Kathryn L. Balkenhol, daughter of Ricci Balkenhol of Emporia and the late Barry Balkenhol, graduated June 14, 2008, with a bachelor’s degree in fashion design from the Art Institute of California-San Francisco. Balkenhol also participated in a Portfolio show on June 12 at the Hotel Whitcomb. Her designs were featured in the Student Fashion Show, “Light, Camera, Fashion,” on June 14 at the San Francisco Design Center. She is a 2004 graduate of Emporia High School.
Emporians who attended all of the events were her mother; sister, Lyndsey Balkenhol; brother and sister-in-law, Ryan and Jennifer Balkenhol; and her grandmother, Norma Stinnett; along with her uncle and aunt, Mike Ryer and Adele Stark of Wichita. Kathryn Balkenhol is also the granddaughter of Jake and Lois Balkenhol.
Girl Scout awards
Girl Scouts were recognized May 28 for their achievement in Girl Scouting and received Gold, Silver and Bronze awards.
Those who received the Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout Senior may receive, were Jennifer and Laura Knickerbocker, Hannah Stair and Jenika Wheeler. As part of the award requirements, the girls created and developed a fun program for fourth grade Girl Scouts “to ease the transition in the Emporia schools from a neighborhood school to fifth grade,” said the news release. Monthly activities were held for the girls.
Brittany Rees and Ashley Wheeler were presented the Silver Award, the highest award that may be earned by a Girl Scout Cadette. Wheeler helped design sets for a Late Night Reading program at the Emporia Public Library and Rees helped coordinate childcare activities for the building of the Peter Pan Park playground.
Bronze awards were given to Chantal Gomez, Bailey Lane, Emily Lauxman, Abby Maycock, Amber Schaefer and Ashley Storrer. The girls volunteered services at Plumb Place, which included painting, doing repairs needed and sorting through donations.
Special guests at the ceremony included state representative Peggy Mast and Lynn Smith, former Girl Scout of the Flint Hills CEO, along with family and friends.
Faculty award
Dorian Fay Logan of Emporia was recently recognized by the University of Kansas School of Allied Health with the Joan Mills Clinical Excellence Award. Logan was selected by faculty for “superior clinical performance in combining the art and science of physical therapy during full-time clinical experience, effective verbal and non-verbal communication skills, professionalism, integrity and initiative,” said the news release.
New doctor, officer
Emporian Rishelle Dawn Meyer Greenlee received the doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences during commencement ceremonies May 17, 2008, at Kansas City, Mo. Dr. Greenlee also was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Navy. She will complete a postdoctoral residency in obstetrics and gynecology at Portsmouth Naval Medical Center in Portsmouth, Va.
On May 16, at the KCUMB Honors and Award Convocation, she received the Glasgow-Rubin Academic Achievement Citation, which recognizes female students who graduate in the top 10 percent of their class. A magna cum laude graduate, she is a member of Psi Sigma Alpha, the national osteopathic scholastic honor society.
Dr. Greenlee, the daughter of Howard and Sharon Meyer of Lenexa, graduated from Emporia High School in 1994 and from Emporia State University with a bachelor’s degree in 2003.
And another
Emporian Benjamin Evan Stone received the doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) degree from Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences during commencement ceremonies May 17, 2008, in Kansas City, Mo. Dr. Stone also was commissioned an officer in the U.S. Air Force and will complete a postdoctoral surgical internship at Keesler Medical center at Keesler Air Force Base in Mississippi.
On May 16, at the University Honors and Awards Convocation, he received the Mathews’ Military Honor Graduate Award as “the military graduate who best exemplifies the qualities sought in a Military Medical Corps officer,” said the news release.
Dr. Stone, the son of Dr. Chester and Susan Stone of Emporia, graduated in 1998 from Emporia High School and from the University of Kansas in Lawrence with a bachelor’s degree in human biology in 2003.
Semester honors
Emporians who received the Kansas State University spring 2008 semester honors were Crystal Rose Bandel, Kacey Faith Harper, Jeffrey Thomas Hicks, Nicholas Andrew Jasso, Courtney L. Rogers and Andrew R. Weaver.
Honored graduates
The spring 2008 Kansas State University graduation honors were received by Dustin T. Hamman of Emporia, who graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering; and Dane Stephen Pletcher, graduate of Emporia High School, who graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering.