridge earned the chance to compete against 1,000 teams across the country at the Destination Imagination Global Finals in May at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

The Brainiators also earned a DaVinci Award and a Spirit of Discovery and Imagination Award for their solution to the challenge.

Ryan earns faculty honors at Trinity College

Britney E. Ryan, of Highlands Ranch, class of 2013, has received faculty honors for the 2009 fall semester at Trinity College.

Freshman makes dean’s list at Villanova

Jonathan Kent, a freshman from Highlands Ranch, has been named to the dean's list for the 2009 fall semester in the Villanova School of Business.

Ranch’s Buccio is named to dean’s list

Therese Buccio, of Highlands Ranch, was named to the dean's list at the University of New Haven for the fall 2009 semester.

Northridge students take first place at Brain Bowl

Northridge Elementary Discovery program students brought home the first-place trophy from the Optimist Brain Bowl. Northridge was the only school representing Douglas County at the all-day event Feb. 6 at Overland High School in Aurora.

The five students who won the first-place trophy against 23 sixth-grade teams were Michael O’Sullivan, Tanner Rawlings, Teagan Kim, Quinn Tucker and Doug Dominic. Dee Steele, Northridge Discovery math teacher, is the team's coach. The event is loosely modeled after the GE College Bowl television program and questions put every team member’s expertise to work.

Subjects cover knowledge learned in the classroom and in the community. Brain Bowl is an academic competition open to middle school students in Colorado and Wyoming sponsored by the Optimist Club of Colorado and Wyoming. Three regions and 200 teams competed in 2010. Seventy-three schools and 14 districts participated with students in grades 6, 7 and 8 in the Central Region.

Gennaro earns leaders and achievers scholarship

Lauren Gennaro, of Lone Tree, is one of 57 recipients of the 2010 Leaders and Achievers scholarship, established by the Comcast Foundation. The foundation was founded in 1999 to provide charitable support to its local communities and to empower and enrich lives. Gennaro is a senior at Highlands Ranch High School and plans to attend the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill next fall.

Carol Skelton wins Mount Rosa Scholarship

Carol Skelton, a senior at ThunderRidge High School, has been awarded the Mount Rosa Memorial Scholarship Award. Skelton read her scholarship award-winning essay at the monthly meeting of the Mount Rosa Chapter of the Daughter’s of the American Revolution in April. She is the daughter of the Rev. Bruce and Debra Skelton.

She was selected as the Mount Rosa Scholarship Award winner by a panel of three judges who evaluated the autobiographical sketch which stated goal, objectives and future plans after the completion of the applicant’s education.

Applicants were also evaluated on their contributions to their school and community, consideration of the letters of reference and transcripts. In her spare time, she enjoys running and writing poetry.

Skelton will graduate top of her class of 402 students at ThunderRidge High School in May. She is president of Interact and of El Pomar Youth in the Community, both community service groups. She is coordinator of community service projects for ThunderRidge High School National Honor Society.

Skelton plans to attend Colorado School of Mines in Golden with a major in environmental engineering.

Symphony awards Young Musicians Award to Lan

Christina Lan, a junior at Mountain Vista High School, was recently awarded the 2010 Jeff Bradley Young Musicians Award by the Colorado Symphony and the Denver Post. Christina will receive an engraved crystal statuette and a $2,000 prize that must be used to further her musical studies.

Ranch son Emanuel completes degree

Alan J. Emanuel graduated from Washington State University with a bachelor of science degree in neuroscience. He will be representing the college of veterinary medicine and the honors college. Emanuel is the son of Stephanie Lyon, of Evergreen, and Jeff Emanuel, of Highlands Ranch.

Local residents earn honors at Azusa Pacific

Kari L Honda, Danica J. Kampfe, Amanda A. Marsh, Laura M. Schlotzhauer and Katherine E. Scroggs, of Highlands Ranch, made the dean’s list at Azusa Pacific University.

Honda is an applied health major. Kampfe is a biochemistry major. Marsh is an art major. Schlotzhauer is an accounting major. Scroggs is an English major.

Senior DiPasquale wins community service award

Rock Canyon High School senior Vance DiPasquale won the YuDion Community Service Award for seniors who have overcome hardships to be a service to their community. DiPasquale was honored for completing over 400 hours of community service. He was honored at a luncheon at Panasian Bistro on April 24 and was given a $1,000 scholarship.

