Lehigh University
Maxwell El-Hag of Mount Pleasant received a Bachelor of Science in finance from Lehigh University.

C of C students recognized
The following Lowcountry students made the Highly Distinguished Honors List for the spring 2009 semester at the College of Charleston.
Distinguished Honors are awarded to students enrolled in at least 14 credit hours who have maintained a grade point ratio between 3.6 and 3.8.

-Awendaw
Kelcey Olivia Davis

 
-Isle of Palms
Aubrey Hattam
Sydney Walmsley
Patrick Bannon

-Johns Island
Victoria  Harrison
Christine  Heilman
Wendi Brazell
 
-McClellanville
Lia  Daniels

-Mt. Pleasant
James Cinnante
Bradley DeVos
Caroline Edwards
Rida Khan
Andrew Nimmich
William Sullivan
Margaret Swigart
Jonathan Weinisch
Michelle Brooksbank
Maria Languell
Margaret Tanner
Charles  Carmody
Sarah Crotts
Hattie Sage
Christina  Cook
Corbyn  Harris
Jenna Locke
Kathryn Pesature
Nicholas  Shahid
Tracy Tholanikunnel
Laura Tulga
Beth Vail
Steven Westbrook
Jonathan  Bullington
Swati Mahajan
Steven Trice
Allie Ellis

-Sullivans Island
Elizabeth  Smith
Caroline Wood
 
-Daniel Island
Joseph Cox
Harold Haun
Stephanie Potts
Andrew Stufflebean
Jonathan Tashakori
Tammy Black
Danielle Fraser
 

 
 Randolph College  
Kelly Hawkes of Mount Pleasant, a student at Randolph College in Lynchburg,  Virginia, was named to the College’s dean’s list for the spring  semester. The Dean’s List recognizes those students who have achieved  superior quality in their academic work.
 
H.S. seniors Art Exhibit
Wando High School Visual Arts Seniors participated in the 2009 First Federal show. Students from Wando, Summerville, Bishop England, Wes Ashley, Berkeley, Timberland, Stratford, Fort Dorchester, Hanahan, St. John’s, and Charleston County School of the Arts submitted two artwork to compete for awards and scholarships. This year, Wando High School submitted 13 pieces and won five of the 10 awards.
Award Winners Include:
1. Lauren Fennell: Received the Marilyn Stokstad Scholorship ($3000 for four years) for Birth
2. Marilyn White: 2nd Place Award for Snow White
3. Meredith Burwell: Honorable Mention for Cock Fighting
4. Taylor Epps: Honorable Mention for 40 percent of Homeless Veterans are US Veterans
5. Dylan Agardy: Honorable Mention for Tea Party

 
Virginia Military Institute
The following Virginia Military Institute cadet is among the 249 cadets who graduated May 16.
Alexander C. Brush of Mount Pleasant, received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Modern Languages & Cultures and International Studies.
Graduating honors include Distinguished Graduate and Institute Honors and Distinguished Naval Graduate and Navy/Marine Corps Commission and Adolfo Ponzanelli Award.
Cadet Brush’s parents are Brenda B. Parent and Anthony S. Brush.
 
 Francis Marion University
Officials at Francis Marion University have named the following local students to the dean’s list for the fall semester.   Ingrid M. Goodwater, Mount Pleasant, Marketing
Aaron D. Gotter, Mount Pleasant, Mass Communication/Convergence Angelica M. Libert, Mt. Pleasant, Mass Communication/Broadcast .
 
Charleston Southern
Charleston Southern University congratulated the following local students on being named to  the dean’s list for spring semester:
- Brian Busbee of Isle Of Palms
- Christian Balser of Mount Pleasant
- Spencer Barrett of Mount Pleasant
- Tara Blackburn of Mount Pleasant
- Raymond Bowers, II of Mount Pleasant
- Sarah Catenacci of Mount Pleasant
- Robert Collins of Mount Pleasant
- Danielle Justis of Mount Pleasant
- Megan Pinney of Mount Pleasant
- Keith Whittingham of Mount Pleasant
- Brittany Dabrasky of Mount Pleasant
- Aaron Haas of Mount Pleasant
- Michelle Hyman of Mount Pleasant
- Alixandra Little of Mount Pleasant
- Michelle Norton of Mount Pleasant
- Kelly Rhodes of Mount Pleasant
- Kimberly Robinson of Mount Pleasant
- Jennifer Slaughter of Mount Pleasant
- Laura Tyndall of Mount Pleasant
 
— — —
The following local students received degrees at the Charleston Southern University  Commencement ceremony May 9 at the North Charleston Coliseum, where 313  students received undergraduate and graduate degrees.
 