Rock Canyon student wins arts competition

Kirsten Lumsden, of Rock Canyon High School in Highlands Ranch, won first place in the 2010 6th Congressional District high school arts competition, “An Artistic Discovery.”

The winners were announced by Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, and Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities Curator William Henning at the Phillip S. Miller Library in Castle Rock.

Henning chose three winners and seven honorable mentions out of 48 entries at the reception. Coffman also chose a piece to receive the “Mike Coffman Award.”

Lumsden won for her pastel piece titled “Sand Dunes,” which will be displayed as part of a year-long national exhibit in the walkway between the U.S. Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, D.C.

The Rock Canyon junior will receive roundtrip airfare to Washington, D.C., to attend the congressional reception as well as a $1,500 per year scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga., should she attend.

Day earns medical degree from Temple University

Samantha English Day, class of 2001 from Highlands Ranch High School, and class of 2005 from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in biology, received her degree May 14 from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia. She graduated as a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. She will be doing her three-year residency in family medicine at the Lancaster General Hospital, Lancaster, Pa.

Koslov chosen to junior leaders conference

Kaysi Koslov has been chosen by the Congressional Youth Leadership Council to attend their Junior National Young Leaders Conference this summer in Washington, D.C.. Kaysi, a fifth-grader at Copper Mesa Elementary School in Highlands Ranch, is the first student to represent her school at this conference. She was nominated by her teacher, Jenny Henry, for her academic achievements, strength of character and leadership potential. Kaysi has served on Copper Mesa’s Student Leadership for two years, loves school, and enjoys participating in school activities and volunteering.

Local students graduate from Nebraska-Lincoln

Shannon Gayle Dickerson, of Highlands Ranch, received a degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in commencement exercises May 7-8. Dickerson earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Outstanding students named at annual awards

The Douglas County Federation honored outstanding students May 12 during its 38th annual awards ceremony at Chaparral High School.

Neighborhood and charter schools nominated a fifth-, sixth-, eighth- or 12th-grade student who exemplifies school and community involvement, scholarship, creativity, responsibility and cooperation with teachers and students. Each student received a certificate and a Barnes and Noble gift card.

The honored students, by school, are Academy, Marianna Haneke; Acres Green, Andreas Passas; American Academy, Amelia Hardeman; Arrowwood, Lauren Koehler; Bear Canyon, Lauren Borchardt; Buffalo Ridge, Michael Mercer; Castle Rock Elementary, Kohl Benjamin; Castle Rock Middle School, Tyler Ketron; Castle View, John Brian Leugs; Chaparral, Lauren Daily; Cherokee Trail, Haylee M. Blach; Cherry Valley, Morgan Olson; Cimmaron, Madison Turner; Clear Sky, Emily Klein; Copper Mesa, Hannah Murphy; Cougar Run, Heidi Hammond; Coyote Creek, Hayley Stromberg; Cresthill, Taylor Schofield; DC Oakes, Tabitha Rogers; DCS Montessori, Kira Steinke; Douglas County, Julianne Kingery; Eagle Academy, Katie Marcum; Eagle Ridge, Erica Vossen; eDCSD, Gillian Mak; Eldorado, Sierra Quince; Flagstone, Alyssa Quiett; Fox Creek, Jeffrey Ingell; Franktown, CaseyMae Roberts; Frontier Valley, Karli Behrens; Gold Rush, Joshua Walkup; Heritage, Amelia Morris; Highlands Ranch, Lauren Gennaro; Iron Horse, Gracie Daniels; Larkspur, Audrey Keim; Legacy Point, Matthew Malsam; Lone Tree, Jessica Kehres; Mammoth Heights, Melinda Szabo; Meadow View, Samuel Hermanstorfer; Mesa, Emily Mathena; Mountain Ridge, Lindsey Sorensen; Mountain Vista, Mackenzie Leydon; North Star, Mollie Smith; Northeast, Jerry Kigerl; Northridge, Amy Zhou; Parker Core Knowledge, Adam Munekata; Pine Grove, Molly Corlett; Pine Lane Intermediate, Neya Manavalan; Pioneer, Tanner Sperle; Platte River, Colin Young; Ponderosa, Lindsey Clemensen; Prairie Crossing, Maya Singh; Ranch View, Zachary Sprague; Redstone, Macy Hairgrove; Rock Canyon, Alex Rowe; Rock Ridge, Cameron Anderson; Rocky Heights, Hadyn Drabing; Roxborough Intermediate, Madeline LaMee; Saddle Ranch, Tanner Tadra; Sagewood, Jackson Burns; Sand Creek, Peyton Reeves; Sedalia, Kelly Winn; Sierra, Ricky Fischer; Soaring Hawk, Emily Stone; South, Leanne Hahn; Stone Mountain, Clay Verk; Summit View, Sarah Olson; ThunderRidge, Christopher Fox; Timber Trail, Megan Pitman; Trailblazer, Jed Urbano; Wildcat Mountain, Camryn Yacks.

Arnett earns law degree from Widener University

Melissa Arnett, of Highlands Ranch, graduated with a juris doctor degree from Widener University School of Law.

Ranch’s Ingraham earns English degree

Katherine M. Ingraham, of Highlands Ranch, earned a bachelor’s degree in English in May from Rhodes College. She is the daughter of Rick and Tricia Ingraham.

Northeastern University honors academic success

Highlands Ranch resident Aidan Carroll, a student majoring in mechanical engineering, was honored by Northeastern University for academic success.

Emmelhainz earns honors for spring from McDaniel

Erica A. Emmelhainz, of Highlands Ranch, was named to the spring 2010 dean’s list at McDaniel College.

Ranch grad Johnson makes dean’s list

Senior Hannah Johnson, of Highlands Ranch, was named to the Valparaiso University dean’s list during the fall semester in honor of her academic accomplishments. Johnson, a chemistry major, is the daughter of Robert and Mary Johnson of Highlands Ranch. Johnson is a graduate of Highlands Ranch High School.

Rosenblatt earns spot in academic honor society

Adam Rosenblatt, of Littleton, has been elected to the Phi Beta Kappa academic honorary society at The Johns Hopkins University. Rosenblatt is the son of Daniel Rosenblatt and attended Highlands Ranch High School in Highlands Ranch.

Kori Rose Higgins makes president’s honor roll

Kori Rose Higgins, of Highlands Ranch, was named to The University of Wyoming 2010 spring semester Outreach School president’s honor roll.

Shaffer, Smith make dean’s list at Texas A&M

Michelle Shaffer and Ryan Smith, of Highlands Ranch, were named to the spring semester dean’s list at Texas A&M University.

Goldberger earns master’s degree from Texas A&M

Kelley Goldberger, of Highlands Ranch, earned a master’s degree in accounting from Texas A&M University.

Buck completes degrees at Tulane business school

Kelly Buck, of Highlands Ranch, graduated from the A. B. Freeman School of Business at Tulane University with a bachelor of science, management degree and with a master of accounting degree.

Local student named to president’s honor roll

McKenzie Leigh Mohler, of Highlands Ranch, was named to the president’s honor roll at Washington State University.

Students earn degrees from Colorado College

Jessica Ellen Canning, Laura Elizabeth Glen and Elizabeth Ann Richards, of Highlands Ranch, earned bachelor’s degrees in May from Colorado College.

Danyo makes spring 2010 dean’s list at Hamline

Jonathan Danyo, of Highlands Ranch, was named to the dean's list at Hamline University for the spring term of the 2009-10 academic year.

Simmonds completes degree from Fort Lewis

Brian Simmonds, from Highlands Ranch, graduated in May from Fort Lewis College. Simmonds earned a dgree in art-business art option.

Barrett makes dean’s list at University of Memphis

Marina N. Barrett, of Highlands Ranch, was named to the dean’s list at the University of Memphis for the spring 2010 semester.

Dederick qualifies for academic honors

Savannah Dederick, of Highlands Ranch, was named to the spring dean’s list at Black Hills State University.

Local students make Hastings dean’s list

Dylann Barbee, Laura Bernero, Laurel Erickson, Melissa Maichele and Matthew Seivert, of Highlands Ranch, were named to the Hastings College dean’s list for its spring 2010 semester.

Ranch locals make dean’s list at U. of Wyoming

Kevin Christopher Berry, Claire Elizabeth Butler, Ashley Lynn Guesnier, Bennett C. Ingold, Katherine R. Kleager, Shauna Jenee Nelson, Matthew G. Plamp, Meghan Kathleen Riggert and Erik Russell Strock, of Highlands Ranch, were named to the dean’s list at the University of Wyoming.

Manthey earns honors at Drake University

Elizabeth Manthey of Highlands Ranch has been named to the dean's list at Drake University.

Ranch’s Ida was named to honor roll at Nebraska

Kelsey Ann Ida, of Highlands Ranch, was named to the University of Nebraska-Lincoln honor's roll for the spring 2010 semester.