- Ruth Butka from Mount Pleasant received a bachelor of science degree in  physical education
- Brooke Gillespie from Mount Pleasant received a master’s degree in  business administration
- Valentina Jarvis from Mount Pleasant received a master’s degree in  business administration
- Justin Reese from Mount Pleasant received a master’s degree in business  administration
- Seth Huggins from Mount Pleasant received a bachelor of arts degree in  religion
- Daniel Gotter from Mount Pleasant received a bachelor of management arts degree
- Jennifer Slaughter from Mount Pleasant received a bachelor of science  degree in business
- Melissa Zimmerman from Mount Pleasant received a bachelor of arts degree in business
- Laura Tyndall from Mount Pleasant received a bachelor of arts degree in religion
- Brittany Dabrasky from Mount Pleasant received a bachelor of science  degree in biology

University of the South
 The University of the  South’s 2009 commencement ceremonies were held in All Saints’ Chapel on  the Sewanee campus on May 10. The following local students were awarded  degrees:
- Andrew Roscoe Mather of Mount Pleasant was awarded a Bachelor of Science degree with a  major in biology.
- Andrew Steely Hawkins of Mount Pleasant was awarded a Bachelor of
Arts degree with a major  in history.
 
Tulane University
Tulane University in  New Orleans awarded degrees this month to approximately 2,20 graduates.  Among those graduated from Tulane as a member of th historic “Katrina  Class,” those undergraduates who were at Tulane for only a few hours when  they had to evacuate ahead of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, were the  following local students:
- Lauren Duffy of Mount Pleasant
- Zackary Gorstein of Mount Pleasant
 
BGSU
Jessica S.  Belcher of Mount Pleasant graduated from Bowling Green State  University earlier this month with a Bachelor of Science degree.

Trident Literacy Association
The following East Cooper students received their GED through Trident Literacy association:
Freddie Hudson III, GED
Averill Ritsch, GED
Robert Lahey, Jr., GED


Sigma Alpha Lambda
Sigma Alpha Lambda is proud to announce that John-Michael Judson of Isle of Palms, and a Wando graduate, has recently become recognized as a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda, National Leadership and Honors Organization at Clemson University. Sigma Alpha Lambda is a national leadership and honors organization dedicated to promoting and rewarding academic achievement and providing members with opportunities for community service, personal development, and lifelong professional fulfillment.

Nelson is top graduate
Recent Charleston School of Law graduate Susan Hills Nelson of Mount Pleasant was named the top academic graduate of the Class of 2009.
"We are incredibly proud of Susan and all that she has accomplished at the Charleston School of Law,” said Abrams, noting that she graduated summa cum laude and first out of 136 students. “She exemplifies what is best about the law school and its students. In addition to being an exceptional student, as reflected in her number one academic ranking, she is also a remarkable advocate, having won an unprecedented appeal before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit while still a law student,” said Dean Andy Abrams.
“Unquestionably, Susan is going to have an outstanding legal career and make a major difference in the lives of others and on her community for many years to come.”
Last year with Associate Dean Margaret Lawton, Nelson successfully argued in federal appeals court for a West Virginia prisoner’s conviction to be considered by the U.S. Supreme Court – the first time in the law school’s history that a student won an appeal as a counsel.
In her time as a student at the school, Nelson served as member of Moot Court, Women in Law and research editor of the Charleston Law Review.
This month, she will become a staff attorney for the S.C. Court of Appeals.
Nelson, a Mount Pleasant native, is the daughter of the Rev. and Mrs. William L. Hills Jr., of Mount Pleasant, and wife of Michael O’Brien Nelson, who is an assistant solicitor for the Ninth Judicial Circuit.